In a historic second for the area, a Freedom-variant littoral fight ship, USS Sioux Metropolis (LCS 11), deployed to U.S. Sixth Fleet’s space of operations, supporting U.S. and NATO Ally and Companion pursuits in Europe and Africa.
The deployment supplies a chance for Sioux Metropolis to achieve expertise in an space littoral fight ships have by no means earlier than operated. The ship’s measurement, pace, and agility enable it to carry out maritime safety operations, theater safety cooperation engagements, and freedom of navigation patrols – conserving essential maritime commerce routes open, deterring battle and coercion, and offering a comparable ship to strengthen partnerships with different international locations.
“USS Sioux Metropolis is a combat-ready warship manned by battle-minded Sailors, who’re ready and outfitted to execute any mission we’re tasked with,” stated Whitworth. “This deployment will develop the relevance of those ships, significantly their means to alleviate bigger floor combatants in key surface-mission areas.”
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“Sioux Metropolis’s deployment permits us to combine the LCS’ distinctive operational functionality into our already numerous fleet,” stated Vice Adm. Gene Black, commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet. “The agility of littoral fight ships permits them to function in each near-shore and open-ocean environments, enhancing our means to supply safety and stability throughout the European theater.”
USS Sioux Metropolis (LCS-11) is a Freedom-class littoral fight ship of the USA Navy. She is the primary ship named after Sioux Metropolis, the fourth-largest metropolis in Iowa. The ship’s motto is ‘Forging a brand new frontier,’ and in line with Cmdr. Scott Whitworth, Sioux Metropolis’s commanding officer, that’s precisely what the crew plans to do. An embarked detachment of two MH-60S Seahawk helicopters from the Sea Knights of Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 22 helps Sioux Metropolis’s deployment. The ceremonial “laying of the keel” was on 19 February 2014, at Marinette, Wisconsin. The ship was constructed by Fincantieri Marinette Marine and launched on 30 January 2016 after being christened by her sponsor Mary Winnefield, spouse of Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr., USN.
Sioux Metropolis consists of extra stability enhancements over the unique Freedom design; the strict transom was lengthened and buoyancy tanks have been added to the strict to extend weight service and improve stability. The ship may also function automated sensors to permit “conditions-based upkeep” and cut back crew overwork and fatigue points that Freedom had on her first deployment. The Freedom class is one in all two courses of the littoral fight ship program, constructed for the USA Navy. The Freedom class was proposed by a consortium fashioned by Lockheed Martin as “prime contractor” and by Fincantieri (challenge) by means of the subsidiary Marinette Marine (producer) as a contender for a fleet of small, multipurpose warships to function within the littoral zone.
