The future USS Omaha (LCS-12) launched November 20, marking another important production milestone for the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program. «That this precisely choreographed launch event has become commonplace in Mobile is a sign of the maturity and stability of the LCS serial production line», said Captain Tom Anderson, LCS program manager. «I look forward to the future USS Omaha (LCS-12) completing the test and trial process en route to delivery to the fleet».

Omaha was rolled out of her assembly bay at the Austal USA Shipyard onto a barge for transfer down the Mobile River to a floating drydock at BAE Shipyard on November 19. The ship entered the water on November 20 when the drydock was flooded and the ship floated off the blocks. The ship will return to Austal’s final assembly pier to continue outfitting, system activation and testing. She is scheduled to be christened on December 19.

Omaha is the fourth ship in a block buy contract with Austal to build Independence- variant ships. USS Montgomery (LCS-8) is preparing for builders trials and USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) was christened in June 2015 and is currently completing system testing in preparation for trials. USS Manchester (LCS-14) is under construction preparing for an early 2016 launch. USS Tulsa (LCS-16) will have her keel laid later this year.

The LCS class consists of the Freedom variant and Independence variant, designed and built by two industry teams. The Freedom variant team is led by Lockheed Martin (for the odd-numbered hulls, e.g. LCS-1). The Independence variant team is led by Austal USA (for LCS-6 and follow-on even-numbered hulls) and was led by General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works for LCS-2 and LCS-4. Purchased under the innovative block-buy acquisition strategy, there are 12 ships currently under construction.

LCS is a modular, reconfigurable ship, with three types of mission packages including surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare. The Program Executive Office Littoral Combat Ships (PEO LCS) is responsible for delivering and sustaining littoral mission capabilities to the fleet. Delivering high-quality warfighting assets while balancing affordability and capability is key to supporting the nation’s maritime strategy.

 

The Independence Variant of the LCS Class

PRINCIPAL DIMENSIONS
Construction	Hull and superstructure – aluminium alloy
Length overall	417 feet/127.1 m
Beam overall	103 feet/31.4 m
Hull draft (maximum)	14.8 feet/4.5 m
PAYLOAD AND CAPACITIES
Complement	Core Crew – 40
	Mission crew – 36
Berthing	76 in a mix of single, double & quad berthing compartments
Maximum mission load	210 tonnes
Mission Bay Volume	118,403 feet3/11,000 m3
Mission packages	Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
	Surface Warfare (SUW)
	Mine Warfare (MIW)
PROPULSION
Main engines	2 × GE LM2500
	2 × MTU 20V 8000
Waterjets	4 × Wartsila steerable
Bow thruster	Retractable azimuthing
PERFORMANCE
Speed	40 knots/46 mph/74 km/h
Range	3,500 NM/4,028 miles/6,482 km
Operational limitation	Survival in Sea State 8
MISSION/LOGISTICS DECK
Deck area	>21,527.8 feet2/2,000 m2
Launch and recovery	Twin boom extending crane
Loading	Side ramp
	Internal elevator to hanger
Launch/Recover Watercraft	Sea State 4
FLIGHT DECK AND HANGER
Flight deck dimensions	2 × SH-60 or 1 × CH-53 or multiple Unmanned Aerial Vehicles/Vertical Take-off and Land Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs/VTUAVs)
Hanger	Aircraft stowage & maintenance for 2 × SH-60
Launch/Recover Aircraft	Sea State 5
WEAPONS AND SENSORS
Standard	1 × 57-mm gun
	4 × 12.7-mm/.50 caliber guns
	1 × Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) launcher
	3 × weapons modules

 

Ship list

USS Independence (LCS-2)

USS Coronado (LCS-4)

USS Jackson (LCS-6)

USS Montgomery (LCS-8)

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10)

USS Omaha (LCS-12)

USS Manchester (LCS-14)

USS Tulsa (LCS-16)

USS Charleston (LCS-18)

USS Cincinnati (LCS-20)

USS Kansas City (LCS-22)