Sep 18, 2008 7:38 pm US/Eastern
Lockheed Martin Delivers New Navy Combat Ship
WASHINGTON (AP) ―
Lockheed Martin delivered its first Littoral combat ship to the Navy with an estimated price tag of $550 million and the ability to move speedily in coastal waters to retrieve Marines.
The Littoral combat ship is smaller than the Navy's next-generation surface combat ship and capable of operating in shallow, coastal waters that can move at "sprint speed" to get Marines safely out of enemy territory.
The ship can travel at 57.5 miles per hour -- compared with an average speed of 34.5 mph for other combat ships.
Navy crews now will move aboard the first ship and prepare the vessel to depart Marinette Marine, Wis. for Milwaukee, the location of the ship's Nov. 8 commissioning.
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