The US Navy received a new expeditionary transport ship Apalachicola with automated control

The United States is actively building up the capabilities of its naval forces to support expeditionary operations. For example, the US Navy received the 13th Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship Apalachicola Apalachicola (EPF 13). This is reported by the American press.

According to official information, the ship is capable of speeds of 45 knots (83 km/h). It can carry a company of Marines, landing craft and even helicopters. The ship can also take on board the V-22 tiltrotor. But the main feature of the ship is the presence of a fully automated control system, which is designed for thirty days of navigation without human intervention, if the appropriate program is set in advance.

Automation of control makes it possible to significantly reduce the number of crew of an expeditionary ship, which is very important in the face of a growing shortage of personnel in the naval forces. The highly automated mechanism control system (MCS) contributes to the centralization of all operations and facilitates the tasks of managing the ship for its crew.

According to the American press, the EPF 13 is the largest US Navy surface ship with autonomous capabilities. The ship's control system has already been successfully tested. According to the president of the company Austal USA, which developed this ship, Rusty Murdo, autonomous capabilities allow you to reconsider the nature of expeditionary missions. In coastal waters, this ship is extremely effective.

The ship's crew consists of 36 people. The ship also houses a medical team, equipped with 8 beds for isolation and emergency care, 23 beds for patients, and two operating rooms.

Note that the US Navy considers ship control automation as one of the most important areas of development, which is of strategic importance for the American fleet.

Comments

[Sergey Aleksandrovich]

If transport, then where is the crane? If expeditionary, then where are the weapons, and at least a simple air defense installation? With the same success, you can use civilian high-speed ferries.

[Gnefredov]

Here, the crane is at the stern, and the weapons will probably also be visible if there is an image from the right angle.

[Gomunkul]

then where are the weapons, and at least a simple air defense installation?

On Wikipedia about weapons they write:

Armament: x4 mounts for M2 .50 cal machine guns[8] (2 aft, 2 bow)

[Galleon]

Automation of movement and navigation has been developing in Western shipbuilding for a long time. The program will not get tired, like a person, will not miss an emergency situation due to loss of attention and will not bring it to a crisis. 36 people on such a ship is, of course, very small. The catamaran hull scheme with low wave formation is already a signature feature of local shipbuilders. In general, an example of modern shipbuilding for their expeditionary tasks.

[Vashek]

The United States has a whole maritime transport command with 40 pennants, while we supply Syria with old Turkish galoshes with the flag of the Navy. But on the "Gulf" the Tatars broke through the construction of unnecessary expensive pseudo-mistrals. In general, everything is the same as in the rest - without a head, but for money.

[bugagich]

Quote from Vashek

But on the "Zaliva" the Tatars broke through the construction of unnecessary expensive pseudo-mistrals

By the way, I completely forgot about them. I wonder what stage they are at.

[Aristarkh Pasechnik]

In the Chernobyl disaster, German and South Korean robots went out of order due to high radiation almost immediately! Electronics failed! And these ships seem to be needed for the war ...

[zorglub bulgroz]

It smells like an aluminium-magnesium ship.
The Houties burned one of them with a Chinese exonet.

[dump22]

Nice galosh.
In fact, this is a military liner.
The body is aluminium.
There are no weapons or defensive systems to carry out combat missions.
26 crew members and 312 seats.
Moreover, in the passenger compartment there are air conditioners and seats with hanging TVs and special racks for placing weapons.

To be worn and really very, very quickly. But at the same time, seaworthiness is disgusting, the maximum speed is achievable with waves not higher than 3 points, and already at 5 points, the speed is only 5 knots.