Prevail (IX-537) is a modified Stalwart-class auxiliary general ocean surveillance ship (AGOS) of the United States Navy previously operated by the U.S. Military Sealift Command as T-AGOS 8. Prevail was reclassified as Unclassified Miscellaneous (IX) in October 2003 and is unofficially referred to as TSV-1. In this context, TSV stands for Training Support Vessel, and should not be confused with the U.S. Army's USAV Spearhead Theater Support Vessel initiative.

Prevail (IX-537)
USNS Prevail (T-AGOS-8), 1986
History
United States
Awarded13 February 1981
BuilderTacoma Boatbuilding Company
Laid down13 March 1985
Launched7 December 1985
In service4 March 1986
ReclassifiedIX-537 17 October 2003
Identification
Statusin active service
General characteristics
Class and typeStalwart-class ocean surveillance ship
Displacement1,565 tons (light) 2,535 tons (full)
Length224 ft (68 m)
Beam43 ft (13 m)
Draft15 ft (4.6 m)
Speed11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Complement33

Prevail is currently assigned to Commander, Carrier Strike Group Four and is operated with a minimal, hybrid crew of civil service and contract mariners. The ship provides a dedicated training support for Strike Group training for U.S. Atlantic Fleet ships, including serving as a platform for training Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations.

Stalwart-class ships were originally designed to collect underwater acoustical data in support of Cold War anti-submarine warfare operations in the 1980s.

A sailor provides cover during a simulation aboard the training support vessel Prevail. Prevail offers a training environment for VBSS teams to test their maritime security operations skills.

Design

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The Stalwart-class ocean surveillance ships were succeeded by the longer Victorious class. Prevail had an overall length of 224 feet (68 m) and a length of 203 feet 6 inches (62.03 m) at its waterline. It had a beam of 43 feet (13 m) and a draft of 15 feet (4.6 m). The surveillance ship had a displacement of 1,600 tonnes (1,600 long tons; 1,800 short tons) at light load and 2,301 tonnes (2,265 long tons; 2,536 short tons) at full load. It was powered by a diesel-electric system of four Caterpillar D-398 diesel-powered generators and two General Electric 550 metric horsepower (540 shp; 400 kW) electric motors. This produced a total of 3,200 metric horsepower (3,200 shp; 2,400 kW) that drove two shafts. It had a gross register tonnage of 1,584 and a deadweight tonnage of 786.[1]

The Stalwart-class ocean surveillance ships had maximum speeds of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). They were built to be fitted with the Surveillance Towed Array Sensor System (SURTASS) system. The ship had an endurance of thirty days. It had a range of 3,000 miles (2,600 nmi; 4,800 km) and a speed of 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph). Its complement was between thirty-two and forty-seven. Its hull design was similar to that of the Powhatan-class tugboats.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Norman Polmar (2005). The Naval Institute Guide to the Ships and Aircraft of the U.S. Fleet. Naval Institute Press. p. 617. ISBN 978-1-59114-685-8.
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