MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) – The U.S. Navy will soon receive its 15th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).
The future USS Billings was christened Saturday at Marinette Marine.
Representative Mike Gallagher, who was among the elected officials on hand, says today’s world climate calls for these fast, maneuverable ships.
“They’re finding ways to improve the ship. They’ve got a harpoon missile on the Independence-class variant that’s out there in Singapore right now, so this is really, I think, the wave of the future.”
The Green Bay Republican serves on the House Armed Services Committee.
Earlier this week, Gallagher fought for full funding for three LCS’s in the 2018 budget, saying he sees the importance in continuing to work toward the Navy’s call for a 355 ship fleet.
“Since 2010, China has increased their defense budget by 54%. We’ve gutted our own by 22%. If we want to be the country that enforces the global rules of behavior, like we have been since World War II, we’re going to need to make a down payment in our fleet.”
Gallagher’s colleague, Representative Jack Bergman of Michigan, is a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant General and notes the importance of these versatile ships.
“The LCS is a multi-mission platform. With the emerging worldwide threat today, you don’t want to be a one-trick pony.”
United States Senator Tammy Baldwin says she supports adding more of these ships to the fleet going forward, advocating for their inclusion in President Donald Trump’s 2018 budget.
“This is one of the most cost-effective and capable ships that is built for the Navy. We’ve got to fight to keep this program running strong.”
While only one LCS was initially included in President Trump’s 2018 spending plan, Baldwin says she was encouraged to see him add a second one to that proposal earlier this week.
The 389-foot Billings, named for Montana’s largest city, can accommodate 98 sailors and can reach speeds greater than 40 knots.
The ship’s sponsor is Sharla Tester, the wife of Montana Senator Jon Tester.
She notes “Billings is humbled. The state of Montana is humbled. We’re proud. They called me to be the sponsor, and I almost fell through the floor.”
Before she broke the champaign bottle at the Saturday morning ceremony, Tester says she put something inside the ship.
“There’s a little bit of our farm on that ship. A little bit of dirt (in a jar). It’s just not our dirt, it’s the American soil that they are defending.”
Tester says, fortunately, the actual christening went smoother than Friday’s practice run.
“They gave me a wooden bottle, and I was hitting that thing so hard, I splintered the wooden bottle. That’s never happened before so now they have to replace the wooden bottle.”
The future USS Billings will continue to undergo outfitting and testing at Marinette Marine before it is delivered to the Navy.
