The Navy’s newest combat ship, the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, launched Saturday from the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard in Marinette, Wis.
It is the second naval vessel with the spectacular name, the other a submarine last in service in 2008.
Launched into the Menominee River, the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul will go through sea trials before being officially commissioned and ready for active service. The ship’s home base will be in Mayport, Fla.
The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul is a Freedom-class combat ship built by Lockheed Martin Corp. The ship is expected to be christened by Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy Jodi Greene, a native of Northfield, Minn. U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum of Minnesota is scheduled to give the ceremonial address.
Here are 10 more facts about the ship you may not have known you needed:
CHOOSING THE NAME
The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul was named by the secretary of the Navy. The name honors the commitment Minnesota has had to the Navy and Minnesotans’ years of service.
PAST TWIN CITIES NAVAL SHIPS
The combat ship launched Saturday isn’t the first vessel to be named USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul. In 1984, a Los Angeles-class submarine was commissioned carrying the name for the first time. She was decommissioned in 2008.
For retired ships, it’s common for names to be reused to continue to honor the legacy behind the name.
Two naval ships have been named for Minneapolis and another two for St. Paul in the past. The latest of both have since been decommissioned.
SATURDAY’S SPECIAL LAUNCH
The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul was side launched. This is because the Menominee River is not wide enough for a length launch, where the ship goes in hull first. The side launch takes about seven seconds with a big splash and a ship that then sways back and forth until steady.
Quite a thing to see! The christening of the USS Minneapolis St. Paul LCS 21 pic.twitter.com/XGk7mRuKrr
— Rep. Jim Nash (@JimNashMN) June 15, 2019
SO HOW BIG IS IT?
The beam, or width of the ship at its widest point, measures 57 feet with a length of 387 feet. The full load displacement weight, or the weight of the vessel including passengers, cargo and fuel, is approximately 3,400 metric tons.
IT’S A SPEED DEMON
The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul can reach a speed greater than 45 knots, approximately 52 mph. In comparison, the average passenger ship cruises at about 20 knots.
LOCKED AND LOADED
The warship has a core self-defense suit with a variety of weapons and battle defense systems. There will be a 3-D air search radar, lightweight Rolling Airframe Missiles, a medium-caliber 57mm Mk110 deck gun and a decoy-launching system.
ALL ABOARD
The USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul can accommodate 98 sailors on board. There will be 50 core crew members on board after the ship finishes testing.
BUILT FOR SPEED AND COMBAT
The model of the vessel, Littoral Combat Ship 21, is the fastest combat ship in the U.S. Navy. It’s designed for shallow water missions and near-shore combat. The ship moves forward with a diesel and gas turbine and a steerable water jet, created with flexible, resilient materials.
AIRCRAFT LANDING PAD
The ship has an area for helicopter landings and can support both manned and unmanned helicopters on deck.
LOTS OF JOBS
The economic impact of the combat ship reaches into 42 states and supports 12,500 jobs. Twenty-five of the suppliers are based in Minnesota.