Corrosion found on new LCS

A littoral combat ship built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., will have to be dry-docked to remove water jets that have suffered corrosion, according to a report by Bloomberg. The Navy has discovered "aggressive" corrosion in the propulsion areas of the aluminum-hulled USS Independence. In February, the Navy found another ship in the series, this one built in Wisconsin by a team led by Lockheed Martin, had developed a crack through the hull. (Source: Bloomberg, Mobile Press-Register, 06/17/11)