High-Speed Swift Underestimated

The future of warfare is HSV-Swift and her kin. These high speed catamarans recently proved their worth in the debri filled waters in Katrina strikened Louisiana:

The Navy's high-speed vessel Swift (HSV 2), homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., played a major role in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in September.Swift was pierside at Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, when the crew learned they were needed to deliver fresh food to federal, state and local agencies assisting with the relief efforts.“You can only eat MREs (meals ready to eat) for so long,” said Lt. Cmdr. Phillip Pournelle, Swift’s executive officer.

Most roads were hopelessy blocked, but they couldn't keep Swift and her gallant crew from helping:

According to Chief Quartermaster Robert M. Collins, Swift’s navigator, traveling through water littered with debris would have been a difficult task for any Navy ship, but the HSV’s capability allowed them to navigate with ease.Swift crew members moored at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., loaded the mission deck with supplies and then departed for New Orleans to resupply the Navy ships already on station. It became apparent to Collins that Swift’s storage capacity was underestimated.

So back and forth she went, finally carrying a total of 501 pallets of food for suffering Louisiana:

It was Swift’s high-speed capability, added Pournelle, and the crew's dedication which enabled them to respond quickly.“You can build all the high-tech ships in the world, but unless you have the crew that’s capable and willing to do the work, it’s useless,” said Pournelle. “You name the mission, you give us the module, and we can do it.”