Please report any broken links or trouble you might come across to the Webmaster. Please take a moment to let us know so that we can correct any problems and make your visit as enjoyable and as informative as possible.
Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1501001a |
172k | 27 May 2004: Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Navy announced today that Lockheed Martin Corporation - Maritime Systems & Sensors Division, Moorestown, N.J., will be one of
two defense contracting teams awarded contract options for final system design with options for detail design and construction of up to two Flight 0 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The
LCS is an entirely new breed of U.S. Navy warship. A fast, agile, and networked surface combatant, LCS's modular, focused-mission design will provide Combatant Commanders the required
warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to ensure maritime dominance and access for the joint force. LCS will operate with focused-mission packages that deploy manned and
unmanned vehicles to execute missions including, Special Operations Forces (SOF) support, high-speed transit, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance (ISR), and Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP). (Artist concept provided to the U.S. Navy courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corporation, Photo #040527-O-0000L-003, from the Navy News Stand) |
Mike Smolinski Clifton, N.J. Manager, Navsource DE / FF / LCS Archive | ||
1501001b |
365k | undated: Marinette, Wis. - An aerial view of Fincantieri Marinette Marine, which was founded in 1942 along the south bank of the Menominee River in Marinette, Wisconsin. The
river forms the border between Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Originally built to meet America's growing demand for naval construction, today FMM is one of the premier builders of
vessels for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. From humble beginnings with a contract to build five wooden barges, FMM has grown into a world-class shipbuilder, having designed and built more than
1,500 vessels. In conjunction with the Lockheed Martin Corp., all of the planned Freedom Class LCS's will be built here, beginning in 2005 with USS Freedom (LCS 1). (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine) | |||
1515001 |
259k | 02 September 2015: Billings, Mont. - Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus delivers remarks at a dual ship-naming ceremony for the Navy's newest Littoral
Combat Ship, the future USS Billings (LCS 15) and future Virginia-class attack submarine, USS Montana (SSN 794), at Metra Park Rimrock Auto Arena. Mabus thanked
the people of Montana for their support and contributions to the Navy and discussed the special bond that exists between a state and its namesake vessel. (U.S. Navy photo #150902-N-AC887-001 by MCC Sam Shavers, from the Navy Newstand) | |||
1515002 |
259k | 03 November 2015: Marinette, Wis. - A welder authenticates the keel by welding the initials of the ship's sponsor, Mrs. Sharla D. Tester, onto the keel plate
of the U.S. Navy's fifteenth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), the future USS Billings (LCS 15), in a ceremony held at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. The Keel
Laying is the formal recognition of the start of the ship and module construction process. (U.S. Navy photo #151103-N-XX501-014 courtesy of Lockheed Martin, from the Navy Newstand) | |||
1515003 |
217k | 16 June 2017: Marinette, Wis. - The 15th littoral combat ship, the future USS Billings (LCS 15) is pictured next to the Menominee River ahead of its christening
on 01 July 2017. Once commissioned, LCS-15 will be the first ship named Billings in naval service. (U.S. Navy photo #170616-N-N0101-320 courtesy of Lockheed Martin, from the Navy Newstand) |
Ron Reeves | ||
1515019 |
372k | 01 July 2017: Marinette, Wis. – A beautiful morning sunrise over the Menominee River. PCU Billings (LCS 15) sits high in her launch cradle
while PCU Little Rock (LCS 9) and PCU Wichita (LCS 13) sit peacefully at their fitting out piers. (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine) |
Mike Smolinski Clifton, N.J. Manager, Navsource DE / FF / LCS Archive | ||
1515001 |
467k | 01 July 2017: Marinette, Wis. - The future USS Billings (LCS 15) is pictured sitting in the launch cradle next to the Menominee River on the morning of her
launching. Already in the river, just ahead of the launch area is the future USS Little Rock (LCS 9). (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, from the Navy Newstand) |
Lee Wahler Lcdr., USN (ret.) | ||
1515007 |
487k | 01 July 2017: Marinette, Wis. - The future USS Billings (LCS 15) is pictured sitting in the launch cradle next to the Menominee
River on the morning of her launching. Already in the river, just ahead of the launch area is the future USS Little Rock (LCS 9). (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine) |
Mike Smolinski Clifton, N.J. Manager, Navsource DE / FF / LCS Archive | ||
1515005 |
297k | 01 July 2017: Marinette, Wis. - LCS-15's sponsor Sharla Tester, the wife of Montana Sen. Jon Tester, the ranking member of the Senate Veteran's Affairs Committee, christens
the future USS Billings. Once commissioned, LCS-15 will be the first ship of its name in naval service. (U.S. Navy photo #170701-N-N0101-021 courtesy of Lockheed Martin, from the Navy Newstand) |
Ron Reeves Oaklyn, N.J. | ||
1515006 |
631k | 01 July 2017: Marinette, Wis. - The U.S. Navy's future USS Billings (LCS 15) launches sideways into the Menominee River in Marinette, Wisconsin, following its christening by
ship sponsor Sharla Tester. (U.S. Navy photo #170701-N-N0101-023 courtesy of Lockheed Martin, from the Navy Newstand) | |||
533k
551k
453k
384k 06 December 2018: Marinette, Wis. - The future littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) conducts acceptance trials on Lake Michigan. Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship, an adaptable platform designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions. (U.S. Navy photo #181206-N-N0101-028, 181206-N-N0101-027, 181206-N-N0101-026, and 181206-N-N0101-025 by Lockheed Martin from the Navy News Stand) 1.) 1515008 2.) 1515009 3.) 1515010 4.) 1515011 | Lee Wahler Lcdr., USN (ret.) Jacksonville, Fla. |
||||
1515012 |
460k | 15 December 2018: Marinette, Wis. - An early morning view of the Marinette Marine shipyard from the Menominee River as the future littoral combat ships USS
Billings (LCS 15), left, and USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) are moored in front of USS St. Louis (LCS 19), before St. Louis'
christening, 15 Dec. 2018. (U.S. Navy photo #181215-N-N0101-113 courtesy of Lockheed Martin, from the Navy Newstand) |
Mike Smolinski Clifton, N.J. Manager, Navsource DE / FF / LCS Archive | ||
1515013 |
270k | 27 March 2019: Marinette, Wis. - The sun rises behind the future USS Billings (LCS 15), left, and the future USS Indianapolis (LCS 17)
at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. Later today the yard will hold a "Keel Laying and Authentication" ceremony for the future USS Marinette (LCS 25) (Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin Team Freedom) | |||
1515014 |
377k | ||||
1.) 376k
2.) 572k
3.) 360k
4.) 423k
5.) 320k 28 July 2019: Key West, Fla. - The future littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) arrives at Naval Air Station Key West's Truman Harbor in preparation for its commissioning ceremony on 03 August. Billings is the 17th littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the eighth of the Freedom variant. It is the first ship named for Billings, the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana. Naval Air Station Key West is the state-of-the-art facility for combat fighter aircraft of all military services, provides world-class pierside support to U.S. and foreign naval vessels, and is the premier training center for surface and subsurface military operations. (U.S. Navy photo #190728-N-KM072-006, 190728-N-KM072-005, 190728-N-NJ416-018, 190728-N-KM072-002, and 190728-N-NJ416-176 by Danette Baso Silvers (1-3) and MC3 Arnesia McIntyre (4, 5) from the Navy News Stand) 1.) 1515015 2.) 1515016 3.) 1515017 4.) 1515018 5.) 1515019 | |||||
1.) 328k
2.) 309k
3.) 1198k
4.) 128k
5.) 133k 6.) 176k 7.) 471k 8.) 330k 9.) 339k 10.) 323k Saturday, 03 August 2019: Key West, Fla.
The Navy commissioned USS Billings (LCS 15) at a ceremony in Key West, Fla., over the weekend, adding the eighth Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship to fleet.
Billings, built by Lockheed Martin, is the Navy’s 17th LCS commissioned by the Navy, and the first Naval vessel named for Montana's largest city. However,
Billings ran into some difficulty arriving at its commissioning ceremony. In June, after leaving the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Wisconsin,
Billings collided with moored bulk carrier Rosaire Desgagnes in the St. Lawrence River near Montreal, Canada. Billings was steaming to its new
homeport of Mayport, Fla. Billings’ prospective CO Commander Michael Johnson was relieved of command following the incident, and Commander Nate Rowan, who had
served as the commanding officer of USS Wichita (LCS 13), took command of the newest LCS.
“The USS Billings is a highly maneuverable, lethal, and adaptable force to be reckoned with,” Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said in a statement. “It’ll represent Montana and our nation proudly in the water by defending us around the world. At a time of new global threats and challenges, these naval capabilities provide critical support to our men and women in uniform who work to keep us safe.” Tester is the ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. His wife Sharla is Billings’ sponsor. During the commissioning ceremony, she welcomed the families of the ship’s crew to join her to give the traditional order: “Man our ship and bring her to life.” Billings will be homeported in Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
1.) The audience awaits the commissioning of USS Billings, the 17th littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and eighth of the Freedom variant.
...........................................................190803-N-NJ416-473
(Photos by MC3 Arnesia McIntyre, courtesy of the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)2.) Naval Air Station Key West color guard parades the colors during the commissioning ceremony of USS Billings (LCS 15). ........................................................................................190803-N-NJ416-377 3.) Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Research Development, and Acquisition, James Guerts, speaks during the commissioning ceremony. ....................................................................190803-N-RL695-1198 4.) U.S. senator of Montana, Jon Tester, speaks during the commissioning ceremony of USS Billings. ..........................................................................................................................................190803-N-RL695-1214 5.) Adm. Craig S. Faller, Commander, U.S. Southern Command, speaks during the commissioning ceremony of USS Billings (LCS 15). ......................................................................190803-N-RL695-1175 6.) Cmdr. Nathan Rowan, the commanding officer of USS Billings, speaks during his ship's commissioning ceremony. ........................................................................................................190803-N-RL695-1270 7.) The crew of the Navy's newest littoral combat ship, USS Billings, prepares to bring the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. .................................................................190803-N-NJ416-465 8.) The crew of the Navy’s newest littoral combat ship, USS Billings, brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. ......................................................................................190803-N-RL695-1335 9.) The crew of the Navy’s newest littoral combat ship, USS Billings (LCS 15), brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. ..................................................................190803-N-RL695-1426 10.) Billings Mayor, Bill Cole, passes the long glass to Lt. Ashleigh Evans in tradition of setting the first watch during the commissioning of USS Billings. ....................................190803-N-RL695-1283 1.) 1515020 2.) 1515021 3.) 1515022 4.) 1515023 5.) 1515024 6.) 1515025 7.) 1515026 8.) 1515027 9.) 1515028 10.) 1515029 | |||||
1.) 306k
2.) 482k
3.) 354k
4.) 312k
5.) 285k 30 August 2019: Mayport, Fla. - The Freedom-class variant littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) gets underway from Naval Station Mayport as Commander, U.S. 4th Fleet orders all U.S. Navy ships homeported in the area to sortie ahead of Hurricane Dorian, which is forecasted to bring high winds and heavy rain to the East Coast. Ships are being directed to areas in the Atlantic where they are best postured for storm avoidance. (U.S. Navy photo #190830-N-QI061-2139, 190830-N-QI061-2166, 190830-N-DA434-057, 190830-N-DA434-078, and 190830-N-QI061-2223 by MC3 Nathan T. Beard (1, 2, 5) and MC3 Alana Langdon (3, 4) from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) 1.) 1515030 2.) 1515031 3.) 1515032 4.) 1515033 5.) 1515034 | |||||
1515035 |
354k | 04 September 2019: Norfolk, Va. - The littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) gets underway as Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet orders U.S. Navy ships and
aircraft in the area to sortie ahead of Hurricane Dorian, which is forecasted to bring high winds and heavy rain to the East Coast. Ships are being directed to areas in the Atlantic
where they are best postured for storm avoidance. (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #190904-N-PW494-0076 by MC1 Joshua D. Sheppard from the Defense Visual Info. Distribution Service) |
|||
1515036 |
500k | 06 September 2019: New London, Conn. - Two views of the Littoral Combat Ship USS Billings (LCS 15) making her way up the Thames River and past the City of
New London on her way to Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut. Billings left her homeport of Naval Station Mayport in Florida on 30 August to avoid hurricane
Dorian. She stopped briefly at Naval Station, Norfolk, Va. and continued north to Groton on 04 September. (U.S. Navy photos #190906-N-UM744-003, and 190906-N-UM744-004 by John Narewski, Submarine Readiness Squadron 32, from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | |||
1515037 |
364k |
Billings Memorabilia |
Billings' Emblem Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler |
Billings History |
View the USS Billings (LCS 15) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site. |
Billings' Commanding Officers |
Blue Crew | Gold Crew | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.) 03 Aug. 2019 | Cmdr. Nathan D. Rowan (NROTC '00) (Tenn.) | 1.) 01 Mar. 2020 | Cmdr. Brian August Forster (USNA '02) (Buena, N.J.) | ||
2.) 03 Apr. 2020 | Cmdr. Aaron L. Helgerson (enl. '95, ECP '99) (Freeman, S. D.) | 2.) 05 Sep. 2021 | Cmdr. Brett R.Seeley (Citadel '03) (Bradenton, Fla.) | ||
3.) 10 Dec. 2021 | Cmdr. Jeffrey A. Gerring (enl. '96, NROTC) (Aberdeen, Md.) | 23 Mar. 2023 | Gold Crew Disestablished | ||
4.) 23 Mar. 2023 | Cmdr. Curtis L. Thomas II (NROTC) (Jacksonville, Fla.) |
Back to the DE / FF / LCS Ship Index |
Back to the Main Navsource Photo Index |
This page created on 07 June 2013, and is maintained by Mike Smolinski by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved. Page Last Updated: 08 May 2024 |