Fincantieri launches 13th Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship

The newest Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Marinette (LCS 25) was launched at Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) on 31st October.

The LCS 25, which is the 13th Freedom-variant ship, was constructed by Fincantieri Marinette Marine.

In March 2019, Lockheed Martin has announced that the construction of the LCS 25 began. She is the first U.S. Navy ship to bear the name Marinette, and is named to recognize the town’s significant contributions to Navy shipbuilding. Fincantieri Marinette Marine began operations in 1942 to provide U.S. ships for World War II. Marinette is the birthplace of Lockheed Martin’s Freedom-variant LCS, which Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine have partnered to produce for more than 16 years.

It is the second navy ship to be named after the city of Marinette. The first vessel to be named after the city was a Natick-class large harbour tug.

The keel for the future USS Marinette was laid in March last year, marking the start of its construction.

The LCS programme of the US Navy involves construction of the vessels in two variants, the Freedom-class, and the Independence-class. Austal USA serves as the prime contractor for the Independence-class variant, while Lockheed Martin is for the Freedom-variant. There are 11 LCS vessels that are being constructed at the shipyard.

The design of Freedom-class is based on a semi-planing steel monohull with an aluminium superstructure. She has a length of 377 ft (115 m) and displaces 3,500 metric tons (3,400 long tons). The design also incorporates a large, reconfigurable sea frame to allow rapidly interchangeable mission modules, a flight deck with integrated helicopter launch, recovery and handling system, and the capability to launch and recover boats (manned and unmanned) from both the stern and side.

The Freedom-class is powered by two Rolls-Royce MT30 36MW gas turbines and two Colt-Pielstick 16PA6B 6.8 MW (9,100 hp) diesel engines and 4 Rolls-Royce waterjets. She can reach a top speed of 47 knots (87 km/h; 54 mph) with a maximum cruising range 3,500 nmi (6,500 km; 4,000 mi) at 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph).

The Freedom-class is armed with one BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm naval gun, one Mk 49 launcher with 21 × RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Surface-to-Air Missiles, four .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns, two 30 mm Mk44 Bushmaster II guns, eight RGM-184A Naval Strike Missiles, 24 AGM-114L Hellfire missiles and one Lockheed Martin 150 kw High Energy Laser.

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