Launched this month by Austal US in Mobile, Alabama, the future USS ‘Coronado’ (LCS 4) is equipped with a Thrustmaster hydraulic retractable azimuthing thruster under her bow.

The 127-metre trimaran is the second littoral combat ship (LCS) that Thrustmaster of Texas has provided with secondary propulsion equipment. The first, USS ‘Independence’ (LCS 2), was commissioned in January of 2010 and is now fully operational.

Thrustmaster has received an additional order from Austal for two retractable hydraulic thrusters for LCS 6 and LCS 8. LCS 6 will be named USS ‘Jackson’, and LCS 8 will be named USS ‘Montgomery’. The retractable azimuthing thruster gives the ship’s captain more manoeuvrability at low speeds and provides a second-chance propulsion system during combat.

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