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| Click On Image For Full Size Image | Size | Image Description | Contributed By And/Or Copyright |
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 1501001a |
172k | 27 May 2004: Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Navy announced today that Lockheed Martin Corporation - Maritime Systems & Sensors Division, Moorestown, N.J., will be
one of two defense contracting teams awarded contract options for final system design with options for detail design and construction of up to two Flight 0 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The
LCS is an entirely new breed of U.S. Navy warship. A fast, agile, and networked surface combatant, LCS's modular, focused-mission design will provide Combatant Commanders the required
warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to ensure maritime dominance and access for the joint force. LCS will operate with focused-mission packages that deploy manned and
unmanned vehicles to execute missions including, Special Operations Forces (SOF) support, high-speed transit, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Intelligence, Surveillance and
Reconnaissance (ISR), and Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP). (Artist concept provided to the U.S. Navy courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corporation, Photo #040527-O-0000L-003, from the Navy News Stand) |
Mike Smolinski Clifton, N.J. Manager, Navsource DE / FF / LCS Archive | |
 1501001b |
365k | undated: Marinette, Wis. - An aerial view of Fincantieri Marinette Marine, which was founded in 1942 along the south bank of the Menominee River in Marinette, Wisconsin. The
river forms the border between Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Originally built to meet America's growing demand for naval construction, today FMM is one of the premier builders of
vessels for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. From humble beginnings with a contract to build five wooden barges, FMM has grown into a world-class shipbuilder, having designed and built more than
1,500 vessels. In conjunction with the Lockheed Martin Corp., all of the planned Freedom Class LCS's will be built here, beginning in 2005 with USS Freedom (LCS 1). (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine) | ||
 1517001 |
109k | 19 July 2016: Marinette, Wis. - Jill Donnelly, left, wife of U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana, and ship's sponsor, watches a welder for Marinette Marine
engrave her initials during the keel laying ceremony for the future littoral combat ship Indianapolis (LCS 17). (© Photo courtesy of Fincantiere Marinette Marine) | ||
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 4.) 324k30 March 2018: Marinette, Wis. - The future littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis is moved from an indoor production facility at Fincantiere Marinette Marine to the launchway in preparation for its upcoming launch into the Menomenee River. (U.S. Navy photos #180330-N-N0101-114, #180330-N-N0101-113, #180330-N-N0101-110, and #180330-N-N0101-112 by Val Idhe, courtesy of Marinette Marine, from the Navy News Stand) 1.) 1517002 - 2.) 1517003 - 3.) 1517004 - 4.) 1517005 |
Lee Wahler Lcdr., USN (ret.) Jacksonville, Fla. | |||
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 12.) 246kFriday, 13 April 2018: Marinette, Wis. - The future USS Indianapolis holds a "Mast Box" ceremony. Mast-stepping is an ancient Greek and Roman practice of putting coins at the base of a mast of a ship under construction and has continued throughout history. It is believed that due to the dangers of early sea travel, the coins were placed under the mast so the crew would be able to cross into the afterlife if the ship were sunk. The Romans believed it was necessary for a person to take coins with them to pay Charon, who in Greek mythology is the ferryman of Hades, the god of the dead and the king of the Underworld, in order to cross the river Styx, a deity and a river that forms the boundary between Earth and the Underworld, to the afterlife. Another theory for this practice is that the insertion of coins in buildings and ships may have functioned as a form of sacrifice thanking the gods for a successful construction, or a request for divine protection in the future. A third theory is that corrosion-resistant coins of gold or silver provided a physical barrier minimizing the transmission of rot between the wooden mast and wooden mast step. Modern U.S. Naval mast stepping consists of having mementos from the ship and her sponsor placed in a small box, which is welded shut and then welded to the mast.
1.) Joe DePietro, Lockheed-Martin Vice President, Small Combatants and Ship Systems makes a contribution to the Indianapolis mast box as sponsor Jill Donnelly looks on. (Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin Team Freedom)2., 3., 4.) Three views of the various items to be added to the Indianapolis mast box as they are laid out on the table. 5.) Sponsor Jill Donnelly and Rear Admiral Sean Buck share a light moment as the admiral prepares to make his donation. 6.) Rear Admiral Buck places his item into the Indianapolis mast box. 7.) Commander Joseph Mitzen, prospective CO of Indianapolis Gold crew addresses Admiral Buck, Jill Donnelly, Joe DePietro, and Jan Howard. 8.) The Indianapolis mast box is filling up and almost ready to be sealed. 9.) Sponsor Jill Donnelly poses for a photo with Indianapolis crew members in attendance. 10.) The Indianapolis mast box is filled and ready to be sealed. 11.) A close up view of the Indianapolis mast box lid. 12.) Sponsor Jill Donnelly holds the closed mast box while Lieutenant Medford-Davis and Admiral Buck look on. 1.) 1517014 2.) 1517015 3.) 1517016 4.) 1517017 5.) 1517018 6.) 1517019 7.) 1517020 8.) 1517021 9.) 1517022 10.) 1517023 11.) 1517024 12.) 1517025 |
Mike Smolinski Clifton, N.J. Manager, Navsource DE / FF / LCS Archive | |||
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1.) A table display shows a number of gifts that will be presented to the ship for use in the wardroom. (Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin Team Freedom)2.) Jan Allman, the Senior Vice President for Public Affairs and Community Relations for Fincantieri Marine Group, welcomes the attendants to the reception. 3.) Joe DePietro, Vice President, Small Combatants and Ship Systems at Lockheed-Martin, proposes a toast at the opening ceremony. 4.) Sponsor Jill Donnelly and her husband Joe Donnelly, attorney and former U.S. Senator from Indiana respond to the toast. 5.) Former senator Richard Lugar, principal speaker at the christening, is introduced at the reception dinner. 6.) Rear Admiral Sean Buck presents the sponsor certificate to ship's sponsor Jill Donnelly. 7.) Peter K. Hsu, marine architect and self-taught artist stands next to his rendering of the future USS Indianapolis. 8.) Peter Hsu presents his original portrait of USS Indianapolis to ship's sponsor Jill Donnelly. 9.) Sponsor Jill Donnelly and her husband, Joe Donnelly, pose for a photo with the Indianapolis artwork. 10.) Matron of Honor, Molly Donnelly Colonna, sponsor Jill Donnelly, and Maid of Honor Judy Truitt admire Mr. Hsu's work. 1.) 1517032 2.) 1517033 3.) 1517034 4.) 1517035 5.) 1517036 6.) 1517037 7.) 1517038 8.) 1517039 9.) 1517040 10.) 1517041 | ||||
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 6.) 206kSaturday, 14 April 2018: Marinette, Wis. - On a chilly Saturday morning the future littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) is christened (but not launched) by her sponsor, Jill Donnelly. (Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin Team Freedom) 1.) 1517008 2.) 1517009 3.) 1517010 4.) 1517011 5.) 1517012 6.) 1517013 | ||||
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 6.) 260kWednesday, 18 April 2018: Marinette, Wis. - Six views of the future littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) being launched without ceremony. (Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin Team Freedom) 1.) 1517026 2.) 1517027 3.) 1517028 4.) 1517029 5.) 1517030 6.) 1517031 | ||||
 1515012 |
460k | 15 December 2018: Marinette, Wis. - An early morning view of the Marinette Marine shipyard from the Menominee River as the future littoral combat ships USS
Billings (LCS 15), left, and USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) are moored in front of USS St. Louis (LCS 19), before St. Louis'
christening, 15 Dec. 2018. (U.S. Navy photo #181215-N-N0101-113 courtesy of Lockheed Martin, from the Navy Newstand) | ||
 1515013 |
270k | 27 March 2019: Marinette, Wis. - The sun rises behind the future USS Billings (LCS 15), left, and the future USS Indianapolis (LCS 17)
at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. Later today the yard will hold a "Keel Laying and Authentication" ceremony for the future USS Marinette (LCS 25) (Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin Team Freedom) | ||
 1515014 |
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 8.) 361kWednesday, 19 June 2019: Lake Michigan - Eight views of the future littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) conducting acceptance trials. (Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin Team Freedom) 1.) 1517042 2.) 1517043 3.) 1517044 4.) 1517045 5.) 1517046 6.) 1517047 7.) 1517048 8.) 1517049 | ||||
 1517006 |
410k | 20 October 2019: Lake Michigan - The future USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) transits Lake Michigan toward Naval Station Great Lakes for a "Sail By and Salute".
The Navy will commission the littoral combat ship on 26 October 2019 at Burns Harbor, Indiana. (U.S. Navy photo #191020-N-BM202-1147 by MC2 Camilo Fernan from the Navy News Stand) (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #191020-N-BM202-1356 by MC2 Camilo Fernan from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
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 1517050 |
224k | 23 October 2019: Burns Harbor, Ind. - The crew of the future USS Indianapolis man the rails during a pre-commissioning rehearsal. LCS 17 is the 19th littoral combat
ship to enter the fleet and the ninth of the Freedom-variant. It will be the fourth ship named for Indianapolis, Indiana’s capital city. (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class . (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #191023-N-UZ091-0011 and 191023-N-UZ091-0023 by MC3 Timothy Haggerty from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
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 10.) 222kSaturday, 26 October 2019: Burns Harbor, Ind - The Navy commissions the littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis in Burns Harbor, Indiana. The commissioning ceremony signifies the acceptance for service and the entrance of a ship into the active fleet of the U. S. Navy. Burns Harbor is on the shores of Lake Michigan in Northwest Indiana and is 160 miles north of Indianapolis. Mrs. Jill Donnelly, the wife of former Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly, is the ship's sponsor. As the sponsor, Mrs. Donnelly leads the time-honored Navy tradition of giving the order during the ceremony to “man our ship and bring her to life!” At that moment, the commissioning pennant is hoisted and USS Indianapolis becomes a proud ship of the fleet. Columbus, Ohio native Commander Colin Kane is the ship’s commanding officer.
1.) Adm. Christopher W. Grady, commander, US Fleet Forces Command arrives for the commissioning ceremony of USS USS Indianapolis (LCS 17).
...................................................................................................191026-N-UZ091-0286
(Photos courtesy of Lockheed Martin Team Freedom)2.) Notre Dame NROTC Color Guard presents the colors during the commissioning ceremony of USS Indianapolis (LCS 17). ......................................................................................................................................................191026-N-UZ091-0565 3.) Notre Dame NROTC Color Guard parades the colors during the commissioning ceremony of USS Indianapolis (LCS 17). .......................................................................................................................................................191026-N-UZ091-0604 4.) Lisa W. Hershman, the deputy chief management officer for the Dep't of Defense and the ceremony’s principle speaker, gives insight during the commissioning ceremony. .......................................................191026-N-UZ091-1145 5.) Commanding Officer, Commander Colin Kane assumes command of USS Indianapolis when directed by Admiral Christopher W. Grady, commander, US Fleet Forces Command. ......................................191026-N-UZ091-1196 6.) Jill Donnelly, the ship’s sponsor, gives the first order, “Man our ship and bring her to life,” during the commissioning ceremony of USS Indianapolis (LCS 17). ............................................................................191026-N-UZ091-1245 7.) The crew of the Navy's newest littoral combat ship, USS USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony ..........................................................................................................191026-N-UZ091-1248 8.) The crew of the Navy's newest littoral combat ship, USS USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. .........................................................................................................191026-N-UZ091-1253 9.) The crew of the Navy's newest littoral combat ship, USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), brings the ship to life during its commissioning ceremony. .....................................................................................................................191026-N-UZ091-1275 10.) Dick Thelen, a veteran seaman 2nd class and a survivor of USS Indianapolis (CA 35), hands the long glass to Lt. Julian Turner, navigator of the first watch, during the commissioning ceremony. ........191026-N-UZ091-1229 1.) 1517052 2.) 1517053 3.) 1517054 4.) 1517055 5.) 1517056 6.) 1517057 7.) 1517058 8.) 1517059 9.) 1517060 10.) 1517061 | ||||
 1517062 |
385k | 26 November 2019: Jacksonville, Fla. - The newest littoral combat ship, the Freedom-variant USS Indianapolis (LCS 17), arrives at Naval Station Mayport. Indianapolis
officially joined the fleet on 26 October when it commissioned in Burns Harbor, Ind. Homeported in Mayport, Fla., as the Navy’s 19th littoral combat ship and the 9th Freedom variant, Indianapolis
was designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation, to defeat asymmetric “anti-access” threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft. (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #191126-N-JS726-0017 by MCC David Holmes from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
 1517063 |
386k | 22 October 2023: Manama, Bahrain - The littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) departs Naval Support Activity Bahrain. Indianapolis is deployed to the U.S.
5th Fleet area of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #231022-N-LX270-1081 by MC2 Jonathan Nye from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
 1517064 |
234k | 21 November 2023: The Arabian Gulf - The littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) sails in the Arabian Gulf. Indianapolis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area
of operations to help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. (U.S. Army photo VIRIN #231121-A-US124-1020 by Sgt. Marita Schwab from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
 1517065 |
71k | 21 November 2023: The Arabian Gulf - A Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicle, attached to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 59, launches from USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) in the Arabian Gulf. (U.S. Army photo VIRIN #231121-A-US124-1084 by Sgt. Marita Schwab from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
 1517066 |
225k | 27 November 2023: The Arabian Gulf - A Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicle, attached to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s (NAVCENT) Task Force 59, takes off from the flight deck of Indianapolis
during exercise Digital Talon 2 in the Arabian Gulf. NAVCENT completed the exercise demonstrating the ability of unmanned platforms to pair with traditionally crewed ships in “manned-unmanned teaming” to identify and
target hostile forces at sea. Then, using munitions launched from another unmanned platform, engaged and destroyed those targets. (U.S. Army photo VIRIN #231127-A-US124-1012 by Sgt. Marita Schwab from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
 1517067 |
353k | 27 November 2023: The Arabian Gulf - The littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) sails with two T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessels (USV) and an Arabian Fox MAST-13 USV, all
attached to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s (NAVCENT) Task Force 59, during exercise Digital Talon 2 in the Arabian Gulf. (U.S. Army photo VIRIN #231127-A-US124-1137 by Sgt. Marita Schwab from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
 1517068 |
243k | 27 March 2024: The Arabian Gulf - A MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, prepares to depart USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) during flight deck landing
qualifications in the Arabian Gulf. Indianapolis is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East region. (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #240327-N-NO146-1004 by NAVCENT Public Affairs from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
 1517069 |
437k | 26 November 2024: Mayport, Fla. – The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) returns to U.S. Naval Station Mayport, Fla., following a 20-month deployment to the
U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. Indianapolis made history as the longest deployed freedom-variant littoral combat ship to operate in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. LCS is a fast,
agile, mission-focused platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operations. (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #241126-N-DB801-5001 by MC1 Steven Khor from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service) | ||
| Indianapolis Memorabilia |
|||
| Ship's Emblem  Courtesy of Wolfgang Hechler |
Ship's Emblem Mug  Courtesy of Mike Smolinski |
Ship's Victory Mug  Courtesy of Mike Smolinski |
Ship's Emblem Mug  Courtesy of Mike Smolinski |
| Indianapolis History |
| View the USS Indianapolis (LCS 17) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site. |
| Indianapolis's Commanding Officers Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler & Mike Smolinski |
||||
| Blue Crew | Gold Crew | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.) 26 Oct. 2019 - 30 Nov. 2020 | Cmdr. Colin Joseph Kane (USNA '01) (Columbus, Oh.) | 1.) Jan. 2021 - Feb. 2022 | Cmdr. Joseph Mitzen (USNA ‘01) (Nesquehoning, Pa.) | |
| 2.) 30 Nov. 2020 - Jan. 2021 | Cmdr. Joseph Mitzen (USNA ‘01) (Nesquehoning, Pa.) | 2.) Feb. 2022 - | Cmdr. Jamie Joe Diaz (enl. ‘96, NROTC ‘03) (Texas) | |
| 3.) Jan. 2021 - Feb. 2023 | Cmdr. Larry R. Ford Jr. (enl. ‘91, STA-21 ‘03) (Hampton, Va.) | - | - | |
| 4.) Feb. 2023 - 10 Sep. 2025 | Cmdr. Matthew D. Arndt (enl. ‘94, STA-21 ‘05) (Lake City, Fla.) | - | - | |
| 5.) 10 Sep. 2025 - | Cmdr. Timothy J. Orth (USNA '07) (Farmville, Va.) | - | - | |
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This page created on 27 January 2014, and is maintained by Mike Smolinski  by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved. Page Last Updated: 12 September 2025 |
