Army to Demonstrate New High Speed Vessel

The Army's future force will soon meet the future of Army transportation when Stryker interim armored vehicles are transported to the Port of Tacoma on a high-speed Army watercraft. The HSV-X1 Joint Venture will pull into port on August 13 carrying soldiers and vehicles of a Fort Lewis-based Stryker Brigade Combat Team returning from a military exercise in California. The Army leased the Joint Venture, a wave-piercing catamaran, to assess the capabilities of this type of technology for future procurement. The test vessel is capable of sustained speeds greater than 40 knots, and is four times faster than current Army watercraft. The 313-ft. aluminum catamaran can carry 850 short tons and accommodate 363 personnel, including crew. This type of technology promises to transform the way the Army transports soldiers within a theater of operations.