Features
EPF Flight I is designed to transport 600 short tons of military cargo 1,200 nautical miles at an average speed of 35 knots in Sea State 3. The ships can operate in shallow-draft ports and waterways, interfacing with roll-on/roll-off discharge facilities and on/off-loading a combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle Tank (M1A2). The EPF includes a flight deck for helicopter operations and an off-load ramp that allows vehicles to drive off the ship quickly. The ramp is suitable for austere piers and quay walls common in developing countries. The ship's shallow draft (under 15 feet) will further enhance littoral operations and port access. This makes the EPF an extremely flexible asset for support of a wide range of operations, including maneuver and sustainment, relief operations in small or damaged ports, flexible logistics support, or as the key enabler for rapid transport.

EPF Flight II, beginning with EPF 14, will conduct the same missions undertaken by EPF Flight I ships with the qualification that the Navy will reduce its lift capacity from 600 short tons (ST) to 330 ST. This reduction is due to the engineering and design changes that will improve the Flight II's overall operational capabilities.

EPF Flight II enhancements include:

• Strengthened bow.
• Flight deck modifications to allow CMV/MV-22 launch and recovery.
• 11M Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) davit.
• Medical treatment and support spaces.
• An elevator to move personnel and equipment from the mission deck to medical treatment areas.
• Increases embarked personnel berthing, potable water, and sewage capacity.
• Ability to embark Role 2 Enhanced (R2E) medical capability while maintaining a reduced high-speed intra-theater surface lift capability.

Military Sealift Command (MSC) operates and sustains the EPFs, which will be allocated via the Global Force Management for Theater Security Cooperation, service unique missions, intra-theater sealift, and special missions.

In 2008, the Navy awarded Austal USA, Mobile, Alabama, a fixed-price incentive contract modification for detail design and construction (DD&C) of one EPF. The contract modification also included options for constructing up to nine additional ships and associated shore-based spares, which have all been awarded. Austal was subsequently awarded follow-on construction contracts for EPF 11 and EPF 12 in September 2016 and EPF 13 and 14 in March 2019. The company was awarded a construction contract for EPF 15 in December 2021 and EPF 16 in May 2022.

The Navy has accepted the delivery of 14 EPF. EPF 15 and EPF 16 are currently in production.

Ships:

USNS Spearhead (T-EPF 1) - delivered
USNS Choctaw County (T-EPF 2) - delivered
USNS Millinocket (T-EPF 3) - delivered
USNS Fall River (T-EPF 4) - delivered
USNS Trenton (T-EPF 5) - delivered
USNS Brunswick (T-EPF 6) - delivered
USNS Carson City (T-EPF 7) - delivered
USNS Yuma (T-EPF 8) - delivered
USNS City of Bismarck (T-EPF 9) - delivered
USNS Burlington (T-EPF 10) - delivered
USNS Puerto Rico (T-EPF 11) - delivered
USNS Newport (T-EPF 12) - delivered
USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) - delivered
USNS Cody (EPF 14) - delivered
USNS Point Loma (EPF-15) – under construction
USNS Lansing (EPF-16) – under construction

Point of Contact
Naval Sea Systems Command
Office of Corporate Communications 
(SEA 00D)
Washington, D.C. 20376
(202) 781-2718

Military Sealift Command
Public Affairs
471 East C St.
Norfolk, VA 23511-2419
(757) 443-2839