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February 15, 2012 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson applauded the naming of a new Navy vessel the USS Omaha, saying it honors Nebraskans’ commitment to America’s military service members and the role they play in safeguarding the nation’s freedoms.
“The Navy’s decision to name one of its new, agile and very fast ships the USS Omaha is an honor and a thrill for Nebraskans,” said Senator Nelson, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. “Naming the ship for our largest city recognizes the commitment Nebraskans have to our men and women in uniform serving around the world and on the seas. We’re eagerly anticipating the day the USS Omaha will join America’s naval fleet that so ably helps to safeguard the freedoms we all cherish and enjoy.”
Nelson’s comments came after Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced today that the Department of Defense is naming one of its littoral combat ships for the city of Omaha. The USS Omaha will be one of 55 planned littoral combat ships, or LCS vessels, commissioned by the Navy over the next number of years.
Secretary Mabus informed Nelson in a personal call yesterday, February 14th, that the Navy’s 12th LCS vessel would be named the USS Omaha, and that a public announcement would be made today.
A littoral combat ship is a relatively small ship intended for operations in the littoral zone, or close to shore. Even so, the LCS vessels are longer than a football field and capable of reaching speeds up to 50 knots or about 57 miles an hour.
There are two styles of LCS vessels. Today, Mabus also announced that an LCS-1 vessel will be named the USS Sioux City. A LCS-2, noted for its tri-hull design, will be named the USS Omaha. The Navy generally plans to name the LCS vessels for medium-size cities across the country that have demonstrated strong support for the military and have ties to America’s national security interests.
Nelson said today’s announcement reminded him of attending the official commissioning of the USS Nebraska submarine in the early 1990s during his tenure as a two-term governor for Nebraska.
For a link to the Defense Department announcement, please click here:
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