First of USN Littoral Combat Ship put to sea
Yesterday The US Navy’s first Littoral Combat Ship, Freedom (LCS 1) was put to sea for the first time, marking the beginning of Builder’s Sea Trials for the first-in-class coastal surface combatant.
The agile 378-foot Freedom, designed and built by a Lockheed Martin-led industry team, is conducting Builder’s Sea Trials in Lake Michigan. The trials — which are a coordinated effort between the U.S.
Navy and the Lockheed Martin team — will include operational testing of the vessel’s propulsion, communications, navigation and mission systems, as well as all related support systems.
Following the completion of Builder’s Sea Trials, Freedom will return to Marinette Marine to prepare for Acceptance Trials that will be conducted by the U.S. Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey. LCS 1 will be delivered to the Navy later this year and home ported in San Diego, CA.
LCS is a survivable, semi-planing steel monohull that provides outstanding maneuverability with proven
sea-keeping characteristics to support launch and recovery operations, mission execution and optimum crew comfort. Team members also include naval architect Gibbs & Cox, ship builders Marinette Marine, a subsidiary of The Manitowoc Company, Inc., and Bollinger Shipyards.