Mayor Will Lay Keel

On USS Cooperstown

Ship’s Construction Begins In Wisconsin

COOPERSTOWN – The Navy is planning a keel-laying ceremony for the USS Cooperstown this Tuesday in Marinette, Wisc., and Mayor Ellen Tillapaugh is planning to attend on behalf of her constituents.

The keel is the first part of a ship put in place, and the mayor will serve as “keel authenticator,” lowering the first module into place on the building dock.  (Assembling of the modules can occur over several month before the assembly of the ship begins.)

Tillapaugh said the invitation came out of the blue a week ago, so “I quickly booked a flight to attend the represent the village,” she said.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus announced that the USS Cooperstown would be built when he spoke at Doubleday Field during Induction 2015 Weekend.

The USS Cooperstown is a Freedom class littoral combat ship, part of a fleet of small, multipurpose warships designed by Lockheed Martin to operate near shorelines (the littoral).   Her sister ship, the USS Freedom, is already in operation.  Fincantieri Marinette Marine is building the craft.