ATLS-9701

ATLS-9701 is a small unmanned U.S. Navy active service auxiliary Aerial Target Launch Ship operated by the Pacific Targets and Marine Operations Division (PTMO), U.S. Department of the Navy.^[1][2] The ship possesses VHF, UHF, Sat-Phone, NIPR/SIPRNET communication capabilities, equipped with Nobeltec Navigation system, and BQM-74 aerial targets launchers.^[1]

ATLS-9701 in 2011
History
United States
Name	None
Builder	VT Halter Marine Shipbuilder, Moss Point, MS
Launched	1998
In service	1998-present
Homeport	Port Hueneme, Naval Base Ventura County
Identification	MMSI number: 369970276 Callsign: ATLS
Status	in active service
General characteristics
Class & type	aerial target launch ship
Displacement	857 t
Length	264 ft 5 in (80.6 m)
Beam	26 ft (7.9 m)
Draft	6 ft 10 in (2.1 m) maximum
Propulsion	2 x diesels, 2 shafts, 1,342 bhp
Speed	8 knots (15 km/h)
Range	1,000 nautical miles (1,900 km)
Complement	unknown/classified
Armament	2 BQM-74 launchers

History

ATLS-9701 was built in 1998 for MQM-8G Vandal Targets program run by the Naval Air Systems Command. She was used for firing the MQM-8G super-sonic targets simulating cruise missiles, which were reconfigured RIM-8 Talos long-range naval surface-to-air missiles, in order to test the Phalanx and RIM close-range defensive systems deployed by the Navy. MQM-8G's were remote-controlled, non-recoverable vehicles, 36.2 feet in length, 7.3 feet in diameter, and weighing 8,225 pounds.^[3]

U.S Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s Maritime Raid Force fast-roped from Bell UH-1Y Venom onto the ATLS-9701 to train a VBSS mission

After the last MQM-8 targets were launched in 2005, the ATLS-9701 was converted to firing BQM-74 targets and also became a platform for the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Navy for VBSS maritime training, confined space clearing, on-ship container access, and testing helicopter fast-roping skills, among other activities.^[1]

On April 4, 2013, ATLS-9701 was used by the members of the 13th MEU Maritime Raid Force, who fast-roped onto her from a CH-46 helicopter during VBSS training.^[4] On January 11, 2015, the 15th MEU Maritime Raid Force exercised their boarding skills on the ATLS-9701 in San Diego Bay during interoperability training.^[5]