USS Cleveland LCS douses tugboat during last-ever side launch at Wisconsin shipyard

The USS Cleveland warship doused a tugboat as it was side-launched from the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin, on Saturday, April 15; the vessel is the US Navy’s final Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship. According to the US Department of Defense (DOD), any future ships are “planned to be launched using a shiplift system.” The US Navy’s last Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship, the USS Cleveland (LCS 31), was launched and christened on Saturday in a ceremony presided over by Andrew Haeuptle, director of Navy staff, and other officials. “Cleveland is the 16th and final Freedom-variant LCS and the fourth ship to be named in honor of the city of Cleveland, Ohio. Previous USS Clevelands were the World War I cruiser (C 19), the World War II light cruiser (CL 55), and the Vietnam-era amphibious transport dock (LPD 7), decommissioned in 2011,” DOD said. According to a report by Politico, the Littoral Combat Ship Program is only just now “on trend to meet design requirements” established 20 years ago, following the launch of the program. The ships have been criticized for design flaws, cost, and doubts that they are suited for modern needs. Democratic Rep Jackie Speier of California called the ships “lemons,” according to Politico. Video filmed by Marinette County Sheriff Randy Miller shows the moment the ship was launched into the Menominee River on Saturday. Credit: Sheriff Randy Miller via Storyful

[@madmex2k]

There is usually a traditional breaking of a bottle of champagne against the bow of the boat, followed by a very loud horn warning as an "all clear" around the ship before it is to be released. The warning horn was not sounded before the release. The crew on board the tug were not finished with their last minute preparations. This was not the fault of the tug captain or crew. YOU can see they were running away from the imminent contact and wall of water coming toeards them. They were fortunate the tug was not badly hit. You can see the black marks from the back of the tug where it contacted the side of the ship.

[@damnitcarls7925]

USS Cleveland: no no no no no nooooooo I hit a tug boat.

[@JanitorIsBack]

I'm not an expert but I don't think that was supposed to happen

[@fooser1]

Maybe a longer tow line? Oh, wait, it's the Navy. They probably paid $1000 per foot for it.

[@rudigerpodlaha7799]

[@davyboy9397]

Looks exactly like something we would make fun of Russia for doing

[@LaptiamKaput]

Russo 👎👎👎👎

[@clubasbunkeras5738]

@@LaptiamKaput все так било задуманно

[@dmitrykvasov5834]

Now we here in Russia make fun of you. Very satisfying.

[@davyboy9397]

@@dmitrykvasov5834 Not me, I didn't sanction the proxy war against Russia, I stood in complete objection. It's the people who voted for Biden and have Ukraine flags on their profile picture who are the cancer on my Country. Now we are a complete embarrassment to the world

[@Ashley-wm7ix]

Stupid is as stupid does! Not only was the tug too close, but they allowed the USS Cleveland to drift as a derelict until another tug could assist. No critical thinking aboard

[@MikkoRantalainen]

It appears that this was caused by a miscommunication with the tug crew and the crew that released the ship from the dock. Somebody called the dock crew too trigger happy.

[@liftedcj7on44s]

The tug was at full power before the ship was launched as evident by the prop wash at the back of the tug, This was simply the line was too short so the tug was too close to the launched vessel.

[@petercox2166]

"The shipyard intends to use a shiplift to transfer future ships to the water in a more controlled manner" 🤣🤣🤣😂😂

[@Eman-vp5wk]

There's nothing wrong with the old way. They really didn't need a tugboat there to begin with, did they?

[@mammalianmana2065]

That wasn't bad at all considering the size of the war ship.I thought it was going to tilt over then sink

[@Escatonic]

I'm not an expert but it sure seems stupid to park your tugboat so close to the launch site. Who ever ordered the tugboat to be in that location has some answering to do.

[@imilliemedina666]

This "warship" sustained substantial damages and is now undergoing repairs. Imagine if it faced a real adversary.

[@wildkarrde3370]

​@@howardcroft3748 nope. The tugboat got slapped. There was contact.

[@imilliemedina666]

@@howardcroft3748 I was reading the official release from DOD to the press. Maybe you should read it too.

[@LaptiamKaput]

Russo --troll

[@imilliemedina666]

@@LaptiamKaput How so?

[@frogdu]

Well, conspiracy hypothesis, it's not an accident, instead that is an old trick to delay the delivery time. Now they would have an extra few months to fix that dent, plus sth we don't know.

[@gj5250]

What the hell didn't anyone tell the launch crew the boys on the tug weren't done with their coffee break. Come on, geees

[@stunner7281]

May have needed a little more line out here b

[@_Ben4810]

The two-handed power swing in which Robyn Modly slugged the ship with the champagne bottle for launch easily compensates for any subsequent damage with the tugboat.....She should do more boat launches...!!! 💪😄

[@robertcruz5507]

This is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause. 😂

[@imageddonf5012]

🤣 Crash test! It used to have two tugboats to do this work from two sides, but one is on vacation this time. US Navy! 🤪

[@jhutsebaut]

I do not see any damage to the Cleveland and you can tell by the prop wash of the tug that it was working at the time of the launch.

[@JB-zn1kx]

Barely tapped it... yey they call a paint scrape "damage"

[@jg5875]

Not so much the Navy’s fault. Blame the shipyard.

[@discofishing]

I'm here for the Navy jokes.

[@wildkarrde3370]

Whoopsedoozals. Should have been a little further away. Oh well, Navy says the damage isnt that bad.

[@michaeldaltonsr8954]

And gubment NEVER LIES!!

[@davyboy9397]

Of course they said the damage isn't that bad ! Lol. You think they are gonna be honest ?

[@alphamale1717]

If someone in the other party was in the White House you people in the press would have been all over this about bad management.

[@redxfingernails]

Underway! Shift colors! 💙

[@wopalongcassidy]

How much will the damage cost.

[@scootertrash911]

Two or three million but the ship builder blanket insurance policy will pay after the second million.

[@wopalongcassidy]

@@scootertrash911: 2 million dollar deductible. Sheesh....

[@brandonGCHACHU]

What do they mean Clittoral class ship?

[@crouchingwombathiddenquoll5641]

It's difficult to find and very complicated to operate.

[@LaptiamKaput]

Russo kaput

[@brandonGCHACHU]

@@crouchingwombathiddenquoll5641 🤣 🤣

[@randho5150]

Another precision operation from Brandon's woke military!

[@bradbring6830]

It's amazing how many US Navy ship accidents there were during 45's years. He can't drive for #@$%.

[@petercastor]

Bad luck omen already! Sailors beware

[@Wolfen443]

OOPS, someone did not do their homework right setting it up, but is OK the Tug Boat seems Ok. Why did they launched it sideways?, I though that most ships are launch straight forward.

[@vanhouten64]

Non-union tugboat pilot didn't know where to be?

[@woowoowuwoo3507]

good question. solidarity protects workers and improves skills

[@DaBoogie049]

that's a pretty tug boat!

[@lousertich]

supposed to drink the bottle of champagne after launch not before ! (captain of the tug) Just kidding

[@scotthulsey8763]

They should sale Ukraine .15 of these . 10 set up for antiship warfare and 5 anti air.

[@masnerfeeder]

Корыто

[@howardalward839]

What The, , , , , , this isn't Russia.

[@NackDSP]

That first day as a tugboat captain. Oof.

[@GHOSTINTHEJUNGLE]

Affirmative Action hire results. SMH

[@petercox2166]

American ship building technology developed by the ancient Egyptians ..... 😂😂😂

[@edwardhochwand9063]

USS Cleveland was quite sleepy.

[@2wheelsr2wheels39]

Looks like the tug's captain wasn't paying attention.

[@Tom-ic7hw]

reminds me of the tub I spent a few months on in Yorktown va back in the 70's hated that boat wonder if the tug crew was stoned smelled like diesle blahhhhh

[@woowoowuwoo3507]

barely pranged it. it was a fail but don't think any Uniform Code of Military Justice action.

[@stephenhenley7452]

What was the tug even doing there?

[@svencarlson3018]

Tugging. They are not running the engines while slipping.

[@liftedcj7on44s]

@@svencarlson3018 The tug was at full power evident by the prop wash at the back of it, The tow rope was not long enough.

[@nedkline886]

mountain out of a mole hill!

[@DUBSTEP_KUSH305]

🏃 ruuuuuun

[@user-um8hn6bf4i]

дурдом

[@michaeldaltonsr8954]

C'mon, Mahyun!! Smoke dem tires, do duh burn-out!! Pop zee clutch!! That wuz tuffin!! Ain't no lie!!

[@markframe6457]

Dafug

[@SaundersE5]

Ships pronouns sink/sank

[@jaersee]

😅😂🤣

[@user-cw7xv3sx6n]

Все прошло штатно, никакого инцидента не было. Это первое. Называть крейсер судном глупо и безграмотно, ибо это военный КОРАБЛЬ. Это второе.