USS Billings Combat Littoral Ship launched

New ship for the US Navy

The latest US Navy combat ship was christened USS Billings and launched into the Menominee River at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard.

Named after Montana's largest city, the new ship will carry two crews, each having 75 sailors. This is the 15th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS).

LCS 15 will be focused on mine-clearing, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions, according to builder Lockheed Martin.

The new USS Billings is part of the 355 ships that the US Navy is hoping to get. The ship is 80% completed and it needs another year and a half of construction before entering the active fleet.