US Navy Launches Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship Future Cleveland

This Saturday, April 15th, the US Navy christened and launched the most recent Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, dubbed the future USS Cleveland (LCS 31), at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard in Wisconsin.

Speaker at the event was Andrew Haeuptle (Director of Navy Staff), Rear Adm. Austin Davis (Senior Policy Advisor from the City of Cleveland), Steve Allen (Vice President of Small Combatants and Ship Systems at Lockheed Martin Integrated Warfare Systems & Sensors) and Mark Vandroff (Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri Marinette Marine).

To officially launch the vessel, Robyn Modly – wife of former Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas B. Modly – broke a bottle of sparkling wine across its bow.

According to Secretary Del Toro, this ceremony not only symbolizes another step to join the fleet but also honours Cleveland’s 16th Freedom-variant LCS vessel as it protects our nation.

The Littoral Combat Ship is a fast-manned surface combatant designed to counter 21st-century coastal threats in close-by waterways and open seas, effectively working with joint/combined teams from around the world for forward presence, maritime security, and sea control operations.

The vessel is engineered by Lockheed Martin in Marinette, Wisconsin and comes in two variations: Freedom and Independence.

Reference: NBC26, U.S. Department of Defense

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Source: Maritime Shipping News