E não é que essa coisa está operacional?!
Está sendo citada como "experimental, porém já em testes operacionais, durante o WATC" etc.
via
http://www.defenselink.mil
At sea with High Speed Vessel Two (HSV 2) Nov. 4, 2003 -- High Speed Vessel Two (HSV 2) Swift is participating in the West African Training Cruise (WATC) 2004, a regularly scheduled exercise, conducted since 1978, consisting of a series of bilateral interactions between the United States and individual African nations. Host nation participants in this year's WATC include Cameroon, Ghana, Gambia, Morocco, Senegal, Sierra Leone and South Africa. U.S. Navy photo. (RELEASED)
From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs
ABOARD HIGH SPEED VESSEL SWIFT (NNS) -- High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 SWIFT, a wave-piercing aluminum-hulled catamaran, might be a glimpse into the U.S. Navy’s future. Although its use is experimental, it's operational and earning its keep while proving its worth.
The ship can chew up ocean at more than 45 knots per hour and operate in only 12 feet of water.
Ship’s company is a mere 40 Sailors, including Commanding Officer Cmdr. Mark Sakaguchi and Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Morrison.
HSV 2 is the evolutionary offspring of HSV X1 Joint Venture, a two-year consortium conducted by the Army, Marine Corps and Navy. The newest model was accepted from Australian builders in July, brought to Bahrain by Ingleside, Texas’, Blue Crew, and turned over to Little Creek, Va.’s, Gold Crew in mid-October. Following crew certification from the Afloat Training Group, the ship departed the Central Command area of responsibility in late-October. (...)
A cavernous 28,000-square-foot mission deck and vehicle ramp, a 4,000-square-foot flight deck, a boat crane, and turn-on-a-dime maneuverability provide SWIFT with the resources to assume countless mission configurations, including maritime interdiction, mine warfare, littoral access, homeland security, expeditious troop and equipment transport and a host of other possibilities. Some see the ship as a stepping-stone to the littoral combat ship.
