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Combat Ship USS Billings Joins the Fleet

The U.S. Navy has commissioned a warship named after Montana's largest city

By Associated Press

BILLINGS – The U.S. Navy has commissioned a warship named after Montana’s largest city.

The USS Billings, a Freedom Class littoral combat ship, was commissioned in a Saturday ceremony in Key West, Florida.

Democratic U.S. Sen. John Tester addressed the ceremony.

At 388 feet long (118 meters long), the Billings can exceed 40 knots and primarily is designed to conduct anti-submarine, anti-mine and surface warfare close to shore.

Built by a team led by Lockheed Martin Corp., the Billings will be based at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.

Its motto: “Big Sky Over Troubled Waters.”

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