The trip from Marinette to will be the first leg in the ship’s transit to , where the ship will undergo fleet testing and evaluation.
Last month, the Navy officially accepted delivery of Freedom from the Lockheed Martin/Marinette Marine/Gibbs and Cox team. Prior to delivery, the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) conducted Acceptance Trials aboard LCS 1 Aug. 17-21. INSURV recommended that the Chief of Naval Operations authorize delivery of the ship.
Freedom-class ships will help the U.S. Navy defeat growing littoral, or close-to-shore, threats including mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare. Littoral combat ships are fast, easy to maneuver, and are equipped with interchangeable mission modules that allow commanders to meet changing warfare needs.
Freedom is scheduled to commission Nov. 8 in .