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U.S. Navy to commission USS Sioux City in Annapolis, Md.

By Ryan Maass
The future USS Sioux City is expected to be commissioned in late 2017. Pictured: The USS Sioux City is launched into the Menominee River in Wisconsin. Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin
The future USS Sioux City is expected to be commissioned in late 2017. Pictured: The USS Sioux City is launched into the Menominee River in Wisconsin. Photo courtesy Lockheed Martin

Jan. 20 (UPI) -- The U.S. Navy will commission the future USS Sioux City littoral combat ship in Annapolis, Md., branch officials announced.

The announcement was made by U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Mabus. While the branch has narrowed down a location for the event, no date has been set for the ceremony. The vessel is expected to formally enter service later in 2017.

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USS Sioux City, named to honor the city of the same name in Iowa, is a Freedom-class littoral combat ship. The vessels are designed to project naval power around offshore locations and operate with a relatively small crew.

According to the Navy, the USS Sioux City will be ideal for detecting undersea threats such as mines and submarines in addition to fast surface platforms.

The Navy adds the ship will be armed with reconfigurable mission packages that can be changed out depending on mission requirements. The packages will be supported by specialized detachments that can deploy manned and unmanned vehicles to support mine, undersea and surface warfare missions.

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