NAVAL COMBAT SHIP TO BE NAMED U.S.S. SIOUX CITY

A NEW U.S. NAVY COMBAT SHIP WILL BE NAMED THE U.S.S. SIOUX CITY.

SECRETARY OF THE NAVY RAY MABUS SAYS THE LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP IS A FAST, AGILE VESSEL THAT OPERATES WITH A SMALLER CREW AND CAN PERFORM OPERATIONS IN BOTH SHALLOW AND DEEP WATERS.         

MARINETTE MARINE OF MARINETTE WISCONSIN WILL BUILD THE SHIP. THE L-C-S WILL BE 378 FEET LONG, DISPLACE 3000 TONS WITH A WATERLINE BEAM OF 57 FEET AND HAVE A SPEED IN EXCESS OF 40 KNOTS.

IT'S MISSION PACKAGES CAN BE CHANGED AS COMBAT NEEDS DEMAND AND ARE SUPPORTED BY SPECIAL DETACHMENTS THAT WILL DEPLOY MANNED AND UNMANNED VEHICLE AND SENSORS IN SUPPORT OF MINE, UNDERSEA AND SURFACE WARFARE MISSIONS.

A SECOND L-C-S WILL BE CHRISTENED THE U.S.S. OMAHA. MABUS SAYS HE CHOSE TO NAME THE NEW SHIPS TO HONOR THE PATRIOTIC HARD WORKING CITIZENS OF SIOUX CITY AND OMAHA FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MILITARY.

THREE GUIDED MISSILE DESTROYERS ARE ALSO BEING BUILT AND WILL BE NAMED AFTER NAVY OR MARINE CORPS HEROES.