USS Detroit (LCS-7)
Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the US Navy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
USS Detroit (LCS-7) was the fourth Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy.[8] She was the sixth ship to be named after the city of Detroit, Michigan.[1][9] She was decommissioned on September 29th, 2023.
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USS Detroit on 30 April 2018 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name | Detroit |
| Namesake | Detroit |
| Awarded | 17 March 2011[1] |
| Builder | Marinette Marine[1] |
| Laid down | 8 November 2012[2] |
| Launched | 18 October 2014[3] |
| Sponsored by | Mrs. Barbara Levin |
| Christened | 18 October 2014 |
| Acquired | 12 August 2016[4] |
| Commissioned | 22 October 2016[5] |
| Decommissioned | 29 September 2023 |
| Identification | Hull number: LCS-7 |
| Motto | Swift Vigilance |
| Status | Stricken, Final Disposition Pending[1] |
| Badge |  |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Freedom-class littoral combat ship |
| Displacement | 3,500 metric tons (3,900 short tons) full load[6] |
| Length | 378.3 ft (115.3 m)[1] |
| Beam | 57.4 ft (17.5 m)[1] |
| Draft | 13.0 ft (3.7 m)[1] |
| Propulsion | 2 Rolls-Royce MT30 36 MW gas turbines, 2 Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, 4 Rolls-Royce waterjets |
| Speed | 40 knots (46 mph; 74 km/h) (sea state 3) |
| Range | 3,500 nmi (6,500 km) at 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h)[7] |
| Endurance | 21 days (336 hours) |
| Boats & landing craft carried | 11 m RHIB, 40 ft (12 m) high-speed boats |
| Complement | 15 to 50 core crew, 75 mission crew (Blue and Gold crews) |
| Armament | |
| Aircraft carried | |
| Notes | Electrical power is provided by 4 Isotta Fraschini V1708 diesel engines with Hitzinger generator units rated at 800 kW each. |
Design
In 2002, the U.S. Navy initiated a program to develop the first of a fleet of littoral combat ships.[10] The Navy initially ordered two monohull ships from Lockheed Martin, which became known as the Freedom-class littoral combat ships after the first ship of the class, USS Freedom.[10][11] Odd-numbered U.S. Navy littoral combat ships are built using the Freedom-class monohull design, while even-numbered ships are based on a competing design, the trimaran hull Independence-class littoral combat ship from General Dynamics.[10] The initial order of littoral combat ships involved a total of four ships, including two of the Freedom-class design.[10] Detroit is the fourth Freedom-class littoral combat ship to be built.
Detroit includes additional stability improvements over the original Freedom design; the stern transom was lengthened and buoyancy tanks were added to the stern to increase weight service and enhance stability.[12] The ship will also feature automated sensors to allow "conditions-based maintenance" and reduce crew overwork and fatigue issues that Freedom had on her first deployment.[13]
Construction and career
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The ceremonial "laying of the keel" was in early November 2012 at the Marinette Marine shipyards in Marinette, Wisconsin.[14] The ship was launched on 18 October 2014.[3] The US Navy accepted Detroit into service on 12 August 2016; the ship was commissioned on 22 October 2016.[15][5] She is assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two. The ship is sponsored by Mrs. Barbara Levin[3] (Wife of Senator Carl Levin)
On 30 December 2016, Detroit participated in a homeport shift ceremony that took place at Naval Station Mayport. The ship was previously scheduled to be based out of Naval Base San Diego but was reassigned while en route.[16]
On 13 January 2017, Detroit completed her first flight deck evolutions to certify the flight deck for future air operations. The landings and VERTREP were conducted by the "Swamp Foxes" of HSM-74. On 8 March 2017, Detroit fired a vertical-launched AGM-114 Hellfire missile, the first such launch from a littoral combat ship.[17] The Hellfire system is meant to engage small vessels and strike targets on land.
In January 2020, Detroit conducted freedom of navigation and intelligence-gathering operations in the Caribbean Sea.[18]
Detroit, the fourth ship of the Freedom-class, was planned to be inactivated in FY 2022, and to join the Out of Commission in Reserve (OCIR) list, along with three other ships in the class: Freedom, Fort Worth, and Little Rock.[19] However, in the final 2022 budget, Congress blocked the Navy's request to retire the three ships.[20]
On 21 June 2023 Detroit got underway for its final deployment to the 4th fleet AOR to support regional cooperation and security.[21]
On 27 September 2023 Detroit returned to Mayport in preparation to decommission the ship two days later.[22]
On 29 September 2023, Detroit was decommissioned at Mayport.[23][24]
Awards
- Battle "E" – (2019)
