Preparations Underway for USS Montgomery Commissioning
Saturday in Mobile, a ceremony will be held to officially commission the USS Montgomery, a U.S. Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). Here are some facts about the ship:
The ship was built by Austal USA in Mobile at a cost of $500 million. It is 419 feet long with two diesel engines and two gas turbine engines offering jet propulsion. It can travel about 50 mph on the open sea. The USS Montgomery contains a missile launcher and various other weaponry. Eleven officers and 42 enlisted personnel will be stationed on board.
At the commissioning on Sept. 10, the ship will officially enter the U.S. Navy fleet. After that, the USS Montgomery will leave Mobile, travel through the Panama Canal and be stationed in San Diego, California.
City leaders say they’re often asked why the commissioning ceremony couldn’t be held in Montgomery on the Alabama River. They say the ship could make it here, but wouldn’t be able to turn around for the trip back to the Gulf.
Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions and other dignitaries are expected to attend the commissioning. Alabama News Network has crews there and will have complete coverage.
Click here for more information on the USS Montgomery.
