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Navsource Online: Littoral Warship Photo Archive


Ship's patch courtesy of
Don McGrogan,
BMCS, USN (Ret.)

Billings (LCS 15)


"Star Of The Big Ocean"
Specifications - LCS Littoral Combat Ship - Freedom Class (Variant 1, Flight 0, first generation):
Hull Type: Semi-planing Monohull
Displacement: 2135 tons (light), 2862 tons (full) Dead Weight: 727 tons
Length: 324 (wl), 378.9' (oa)
Beam: 43' (wl), 57' (extreme)
Draft: 13' (navigational), 14' (draft limit)
Propulsion: Two Rolls-Royce MT30 36MW gas turbines, FM Colt-Pielstick 16PA6B STC diesel engines driving four Rolls-Royce waterjets
Auxiliary Power: Four Isotta Fraschini Model V1708 ship service diesel generator sets
Speed: 45 kts
Armament: BAE Systems Land and Armaments Mk110 57mm naval gun system
Combat Management System: Lockheed Martin open architecture COMBATSS-21
Electronics: EADS TRS-3D C-band radar (air / surface surveillance, weapon assignment)
Decoy System: Soft-Kill Weapon System (SKWS) decoy launcher from Terma A/S of Denmark
Complement: 26
Billings (LCS 15) Building and Operational Data:
  • 04 March 2013: Contract Awarded to Lockheed Martin Corp.
  • 06 June 2013: Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced LCS 15 will be named USS Billings
  • 02 November 2015: Keel laid at Marinette Marine Corp. shipyard; keel authenticated by Mrs. Sharla Tester, wife of Montana Sen. Jon Tester
  • 01 July 2017: Christened by Mrs. Sharla Tester and launched; Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., delivered the ceremony's principal address
  • 01 February 2019: In a ceremony held at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, the U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the ship from its builder, commissioning is scheduled for later this year
  • 21 June 2019: While departing Montreal, after a short port visit while enroute to her commissioning location, she collided with the moored bulk carrier Rosaire Desgagnes sustaining minor damage above the waterline
  • 28 June 2019: Cmdr. Michael Johnson, CO of PCU Billings was relieved of command after the collision of 21 June, Cmdr. Nathan Rowan assumed command of PCU Billings
  • 03 August 2019: Commissioned at the Naval Air Station, Key West, Fla.; Cmdr. Nathan Rowan in command, assigned to LCS Squadron Two at Mayport, Fla.

    Note:
    1.) The contract option awarded to Lockheed Martin Corporation is managed by Lockheed Martin's Maritime Systems and Sensors division in Moorestown, N.J. The Lockheed Martin team includes: Marinette Marine shipyard, Bollinger Shipyards, Gibbs and Cox naval architects, Izar of Spain and Blohm & Voss naval shipbuilders.

    2.) The contract option awarded to General Dynamics is managed by Bath Iron Works at Bath ME. The major members of General Dynamics team are: Austal USA, based in Mobile AL; BAE Systems, Rockville MD; Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, Baltimore MD; CAE Marine Systems, Leesburg VA; Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore MD; General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Burlington VT; General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton CT; General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Washington DC; and General Dynamics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

    "Billings, The Ship"     -    "Billings, The People"


    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image
    Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Freedom
    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
    Freedom
    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)
    Billings
    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)
    Billings
    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)
    Billings
    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
    Little Rock
    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
    Billings
    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.)
    Billings
    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
    Billings
    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.
    Billings
    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)
    Billings  533k       Billings  551k       Billings  453k       Billings  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.
    Billings
    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
    Billings
    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)
    Billings
    1515014
    377k
    Billings  1.) 376k   Billings  2.) 572k   Billings  3.) 360k   Billings  4.) 423k   Billings  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

    Billings 1.) 328k   Billings 2.) 309k   Billings 3.) 1198k   Billings 4.) 128k   Billings 5.) 133k
    Billings 6.) 176k   Billings 7.) 471k   Billings 8.) 330k   Billings 9.) 339k   Billings10.) 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
    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

    (Photos by MC3 Arnesia McIntyre, courtesy of the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    1.) 1515020      2.) 1515021      3.) 1515022      4.) 1515023      5.) 1515024
      6.) 1515025      7.) 1515026      8.) 1515027      9.) 1515028      10.) 1515029


    Billings  1.) 306k   Billings  2.) 482k   Billings  3.) 354k   Billings  4.) 312k   Billings  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

    Billings
    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)
    Billings
    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)
    Billings
    1515037
    364k
    Billings Memorabilia
    Billings' Emblem
    Billings
    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 CrewGold Crew
    1.)  03 Aug. 2019Cmdr. Nathan D. Rowan (NROTC '00) (Tenn.)1.)  01 Mar. 2020Cmdr. Brian August Forster (USNA '02) (Buena, N.J.)
    2.)  03 Apr. 2020Cmdr. Aaron L. Helgerson (enl. '95, ECP '99) (Freeman, S. D.)2.)  05 Sep. 2021Cmdr. Brett R.Seeley (Citadel '03) (Bradenton, Fla.)
    3.)  10 Dec. 2021Cmdr. Jeffrey A. Gerring (enl. '96, NROTC) (Aberdeen, Md.)23 Mar. 2023Gold Crew Disestablished
    4.)  23 Mar. 2023Cmdr. Curtis L. Thomas II (NROTC) (Jacksonville, Fla.)

    Additional Resources

    View Billings' Official Web page
    USS Billings History on U.S. Carriers
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    VIDEO Links

    Marine Log: USS Billings Completes Acceptance Trials (2:06 min.)

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    This page created on 07 June 2013,
    and is maintained by Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 02 December 2023