The US Navy's new boat USS Freedom

[sailortjk1]

The Navy has been conducting Sea Trials on thier new ship the USS Freedom on Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Apparently the results were not very pleasant for a boater in the area.

The vessel is 380 feet long and can cruise at over 40knots!

Source: Boatnerd.com

Three men stranded on Pilot Island by Freedom ship

8/11 - Washington Island, WI - Three Washington Island men were stranded on nearby Pilot Island, Sunday, when their small boat was put on the rocks, cracking her hull, by the wake from the USS Freedom.
Eric Greenfeldt, Mike Carr and Butch Jess, members of the Friends of Plum and Pilot Island, were on Pilot Island checking the buildings Sunday, when the new USS Freedom went by on her sea trials. The 22-foot boat that the men had used to reach the island, broke three lines that had held the small boat fast, and the boat was washed up on the rocky shore by the wake created by the new vessel.
Fortunately the owner, who was aboard, was unharmed, although shaken up. The boat was later removed and taken to Washington Island, where it is believed to be a total loss. The men had a cell phone and were able to contact someone to come pick them up.
Washington Island residents have reported a wake as high as eight-feet when the vessel passes. One other story circulating on Washington Island is that several fisherman have been swamped off Rock Island by the same wake.
The USS Freedom, which was built in Marinette, (USS Freedom Commisioning - Home) has been conducting sea trials in Lake Michigan, and steaming through the Door to get there.

[Cruisingdad]

Very cool boat! You guys on the lake better trade in your boats for a Catalina so you can stay out of her way!!

- CD

[retclt]

Are they givin' rides??? That thing looks like a blast to ride in! Does it have a grill?

[LittleMissMagic]

The other LCS (Littoral Combat Ship) is being completed close to me in Mobile, Al at Austal USA's yard. I was on the dive team that assisted in it's launch a few months ago. It is a really unique warship. USS Independence (LCS-2 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Austal is in the running for the competition to produce more of these LCS's. They are further behind schedule than Lockheed Martin. The ship is still tied dockside and has yet to be christened. If you are in the Mobile area you can view it by looking across the river from the convention center. Also anybody in transit from or to the Tenn-Tom waterway will pass right by the Independence.

[retclt]

Speaking of Mobile building one and a Northern State building one. That thing looks kind of like an old Ironclad doesn't it? No open or clear windows.

[chucklesR]

So is the Navy buying him a new boat???

[poopdeckpappy]

Saw something VERY simular to this coming in to San Diego just the other day, very YF series & very cool looking

[xort]

There is an SV Freedom terrorizing lake St Clair too. Must be something about the name.

[sailaway21]

Given the displacement and length of the vessel, coupled with 96,000 horsepower, 40-45 knots sounds not only reasonable but, perhaps, conservative. I'll not even venture into what that will cost the tax payer per hour of operation at speed. Once again, if you really want to have government waste your money, give it to the military. They'll waste it in a spectacular and generally highly effective manner. (do not discount rumours that the ship will plane.)

[sailortjk1]

Sway,
Where you been hiding? Rizzo, Eileen, Julie and I are doing Chicao to Holland this weekend, You interested?

BTW, I think its a really cool looking boat.
Who cares if it took out a little 20 something or washed a couple of fisherman off a pier, still a nice boat.