GE Marine’s LM2500 gas turbines are powering the US Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ship USS Oakland (LCS 24), which was commissioned into the US Navy fleet on 17 April. These gas turbines are made at GE’s Evendale manufacturing facility, just north of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The commissioning for the Independence-class LCS 24 was held at the Port of Oakland, California. The ship is assigned to the LCS Squadron One, nearby in San Diego, with anti-submarine operations as its primary mission.

USS Oakland is the third US Navy ship to honour the long history its ‘namesake city’ has had with the Navy. The first and second Oaklands were commissioned in 1918 and 1943, respectively.
GE is providing 38 LM2500 gas turbines to Austal USA for LCS Independence ships (up to LCS 38).

So far, 13 Independence-class LCSs have been delivered to the US Navy with five more under construction at Austal USA’s facility in Mobile, Alabama. An additional ship is under contract waiting start of construction. All 19 LCSs will include two GE LM2500 gas turbines as part of the power plant allowing the ship to reach speeds in excess of 40 knots.

GE gas turbines serve marine and industrial markets in mechanical and electrical generation applications. The total installed base of 1,365 engines in the LM2500 family has accumulated over 16 million operating hours with a demonstrated reliability of >99%.

Some 95% of gas turbine-propelled ships in the US Navy and Coast Guard fleets rely on GE marine engines. Recently, GE’s LM2500+G4 marine gas turbine was selected to power the US Navy’s Constellation class (FFG 62) frigate.