Fairbanks Morse supplies propulsion engines for USS Beloit
Sister ship USS Freedom
Power systems and propulsion specialist, Fairbanks Morse, is supplying the main propulsion engines for the USS Beloit, the U.S. Navy’s Freedom-class littoral combat ship to be named for Beloit, Wisconsin where the company is based.
Last week, a keel laying ceremony (the formal recognition of the start of a ship’s construction) took place at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette for the LCS 29.
Usually attended by dignitaries and representatives from the shipbuilding company, the attendance at the USS Beloit keel laying ceremony was restricted due to COVID-19 precautions.
Keel Laying Ceremony – LCS29 – USS Beloit, courtesy of Lockheed Martin
“The city and citizens of Beloit have been a steadfast supporter of the Navy and Marine Corps,” said former Secretary of the Navy, Richard V. Spencer in 2018, at the time the ship’s name was announced. “From building engines for freedom-variant LCSs to manufacturing components for the Ford-class aircraft carriers, the contributions of Beloit citizens make our Navy stronger, more capable, and more lethal. I am proud to name the next ship in honour of the city and citizens of Beloit.”
The USS Beloit will be constructed by Lockheed Martin with Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. The ship will be 387 feet long, have a beam length of 57.4 feet and travel at speeds in excess of 40 knots.
