Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced the naming of the USNS Bismarck, one of three joint high speed vessels (JHSV) that include the USNS Yuma, USNS Burlington and two littoral combat ships (LCS) to be named USS Billings and USS Tulsa. USNS Bismarck (JHSV 9) is the first naval vessel to be named in honor of Bismarck, North Dakota's capital city.
“It is a tremendous honor to be chosen to have a Navy ship named after the City of Bismarck,” said Mayor John Warford. “Secretary Mabus called me to break the news and said that one of the reasons the City of Bismarck was selected is because of our community’s patriotism and strong support of the armed services. It is a tribute to the citizens of Bismarck, the entire state of North Dakota and a source of pride and honor,” said Mayor Warford. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average. “This relationship serves to continue the cherished bond of patriotism our residents hold with the dedicated men and women who will serve on Bismarck’s namesake ship for many years to come.”
JHSV are high-speed transport vessels that serve in a variety of roles for the military branches in support of overseas contingency operations, conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and supporting special operations forces.
Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, will build the three new JHSV, which will be 338 feet in length, have a waterline beam of 93.5 feet, displace approximately 2,362 tons, and operate at speeds of approximately 40 knots. Ship building of the USNS Bismarck will begin February 2015 with an expected delivery date of December 2016.
Additional information about joint high speed vessels is available in the link below.
In July of 2008, Donald Winter, US Secretary of the Navy, honored North Dakota by naming a Virginia-Class Nuclear Submarine after our state. The USS North Dakota will represent the most advanced Virginia-Class nuclear powered attack submarine in the world when commissioned in 2014.