The Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF), or Spearhead-class, has been in service with the U.S. Navy for over a decade, and the Flight-II variant features an improved flight deck with Vipo Vikodeck heat-resistant thermal tiles that allows continuous operation of Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft.
The new variant also has improved medical capabilities (Role 2E) that provide inherent stability to allow surgeons to perform underway medical procedures in an onboard operating suite. It will have a personnel elevator to allow non-ambulatory patient access from the mission bay. The ship will also have an onboard pharmacy, blood bank, and laboratory spaces to support onboard medical operations and mission packages.
EPF Flight II will provide an active motion-compensated watercraft launch and recovery system for 11 meter RHIB operations up to sea state 5.
USNS Cody (EPF 14) is the first ship in the program to follow Flight II design specifications. EPF 14 is currently under construction and is scheduled to be launched in the last quarter of 2022 at Austal Shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
Key Specifications:
| Hull: Catamaran | Crew: 36 |
| Length (Overall): 338ft (103 meters) | Flight Operations: Landing spot for up to V-22 Osprey |
| Beam (Overall): 93.5 ft (29.5 meters) | Watercraft operations: 11m RHIB launch&recover system |
| Draft (full load): 13 ft (4 meters) | Propulsion: – 4xMTU20V8000 diesel engine, – 4xWartsila steerable, reversing waterjets |
| Speed: – 33 knots with 380 metric tons of cargo – 21 knots with 231 metric tons of medical payload | Medical Detachment: – 3 VIP – 1 Officer in charge – 147 embarked force/medical support – 8 isolation/acute care |
| Sea State: 10 knots in Sea State 5 | Medical Beds: – 2 operating rooms (1 major, 1 minor) – 23 medical ward beds – 10 ICU beds – 8 isolation/acute care (in berthing) |
