WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Navy on Saturday morning christened its new combat ship USS St. Louis in Marinette, Wisconsin, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) said.

The ship, designated LCS 19, is a Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, meaning it is designed for operation in near-shore environments as well as the open-ocean.

Senator Roy Blunt from the U.S. state of Missouri attended the ceremony, and Barbara Taylor, wife of Chairman of Enterprise Holdings Andy Taylor, christened the ship by breaking a bottle of sparkling wine across the bow, conformed with the Navy's tradition, the DoD said in a press release.

The christening ceremony also marks the formal commencement of the ship's combat duty. It will carry a crew of 50 to 75 sailors, according to U.S. media reports.

"This christening marks the transition of USS St. Louis being a mere hull number to a ship with a name and a spirit, and is a testament to the increased lethality and readiness made possible by the combined effort between our industrial partners and the Navy and Marine Corps team," Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer was quoted by the DoD as saying. Enditem

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