Article Posted on : - May 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (BNS): The US Navy has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Army for transferring all five of the Army’s Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) to the Navy.

The intent of this MOA is to clarify relationships, identify the roles and responsibilities, and provide an implementation plan, a US DOD statement said.

In addition, this MOA formalizes and delineates the management, leadership, and requirements sponsorship roles required to deliver the capability encompassed by the JHSV to the combatant commanders, it said.

“This agreement with the Army demonstrates our commitment to reducing redundancies and saving money for the taxpayer,” said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.

Initially, the JHSV program was envisioned to have five of the first 10 JHSVs assigned to the Army and the remainder to the Navy. However, at the Army/Navy Warfighter Talks in December 2010, both services agreed to transfer the Army’s five JHSVs upon signing of this MOA; all 10 JHSVs will now be assigned to Navy.

Joint High Speed Vessels will be used for fast intra-theater transportation of troops, military vehicles and equipment.