Another USNU

 Another of the US Navy's Freedom class Littoral Combat Ships arrived in Halifax this morning, October 21. LCS-27 is the fourteenth ship of its class to be built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin. (Another series of even numbered LCS ships called the Indsependence class have been built in Alabama.)

 

The ship was launched in 2021 and after trials was accepted by the USN in December. It is now en route to the Charleston Navy Yard in Boton where it will be commissioned on November 16. It will then receive its official name of USS Nantucket, although it has been referred to by that name since it was laid down. It wiLl be based in Mayport, Jacksonville, FL.

The Littoral Combat Ships are small assault transports, capable of carrying two helicopters, several small craft, which can be launched via stern door, and with limited cargo capacity. All this combined with a 40 knot top speed and advance weaponry was intended to give the ships more versatility than their large frigate / destroyer counter parts.

 

Unfortunately there have been many technical problems with the ships of this class and at least half a dozen of them have been removed from service and decommisioned. The first ship in the series, USS Freedom was commissioned in 2008 and decommissioned in 2021, but had been out of service for some time. Others have required major repairs or system replacements.

Several of the Freedoms have called in Halifax over the years, and we may see the last two - to be named Beloit LCS-29 and Cleveland LCS-31 possibly next year.

LCS-27 sailed from the shipyard early this month and stopped in Cleveland for fuel and provisions. It was escorted throuugh the Welland Canal and St.Lawrence Seaway by the tug Ocean A. Simard and reached  Quebec City for a courtesy call ca. October 15. It sailed from there on October 18.No departure date from Halifax has been posted.

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