Launched in 2002, she was initially built as a civilian ferry, but was converted for military use in the final stages of construction. She served from 2002 to 2005 with the United States Army's Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM) as the first Theater Support Vessel (TSV). During this period she was designated USAV Spearhead(TSV-1X).[1] Following military service, she was converted for civilian passenger and vehicle ferry service with the Trinidad and Tobago government on the Port of Spain – Scarborough route along with the T&T Express (HSC Incat 046)
TT Spirit docked in Port of Spain harbour
USAV Spearhead (TSV-1X)edit
This section is about the theater support vessel. For the joint high speed vessel, see USNS Spearhead (JHSV-1).
TSV-1X at sea in 2003
As USAV Spearhead (TSV-1X), the ship was the first of the US Army's theater support vessel (TSV) program. The Army leased Spearhead from Australian fast ferry builder Incat in October 2002. Modifications included helicopter pads suitable for large military helicopters and a two-part hydraulic vehicle ramp that allows rapid loading and discharge of vehicles from the stern or alongside. With its 1,250-ton capacity and shallow draft, Spearhead was the first of what was expected to become a fleet of as many as 17 TSVs.[2][3]
^TSV-1X Spearhead, globalsecurity.org, accessed 23 June 2010.
December 20, 2023
spirit, fast, ferry, operated, government, trinidad, tobago, historytrinidad, tobagooperator2002, 2005, tacom, united, states, army, 2005, 2006, laid, conversion, 2006, present, ferries, behalf, government, route2006, present, port, spain, scarboroughbuilderin. HSC T amp T Spirit is a fast ferry operated by the government of Trinidad and Tobago HistoryTrinidad and TobagoOperator2002 2005 TACOM United States Army 2005 2006 Laid up Conversion 2006 Present Bay Ferries on behalf of T amp T government Route2006 Present Port of Spain ScarboroughBuilderIncat Tasmania AustraliaYard number060Launched2002RenamedIncat 060 construction Spearhead TSV 1X 2002 2005 T amp T Spirit 2006 Present HomeportPort of SpainIdentificationIMO number 9280897 MMSI number 362029000 Callsign 9YGSStatusIn ServiceGeneral characteristicsTonnage6 581 tonnesLength97 22 m 319 0 ft Beam26 6 m 87 3 ft Speed42 knots service 46 5 knots maximum Capacity765 passengers 200 vehiclesLaunched in 2002 she was initially built as a civilian ferry but was converted for military use in the final stages of construction She served from 2002 to 2005 with the United States Army s Tank Automotive and Armaments Command TACOM as the first Theater Support Vessel TSV During this period she was designated USAV Spearhead TSV 1X 1 Following military service she was converted for civilian passenger and vehicle ferry service with the Trinidad and Tobago government on the Port of Spain Scarborough route along with the T amp T Express HSC Incat 046 TT Spirit docked in Port of Spain harbourUSAV Spearhead TSV 1X editThis section is about the theater support vessel For the joint high speed vessel see USNS Spearhead JHSV 1 nbsp TSV 1X at sea in 2003As USAV Spearhead TSV 1X the ship was the first of the US Army s theater support vessel TSV program The Army leased Spearhead from Australian fast ferry builder Incat in October 2002 Modifications included helicopter pads suitable for large military helicopters and a two part hydraulic vehicle ramp that allows rapid loading and discharge of vehicles from the stern or alongside With its 1 250 ton capacity and shallow draft Spearhead was the first of what was expected to become a fleet of as many as 17 TSVs 2 3 Spearhead was deployed in January 2003 to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom 4 The vessel was withdrawn from US Army service in 2005 moving to civilian service as HSC T amp T Spirit Sister ships editHSC Milenium Tres HSC HSV 2 Swift HSC The Cat HSC Milenium Dos HSC Normandie ExpressReferences edit Spearhead A Brief History hazegray org World Navies Today US Army TSV 1X Spearhead GlobalSecurity TSV 1X Spearhead globalsecurity org accessed 23 June 2010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HSC T 26T Spirit amp oldid 1117291042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
