US Navy christens littoral combat ship Beloit

The US Navy christened its newest Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Beloit, during a ceremony on Saturday, May 7, in Marinette, Wisconsin.

The future Beloit is the 15th Freedom-variant LCS and 29th overall LCS. It is also the first US Navy ship named in honour of the city of Beloit, Wisconsin.

Once completed, the vessel will have a length of 387 feet (118 metres), a beam of 58 feet (17.7 metres), a draught of 13 feet (3.9 metres), and space for 35 crewmembers plus up to 75 additional personnel.

Armament will include a 57-millimetre naval gun and surface-to-air missiles while flight deck space will be available for an MH-60 Seahawk helicopter or two MQ-8 Fire Scout rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

The future Beloit is being built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine of Wisconsin.