The USNS Millinocket (JHSV-3/T-EPF-3) is a Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport (EPF) vessel operated by the United States Navy's Military Sealift Command. Built in Mobile, Alabama by Austal USA, the ship was laid down on May 3, 2012, launched on June 5, 2013, and officially commissioned on March 21, 2014. The vessel was previously known as Fortitude when it was under the U.S. Army before transferring to the Navy. Designed for rapid deployment, the Millinocket is capable of transporting company-sized units of the U.S. Army or Marine Corps along with their vehicles. It can also be reconfigured as a troop transport for an infantry battalion. The vessel features a flight deck suitable for helicopter operations and a large loading ramp that enables quick vehicle ingress and egress, accommodating the needs of operations in austere environments typical of developing nations. Its shallow draft, under 15 feet (4.6 meters), enhances its ability to operate close to shore and in shallow waters, increasing its versatility for various missions. The ship’s naming was announced by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus on May 30, 2012, in Fall River, Massachusetts. Named after the town of Millinocket in Maine, this vessel is the second U.S. Navy ship to bear the name, the first being a freighter sunk during World War II. Throughout its service, the Millinocket has supported logistical and operational testing, notably in 2016 when it was scheduled to transport items for testing with the USS Fort Worth regarding expeditionary maintenance capabilities. The vessel was stricken from the Naval Register on May 2, 2025, and subsequently joined the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet on July 19, 2025, where it remains as part of the United States Maritime Administration’s mothball fleet. The USNS Millinocket exemplifies the Navy’s focus on agile, rapid-response transport capabilities for modern expeditionary operations.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.