Navy takes delivery of USNS Yuma
NewsApril 24, 2017
WASHINGTON. The Navy has accepted delivery of its eighth Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel, dubbed the USNS Yuma, known as EPF 8.
EPFs are shallow-draft, all-aluminum, commercial-based catamarans that provide combatant commanders with high-speed sealift mobility capable of intratheater personnel and cargo transport. EPFs allow for rapid projection and agile maneuver and transport of personnel, equipment, and supplies over operational distances and are able to reach harsh and degraded offload points.
The EPFs can interface with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities and are capable of on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank. The vessels include a flight deck to support day and night aircraft launch and recovery operations and are equipped with airline-style seating for 312 embarked forces with fixed berthing for 104. USNS Yuma will be owned and operated by the Military Sealift Command, a department that controls the replenishment and military transport ships of the Navy and is additionally responsible for providing ocean transportation for all U.S. military services as well as for other government agencies.
USNS Yuma was built by Austal USA, a company that is currently under contract for the construction of four additional EPFs.
