The Navy's newest littoral combat ship, USS Coronado, sustained minor damage Friday when a fire broke out on board while the ship was at sea.
A Navy official told the Military Times the Coronado was conducting its second day of sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico when the fire ignited:
The incident happened as the ship was conducting a full-power demonstration and running at high speed. Insulation on the starboard diesel exhaust first smoldered, then ignited but, according to the official, the flames were “extinguished immediately.”
No one was injured in the blaze.
The Coronado was christened in January 2012, and is slated to be commissioned this year.
The Navy's very first littoral combat ship, USS Freedom, is homeported in San Diego. The Freedom is currently on its maiden deployment to the Asia-Pacific region.
