Fairbanks Morse books LCS 31 propulsion engines order

LCS 19: One of the Freedom-class littoral combat ships equipped with FMD engines ((mage: Lockheed Martin)

Fairbanks Morse has received a purchase order from prime contractor Lockheed Martin to build and deliver the main propulsion diesel engines for the sixteenth Freedom-variant LCS, USS Cleveland (LCS-31).

The Freedom-variant littoral combat ships, built at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard, have a CODAG (combined diesel and gas turbine) propulsion system powering steerable water jets.

USS Cleveland’s main diesels will be two 16-cylinder FM Colt-Pielstick PA6B sequentially turbo charged (STC) engines, providing over 12 MW of propulsion power. They are among the largest medium speed diesel engines manufactured in the U.S,

The USS Cleveland (LCS 31) will use the Fairbanks Morse engines for its low speed cruising and mid-range speed propulsion demands. STC technology gives the engines a higher degree of fuel efficiency when operating at lower speeds than engines with a non-variable turbo charging capacity. At higher speeds, the engines will augment the gas turbines to achieve the ship’s full speed.

“Marine engines and power generation for today’s high-tech armed forces require manufacturing excellence and technical innovation that never fails,” said Fairbanks Morse CEO, George Whittier. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the U.S, Navy by ensuring the highest standards of critical power support at sea, which helps America’s service men and women carry out their missions at home and abroad.”

Today, Fairbanks Morse engines are installed on approximately 80% of US Navy ships that have a medium speed power application. The U.S. Navy has turned to Fairbanks Morse for over seven decades to provide quality diesel engines for marine propulsion and ship service systems.

Fairbanks Morse is a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management.