US Navy christens final Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship
The launch also marks the last time shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine will side-launch a ship, as future vessels will hit the water using a ship-lift system.
Ahead of the commissioning, US Secretary of Navy Carlos Del Toro said: ‘LCS 31 will be another step closer to joining our fleet, sailing the open seas, continuing to defend our nation, and representing the strong connection our navy has with the city of Cleveland.’
Cleveland is the 16th and final Freedom-variant LCS.
Related Articles
US plans reserve status for unwanted Littoral Combat Ships
US Navy orders new San Antonio LPD as class's future remains uncertain
US commissions latest Littoral Combat Ship, as Austal execs face fraud charges
Following technical problems with the ships' combining gear, the USN decided to retire a host of Freedom-variant ships early.
The US also cancelled the LCS Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) package.
Built by a team led by Lockheed Martin, the Freedom-variant ships feature a steel monohull design differing from the Independence variant's aluminium trimaran hull shape.
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy takes delivery of New Jersey SSN
The USN’s Virginia-class SSNs are replacing the old Los Angeles-class SSNs. The Virginia-class SSNs are fitted with the latest sensors and weapons and around 48 submarines are planned, with a total of 38 currently ordered.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.