Why This Is The Most Overpowered US Navy Warship
YouTube / Not What You Think
The USS Marinette isn’t just another ship—it might be the most overpowered vessel in the U.S. Navy. As the 13th Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS), it carries a special distinction: it’s named after and commissioned in its hometown, Marinette, Wisconsin.
Why Is It So Overpowered?
While many Navy ships, like the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, run on General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, the USS Marinette is in a league of its own. It’s powered by Rolls Royce MT30 jet engines—the same ones used in the massive Zumwalt-class destroyers and even the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
That’s wild when you consider this: those carriers displace 19 times more than the 3,500-ton USS Marinette. In short? The Marinette is seriously souped up for its size.
The Fastest Ships in the Fleet
Thanks to that power, Freedom-class ships are the fastest in the Navy, clocking in at speeds close to 40 knots (about 46 mph). That speed comes at a trade-off—lighter armor and weapons to keep weight down—but it makes these ships perfect for quick, close-to-shore missions.
They move so fast, in fact, that they need industrial-strength wipers just to keep the bridge windows clear from the ocean spray.
While the exact top speed is classified, a fun comparison: the HSC Francisco, a commercial ferry powered by the less powerful LM2500 turbines, hits 58 knots. So… you can imagine what the Marinette is capable of.
So, Why the Bad Reputation?
New designs always have growing pains. For the Freedom-class, that included gearbox problems and maintenance headaches. But here’s the thing—they’ve been fixing those.
New ships have improved systems, surface warfare packages, and crews are taking over more maintenance to cut costs.
What’s Next for the Freedom-Class LCS?
There are still two more ships being built, but the future is uncertain. Back in 2022, the Navy considered retiring most of the class, keeping just six for surface warfare.
Congress floated the idea of selling them to allies, while others believe we should just accept these ships for what they are: fast, flexible, high-tech tools with a unique role to play.
