The Freedom, the nation’s first littoral combat ship, built in Marinette by Lockheed Martin with assistance from Marinette Marine, a subsidiary of The Manitowoc Company Inc., was delivered late last week to the U.S. Navy.
The 378-foot Freedom, capable of speeds up to 40 knots, will be deployed on missions including mine, anti-submarine and surface warfare. The ship is also suitable for humanitarian and disaster relief or maritime interdiction.
Construction on the Freedom started in February 2005, and it was christened and launched in September 2006. The ship completed its sea trials in Lake Michigan last month.
The Freedom will be commissioned in Milwaukee on Nov. 8 and will eventually be taken to its home port in San Diego, Calif.
