USS FREEDOM LCS 1 transits Welland Canal

[lanier2k5]

what is that dark spot on the port side, near the flight deck?  Looks like a blast mark.

[admhawk]

Engine exhaust. Low down to reduce heat signature.

[ALuimes]

Wow! Milwaukee to San Diego via Eastern Canada . Big ships sure have to take the looonnng way around!

[JetMechMA]

@ALuimes During WW2 some ships went from Milwaukee to the sea via the Chicago sanitary and shipping canal. Then down Illinois rivers to the Mississippi and to the Gulf. There are pictures of submarines making their way down the canal and being tranfered to a floating dry-dock at Lockport, which is SW of Chicago. The canal ends at Lockport where it meets the Desplaines River. Beyond Lockport the USACE only guarantees a river depth of 9 feet (I think) and so the floating dock.

[viceroytennis]

Why no bow thruster?. Wouldn't this enable her to be more independent - this is what it's all about isn't it?. Great vessel, not perfect yet, but certainly on the right way.

[admhawk]

@viceroytennis Very few warships this size have bow thrusters. They aren't really a necessity during normal operations in open water.

[FarAway418]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

[sihsur]

Thanks for putting this video up was sick, could nt get out to se e :) :)

[bostonmaggie]

No engine trouble. She is being towed because she has no bow thrusters.