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MARINETTE, Wisc., August 9, 2021 – The Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led shipbuilding team launched and Polly Spencer, ship sponsor and wife of the 76th 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 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 honor 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 honor 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 honor 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 fulfill 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.
Click here to view additional photos and here for a B-roll package to include ceremony highlights (video password: Nantucket).
Flickr link: LCS 27 Launch & Christening | Flickr
Background:
The christening and launch celebrate a major milestone in the life of the future USS Nantucket (LCS 27) and marks a significant event in the history of the nation’s 27th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS 27). The USS Nantucket will be the latest Navy ship to be named after the island, more than 150 years after the first USS Nantucket was commissioned in 1862 to serve during.
the American Civil War. The town has a deep connection to sailing and maritime traditions, serving as a whaling hub in the 1800s and as the home of generations of American sailors since the town’s beginnings. With the island’s deep ties to maritime service, LCS 27 will honor Nantucket’s longstanding Naval history.
About the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
The Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship is a resilient, flexible warship, designed from the keel up to affordably take on new capabilities including advanced sensors, missiles and cutting-edge cyber systems. Its speed, strength and versatility make it a critical tool to help sailors achieve their missions. For more information, visit www.lockheedmartin.com/lcs.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Corporation is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 114,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.
Please follow @LMNews on Twitter for the latest announcements and news across the corporation.
About Fincantieri Marine Group
Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG). This company, which serves commercial and government customers in the U.S., including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in the Great Lakes.www.fincantierimarinegroup.com
About Gibbs & Cox
Gibbs & Cox, the nation’s leading independent maritime solutions firm specializing in naval architecture, marine engineering and design, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. The company, founded in 1929, has provided designs for nearly 80 percent of the current U.S. Navy surface combatant fleet; approaching 7,000 naval and commercial ships have been built to Gibbs & Cox designs.