MENOMINEE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The latest LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) built in Marinette for the U.S. Navy will soon be handed over to its captain and crew.
The ship was launched in October of 2020. It was christened a year later in November of 2021. And this weekend, it will be commissioned.
Docked across the Menominee River, from where it was built in Marinette, LCS-25, the USS Marinette, is about 386 feet long and close to 60 feet wide. It’s one of only three commissioned U-S Naval ships to ever be named in honor of the city where it was built.
The ship’s captain, Commander Shane Brewer, says artwork on board pays tribute to the cities and people who made this ship possible. According to Cmdr. Brewer, “Some of the local photos, from the area, were brought on board and affixed to the bulkheads which really kind of makes us special, different from the other ships but still tied to Marinette, Menominee, Peshtigo.”
A crew of 80 will man the ship that only sits about 15 feet below the surface of the water. A modular design, the USS Marinette is designed to be agile and stealthy – with technology and weaponry on board to complete missions.
“220 rounds a minute, can really help us defend ourselves out to five or six miles. Very effective, makes me sleep well at night,” said Brewer about the gun onboard.
The USS Marinette could serve a number of purposes, but it will really excel close to the coast. Brewer said, “Whether that’s presence, counter narcotics missions, maintaining freedom of the seas, maritime domain. It absolutely has a lot of really neat capabilities whether we embark Marine special forces, just various capabilities.”
Because it has a smaller crew, than say a naval cruiser or destroyer, the men and women aboard the USS Marinette are cross-trained in all sorts of jobs. The captain saying this type of ship is a great training ground for the leaders of tomorrow.
“They can go to those other ships, legacy ships or a follow on tour and really succeed at another level because of this experience,” added Brewer.
After being built in the Upper Midwest, the USS Marinette will call Mayport, Florida in the Jacksonville area home. The captain and his crew are ready to start the next chapter and proudly serve on this ship in tribute the community where it was built.
“I can’t wait. I can’t wait to get out in the ocean and see some of my brothers and sisters in uniform, talk to them on the ship, and say hey we’re here. USS Marinette on station ready to complete our nation’s work,” said Brewer.
Tickets to the commissioning ceremony and tours of the USS Marinette are sold out. But, the ceremony will be livestreamed on the USS Marinette Commissioning website.
