USS MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL (LCS 21) COMPLETES ACCEPTANCE TRIALS

We are very excited to report that the USS Minneapolis Saint Paul (LCS 21) has completed an important milestone.  The ship completed Acceptance Trials in Lake Michigan in August. Acceptance trials included a full-power run, maneuverability testing and surface and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of the ship's combat system. Major systems and features were demonstrated, including aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery and machinery control and automation. Now that trials are complete, the ship will undergo final outfitting and fine-tuning before delivery to the U.S. Navy. LCS 21 is the eleventh Freedom-variant LCS designed and built by the Lockheed Martin-led industry team and is slated for delivery to the Navy early next year.  The ship is slated to be commissioned in the Port of Duluth in the spring of 2021. For more information, see https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2020-08-24-Littoral-Combat-Ship-21-Minneapolis-Saint-Paul-Completes-Acceptance-Trials

LCS: Providing U.S. Navy Speed to Capability

The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is designed to complete critical close-to-shore missions, including surface, mine countermeasure and anti-submarine warfare missions. LCS offers the perfect recipe for speed to capability because of its modularity, open architecture and common U.S. Navy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxCHm2uZExc&feature=youtu.be

USS MINNEAPOLIS SAINT PAUL (LCS-21) IS COMING SOON TO DULUTH (16 June 2020)

On June 15, 2019, the future USS Minneapolis Saint Paul (LCS 21) was christened by ship sponsor Jodi J. Greene, Deputy Under Secretary of the U.S. Navy for Policy in an exciting side launch into the Menominee River at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin.

The USS Minneapolis Saint Paul (LCS 21) will be one of the fastest combat ships in the U.S. Navy.  The ship is designed for shallow water missions and near-shore combat and to defeat asymmetric “anti-access” threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft. The ship will be homeported in Mayport, Florida.

In July 2019, Duluth was identified as the port where the ship will be commissioned.  The commissioning is expected to take place in the spring of 2021.

So why does it take so long to go from ship christening to commissioning? 

There are many milestones the ship and the crew must pass before the official commissioning ceremony.  While the outer part of the ship’s hull is done, there is still a lot of work to be done to complete the inside of the ship.  The shipbuilder at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard is completing construction and fitting out of the ship.  Fitting out includes installation of the ships power plant, engine, other machinery, installation of electrical, plumbing, and HVAC, finishing interior spaces and installation of all furnishings.  This is much like the construction of a large hotel or office building where you see the outside is done, but before the building is open, a lot of interior work must be completed.  Once the interior and exterior of the ship is complete and prior to commissioning, the ship undergoes builders and sea trials in Lake Michigan.  This gives the shipbuilder and the crew the opportunity to test the design, equipment, and other ship specific systems to ensure that they work properly and to identify any deficiencies that need to be corrected.

So what does the ship’s crew do during the time between christening and commissioning?

USS Minneapolis Saint Paul (LCS 21) will be manned by 140 sailors.  107 of those sailors are currently in Mayport, Florida and have been training vigorously in order to be able to operate the ship.  Minneapolis Saint Paul sailors will be the first Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) LCS in the naval fleet.  ASW is the branch of underwater warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track, and deter, damage, or destroy enemy submarines.  Sonar technicians from the ship attended the first LCS sonar class to be taught for the fleet in San Diego to qualify on the ASW mission package.  Other ship sailors have attended training at the LCS Training Facility in Mayport.  Also, sailors from the ship have gone underway with several LCS’s to support certifying events for those ships but to also receive training onboard and qualifying in their watch stations to return and train other Minneapolis Saint Paul sailors.

Crew members have also engaged in community outreach events to build relationships with their future homeport in Mayport, but also with the state of Minnesota.  Sailors from the ship have supported local Jacksonville volunteer events such as building homes for in need families, beautification of four local elementary and middle schools, park clean ups, and volunteering at the USO at Jacksonville International airport.  Last year, crew members traveled to Duluth, Minnesota where they cleaned up several outdoor paths.  They also attended the Minnesota Navy League Navy Ball in Minneapolis, a local high school football game, were featured on several news sites unveiling the ships crest, and attended the Minnesota Gopher and Viking football games. 

In the next few months, Minneapolis Saint Paul sailors will begin Crew familiarization training which will lead to Builders trials, Dock Trials, and Acceptance trials finally to commissioning in Duluth next spring.

The Minnesota Navy League has been designated as the lead for the commissioning of USS Minneapolis Saint Paul.  The Commissioning Committee depends on sponsorships from corporations and individuals to help fulfill this obligation to the US Navy and the ship’s crew.  Various levels of sponsorship opportunities are available.   To donate and for more information on the Minnesota Navy League Council visit our webpage at:  https://navyleaguemn.org/

Navy Announces LCS 21 Command Leadership

The Navy recently identified the command leadership for the future USS Minneapolis Saint Paul (LCS-21). 

 

Commander Alfonza White, a native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin will be the ships’ Commanding Officer.   He enlisted in 1995 as a Submariner Electrician’s Mate (Nuclear) and completed the nuclear field pipeline in 1997. His commission is via the Officer Candidate School, graduating from Thomas Edison State University via University of Mississippi, with a Bachelor of Science Nuclear Electronic (BSNE) in November 2003.  CDR White currently serves as the Damage Control Assistant aboard USS AMERICA. 

Lieutenant Commander Gregory McLean is the ships’ Executive Officer.  LCDR McLean was born in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree (with Honors) in Information Science from Florida State University with minors in Math, Physics, Naval Science, Classics, and Psychology. 

Finalizing the ships’ command leadership is Command Master Chief Petty Officer Rafael Acevedo.  CMDCS (SW/AW) Rafael Acevedo is a native of New York.  In March 2019, Senior Chief Acevedo was selected for the Command Senior Chief Program and received follow on orders to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron TWO, Mayport, Florida.  Senior Chief Acevedo is a graduate of the Senior Enlisted Academy Class 209.

We look forward to working with the ships’ command leadership as we progress towards commissioning.

USS Minneapolis Saint Paul (LCS 21 Logo)

Proud to share with you, the official Crest of LCS 21

Symbolism:
Shield: Blue and gold are traditional colors of the U.S. Navy. White represents integrity and purity of purpose. Minneapolis and Saint Paul are the two largest cities in the State of Minnesota and are often referred to as the “Twin Cities” due to their close proximity as well as their share histories. Both Minneapolis and Saint Paul sit on the banks of the Mississippi River, depicted here by the wavy blue and white pattern at the base. The broken golden chevron in center, heraldically referred to as a “chevron rompu,” consists of a lower left and lower right section, each pointing upwards portraying the simultaneous rise of the two cities as they supported each other from across the Mississippi River. The top portion of the chevron alludes to the Cathedral of Saint Paul, and iconic landmark that sits high upon Cathedral Hill, elevated above the two cities. The two stars on either side of the chevron represent each of the cities, while the star at the top characterizes Minnesota’s official motto, “L’Etoile du Nord,” which is French for “Star of the North.” The three stars arranged in this formation symbolize the supporting role the cities play in the larger culture and economy of the State of Minnesota.

Crest: The common loon is the state bird of Minnesota and is known for its dramatic dives into water in search of prey. Two loons stand here face-to-face with their wings extended, a stance showing their readiness for battle, emphasizing the round-the-clock readiness required of the personnel aboard the MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL. Placed between the birds is a wheel impaled by a sword, which has a two-fold meaning, the first being that the wheel refers to the history of Minneapolis’s industry as it grew to prominence as the Mill City. The sword is a reference to the martyr saint, St. Paul, for whom the city is named, and is often depicted carrying a sword pointed downwards. The second meaning is from a naval perspective with the ship’s wheel suggesting accuracy in navigation and the sword denoting the strength of the weaponry aboard the ship. The axle of the wheel is charged with a light blue color to highlight the point where the sword and wheel become one, illustrating both the connection of the two cities as well as the combination of the powerful navigation and weapon systems aboard the USS MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL.

Supporters:
The spears are emblematic of the speed, agility, and maneuverability of the Freedom-class littoral combat ship. Unlike many of the USS MINNEAPOLIS-STAINT PAUL’s larger counterparts, littoral combat ships are known for their quickness, flexibility in mission capability, and shallow draft. This relatively small vessel is ideal for a variety of near-shore operations while also having the capability of delivering devastating blows to adversaries, just as the spear is light and versatile, but a deadly weapon when used at short range.
Motto: The Latin motto, “AUT VIAM INVENIAM AUT FACIAM,” translates to “I WILL FIND A WAY OR MAKE ONE.” The motto refers to the fact that MINNEAPOLIS-SAINT PAUL is among the first Freedom-class littoral combat ships to be outfitted for anti-submarine warfare. Serving as a pioneer in that class of vessel, those serving aboard intend to find a way to victory using whatever means are necessary and to pass that onto the LCS that follow them.