As seen in these photos from mid-October 2023, the first Saudi MMSC was coming together inside an erection building, the first sections of the future Constellation‘s hull were beginning to take shape, and the last three Freedom-class LCSs, having all been launched, were fitting out in the Menominee River alongside the shipyard.
The first Saudi MMSC is seen at top and in the first views below. Although outwardly similar to the Freedom-class ships there are quite a number of differences, beginning with the decision to paint the ships rather than leave the superstructure in a natural aluminum finish as in the U.S. ships. The MMSC will be more heavily armed and does away with the reconfigurable features of the LCS, and there are many internal changes to suit Saudi needs.
The bows of the Saudi ships — and the follow-on Constellation-class frigates as well — are built at Fincantieri Bay Ship’s shipyard at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and barged across Green Bay to Marinette Marine for installation into the full hull, as seen here.
All photos are copyright Christopher P. Cavas and used here with permission.
The two views below show the MMSC’s aluminum superstructure in the erection building before being lifted onto the hull. The superstructures are fabricated at FMG’s Fincantieri Ace Marine facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin and shipped to Marinette. The superstructure will be painted grey, unlike the natural-finish littoral combat ship superstructures of the U.S. Navy’s ships.
USS Constellation (FFG 62) construction
Construction of the frigate Constellation has begun. These are sections of the amidships lower hull; in the first image can be seen the turn of the bilge at the bottom of the section, while the second shot shows a hull section still being assembled upside down, a method which facilitates easier welding. Construction of the Constellation is about a year behind schedule due to a variety of factors, and delivery now is not expected before 2027.
Littoral Combat Ship construction continues
The final three Freedom-class littoral combat ships have all been launched and are fitting out at FMG’s Marinette shipyard. Nantucket (LCS 27) and Beloit (LCS 29) are expected to be delivered to the U.S. Navy during 2024, while Cleveland (LCS 31), the last ship in the class, is not expected to sail away until 2025.
The view above shows Nantucket at right with USS Marinette (LCS 25) at left preparing to sail away from the shipyard to her new homeport of Naval Station Mayport, Florida. Marinette was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 3 February 2023 and commissioned on 16 September. This view was taken on 16 October 2023.
USS Marinette on 16 October preparing for sailaway, the point when a new ship leaves the shipyard for the last time. The ship cast off on 19 October to begin her voyage through the Great Lakes to the sea and arrived at Mayport on 20 November.
The view above looks up the Menominee River towards the shipyard, with the Marinette at right. The red construction cranes mark progress on the shipyard’s new shiplift, which replaces the previous sideways-launching ways used for all previous ships built at Marinette. The shiplift will allow ships to be gently lowered into a docking well which will be flooded to allow for a far gentler transition from land to water. The first Saudi MMSC will be the first ship to use the shiplift.
The two photos above show different views of the shiplift under construction. All concrete had been poured by this time; the channels in the center of the lower view are for electrical cabling, which began to be laid minutes after these photos were taken.
Construction obscures the Nantucket (LCS 27). Sea trials for the ship will be undertaken soon after the spring thaw melts ice on Lake Michigan.
Above: three more views of the Nantucket. Note the high state of completion. Lockheed Martin has completed all modifications to this and the remaining LCSs under construction to certify the ships’ combining gear for full U.S. Navy operation.
The two views above show the Beloit (LCS 29) fitting out. Sea trials and delivery for this ship also are expected to be completed in 2024.
Two views above of Cleveland (LCS 31), the sixteenth and final Freedom-class littoral combat ship. Launched on 15 April 2023, the ship is not expected to leave the shipyard until the spring of 2025.
Two more views of Cleveland in the late afternoon of 16 October with Beloit astern.
Shipbuilding communities take great pride in the ships that are built there. These commemorative prints of littoral combat ships built at Fincantieri Marinette Marine adorn the lobby of the Country Inn & Suites in Marinette, Wisconsin.
