On Feb. 13, Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer announced the next Freedom and Independence variant Littoral Combat Ships will be named USS Nantucket (LCS 27) and USS Savannah (LCS 28).
The future USS Nantucket (LCS 27), a Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, will be the third commissioned U.S. Navy ship to honor the maritime history of Nantucket.
The future USS Savannah (LCS 28), an Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, is the sixth ship to bear the name of the oldest city in Georgia.
Nantucket will be built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. Savannah will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.
LCS is a modular, reconfigurable ship, designed to meet validated fleet requirements for surface warfare (SUW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine countermeasures (MCM) missions in the littoral region.
An interchangeable mission package is embarked on each LCS and provides the primary mission systems in one of these warfare areas.
Navy Commissions Littoral Combat Ship Omaha
(The US Navy commissioned its newest warship, the USS Omaha, on Saturday. The futuristic, $440 million vessel is named for the Nebraska hometown of billionaire Warren Buffett, who was on hand for the ceremony. Courtesy of the US Defense News and YouTube. Posted on Feb 5, 2018)
The Navy commissioned its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Omaha (LCS 12), during a noon PST ceremony on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Broadway pier in San Diego.
The future USS Omaha, designated LCS 12, is the 11th littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the sixth of the Independence-variant design.
It is the fourth warship named for the Nebraska city. The first ship was a propeller-driven sloop-of-war. The second ship was a light cruiser and the third Omaha was an attack submarine.
Former U.S. Senator from Nebraska, 35th Governor of Nebraska and Medal of Honor recipient, the Honorable Bob Kerrey delivered the ceremony’s principal address.
Mrs. Susie Buffett, an Omaha philanthropist and daughter of Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., served as the ship’s sponsor.
In a time-honored Navy tradition, she gave the order to, “man our ship and bring her to life!”
“Omaha and her sister ships represent an investment in our nation, the result of the partnership between the Department of the Navy and our shipbuilding industry.”
“American craftsmen in Mississippi, Alabama, around the country have made USS Omaha possible” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer.
“The LCS fills a unique mission for the United States Navy and as these remarkable ships continue to be produced out of our shipyards, they represent an increase in our readiness and lethality.”
LCS is a modular, reconfigurable ship, designed to meet validated fleet requirements for surface warfare (SUW), anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and mine countermeasures (MCM) missions in the littoral region.
(The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program is a bold departure from traditional Navy shipbuilding programs based on its use of innovative acquisition, construction, manning, training and operational concepts. Courtesy of the U.S. Navy and YouTube. Posted on Jan 12, 2016)
An interchangeable mission package is embarked on each LCS and provides the primary mission systems in one of these warfare areas.
Using an open architecture design, modular weapons, sensor systems and a variety of manned and unmanned vehicles to gain, sustain and exploit littoral maritime supremacy, LCS provides U.S. joint force access to critical areas in multiple theaters.
- The LCS-class consists of the Freedom-variant and Independence-variant, designed and built by two industry teams.
- The Freedom-variant team is led by Lockheed Martin (for the odd-numbered ships, e.g. LCS 1).
