PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (NEWS CENTER Maine) — It’s not every day you get to go on board the fastest ship in the Navy. The future USS Manchester is at the New Hampshire State Pier awaiting its commission this Saturday.
The Littoral Combat Ship arrived Monday in Portsmouth. The ship is able to go 40-plus knots. It’s also agile and versatile.
The USS Manchester’s primary job will be searching for and destroying mines, but it’s built to perform multiple kinds of missions, both close to shore and in the open ocean.
It's 3,000 tons lighter than its counterparts and has a minimal crew of 70 people.
The driver of this ship is Lt. Adrienne Penkacik from Nashua. She says because the ship is a water jet ship, the USS Manchester can do a lot of things and go places other Navy warships can’t. It was a coincidence Lt. Penkacik is on the USS Manchester, but she couldn't be happier about her assignment.
"I’m just really grateful to be able to share my state," she said. "I’m so proud of and love and want to move back to with my crew."
The ship, whose home port will be in San Diego, will be only the 12th Littoral Combat Ship to enter the fleet.