USS Detroit to Be Christened, Launched Oct. 18
The launch and christening ceremony of LCS 7 (the future USS Detroit) will take place Saturday morning, Oct. 18, at the Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin, where the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ships are built.
The U.S. Navy and the Lockheed Martin-led industry team will launch the seventh Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Detroit at Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC). Before launching the ship into the Menominee River, ship sponsor Barbara Levin will christen the ship with the tradition of smashing a champagne bottle across the ship’s bow. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus and U.S. Senator Carl Levin (D-Mich.) will deliver remarks at the ceremony.
During the ceremony, remarks will be delivered by the following leaders:
- The Honorable U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus (keynote)
- The Honorable Carl Levin, U.S. Senior Senator, Michigan
- Barbara Levin, Ship Sponsor
- Joe North, Lockheed Martin Vice President of Littoral Ships & Systems
- Jan Allman, Marinette Marine Corporation President and CEO
LCS 7, the future USS Detroit, is the fourth ship of the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships and the seventh in the class.
In addition to Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, the Lockheed Martin-led industry team includes naval architect Gibbs & Cox as well as best-of-industry domestic and international companies.
The Lockheed Martin-led industry team is building the Freedom-variant ships, and has delivered two ships to the Navy.
- USS Freedom (LCS 1) completed a successful deployment to Southeast Asia in 2013.
- USS Forth Worth (LCS 3) will deploy to Southeast Asia in 2014.
- Milwaukee (LCS 5) will be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2015.
- Detroit (LCS 7) will be christened and launched on Oct. 18.
- Little Rock (LCS 9), Sioux City (LCS 11) and Wichita (LCS 13) are under construction.
- Billings (LCS 15) will begin construction in 2014.
- Earlier this year, the Navy funded Indianapolis (LCS 17) and LCS 19, which is yet to be named.
