December 7, 2015

On November 15, 2015, my wife and I went down to the Milwaukee Harbor to see the USS Milwaukee.

It was a beautiful day, and we arrived just as it was coming into the harbor. It was going very slowly at about 21mph or 18 knots as they say! That is it's published cruising speed. Her top speed is 52 mph or 45 knots.

She is powered by 2 Rolls-Royce gas turbines and 2 Colt-Pielstick diesel engines. These engines power the 4 Rolls-Royce waterjets so she can travel in very shallow waters.

At 378.3 ft long and 57.4 ft wide, she is an impressive site to see. It is a very big and fast ship that is crewed by about 50 to 75 sailors.

This is the fifth ship to be named for the city of Milwaukee and is listed as a Freedom-class, littoral combat ship that was just built in Marinette, Wisconsin. She came into town to be commissioned, then off she went, headed for a long trip to San Diego and then the China Sea.

After our sad week of more terrorism in the United States, I thought this would cheer us all up a little bit. It really was exciting to see an actual military ship up close.

I wish them safe travels.

Thanks,

Rich Zimmermann