Navys first LCS launched

A new class of U.S. Navy warships was launched recently at Marinette Marine. The littoral combat ship, named Freedom, is 377-foot long, can sail at more than 40 knots and will act as a platform for launch and recovery of manned and unmanned vehicles. Its modular design will allow the ship to be reconfigured for anti-submarine warfare, mine warfare or surface warfare missions, the department said. The ship is scheduled to be commisioned next year.