USS Nantucket (LCS 27) Christened And Launched

The Lockheed Martin-led shipbuilding team launched and Polly Spencer, ship sponsor and wife of the 76^th Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Richard V. Spencer, christened Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 27, the future USS Nantucket, into the Menominee River at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard on Saturday, August 7, 2021, Lockheed Martin announced.

“Lockheed Martin is proud to celebrate this milestone for Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 27 the future USS Nantucket. The LCS Freedom-variant is a resilient, flexible warship, designed to meet the evolving missions of the U.S. Navy. The Lockheed Martin team continues to partner with the U.S. Navy to add lethality and survivability enhancements to the highly capable LCS class and we look forward to continued delivery of these adaptable ships.” – Steve Allen, Lockheed Martin Vice President, Small Combatants and Ship Systems

“I am proud to be the sponsor of the future USS Nantucket. Seeing this great ship launched and christened, knowing the missions it will serve for the U.S. Navy, is a humbling experience. It’s a great honour for LCS 27, the future USS Nantucket, to be named after my home and a town with such a rich and storied maritime history. I look forward to its future service to the crew and our nation.” – Polly Spencer, Ship Sponsor of the future USS Nantucket (LCS 27)

“Building LCS 27 and sister ships for the U.S. Navy is an honour and we are proud to be the nation’s shipyard in the heartland. The launch and christening we witnessed is a testament to the hard work of more than 2,500 shipbuilders who pass through our gates, put on their hard hats and build American warships.” – Mark Vandroff, Fincantieri Marinette Marine CEO

“The future USS Nantucket will truly honour the rich heritage of the people of Nantucket and the maritime legacy that the island represents. Having dedicated much of my life to living in and serving the town of Nantucket, I know just how proud our community is of LCS 27 bearing our island’s name and knowing that the ship and its crew will fulfil critical missions on behalf of the U.S. Navy for years to come.” – C. Elizabeth Gibson, Nantucket Town Manager 

Unique among combat ships, LCS is designed to complete close-to-shore missions and is a growing and relevant part of the Navy’s fleet.

• It is flexible—with 40 percent of the hull easily reconfigurable, LCS can be modified to integrate capabilities including over-the-horizon missiles, advanced electronic warfare systems (SEWIP) and decoys (Nulka), and in future, vertical launching systems or laser weapon systems.
• It is fast—capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots.
• It is automated—with the most efficient staffing of any combat ship.
• It is lethal—standard equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute.

Lockheed Martin is in full-rate production and has delivered 10 ships to the U.S. Navy. There are six ships in various stages of production.

Check out Naval Library App to find out more about the specifications of the Freedom-class LCS.