New Freedom LCS named Billings

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus was in Montana on Sept. 2 to unveil the name of the Navy’s newest Littoral Combat Ship after the state’s capitol, Billings. Mabus unveiled renderings of the USS Billings (LCS 15), a Freedom class ship to be built in Wisconsin. Because of competition and cost-containment improvements, SECNAV said the price of LCS ships has been reduced by more than $20 million dollars apiece - from $548 million to about $337 million. (Source: Billings Gazette 09/02/15) Gulf Coast Shipbuilding Note: The Independence-class LCS – even-numbered hulls – are built at Austal USA’s shipyard in Mobile, Ala.