USS Independence - The Navy's Newest

[ericire12]

http://instapinch.com/?p=1085

Here is the Navy's newest combat ship. Built by General Dynamics/Bath iron Works in their Mobile, Alabama shipyards. Ain't she purdy:

[ellis4538]

Awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Fuzzy]

Hope she lives up to her name

[ccd]

To paraphrase Bob Uecker "Just a bit over budget."    Its a real shame that the Navy shot for the moon on the speed requirements for the LCS. The Navy REALLY needs the the LCS's now (no matter which design it chooses.) Another taxpayer funded boondoggle as there was a GREAT potential for foreign orders, but the costs required to meet the speed desired are OBSCENE, so the NAVY will most likely get stuck with the two seperate designs, or one will be selected and only a very few of that class will ever be built (just like the Seawolf) This class would be really valuable in the future(present) in the Persian Gulf, Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea but always a day late and a dollar too much with DOD stuff.

[Dakotaranger]

Heck, that would make a great bass boat

[Sponsor]

[DDMac]

The submarine USS North Carolina was commissioned last week in Wilmington. She is seen in the foreground of the last picture above... Ooops, she submerged!
I'm glad submariners are so smart. In the end, they, and those in space, will likely be the only survivors. GO NAVY!
Mac.
CLG-6

[gunman1911]

Heck, that would make a great bass boat

Bring her up to the Great lakes and we'll give it a spin!

[CurrieS103]

The other LCS design, USS Freedom, was bulit in Marinette, WI.  More conventional design but still awesome

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Freedom_(LCS-1)

[Dougdubya]

Nice of the Chinese to lend us the money to buy such a neat boat.

[Neon Knight Anubis]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot is that thing?! I admit I don't keep up with boats or anything but that is......different. Almost looks like a sub with aspects of a boat mixed in.