Tri-Service
US Navy's New $437m Warship Breaks Down At Sea
The US Navy's newest ship has broken down and had to be towed back to land after three weeks.
The USS Milwaukee, commissioned for active duty on November 21, is an advanced littoral combat ship (LCS). According to the Navy Times, citing a report from the Navy, the Milwaukee was transiting past Halifax, Canada, when it "suffered an engineering casualty."
The exact cause of the problem on the ship is currently being evaluated by the USS Milawukee crew and technical consultants, according to the Times.
Speaking of his crew shortly before the commissioning ceremony [pictured], the ship's commander, Mark Haney said 'they are truly unstoppable'.
'No matter what is thrown in their way, they find a way to succeed,' Haney said.
The Lockheed Martin-led industry team launched the nation's fifth Littoral Combat Ship into the Menominee River on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013
"Reporting of a complete loss of propulsion on USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) is deeply alarming, particularly given this ship was commissioned just 20 days ago," Sen. John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee who was concerned about the LCS program in the past, said in a statement to the Times.
During the ship's commissioning supporters trumpeted the launch, saying: Milwaukee is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation.
"It is designed to defeat asymmetric "anti-access" threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft."
“I expect the Navy to conduct a thorough investigation into the root causes of this failure, hold individuals accountable as appropriate, and keep the Senate Armed Services Committee informed.” McCain said.
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