The US Navy’s High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 SWIFT will make a port call to Naval Station Norfolk in early February. SWIFT will visit Norfolk to showcase the
latest platform being used in support of the Department of Defense’s transformational experimentation.
The visit highlights the transformational work being done by the Department of the Navy and the Department of the Army for operations in the littoral environment. Using the non-traditional hull as a surrogate for future vessel development, SWIFT will highlight the value associated with vessels whose high speed, shallow draft and extraordinary maneuverability open unprecedented opportunities for littoral operations, and will demonstrate the value of an open architecture design that allows the HSV to be reconfigured for a variety of missions.
SWIFT was delivered to the Navy on August 15, 2003, and departed on her maiden
deployment eleven days later. Building on lessons learned during the testing of HSV X1 JOINT VENTURE and her wartime deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, HSV 2 SWIFT brings new and transformational capabilities to the Navy-Marine Corps team.
SWIFT is currently serving operationally as an interim Mine Warfare Command and
Support Ship (MCS) and supports transformational modular mission payload initiatives.
SWIFT will host media and officials on Friday, February 6, and DoD personnel (DoD employees, dependents and contractors with base access) on Saturday, February 7 from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Following SWIFT’s visit in Norfolk, the ship will visit Alexandria, Va. before returning
to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek.
NOTICE TO MEDIA:
SWIFT will host a media availability at Naval Station Norfolk on Friday, 6 February at 9 a.m. All interested media are invited to attend. Static displays and representatives from SWIFT and commands conducting experimentation on SWIFT will be available.
Interested media should contact Fleet Forces Public Affairs Office at (757)-836-3600 no later than close of business Wednesday, 4 February.
SWIFT will be concluding its visit to Norfolk with a transit to the Washington, D.C. area.
Interested media are invited to embark SWIFT for the transit from Norfolk to Robinson Terminal in Old Town Alexandria, VA. Expected transit time is 12 hours. Meals are not provided and transportation from Alexandria, VA is the responsibility of the organization.
Interested media should contact Fleet Forces Public Affairs Office at (757)-836-3600 no later than close of business Wednesday, 4 February.
