View source for HSV-2 Swift

{{Short description|This is about a hybrid catamaran. For the virus HSV-2, see [[Herpes simplex virus]].}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin
| display title = HSV-2 ''Swift''
}}
{{Infobox ship image
| Ship image = [[File:US Navy 031104-N-0000S-001 High Speed Vessel Two (HSV 2) Swift is participating in the West African Training Cruise.jpg|300px|border|alt=HSV-2 ''Swift'']]
| Ship caption = 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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| Ship country = United States
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|USA}}
| Ship name = HSV-2 ''Swift''
| Ship ordered = October 2002
| Ship builder = [[Incat]], [[Tasmania]], Australia
| Ship yard number = 061
| Ship awarded = 
| Ship original cost = 
| Ship way number = 
| Ship laid down = 
| Ship launched = <!-- August 15, 2003 - delivered to US Navy on this date; not sure where it should go-->
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| Ship completed = 
| Ship acquired = 15 August 2003
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| Ship maiden voyage = 
| Ship in service = 
| Ship out of service = 2013
| Ship renamed = 
| Ship reclassified = 
| Ship refit = October 2008
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| Ship motto = 
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| Ship captured = 
| Ship fate = Left U.S. [[Military Sealift Command|MSC]] contracted service in 2013
| Ship notes = [[Port of registry]] was changed to [[Majuro]], upon purchase of ''Swift'' by Sealift Inc. Concurrent with that her [[Civil ensign|flag]] was changed to [[Flag of convenience|that]] of the [[Republic of the Marshall Islands]]. After being leased by the UAE, ''Swift'' started flying the [[Flag of the United Arab Emirates]] (civil ensign). May have flown national flag/[[United Arab Emirates Navy|naval]] [[Naval Ensign|ensign]] later in her UAE service but this is unconfirmed.
| Ship badge = 
}}
{{Infobox ship career
| Hide header = title
| Ship country = United Arab Emirates
| Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|UAE}}
| Ship name = *''Swift 1'' (2013–2018)
*''Ift'' (2018–Present)
| Ship acquired = 
| Ship status = Laid up at [[Salamis Island]]
| Ship identification = *[[Maritime call sign|Call sign]]: A6E2257
*{{IMO number|9283928}}
*{{MMSI|470149000}}
| Ship fate = Attacked 1 October 2016; remained afloat and salvaged as of 4 October 2016. Declared unrepairable and decommissioned.
| Ship owner = [[Seajets]] (2017–Present)
| Ship registry = [[Avatiu]] {{flag|Cook Islands|Civil}} (2018–Present)
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
| Hide header = 
| Header caption = 
| Ship class = 
| Ship type = 
| Ship tonnage = 
| Ship displacement = *{{Convert|1668|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} [[full displacement|full]]
*{{Convert|940|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} standard
| Ship length = {{convert|321.5|ft|m|abbr=on}}
| Ship beam = {{convert|88.6|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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| Ship draft = {{convert|11.15|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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| Ship power = 
| Ship propulsion = [[Caterpillar Inc.|Caterpillar]] 3618 marine diesel engines
| Ship speed = *{{Convert|45|kn|lk=in}} maximum
*{{Convert|30|kn}} operating
| Ship range = {{Convert|3500|nmi|abbr=on}}
| Ship endurance = 
| Ship boats = 
| Ship capacity = *Approximately {{Convert|605|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}
*Approximately {{Convert|28740|sqft|0|abbr=on}} cargo deck
| Ship troops = 
| Ship complement = 17 Contract Mariners; berthing for 107 with additional temporary berthing for 87 when seating is converted
| Ship crew = 35
| Ship time to activate = 
| Ship sensors = 
| Ship EW = 
| Ship armament = 4 × .50 caliber [[M2 Browning]] machine gun mounts
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}}
|}

'''HSV-2 ''Swift''''' is<!-- do not change this to past tense without discussing on talk page --> a hybrid [[catamaran]]. She was privately owned and operated by [[Sealift Inc.]], and was originally built under the [[JHSV]] program as a [[proof of concept]]. As part of this program, she was directly leased for evaluation from her [[Incat|builders]] by the [[United States Navy]] [[Military Sealift Command]] from 2003 to 2013, primarily as a [[Naval mine|mine]] countermeasures and sea basing test platform. Later during her official naval career she was mostly used for fleet support and humanitarian partnership missions.

In July 2015, the ship was leased by the United Arab Emirates National Marine Dredging Company and was used to carry aid through the [[Bab Al Mandab]] strait.<ref name="BBCS">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-37561749|title=Yemen conflict: UAE says Houthis attacked civilian ship|publisher=BBC|date=5 October 2016}}</ref> On 1 October 2016, the ship was attacked and [[Total loss#Shipping|damaged]] off the coast of [[Yemen]] by [[Iran|Iranian-backed]] rebel [[Houthis]], who at the time claimed to have sunk the ship.<ref name="td1">{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/5404/hsv-2-swift-destroyed-off-yemeni-coast-by-anti-ship-missile|title=HSV-2 Swift Destroyed Off Yemeni Coast By Anti-Ship Missile|date=2 October 2016 |publisher=The War Zone}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/incatbuilt-hsv2-swift-battered-but-not-sunk-in-rocket-attack/news-story/a84a2adfa91fa5d307b3cf72697d6b2f?nk=ca71e37567520a3d5e9ee240c9c145b5-1543105798|title=Incat-built HSV-2 Swift battered but not sunk in rocket attack|newspaper=The Mercury|date=6 October 2016}}</ref> According to unnamed U.S. [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] officials, the ship was damaged and was being towed to Eritrea.<ref name="Tomlinson, 2016">{{cite web |url= https://www.foxnews.com/world/us-warships-sent-to-area-where-iran-backed-rebels-attacked-saudi-led-coalition-ship |title= US warships sent to area where Iran-backed rebels attacked Saudi-led coalition ship |first= Lucas |last= Tomlinson |publisher= Fox News |date= 3 October 2016 }}</ref> The vessel sustained serious damage to its bow, but remained afloat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasmania/incatbuilt-hsv2-swift-battered-but-not-sunk-in-rocket-attack/news-story/a84a2adfa91fa5d307b3cf72697d6b2f|title=Swift battered but not sunk in attack|date=6 October 2016}}</ref>

==Design and description==
The ship is a [[wave-piercing]], aluminum-hulled, commercial catamaran with military enhancements, such as a [[helicopter]] flight deck, vehicle deck, small boat and unmanned vehicle launch and recovery capability, and a communications suite. She features a new, modular design, which will allow her to be refitted to support missions without requiring long shipyard periods. While from the front the vessel looks like a [[trimaran]], the center hull does not rest in the water and is not used for [[buoyancy]]. As a logistics vessel, the ship does not have water-tight compartments or weapons systems. Propulsion is provided by directional water jets, so the ship does not have propellers or a rudder for steering, and can maneuver in {{convert|12|ft|abbr=on|order=flip}} of water.<ref name=FTU>Brumley, Jeff: [http://jacksonville.com/news/florida/2011-10-05/story/unusual-ship-visits-mayport-after-6-month-deployment-african-waters "Unusual ship visits Mayport after 6-month deployment to African waters"] Florida Times-Union, October 5, 2011.</ref>

The HSV stands for "High Speed Vessel", and her home port while chartered as a [[Military Sealift Command|MSC]] vessel was [[Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. The vessel had two CONMAR crews that typically rotated every three months to keep the ship deployed eleven months per year. The minimum crew size is 35; during her time with the MSC 18 were military with the balance civilian, provided through [[American Maritime Officers]] and [[Seafarers International Union]] of the [[United States Merchant Marine]]. On rare occasion that she was in a United States port, it was usually [[Naval Station Mayport]], Florida, supporting the [[United States Fourth Fleet|Fourth Fleet]] or Charleston, South Carolina, for major maintenance. [[Rota, Cádiz|Rota, Spain]], was considered by the crew to be the "Mediterranean home away from home.<ref name=FTU/>

==Construction and acquisition==
The ship was constructed by the Australian shipbuilder [[Incat]] in [[Hobart]], [[Tasmania]], and was leased to the U.S. Navy through [[Bollinger Shipyards|Bollinger]]/[[Incat]] of [[Lockport, Louisiana]]. She was the second catamaran the Navy leased to test new technologies and concepts associated with the [[Chief of Naval Operations]]'s "[[Sea Power 21]]" plan. The contract value for the first year was $21.7 million.

''Swift'' is the fourth Incat-built high-speed wave piercing catamaran to enter military service, following behind {{HMAS|Jervis Bay|AKR 45|6}}, [[United States Army]] Vessel (USAV) Theater Support Vessel {{Ship|USAV|Spearhead|TSV-X1|3}} and {{USS|Joint Venture|HSV-X1|6}}.

==US flagged service ==
The first ship of this class to be used by the Navy, [[HSC Manannan|''Joint Venture'' (HSV-X1)]], proved her military mettle during the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] as a forward staging platform for [[Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team|Marine Fleet Anti-Terrorism]] and [[United States Navy SEAL]] teams in the shallow waters of [[Umm Qasr]], Iraq. The Navy hoped to build upon lessons learned from ''Swift'' and her predecessor, and eventually use the information to create a new class of [[littoral combat ship]]s.<ref>{{cite news |first=C. Grant |last=Johnson |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=11055 |title= Hampton Roads Welcomes HSV 2 Swift |publisher= US Navy News |date= 20 December 2002 }}</ref>

In the autumn of 2003, while operating with the [[United States Fifth Fleet|Fifth Fleet]], ''Swift'' completed the fastest-ever transit of the northern [[Great Barrier Reef]] from [[Cairns, Queensland|Cairns]] to [[Booby Island (Queensland)|Booby Island]], Australia, averaging slightly over {{convert|39|kn|km/h|lk=in}}.<ref name="McKain, 2003">{{cite news |first=Shawnee |last=McKain |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=9671 |title= HSV 2 Swift Lives up to Its Name |publisher= US Navy News |date=25 September 2003 }}</ref> During flight deck certifications, ''Swift''{{'}}s crew conducted aircraft recovery while making {{convert|43|kn|km/h}} during one recovery and had {{convert|66|kn|km/h|adj=on}} apparent winds during another recovery.<ref name="McKain, 2003" />

In November 2003 she began [[West Africa]]n Training Cruise-04. She first visited the [[South African Navy]] (SAN) base at [[Durban]] on 3 November 2003. She then exercised with the SAN and the [[South African Air Force]] off [[Simon's Town]] in the [[Western Cape]]. As of early November 2003, as reported by [[Jane's Defence Weekly]] on 19 November 2003, exercises were also planned with Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. ''Swift'' had embarked a small [[United States Marine Corps]] (USMC) detachment for the cruise, 'which will draw on Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade equipment for the exercises.'<ref>{{citation |author=Helmoed-Romer Heitman |title=US Navy catamaran on training cruise off West Africa |work=Jane's Defence Weekly |date=19 November 2003 |pages=19 }}</ref> The Jane's Defence Weekly story said that Marine reservists will practice with the NALMEB (Norway Air-Landed Marine Expeditionary Brigade) equipment, and the cruise would also be used to evaluate an experimental lightweight [[ROWPU]] that was at that time being tested by the USMC warfighting laboratory. The vessel returned in early 2004. In 2004, the United States Navy tested the Australian built ''Swift'' in the multinational exercise [[RIMPAC]].{{citation needed|date=October 2016|reason=Whole paragraph uncited since IP anon added June 19, 2005}}

[[File:US Navy 050130-N-8629M-123 A forklift offload supplies from the High Speed Vessel Two (HSV 2) Swift in Singapore.jpg|thumb|left|A forklift offloads supplies from ''Swift'' in Singapore, 30 January 2005]]
In January 2005, ''Swift'' was tapped to provide logistical assistance during the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|tsunami relief effort]] in North [[Sumatra]]. ''Swift'' departed [[Naval Station Ingleside]], Texas, on 3 January 2005.<ref>{{cite news |first= Fifi |last= Kieschnick |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=16511 |title= Ingleside Ship Deploys to Support Disaster Relief Efforts |publisher= US Navy News |date= 5 January 2005 }}</ref> ''Swift'' was in Pearl Harbor 15 January 2005, on the way to provide assistance following the tsunami.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=20683 |title= Image 050115-N-9662L-003 Caption |publisher=US Navy |date= 15 January 2005}}</ref> The ship arrived in Singapore on 30 January 2005,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=21360 |title= Image 050130-N-8629M-069 Caption |publisher=US Navy |date= 30 January 2005}}</ref> Belawan, Indonesia 3 February 2005<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=21644 |title= Image 050203-N-3642E-008 Caption |publisher=US Navy |date= 3 February 2005}}</ref> and Sattahip, Thailand, on 7 February 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.navy.mil/view_image.asp?id=21617 |title= Image 050207-N-3642E-001 Caption |publisher=US Navy |date= 7 February 2005}}</ref>

Prior to arriving in the tsunami affected region, crews were swapped in [[Pearl Harbor]], with Gold crew relieving Blue crew in less than eight hours.{{citation needed|date=October 2016|reason=Whole paragraph uncited since IP anon added June 19, 2005}} ''Swift'' embarked a helicopter detachment, and served as a base of operations for two helicopters and their crew for 30 consecutive days at sea. During the operation, ''Swift'' sailed for 30 straight days, supported a helicopter detachment and support crew and conducted two underway replenishments.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.incat.com.au/domino/incat/incatweb.nsf/v-title/HSV%202%20Swift?OpenDocument |title= HSV-2 Swift |publisher= Incat |access-date= 2 October 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160906210600/http://www.incat.com.au/domino/incat/incatweb.nsf/v-title/HSV%202%20Swift?OpenDocument |archive-date= 6 September 2016 }}</ref>

[[File:US Navy 050906-N-6204K-054 U.S. Navy Chief Warrant Officer Tony Cochran speaks through a megaphone to Sailors aboard the High Speed Vessel (HSV-2) Swift as it prepares for a vertical replenishment of supplies aboard the amphibi.jpg|thumb|''Swift'' in New Orleans following Katrina, 6 September 2005]]
In 2005, ''Swift'' played a major role in [[Hurricane Katrina]] relief efforts. With most roads inaccessible along the [[Gulf Coast]], ''Swift'' and her crew delivered the necessary supplies by water, traversing the [[Mississippi River]] multiple times hauling humanitarian aid between [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]], [[Florida]], and [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Marissa |last=Kaylor |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=20445 |title= Swift's Back and Forth Efforts Pay Off - NNS051007-07 |publisher= US Navy News |date= 7 October 2005 }}</ref>

During the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], ''Swift'' was used to transport humanitarian assistance materials from [[Cyprus]] to [[Beirut]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael B. W. |last= Watkins |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=25067 |title= Humanitarian Aid Reaches Lebanon |publisher= US Navy News |date= 9 August 2006 }}</ref>

[[File:US Navy 070930-N-5677B-003 High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift arrives at Naval Station Mayport marking the end of its deployment.jpg|thumb|left|''Swift'' showing ramp detail, returning to Mayport after GFS deployment, 30 September 2007.]]
''Swift'' departed [[Naval Station Mayport]], Florida, on 25 April 2007, to serve as a Global Fleet Station (GFS). The ship hosted more than 1,000 host nation military and civilian personnel during twelve visits to seven countries such as Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Panama. In these countries, personnel on board ''Swift'' conducted 39,890 hours of subject matter expert exchanges in such areas as leadership, small boat operations, port security and small unit tactics.<ref name=GFS >{{cite news |first=Cynthia |last=Clark |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=32219 |title= Pilot Global Fleet Station Completes Mission |publisher= US Navy News |date= 2 October 2007 |access-date= 2 October 2016 |archive-date= 12 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161012081111/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=32219 |url-status= dead }}</ref>

The six-month U.S. Navy sponsored GFS deployment tested the Navy's GFS concept, a maritime security cooperation initiative aimed at strengthening global partnerships through training and cooperation activities. ''Swift'' transported U.S. military training teams to conduct maritime training with regional civil and maritime services.<ref name=GFS />

During the last half of the deployment, more than {{convert|20000|lb|abbr=on}} of medical and food supplies were donated through Project Handclasp. ''Swift'' hosted numerous dignitaries, including the [[Prime Minister of Jamaica]] and U.S. Ambassadors to Panama, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and Jamaica.<ref name=GFS />

The GFS pilot mission was completed on 30 September 2007, when ''Swift'' returned to Naval Station Mayport, Florida.<ref name=GFS />

[[File:The High-Speed Vessel Swift (HSV-2) gets underway with a tethered TIF-25K Aerostat balloon in Key West, Fla., on April 24, 2013 130424-N-IC228-112.jpg|thumbnail|right|''Swift'' with Tethered Aerostat]]

On 5 May 2010, ''Swift'', along with various embarked Navy and Marine Corps units, departed Naval Station Mayport for a five-month deployment for Southern Partnership Station (SPS) 2010.<ref>{{cite news |first=Robert A. |last= Wood Sr. |url= http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=53131 |title= HSV 2 Swift Departs for Southern Partnership Station 2010 |publisher= US Navy News |date= 6 May 2010 }}</ref>

While in port, ''Swift'' received 140 Project Handclasp pallets and two fire engines. The [[Wisconsin]] [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]] State Partnership Program donated the fire engines to Project Handclasp for transportation to Nicaragua, their partner nation.

Project Handclasp is a U.S. Navy program that accepts and transports educational, humanitarian and goodwill material on a space-available basis aboard U.S. Navy ships for distribution to foreign nation recipients.

SPS is an annual deployment of various specialty platforms to the U.S. [[United States Southern Command|Southern Command]] (USSOUTHCOM) area of responsibility (AOR) in the Caribbean and [[Latin America]]. The mission's primary goal is information sharing with navies, coast guards, and civilian services throughout the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=53131|title=HSV 2 Swift Departs for Southern Partnership Station 2010|last=Wood|first=Robert|newspaper=[[navy.mil]]|date=2010-05-06|access-date=2010-11-26}}</ref>

In April 2013, a TIF-25K Tethered [[Aerostat]] (unmanned [[blimp]]) was tested from the stern of ''Swift''. The aerostat could be positioned {{convert|3,000|ft|m}} above the vessel for surveillance.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=73794|title=USNS Swift Completes Aerostat and UAV Testing, Departs Key West for Operation Martillio |last=Allen|first=Sean|newspaper=[[navy.mil]]|date= 2013-01-05|access-date=2013-08-01}}</ref>

''Swift'' was to be replaced with {{Ship|USNS|Spearhead|JHSV-1|6}} when that vessel came into service.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cavas |first=Christopher P. |url=http://www.defensenews.com/article/20121015/DEFREG02/310150006/Interview-U-S-Navy-Rear-Adm-Mark-Buzby |title=Interview: U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Mark Buzby |website=Defense News |date=15 October 2012}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Originally chartered in July 2003 as an interim mine warfare command and support ship for "transformational" mine warfare modular mission payload initiatives, the ship had been sent to the [[Persian Gulf]], South Africa, the [[North Sea]], and [[Hawaii]] within one year. Other locations included the Gulf of Mexico, Singapore, Thailand, [[Sicily]], Spain, and southern [[California]]. As mine demonstration missions wore down, ''Swift'' was used in partnership missions, performing extended cruises to Africa, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The five-year charter was renewed in 2008, and the ship continued to serve until the introduction of [[Joint High Speed Vessel]]s. ''Swift'' ended her service with Military Sealift Command in 2013.<ref name="Binnie, 2015" />

== UAE flagged service ==
''Swift'' returned to Incat at Hobart in July 2013 for refit for sale or charter.<ref>{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095203/http://prelive.themercury.com.au/article/2013/07/30/384595_tasmania-news.html |archive-date=2014-10-06 |url=http://prelive.themercury.com.au/article/2013/07/30/384595_tasmania-news.html |title=Swift returns to Hobart |first=Nick |last=Clark |date=July 30, 2013 |newspaper=The Mercury |url-status=dead }}</ref> As of July 2015 the vessel was reportedly being operated by the UAE's National Marine Dredging Company.<ref name="Binnie, 2015">{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730225454/http://www.janes.com/article/53274/hsv-2-turns-up-off-aden |archive-date=2015-07-30 |last=Binnie |first=Jeremy |title=HSV-2 turns up off Aden |url=http://www.janes.com/article/53274/hsv-2-turns-up-off-aden |journal=IHS Jane's Defence Weekly |date=28 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ship was used to carry aid, wounded, and passengers as part of the [[Saudi-led intervention in Yemen]] through Bab Al Mandeb strait.<ref name="BBCS" />

=== Attack off the coast of Yemen ===
{{See also|Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen}}
On 1 October 2016, [[Iran]]ian-backed rebel [[Houthis]] claimed to have attacked and sunk ''Swift'' off the [[Yemen]]i coast around [[Bab-el-Mandeb]] strait. The [[United Arab Emirates Armed Forces|UAE military]] reported ''Swift'' had been involved in an "incident", but there were no casualties.<ref name="td1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/10/yemen-houthis-claim-attack-uae-military-vessel-161001212236896.html|title=Yemen: Houthis claim attack on UAE military vessel|publisher=aljazeera.com |date= 1 October 2016}}</ref> UAE military reported that ''Swift'' was carrying aid when she was attacked and that the ship did not have any military capacity.<ref name="BBCS" /><ref>{{cite news |url= http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/10/01/Yemen-rebels-claim-attack-on-UAE-military-vessel-.html |title= Yemen rebels claim attack on UAE military-vessel |website= alarabiya.net |publisher=[[Al Arabiya]] |date= 1 October 2016}}</ref> Saudi Arabia reported that their forces rescued passengers from a damaged UAE ship at dawn on 1 October 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.reuters.com/article/us-emirates-security-yemen-idUSKCN1213B7 |title= Saudi-led forces rescue passengers from vessel off Yemen: SPA |website= Reuters |date= 1 October 2016}}</ref> There are conflicting reports as to whether she was en route to [[Aden]], a regular destination, or [[Mocha, Yemen|Mokha]] at the time she was attacked.{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} Unnamed U.S. Defense officials reported that four "shoulder-fired rockets" were used in the attack,<ref name="Tomlinson, 2016" /> but Houthis said it was a [[C-802]]/[[Noor (missile)|Noor]] [[anti-ship missile]].{{citation needed|date=October 2016}} According to open source naval analyst and retired Navy Captain Chris Carlson, the shrapnel damage to ''Swift'' indicates she was hit by [[Explosively formed penetrator|EFP]] warhead, most likely a C-802.<ref name="expert">{{Cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2016/10/11/uss-mason-fired-3-missiles-to-defend-from-yemen-cruise-missiles-attack|title=USS Mason Fired 3 Missiles to Defend From Yemen Cruise Missiles Attack |last=LaGrone|first=Sam|date=11 October 2016|website=USNI News|publisher=U.S. Naval Institute|access-date=13 October 2016}}</ref>

U.S. Navy destroyers {{USS|Mason|DDG-87|6}} and {{USS|Nitze}}, and [[amphibious transport dock]] {{USS|Ponce|LPD-15|6}} were dispatched to the area "to ensure that shipping continues unimpeded in the strait and the vicinity."<ref name="Tomlinson, 2016" /> ''Mason'' and ''Ponce'' were subsequently attacked on 9 October,<ref name="expert"/> 12 October<ref name="2nd attack">{{Cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2016/10/12/pentagon-respond-appropriate-manner-new-missile-attack-uss-mason-yemen|title=Pentagon Pledges to Respond in 'Appropriate Manner' After New Yemen Missile Attack on USS Mason|last=LaGrone|first=Sam|date=12 October 2016|website=USNI News|publisher=U.S. Naval Institute|access-date=12 October 2016}}</ref> and again on 15 October.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Starr|first1=Barbara|last2=Kenny|first2=Caroline|title=USS Mason fires missiles in Red Sea after apparent attack|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/15/politics/uss-mason-fired-on-again/|access-date=16 October 2016|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=15 October 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2016/10/15/cno-richardson-uss-mason-attacked-cruise-missiles-off-yemen|title=CNO Richardson: USS Mason 'Appears to Have Come Under Attack' |last=LaGrone|first=Sam|date=15 October 2016|website=USNI News|publisher=U.S. Naval Institute|access-date=16 October 2016}}</ref> U.S. Defense officials said that ''Swift'' was in tow to Eritrea as of 3 October 2016.<ref name="Tomlinson, 2016" /> Later photographs proved that she was still afloat, albeit heavily damaged, as of 5 October 2016.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.wam.ae/ar/news/general/1395300784708.html |script-title=ar:الجرافات البحرية : السفينة " سويفت " تتمتع بغطاء تأميني. |trans-title=Marine Dredging: Ship "Swift" is covered by insurance. |language=ar |publisher=[[Emirates News Agency |Emirates News Agency (WAM)]] |date=5 October 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161006155516/http://www.wam.ae/ar/news/general/1395300784708.html |archive-date=6 October 2016 }}</ref>

==Move to Greece==
Social media reports showed her afloat in a Greek port in July 2017 with significant damage to the port bow.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/vonFalkenhorst/status/884309504464236544|title=Heavily Damaged HSV-2}}</ref> {{As of|2017|7}}, ''Swift'' 1 is reportedly now owned by Greek ferry company [[Seajets]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.koinignomi.gr/news/oikonomia/epiheirimatikotita/2017/07/04/ena-polemiko-ploio-sto-stolo-tis-seajets.html |script-title=el:Ένα πολεμικό πλοίο στο στόλο της SEAJETS |trans-title=A warship in the SEAJETS fleet |last=Κορωναίου |first=Ευαγγελία |language=el |work=Κοινή Γνώμη |date=5 July 2017 |access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://seazoom.org/2017/07/02/στην-ελευσίνα-έφτασε-το-hsv-2-swift-photos/ |script-title=el:Στην Ελευσίνα έφτασε το HSV-2 SWIFT |trans-title= HSV-2 SWIFT arrives at Elefsina Bay |language=el |work=Seazoom.gr |date=2 July 2017 |access-date=10 July 2017}}</ref> In 2018 she was renamed ''Ift.''

==Gallery==
<div align="center"><gallery perrow="5">
File:US Navy 031010-N-3236B-001 High Speed Vessel Two (HSV-2) navigates the waters off the coast of Southern Iraq.jpg|HSV-2 ''Swift'' navigates the waters off the coast of Southern Iraq
File:US Navy 040710-N-6551H-144 The High Speed Vessel (HSV) 2 Swift refuels the mine warfare ship USS Avenger (MCM 1).jpg|''Swift'' refuels ''Avenger'' during RIMPAC 2004
File:US Navy 050218-N-4500P-001 The High Speed Vessel Two (HSV 2) Swift takes on fuel from the Military Sealift Command (MSC) replenishment oiler ship USNS Yukon (T-AO 202).jpg|''Swift'' refuels astern from USNS ''Yukon'', 18 February 2005.
Image:HSV-2 Swift232.png|''Swift'' in Limassol Port in July 2006, during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict
Image:Hsv-2swift43543.jpg|''Swift'' in Limassol Port
Image:Hsv-2swiftrear343.jpg|Rear view of ''Swift'' while in Limassol Port
File:US Navy 061121-N-2716P-002 U.S. Navy High-Speed Vessel Swift (HSV 2) maneuvers through Yokosuka Bay, as it departs Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan following a routine port visit.jpg|''Swift'' navigates through Yokosuka Bay in [[Yokosuka, Japan]]
File:HSV-2 Swift Port Suez, Egypt June 2016.jpg|''Swift'' in port at Oceandro Large Yacht shipyard, Port Suez, Egypt. Damage to the starboard bow from the alleged Houthi rebel attack is clearly visible.
</gallery></div>

==Related developments==
*[[HMAS Jervis Bay (AKR 45)|HMAS ''Jervis Bay'' (AKR-45)]] (Royal Australian Navy)
*[[HSV-X1 Joint Venture|HSV-1 ''Joint Venture'']] (US Navy)

== References ==
*{{USNAVY}}
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051108055330/http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/ships/ship-hsv.html US Navy Fact File - High Speed Vessel], Archived November 2005.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130217104721/http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=163 Military Sealift Command - High-Speed Vessel Swift]. Archive as of February 2013.
* {{cite magazine |url= http://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2013/July/msc.htm |title= Ready? You bet! |magazine= Sealift |publisher= Military Sealift Command |date= July 2013 |access-date= 1 October 2016 |archive-date= 12 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161012080624/http://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2013/July/msc.htm |url-status= dead }} - Summary of MSC service of HSV-2 Swift

{{US Navy High Speed Vessels}}
{{Seajets}}
{{2016 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Swift}}
[[Category:Mine warfare vessels of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:High speed vessels of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Catamarans of the United States Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built by Incat]]
[[Category:Incat high-speed craft]]
[[Category:2003 ships]]
[[Category:Experimental ships]]
[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the United States]]
[[Category:Troop ships]]
[[Category:Amphibious warfare vessels of Australia]]
[[Category:Ships of the Marshall Islands]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in 2016]]
[[Category:United Arab Emirates Navy]]
[[Category:Ships of the United Arab Emirates Navy]]
[[Category:Military operations involving the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Military intervention in Yemen]]
[[Category:Yemeni crisis]]
[[Category:Military catamarans]]
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