USS Billings (LCS-15) is a littoral combat ship of the United States Navy. She is the first ship in naval service named after Billings, Montana.[1]
In 2002, the U.S. Navy initiated a program to develop the first of a fleet of littoral combat ships.[2] The Navy initially ordered two monohull ships from Lockheed Martin, which became known as the Freedom-class littoral combat ships after the first ship of the class, .[3] Odd-numbered U.S. Navy littoral combat ships are built using the Freedom-class monohull design, while even-numbered ships are based on a competing design, the trimaran hull from General Dynamics. The initial order of littoral combat ships involved a total of four ships, including two of the Freedom-class design. Billings is the eighth Freedom-class littoral combat ship to be built.
Billings includes additional stability improvements over the original Freedom design; the stern transom was lengthened and buoyancy tanks were added to the stern to increase weight service and enhance stability.[4] The ship will also feature automated sensors to allow "conditions-based maintenance" and reduce crew overwork and fatigue issues that Freedom had on her first deployment.[5]
Marinette Marine was awarded the contract to build the ship on 4 March 2013. Construction began on 20 October 2014 and she was launched on 1 July 2017. she is homeported to Naval Station Mayport, Florida and assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two. In June 2019, Billings visited Cleveland, Ohio.[6] Billings sustained damage after hitting Rosaire Desgagnes, a bulk cargo ship in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The incident occurred on 24 June 2019. The vessel's starboard bridge wing was damaged as a result of the collision.[7] Billings was officially commissioned in Key West, Florida on 3 August 2019.
On the 4 July 2021, a contingent of her crew visited their ship’s namesake city to celebrate Independence Day.[8] Later on the 10th of the same month, the ship together with the Dominican Republic Navy conducted a passing exercise (PASSEX).[9] 24 August, Billings and Burlington were dispatched to support and provide relief to Haiti after a 7.2-magnitute earthquake that struck Haiti on 14 August.[10]