Johanns Applauds Navy Department's Naming of USS Omaha

Press Release

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) today applauded the Navy Department's announcement of the USS Omaha, a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) soon to be constructed by the U.S. Navy.

"What a great testament to the community of Omaha and the character of its people," Johanns said. "All Omahans should be proud to be recognized by the Navy for their patriotism and strong work ethic, and for the honor of being represented in the greatest naval fleet the world has ever seen."

The USS Omaha, along with the USS Sioux City, will be the newest of a class of ships described by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus as "a major part of the future of our Navy."

"I chose the name for LCS 11 and LCS 12 after Midwestern cities from America's heartland, to honor the patriotic, hard-working citizens of Sioux City, Iowa and Omaha, Nebraska, for their support of and contributions to the military," Mabus added.

The USS Omaha will be constructed in Mobile, Ala., and is expected to be completed by 2016. It will be 419 feet in length, have a waterline beam of 103 feet, displace approximately 3,000 tons, and make speed in excess of 40 knots.

The U.S. Navy further describes its LCS class as "a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric 'anti-access' threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft."

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