U.S. NAVY - LITTORAL COMBAT SHIPSMULTI-MISSION, DUAL DESIGN, SINGLE FOCUSLittoral Combat ShipBy Greg Trauthweinast month marked the launch waukee, into the Menominee River at 40 knots. Navy, Research, Development and Ac-of two new Littoral Combat Marinette Marine. Central to both LCS designs is the re- quisition.Ships: Milwaukee (LCS 5) While the temperature was cold, the duction of crew size with a correspond- “With the Milwaukee, Marinette launched by Marinette Ma- mood was not, as hundreds of dignitar- ing increase in mission ? exibility. To this Marine Corporation is now in full se-rine into the icy Menominee ies, shipyard workers and their families end, Milwaukee’s crew of 40 sailors can rial LCS production, an exciting accom-LRiver; and Jackson (LCS 6) launched by were on hand as the Lockheed Martin-led launch and recover watercraft in condi- plishment made possible by our skilled Austal into the far warmer waters found industry team commandeered the side tions to Sea State 4; and launch and re- and dedicated workforce and our parent off of southern Alabama. While the two launch of Milwaukee into the Menomi- cover aircraft in conditions to Sea State company, Fincantieri’s, investment of LCS variants and shipyard climates are nee River, which required icebreakers to 5. $100 million,” said Goddarda world apart, this innovate U.S. Navy work throughout the morning to create Milwaukee’s core self defense suite The U.S. Navy awarded the contract to ship production program has the com- an ice-free space for the ship. includes 3D air search radar, rolling construct Milwaukee in December 2010. mon goal of fortifying U.S. defense in- Marinette Marine builds the Freedom airframe missile, medium caliber gun, The ship is one of four LCS currently terests while spurring investment in the design, a semi-planing steel monohull electro-optical infrared gun? re control under construction at Marinette Marine. creation of two state-of-the-art ship pro- designed to operate close to shore in system and a decoy launching system. Following christening and launch, Mil-duction facilities. the littoral, able to provide an array of The ship’s sponsor was Mrs. Sylvia M. waukee will continue to undergo out? t-? exible and easy to switch out mission Panetta, and speakers included Chuck ting and testing before delivery to the The Ships packages. Milwaukee measures 389 x Goddard, President and CEO, Mari- Navy in 2015.Mid-December in Marinette, Wis., can 57 ft. with a 13.5 ft. draft and full load nette Marine; Joe North, VP, Lockheed The Lockheed Martin-led team de-be described with one word: cold. De- displacement of approximately 3400 Martin; VADM Tom Copeman, USN signed and built USS Freedom (LCS 1) cember 18, 2013 did not disappoint, as metric tons. Courtesy of its combined Commander, Naval Surface Forces, and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3). USS Free-the temperature hovered just above zero diesel and gas turbine power plant driv- U.S. Paci? c Fleet; and the Honorable dom recently departed from the U.S. 7th for the ceremony to launch LCS 5, Mil- ing waterjets, its top speed is greater than Sean Stackley, Assistant Secretary of the Fleet following successful multi-nation-28 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • JANUARY 2014MR #1 (26-31).indd 28 1/7/2014 10:41:43 AM