The new expeditionary sea base USNS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams (T-ESB-4) successfully finished the first combined builder’s and acceptance trials off the coast of San Diego on Jan. 19, the Navy said Tuesday.
These combined trials were called the first Integrated Trials for an ESB and had the ship sail from its builder’s shipyard, General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. (NASSCO) [GD].
The Navy said these combined trails allowed the shipyard to demonstrate the ship’s operational capability and mission readiness of all ship systems during a single underway period.
Acceptance trials involve an inspection by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).
“During the trials we were able to conduct a number of tests including full power propulsion, steering and anchoring,” Capt. Scot Searles, strategic and theater sealift program manager at Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships, said in a statement.
“ESBs are versatile platforms, and the ship handled extremely well demonstrating its readiness for delivery,” he added.
The Williams is the second ESB variant platform. This type of ship can travel up to 15 knots, has a range of 9,500 nautical miles, and has a four-spot flight deck.
As an expeditionary sea base it supports maritime missions like special operations and airborne mine counter-measures. ESBs are designed around main capabilities such as berthing, aviation facilities, command and control assets, and equipment staging support.
Separately, the future USNS Miguel Keith (ESB-5) is under construction at NASSCO with a keel laying ceremony planned for Jan. 30.