U.S. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, a 2018 Wash100 recipient, has unveiled the name USS Beloit for the next Freedom-class littoral combat ship and USS Santa Barbara for the future Independence-variant vessel.
The service said Tuesday USS Beloit or LCS 29, which will be built by a Lockheed Martin–Fincantieri Marinette Marine team, is named after Beloit, Wis.
Meanwhile, USS Santa Barbara or LCS 32, which will be constructed by Austal USA, is dubbed in honor of Santa Barbara, Calif.
Both ships will be designed to travel at speeds over 40 knots.
USS Beloit is also the first ship to bear its name, while USS Santa Barbara is the third successor of the designation.
The Navy has purchased 32 littoral combat ships, with 10 vessels under construction and 16 already delivered.
