When the Navy christens its first littoral ship next month it will inaugurate a new breed of warship, which its leaders say is perfectly tailored to confront the unconventional threats of the 21st century.
So named because they can navigate the shallow coastal waters known as littorals, the new-generation vessels are agile, relatively inexpensive and full of innovations to confront enemies ranging from terrorists to pirates preying on tourist vessels. And they’re lightning fast, capable of speeds of nearly 58 mph.