Combat ship named for Twin Cities splashes down for launch
MARINETTE, Wis. — A shipyard on the border between Wisconsin and Michigan was for one day crowded with Minnesotans who showed up Saturday to watch the launch of the U.S. Navy's newest combat ship, named in honor of the Twin Cities.
The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul was dropped sideways into the water Saturday at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin, about 55 miles (88 kilometers) north of Green Bay. The ship is designed to be fast and agile in order to conduct missions close to shore.
The ship's sponsor, Northfield, Minnesota native and Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy Jodi J. Greene, christened the ship by smashing a bottle of champagne against its bow, the EagleHerald reported. Greene said her role as sponsor has allowed her to reconnect with her Minnesota roots in the last few years.
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http://www.startribune.com/combat-ship-named-for-twin-cities-splashes-down-for-launch/511352431/