A New USS Savannah
T
he United States Navy will be commissioning the Littoral Combat Ship, USS Savannah (LCS-28), in Brunswick, Ga., on February 5, 2022. This ship is the sixth Navy warship to bear the name Savannah. Mrs. Dianne Davison Isakson, the wife of the Honorable Johnny Isakson, former Senator from Georgia, is the ship’s sponsor. Their daughter, Julie Isakson Mitchell, will serve as the Matron of Honor. The Savannah was built by Austal Shipyards in Mobile, Ala., and is slated to be homeported in San Diego, Calif., once commissioned. Over 400 feet in length and displacing 2,307 metric tons, the ship has an operational crew of over seventy. The aluminum tri-hull ship is capable of a top speed in excess of 40 knots. Savannah will be designated an antisubmarine warfare vessel carrying a mixture of MH-60 helicopters and Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles. Because of the current shipping backlog in the Port of Savannah, the Georgia Ports Authority offered up berthing in Brunswick to ensure the ship’s commissioning remains in the state of Georgia. The Savannah Council of the United States Navy League is planning a number of events involving the crew, state, congressional, and navy dignitaries in the week leading up to the commissioning. They are seeking both corporate and individual sponsorships to fund these events. Those wishing to support these efforts can find additional information for the commissioning, events, and sponsorships on the Savannah Navy League Council’s homepage at www. savannahnavyleague.us. Savannah and surrounding area businesses and residents are encouraged to help demonstrate that Savannah remains the “Hospitality City.”
