Senators Limited Littoral Combat Ship Program to 1 Hull in 2018 After ‘Compelling’ Testimony by Acting SECNAV Stackley

By: Sam LaGrone

USNI.org

June 29, 2017 4:06 PM • Updated: June 30, 2017 7:17 AM

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Testimony in which acting Secretary of the Navy Sean Stackley said a single Littoral Combat Ship in 2018 was the minimum needed to preserve the two shipyards was taken to heart in crafting the Senate Armed Services Committee’s defense bill that held to one LCS, SASC staffers on Thursday.

In May testimony before the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, Stackley said the single LCS initially included in the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2018 budget request “only meets the minimum sustainment,” compared to the optimal production rate of three a year across the two years, USNI News reported at the time.

SASC took that testimony and kept the program at a single ship, the staffers said.

“We authorized the LCS that was in the budget request. We support the president’s budget in that regard. The testimony from Secretary Stackley before the SAC-D that one was the minimum in ’18 to sustain the industrial base was taken into account. …
We found that testimony compelling,” a staffer told reporters on Thursday.
“There’s one LCS in ’18, which the secretary said in SAC-D testimony was the minimum.”

While the administration had initially put only a single LCS in the budget submitted to Congress, the next day the White House shifted course and asked acting Navy acquisition chief Allison Stiller to say the administration was supportive of two in the budget.

Both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Appropriations Committee support three LCS hulls in the FY 2018 budget.

The move from the Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)-chaired SASC comes as little surprise. He has been as constant a critic of the LCS program, as the Navy has seen in the last several years. Last year McCain pointed out $13 billion in what he deemed was wasteful spending in the federal government in his “America’s Most Wasted” report, and the LCS program counted for $12.4 billion of the $13 billion total.

While the SASC language is cool on LCS, staffers said they would welcome a full and open competition for the follow-on frigate design that will look at hulls beyond the current Lockheed Martin-built Freedom-class and Austal USA-built Independence-class designs.

“We’re supportive of the timing,” a staffer told reporters.
“We’re supportive of free and open competition using existing designs.”

The Navy will look at both domestic and foreign designs as it seeks a frigate more capable than today’s LCSs.

“The Navy Frigate Requirements Evaluation Team (FFG RET) will update the SSCTF analyses to investigate the feasibility of incorporating additional capabilities such as local air defense and enhanced survivability features into the current LCS designs, as well as explore other existing hull forms,” the Navy told USNI News in April.

Some in the Senate have pushed for the Navy to consider foreign frigate designs that have a more robust air defense capability than the current LCS Flight 0 designs.

At least one of the three fleet architecture studies recently released by the Navy that will guide the service in the future called for a more robust air defense frigate that would incorporate Mk-41 vertical launch cells that would make the follow-on design much more lethal to traditional air and cruise missile threats.

Secretary of the Navy Names Two Littoral Combat Ships

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced Sept. 22, that the next Freedom and Independence variant Littoral Combat Ships will be named USS Marinette (LCS 25) and USS Mobile (LCS 26) to recognize the two cities' significant contribution to Navy ship building.

The ceremony took place at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C. 

The future USS Marinette (LCS 25), a Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, will be the first commissioned U.S. Navy ship to bear the name.  

The future USS Mobile (LCS 26), an Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, will be the fifth ship to bear the name. The last USS Mobile (LKA-115) was a Charleston-class amphibious cargo ship and served for more than 24 years before being decommissioned in 1994.  

A fast, agile surface combatant, the LCS provides the required war fighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute a variety of missions in areas such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare.

The ship will be built with modular design incorporating mission packages that can be changed out quickly as combat needs change in a region. These mission packages are supported by detachments that deploy both manned and unmanned vehicles, and sensors, in support of mine, undersea, and surface warfare missions. 

Marinette will be built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin.

Mobile will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. 

From: Secretary of the Navy Public Affairs

Spring 2016 Fincantieri Marinette Marine Beacon: FMM Launches LCS 11 - Sioux City

On Saturday, January 30, 2016 Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) christened and launched the future USS Sioux City (LCS 11), the latest single-hull littoral combat ship. The ceremony took place in Marinette at the FMM shipyard. 

FMM Launches LCS 11 - Sioux City

ADM Michelle Howard, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, was the principal speaker. Mary Winnefeld, wife of retired ADM James “Sandy” Winnefeld, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will serve as the ship’s sponsor. The highlight of the ceremony was when Mrs. Winnefeld smashed a champagne bottle across the ship’s bow to execute the side launch into the Menominee River.

“It is an honor and a privilege to serve as the sponsor of the future USS Sioux City and to be a part of this major milestone along the way to her assuming her place as part of the great U.S. Navy fleet,” said Mrs. Winnefeld. “I also look forward to an ongoing relationship with her courageous crews and their families throughout the ship’s lifetime.”

“The Christening and launch of Sioux City is a proud event for FMM,” said Jan Allman, President and CEO of FMM.

“It showcases the craftsmanship and engineering capabilities of our workforce. We are confident that this ship will play a vital role in the fleet, and carry the spirit of our industry team as she sails the globe.”

The future USS Sioux City is the first naval vessel to be named in honor of Sioux City, Iowa, the fourth-largest city in the state. Sioux City was founded in 1854 at the navigational head of the Missouri River and takes its name from a group of North American Indian tribes that make up the Great Sioux Nation. 

The ceremony represents a significant contribution to Sioux City’s long, rich history of ties to America’s men and women in uniform. “I chose the name for this littoral combat ship from America’s heartland to honor the patriotic, hard- working citizens of Sioux City, and for their support of and contributions to the military,” Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus stated four years ago when he announced the naming of USS Sioux City. “The christening and launch marks an important step toward this great war- ship’s entry into the fleet,” Mabus continued. “The hard work and dedication

of our nation’s shipbuilders have ensured this ship will serve as a representation of both Sioux City and our Navy and Marine Corps’ ability to deliver presence for decades to come.”

Sioux City Mayor Bob Scott was among a group of city leaders in Marinette for the events surrounding the christening and launch of Sioux City. “From now, for at least 50 years, there will be a ship out on the ocean that’ll have our name on it and I think that’s kind of cool,” Scott said.

The construction of the future USS Sioux City began in 2013. Following the January christening and launch, Sioux City will continue to undergo outfitting and testing before delivery and commis- sioning by the Navy in 2017.

The 53 core crew members will be based in Mayport, FL, and will operate across the Asian-Pacific. 

Future USS Sioux City (LCS 11) mast stepping ceremony held in January ‘16. 

Eighteen reservists participate in re- enlistment ceremony held on LCS 9. 

Governor Walker visits Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in January ‘16. 

Courtesy Marinette Marine

[Watch] USS Little Rock (LCS 9) Launched

On Saturday July 18, the future USS Little Rock got one step closer to patrolling the world’s shorelines and open seas when it was launched Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard

The ship’s sponsor, Janee Bonner, christened Little Rock (LCS 9) with the traditional smashing of a champagne bottle across the ship's bow just prior to the launch.

“It is such an honor and a privilege to serve as the sponsor of the future USS Little Rock and to be a part of this major milestone along the way to her assuming her place as part of the great U.S. Navy fleet,” Bonner said.

Following christening and launch, Little Rock will continue to undergo outfitting and testing before delivery to the Navy later this year.

“This future USS Little Rock will use interchangeable mission modules that empower her to face a variety of high-priority missions, from Anti-Surface Warfare to Anti-Submarine Warfare to Mine Countermeasures,” said Vice President of Littoral Ships & Systems, Joe North. “She is ideally suited to navigate the reefs and shallows in the Asia-Pacific, as so well demonstrated by USS Fort Worth on her current deployment.”

The Little Rock is one of seven littoral combat ships under construction at Marinette Marine.  

The Lockheed Martin-led industry team is building the Freedom variant, and has already delivered two ships to the U.S. Navy. USS Freedom (LCS 1) successfully deployed to Southeast Asia in 2013 and is currently operating out of her homeport in San Diego, California. USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) is currently deployed in Southeast Asia, serving in the U.S. 7th Fleet to strengthen international relationships, engage in multi-regional naval exercises and further LCS capabilities using manned and unmanned assets.

Milwaukee (LCS 5) was christened and launched in 2013, and is slated to be delivered to the Navy this fall. Detroit (LCS 7) was launched in 2014. Sioux City (LCS 11) is in construction, and Wichita (LCS 13) had its keel laid in February 2015. Billings (LCS 15), Indianapolis (LCS 17) and St. Louis (LCS 19) are in the construction phase.

USS Little Rock will be the first of an eventual eight Freedom-class Littoral Combat ships to be homeported in Mayport, Florida.

Manned by a crew of fewer than 100 sailors operating under a concept known as the “3-2-1 plan”, the Navy will rotate three crews for every two ships, keeping one of those ships underway at all times. The LCS will have a core crew of about 50 sailors, then a specialized crew for each type of mission.

The Littoral Combat Ship is the model of modularity. The Little Rock will be a launch pad for aircraft (manned and unmanned) and unmanned surface and underwater vehicles. 

Depending on its mission package (which requires only a 3-day turnaround), the ship can conduct anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare or mine countermeasures missions. The Little Rock has a built-in capacity for growth, with sensor packages and equipment designed using open architecture and already linked to a vast network across the US Navy fleet.

Freedom-class ships are 378.5 feet long with a 57.4-foot beam and have 3,000 metric tons displacement (with a full load). Draft is 12.8 feet and top speed exceeds 40 knots.

Little Rock will be the fifth in the fleet of the odd-numbered Freedom variant, featuring a steel double-chine advanced semi-planing monohull design. The even-numbered LCSs are of the Independence-variant featuring stabilized slender monohulls of aluminum.

Smaller than a frigate, the LCS is an agile force multiplier in gaining and sustaining maritime supremacy while conducting operations consisting of freedom of navigation, theater and maritime security, maritime law enforcement, counter-piracy, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, search and rescue and maritime domain patrols.

The Original Little Rock

Little Rock (LCS 9) is the second Navy vessel named after the capital city in Arkansas. Upon its champagne-splashed hull, the littoral combat ship will continue the proud heritage of the original USS Little Rock (CL 92), which is now a museum ship at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, Buffalo, N.Y.

The first Little Rock featured three different hull numbers and designations during its 31-year career.

USS Little Rock (CL 92) was originally in service from 1945-1949. That first four year tour of duty included training and exercises off Cuba and transiting the Panama Canal. Later, it sailed in the Mediterranean 1947-1948 and was then decommissioned in 1949 to join the Atlantic Reserve Fleet at New York.

After a three-year conversion to a guided-missile cruiser, USS Little Rock (CLG 4) was recommissioned in 1960. During November 1961, Little Rock was ordered to the waters off Santo Domingo to provide stability during a period of unrest following the assassination of President Rafael Trujillo. The ship also sailed annually to the Mediterranean as it maintained peace in southern Europe and the Middle East.

Little Rock was the Sixth Fleet flagship during the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War June 5-10, 1967. The cruiser provided assistance to USS Liberty (AGTR 5) after the ship was mistaken for an Egyptian vessel and attacked by Israeli Air Force fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats June 8. The attack, which severely damaged the ship, killed 34 crew members and wounded 171.

While steaming in the Mediterranean with the USS John F. Kennedy (CVA 67) task group, a young ensign named Ray Mabus, now the Secretary of the Navy, served as a surface warfare officer aboard the cruiser from 1970-72. 

Mabus presented the keynote address at the christening of the new USS Little Rock (LCS 9).

On June 5, 1975, USS Little Rock represented the United States during the ceremony at Port Said, Egypt, for the reopening of the Suez Canal which had been closed since the June 1967 Six-Day War. It was the only foreign warship in the official flotilla that sailed down the canal to Ismailia for the occasion.

In 1975, Little Rock’s designation was changed from CLG-4 to CG-4. The cruiser and other ships of the Sixth Fleet provided protection and assistance during the June-July 1976 evacuations of non-Lebanese citizens of Beirut, Lebanon.

Little Rock was decommissioned at the Philadelphia Navy Yard on Nov. 22, 1976, stricken from the Naval Register, only to be re-designated for the last time — as a museum ship, the only World War II cruiser on display in the United States and the sole survivor of the Cleveland class, according to the Historic Naval Ships Association.

On June 30, 1979, USS Little Rock opened to the public, along with Fletcher-class destroyer USS The Sullivans (DD 537) and Gato-class submarine USS Croaker (SS 246) at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, Buffalo, N.Y.

By Marex, The Maritime Executive

Spring 2015 The Beacon: Marinette Marine Corporation Receives LCS 21 Contract

The Beacon, MMC newsletter outlines the movement of the USS Little Rock before it's launch, as well as, recently procured contracts for future ships and other movements of the company.

April 2015 – The US Navy issued the Lockheed Martin (LM)-led in-dustry team (including Marinette Marine Corp.) a contract modification for one fully funded 2015 Littoral Com- bat Ship (LCS 21) valued at $362 million, along with $79 million in advanced procurement funding for a second ship to be funded by December 31, 2015. Award of LCS 21 brings MMC under contract with LM for nine ships of the 10-ship block buy, increasing our backlog through 2020.

The advanced procurement dollars approved by Congress provides the funding required to maintain the cost and schedule of the final block buy option. The award also includes a priced option for one additional fiscal year 2016 ship.

“We are proud to continue this partnership with the Navy in building the advanced Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, and we thank the Navy for maintaining the cost and schedule for the block buy,” said Joe North, Vice President of Littoral Ship Systems at Lockheed Martin Mission Systems and Training. “Thousands of people across the country contribute to this important program and will con- tinue to do so as we transition to the new frigate upgrade in the coming years.”

The award comes as USS Freedom conducted a successful deployment to South-east Asia in 2013 and is currently operating out of her homeport in San Diego, California, while USS Fort Worth is deployed until 2016. The USS Fort Worth is serving in the U.S. 7th Fleet to strengthen international relationships, visit more ports, engage in multi-regional naval exercises and further LCS capabilities using both manned and unmanned assets. 

“Marinette Marine and the surrounding community are extremely proud of the LCS program,” said Jan Allman, President, CEO and GM of Marinette Marine Corporation. “We currently have six ships under various stages of construction, and are now in full rate serial production. We look forward to extending our backlog and continuing our strong partnership with the Navy for many more years to come.”

The contract modification is for con- struction of LCS 21 and LCS 23, the 11th and 12th Freedom variant ships. The first ship on this 2010 contract, the Milwaukee (LCS 5), was christened and launched in 2013, and is slated to be delivered to the Navy this summer. Detroit (LCS 7) was launched in 2014. Little Rock (LCS 9) and Sioux City (LCS 11) are in construction, with LCS 9 christening and launch planned for this summer. Wichita (LCS 13) had its keel laid in February 2015. Billings (LCS 15), as well as Indianapolis (LCS 17) and to be named LCS 19 are in the construction phase.

Marinette Marine Corporation, a Fincantieri company, is building the ships in Marinette, Wisconsin, with naval architect Gibbs & Cox of Arlington, Virginia, providing engineering support. Fincantieri has invested more than $100 million in the Marinette facility on upgrades that have increased efficiency and minimized energy consumption, an expansion that will allow for construction of more than two ships at a time, and process improvements that will speed up production. 

Courtesy: The Beacon: Marinette Marine Group