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NavSource Online: Service Ship Photo Archive

HSV-4676 Westpac Express

HSV-1 Class High-speed Catamaran:
  • Built in 2001 by Austal Ltd, Henderson, Australia
  • Launched (date unknown)
  • Chartered for Marine Corps Logistics Prepositioning Ship Program by MSC
  • Contract Information
    Austal Hull 130 Chartering, LLC, Mobile, Ala., will be awarded a $13,395,944 firm-fixed-priced contract commencing
    in February 2007 with four one year additional options to September 2011
    Specifications:
    Displacement 2,111 t.(lt)
    Length 331' 4"
    Beam 87' 5"
    Draft 14' 1" (fully loaded)
    Speed
    Economical Speed: 20 Kts
    Warranted Speed: 33 Kts
    Range 1100nm / 33 kts.
    Complement Military 11, Civilian 13
    Troop Capacity 970
    Cargo Capacity
    20,698 square feet - RORO designed for roll on/roll off service (Typical loads - 153 HUMMWV's or 12 AAVP's and 20 LAV's)
    Range
    1,240 NM@ 33Kts (laden)
    2,182 NM@ 20Kts (laden)
    2,927 NM@ 20Kts (ballast)
    Propulsion diesel-powered, water jet catamaran 4x Caterpiller 3618 diesel engines each producing 7,200 KW @ 1050 rpm
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Source
    Westpac Express 60k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) moored pierside, date and place unknown. MSC web site
    Westpac Express 59k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) departing "Kin Red", Red Beach on the east coast of Okinawa. Kin Red is the principal HSV loading pier for Marine troops and vehicles. This photo shows the concrete pier with the pilings leading out from it. The HSV backs into the pier and ties up to the pilings, lowers its stern ramp and conducts its load/discharge. Note: also that WestPac Express is the only HSV with an axial stern ramp, the others have quarter ramps with less capacity and cannot load as much ro/ro cargo. Lee Wahler
    Westpac Express 68k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) embarking Marines, date and place unknown. Austal web site
    Westpac Express 49k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) loading/unloading Marine LAV, date and place unknown. Lee Wahler
    Westpac Express 70k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) being offloaded at Chuk Samet, Sattahip, Thailand, 8 May 2002. An AH-1W Cobra Attack Helicopter from Marine Helicopter Attack/Light Squadron Three Six Nine (HMA/L 369) is off-loaded from Westpac Express. Westpac Express, a chartered Military Sealift Command ship that provided extensive logistics support to Exercise Cobra Gold 2002. Cobra Gold 2002 is the 21st U.S. Pacific Command exercise conducted in Thailand demonstrating the ability of U.S. forces to deploy rapidly and conduct joint-combined operations with the Thai and Singapore Armed Forces.
    US Navy photo # 020508-N-9818S-005 by PH2 Jennifer A. Smith.    		 Lee Wahler
    Westpac Express 77k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) underway, date and place unknown. Lee Wahler
    Westpac Express 70k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) underway, date and place unknown. Lee Wahler
    Westpac Express 60k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) underway, date and place unknown. Lee Wahler
    Westpac Express 74k Westpac Express (HSV-4676) arriving in port, date and place unknown. Lee Wahler
    There is no DANFS History currently available for Westpac Express (HSV-4676) at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S.Navy Memorial Foundation
    Fleet Reserve Association
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
    No Information Available
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    This page is created and maintained by Gary P. Priolo
    © 2005 Gary P. Priolo © 1996 - 2008 NavSource Naval History. All Rights Reserved.
    Last Updated 9 June 2006