Navy to Christen Future Littoral Combat Ship Marinette

ARLINGTON, Va.—The Navy will christen the future USS Marinette (LCS 25) as the newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) during a 10:00 a.m. CST ceremony Saturday, Nov. 20, in Marinette, Wisconsin, the Defense Department said Nov. 19. 

The principal speaker is Meredith Berger, performing the duties of the under secretary of the Navy. Additional speakers include Vice Adm. William Galinis, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; Rear Adm. Casey Moton, program executive officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants; Steve Genisot, mayor of Marinette, Wisconsin; and shipbuilders Steve Allen, Lockheed Martin vice president of Small Combatants and Ship Systems, and Dario Deste, president and CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group. The ship’s sponsor, former Michigan governor Jennifer M. Granholm, will break a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow in a time-honored Navy tradition. 

“The future USS Marinette will be the second U.S. Navy ship honoring the important naval heritage and shipbuilding history the city of Marinette is known for,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. “I have no doubt the Sailors of USS Marinette [LCS 25] will carry on the proud legacy from generations past and will stand ready to respond to any mission, wherever, and whenever, there is a need.” 

LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. The platform is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence. 

The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom and the Independence, designed and built by two industry teams. Lockheed Martin leads the Freedom variant team, or odd-numbered hulls, in Marinette, Wisconsin. Austal USA leads the Independence variant team in Mobile, Alabama for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls. 

LCS 25 is the 13th Freedom-variant LCS and 25th in the LCS class. It is the second ship named in honor of the city of Marinette, Wisconsin. The first Marinette (YTB-791), a Natick-class large fleet tugboat, was launched in 1967 and performed miscellaneous tugging services in the 5th Naval District, headquartered at Norfolk, Virginia.