USS Wichita (LCS-13)
USS Wichita (LCS-13) is a Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy,[1] the third ship named after Wichita, the largest city in Kansas.[7] The ceremonial “laying of the keel” was on 9 February 2015, at Marinette, Wisconsin.[2] Sponsored by Kate Lehrer, wife of Wichita native Jim Lehrer, the ship was christened and launched on 17 September 2016.[8][9] The naval crest of the ship incorporates elements of the Wichita flag, along with a buffalo skull and feathers representing the Native American heritage and wheat to reflect the state of Kansas's main crop.[10] She is assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two. The ship was acquired by the US Navy from Lockheed Martin and the Marinette Marine shipyard on 22 August 2018 along with USS Sioux City in a double delivery.[3]
_during_acceptance_trials_US_Navy_180711-N-N0101-390.jpg.webp) Wichita during acceptance trials, July 2018 | |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United States | |
| Name: | Wichita |
| Namesake: | Wichita, Kansas |
| Awarded: | 4 March 2013[1] |
| Builder: | Marinette Marine[1] |
| Laid down: | 9 February 2015[1][2] |
| Launched: | 17 September 2016 |
| Sponsored by: | Kate Lehrer |
| Christened: | 17 September 2016 |
| Acquired: | 22 August 2018[3] |
| Commissioned: | 12 January 2019[4] |
| Homeport: | Naval Station Mayport |
| Identification: | MMSI number: 369970969 |
| Motto: | Keeper of the Seas |
| Status: | In active service |
| Badge: |
_Crest.png.webp) |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Freedom-class littoral combat ship |
| Displacement: | 3,500 metric tons (3,900 short tons) full load |
| Length: | 378.3 ft (115.3 m) |
| Beam: | 57.4 ft (17.5 m) |
| Draft: | 13.0 ft (4.0 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 Rolls-Royce MT30 36 MW gas turbines, 2 Colt-Pielstick diesel engines, 4 Rolls-Royce waterjets |
| Speed: | 45 knots (52 mph; 83 km/h) (sea state 3) |
| Range: | 3,500 nmi (6,500 km) at 18 knots (21 mph; 33 km/h)[6] |
| Endurance: | 21 days (336 hours) |
| Boats & landing craft carried: | 11 m RHIB, 40 ft (12 m) high-speed boats |
| Complement: | 131 Core Crew (Training Ship) |
| Armament: |
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| Aircraft carried: |
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| Aviation facilities: | Flight Deck, Hangar Bay |
| Notes: | Electrical power is provided by 4 Isotta Fraschini V1708 diesel engines with Hitzinger generator units rated at 800 kW each. |
References
- "Wichita (LCS-13)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
- "Sparks of Life: Lockheed Martin-Led Team Lays Keel on Nation's Thirteenth Littoral Combat Ship" (Press release). Lockheed Martin. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Sioux City and USS Wichita" (Press release). United States Navy. 23 August 2018. NNS180823-09. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- "Hundreds attend commissioning of USS Wichita at Naval Station Mayport". 12 January 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- "LCS Littoral Combat Ship". Archived from the original on 8 August 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2009.
- "Secretary of the Navy Names Multiple Ships" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2015.
- "Navy launches new USS Wichita combat ship". greatbendpost.com. 17 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- Tanner, Beccy (16 September 2016). "USS Wichita will carry some of city's history". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
- Neil, Denise (2 July 2016). "USS Wichita crest incorporates city flag, heritage". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
- This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.
