Navy to christen new ship to be homeported in San Diego

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – A new combat ship headed for San Diego will be christened in Wisconsin this weekend, the Navy announced Friday.

The USS Detroit will be christened Saturday during a ceremony at Marinette Marine Corp shipyard in Marinette, Wis., according to a Defense Department statement.

The ship, which will eventually be homeported in San Diego, is the seventh Navy vessel named after the Motor City.

“The name Detroit represents so much,” Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said in the statement. “It represents the hard working American shipyard, factory and assembly line workers, and the American spirit of hard work, patriotism and perseverance.”

The Navy is in the process of phasing out its frigates in favor of littoral combat ships, like the Detroit, because they are faster and more maneuverable, especially in more shallow coastal waters. They are also designed to operate alone or with a strike group.