The future USS Billings (LCS 15) successfully completed its acceptance trials Dec. 7 after a series of graded in-port and underway demonstrations on the Great Lakes for the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey.

Acceptance trials is the last significant milestone before the ship is delivered to the Navy. During the trial, the Navy conducted comprehensive tests of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) to demonstrate the performance of the propulsion plant, ship handling capabilities and auxiliary systems.

“The successful completion of these acceptance trials is an important step in the life of the future USS Billings,” said LCS program manager Capt. Mike Taylor. “I look forward to the next phase of Billings’ journey when she is delivered to the Navy in early spring 2019.”

Following delivery and commissioning, LCS 15 will sail to her Florida homeport in Mayport with sister ships USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), USS Detroit (LCS 7), USS Little Rock (LCS 9), USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and the future USS Wichita (LCS 13).

Seven more Freedom-variant ships are under construction at Fincantieri Marinette Marine Corp. in Marinette, Wisconsin. The future USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) was christened in April, and the future USS St. Louis (LCS 19) is scheduled to be christened on December 15.

Additional ships in the production phase include the future USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (LCS 21), Cooperstown (LCS 23), Marinette (LCS 25) and Nantucket (LCS 27), with Beloit (LCS 29) in the pre-production phase.

LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable ship designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions. The Freedom-variant LCS integrates new technology and capability to affordably support current and future mission capability from deep water to the littorals.

 

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