US Navy set to commission future Littoral Combat Ship USS Marinette
New Delhi: The commissioning of LCS 25, the latest addition to the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) class, will be attended by a number of distinguished US dignitaries and officials. U.S. Representative Mike Gallagher will deliver the keynote address during the ceremony. The commissioning event will also include remarks from Russell Rumbaugh, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Financial Management and Comptroller; Vice Admiral Darcy E. Crandall, Judge Advocate General of the Navy; Gene Stegeman, Mayor of Menominee, Michigan; Steve Genisot, Mayor of Marinette, Wisconsin; and Mr. Chauncey McIntosh, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors.
The ship’s sponsor, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, is also scheduled to attend the commissioning ceremony of LCS 25, also known as USS Marinette. Freedom-Variant Ship to Carry Marinette’s Legacy LCS 25, the 13th ship of the Freedom-variant LCS class, holds a special place as it is the first Naval warship to bear the Marinette, Michigan name. Notably, it is the third naval vessel to be named after the community. The decision to name the ship after Marinette was made on September 22, 2016, in recognition of the city’s contributions and the dedication of the shipbuilders to bringing these ships to life.
The LCS class is composed of two variants, Liberty and Independence, designed and built by two different industry teams. The Freedom-variant team, responsible for the odd-numbered hulls, is led by Lockheed Martin and operates out of Marinette, Wisconsin. Austal USA, on the other hand, leads the Independence-variant team based in Mobile, Alabama, which is responsible for the even-numbered hulls from LCS 6 and onwards.
Littoral Combat Ships Redefine Naval Warfare Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) represent a new era of naval warfare. They are agile, optimally manned surface combatants designed to excel in near-shore and open-ocean environments, effectively countering 21st century littoral threats. These ships integrate seamlessly with joint, manned and unmanned teams to support missions ranging from forward presence and maritime security to worldwide maritime control and interdiction. The LCS program plays a critical role in ensuring the readiness and adaptability of the U.S. Navy in a rapidly evolving security landscape, setting the stage for future naval operations and maritime strategy.
