The liaison officer of the Chilean Navy in it US Naval Forces Southern Command/US 4th Fleettogether with representatives of the navies of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru, visited the littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) of the class Freedom to strengthen relations with that institution of the North American country.
Officers from Peru, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Chile on the deck of the USS Billings (LCS 15). US Navy signature
According to the social networks of the US Naval Forces Southern Command/US 4th Fleet, the officers of these five South American navies were received on the littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15) on April 10 at the naval station of MayportFlorida.
The officers visited this unit as part of a program of activities aimed at improving knowledge and interoperability between the United States Navy and the navies of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru.
Liaison officers in the hangar of USS Billings (LCS 15). US Navy signature
During his visit to USS Billings (LCS 15)the liaison officers were able to tour units such as the bridge and the hangar, thus learning about the capabilities and roles performed by this unit, which contributes to forging stronger relationships with the United States Navy.
A controversial class
Class ships Freedom They are fast, agile and focused platforms to operate in near-shore environments but capable of operating in the open sea. They were designed to defeat asymmetric anti-access threats such as mines, diesel-electric submarines and speedboats. They feature a reconfigurable structure to allow rapid exchange of mission modules. Currently, they are mainly used in security and maritime control tasks.
USS Billings (LCS 15). Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marianne Guemo US Navy
This model, together with the class independenceare part of the littoral combat ship program (LCS) started in the early 2000s by the United States. Its first units, with less than 10 years of service, have begun to be withdrawn from service due to their high maintenance and operation costs, and limited combat capabilities. In 2022, the United States expressed its interest in selling some of those ships that are in reserve to South America.
Units of the class Freedom They are built in the shipyard Fincantieri Marinette Marine by the team LCS lead by Lockheed Martin. With respect to USS Billings (LCS 15), is the eighth ship of the class. Her keel was laid in November 2015 and she entered service in August 2019. Assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron (LCSRON) 2, operates from the Mayport Naval Station. Its motto is Big Sky Over Troubled Waters.
The USS Billings fires its BAE Systems Mk 110 57mm gun. Signature Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron US Navy
It is 115 m long, 17.5 m wide, 4 m draft and has a displacement of 3,500 t. She achieves a range of 3,500 nautical miles at 18 knots. She has a cannon BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm anti-aircraft missile launcher Raytheon RIM-116 RAMa torpedo launcher Honeywell Mk 50two machine guns M2 .50 BMG caliber and can mount four barrels Bushmaster 30mm. It has a hangar and flight deck for two MH-60R/S Seahawk or a MQ-8C Fire Scout.
The ship, which has the combat management system Combatss-21has two diesel engines FM Colt-Pielstick 16PA6B STC of 6.8 MW and two gas turbines Rolls-Royce MT30 36 MW in a combined diesel and gas propulsion configuration (Codag) that drive four adjustable waterjets that allow a speed greater than 40 knots. Uses four diesel generators Isotta Fraschini V1708 which provide 2.4 MW of electricity to the ship’s systems.
