2 Freedom LCS are down

Two Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship have been sidelined with engine problems over the past month. The Navy is expected to complete a report on the problems, Lockheed Martin's vice president of LCS systems said Jan. 30 before christening LCS Sioux City. LM builds the Freedom class variants at Fincantieri’s Marinette (Wis.) Marine shipyard. USS Milwaukee (LCS-5) lost propulsion off the coast of Virginia on a trip from the shipyard to its home port in San Diego. USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) was sidelined in Singapore on Jan. 12. (Source: Military.com 02/01/16) Gulf Coast Shipbuilding Note: Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala., builds the Independence class - a second variant of LCS.