Navy accepts delivery of LCS 7

AUGUST 16, 2016 —The Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Detroit (LCS 7) in a ceremony at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard, Aug. 12.

Detroit is the eighth littoral combat ship (LCS) to be delivered to the Navy and the fourth of the Freedom variant to join the fleet.

Several more ships of the variant are under construction at the Marinette, WI, shipyard.

The future USS Little Rock (LCS 9) is preparing for trials in 2016. The future USS Sioux City (LCS 11) was christened in January 2016 and is currently conducting system testing in preparation for trials in 2017. The future USS Wichita (LCS 13) is preparing for launch this fall, while the future USS Billings (LCS 15) had her keel laid in November 2015. Indianapolis (LCS 17) started fabrication in August 2015 and is preparing to have her keel laid this summer.

Additional ships in the pre-production phase include St. Louis (LCS 19), Minneapolis St. Paul (LCS 21), Cooperstown (LCS 23) and yet-unnamed LCS 25.

The LCS-class consists of the Freedom variant and Independence variant, designed and built by two industry teams. ‘The Freedom variant team is led by Lockheed Martin (for the odd-numbered hulls, e.g. LCS 1). The Independence variant team is led by Austal USA (for LCS 6 and follow-on even-numbered hulls). There are 12 ships currently under construction that were purchased under the Navy’s 22 ship block-buy acquisition strategy.

Capt. Warren R. Buller, II, commander, LCS Squadron One (COMLCSRON ONE), welcomed Detroit to the fleet.

“We are pleased to receive the future USS Detroit into the LCS class,” Buller said. “Detroit will be the sixth ship in the U.S. Navy honored to carry the name of this great American city and will soon be joining her sister littoral combat ships operating with the fleet in critical missions around the globe.”

COMLCSRON supports the operational commanders with warships ready for tasking by manning, training, equipping and maintaining littoral combat ships in the fleet.

Delivery marks the official transfer of LCS 7 from the shipbuilder, part of a Lockheed Martin-led team, to the Navy. It is the final milestone prior to commissioning, which is planned for October 2016 in the ship’s namesake city, Detroit.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the life of the future USS Detroit, an exceptional ship which will conduct Anti-Submarine, Surface and Mine Counter Measure operations around the globe with ever-increasing Mission Package capability,” said LCS program manager Capt. Tom Anderson. “I look forward to seeing Detroit join her sister ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) this fall.”

“Team Freedom is proud to deliver another capable LCS to the Navy,” said Joe North, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of Littoral Ships and Systems. “Once commissioned, the USS Detroit will represent the interests of the United States where and when needed, with a level of force that will deter and defeat threats.”

“We are proud to deliver another proven warship that allows our Navy to carry out its missions around the world,” said Jan Allman, Fincantieri Marinette Marine president and CEO. “We look forward to working with the U.S. Navy to continue building these highly capable ships for the fleet.”