BROCK VERGAKIS
Associated Press
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — A Navy ship that resembles a commercial ferry has returned to Virginia following its maiden deployment to Europe and Africa.
The USNS Spearhead returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story on Tuesday. It is the first joint high-speed vessel to be deployed by the Navy. It was designed to quickly transport equipment and personnel from various branches of the military. Eventually, the Navy plans to position 10 of the ships around the world so regional commanders will have them available whenever they’re needed.
The Spearhead and the ships in its class that are following it are primarily made of aluminum and are built in the shape of a catamaran. That allows them to travel about 50 miles per hour, but it also requires that they don’t enter hostile zones.
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