austal releases new footage of combat ship

Austal today released new footage of the littoral combat ship Independence (LCS-2) in action during recently completed acceptance trials, the last set of tests before the vessel is handed over to the U.S. Navy.

View the new video here
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The trials concluded in November, with Rear Adm. James Murdoch announcing that the ship had "performed extremely well" during the weeklong trials, which included "two outstanding days at sea."
While in the Gulf, Independence demonstrated combat, steering, anchoring and propulsion systems. It reached a top speed of almost 45 knots, or 52 mph.
The vessel can be seen in the new video cutting smoothly and quickly through the water.
Built at Austal by a team led by General Dynamics Corp., Independence is one of two prototypes being considered by the Navy for a ship class that could ultimately reach 55 vessels. A competing version is being built by a Lockheed Martin Corp. team.
Independence boasts an innovative, aluminum hull that is essentially a long, slender monohull flanked by a pair of side hulls for balance, while the competing ship has a more traditional, steel, monohull design.
The Lockheed team delivered its version last year, and both teams have been awarded contracts for second ships. But the Navy has since changed its acquisition strategy, raising the stakes significantly for both teams and potentially bringing in other players.

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