Navy

Acceptance Trials

Future Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) successfully completed its acceptance trials November 18. The trials consisted of a series of in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).

Former U.S. Representative Gabrielle «Gabby» Giffords waves to a crowd in front of the littoral combat ship, USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), named for her. Giffords was on the stage as Dr. Jill Biden christened the ship at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. The 419-foot/127.7 м ship was built at the Austal shipyard and is the U.S. Navy's 10th littoral combat ship designed to operate in shallow waters near the coast. It is 16th U.S. naval ship to be named for a woman and only the 13th since 1850 to be named for a living person (Photo courtesy Austal USA/Released)
Former U.S. Representative Gabrielle «Gabby» Giffords waves to a crowd in front of the littoral combat ship, USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), named for her. Giffords was on the stage as Dr. Jill Biden christened the ship at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. The 419-foot/127.7 м ship was built at the Austal shipyard and is the U.S. Navy’s 10th littoral combat ship designed to operate in shallow waters near the coast. It is 16th U.S. naval ship to be named for a woman and only the 13th since 1850 to be named for a living person (Photo courtesy Austal USA/Released)

Acceptance trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship to the U.S. Navy. During the trials, the Navy conducted comprehensive tests of the LCS intended to demonstrate the performance of the propulsion plant, ship handling, and auxiliary systems.

«Another thorough trial by INSURV, and another ship with improved scores and at a lower cost than her predecessor», said LCS Program Manager Captain Tom Anderson. «LCS-10 is an exceptional ship which brings the U.S. Navy operational flexibility at an affordable price».

While underway, the ship successfully performed launch and recovery operations of the 36-foot/11-meter, rigid-hull inflatable boat; surface and air self-defense, detect-to-engage exercises; and demonstrations of the ship’s maneuverability to include a full power run in excess of 40 knots/46 mph/74 km/h.

Following delivery and commissioning in Galveston, Texas, LCS-10 will sail to California to be homeported in San Diego with sister ships USS Independence (LCS-2), USS Coronado (LCS-4), USS Jackson (LCS-6) and USS Montgomery (LCS-8).

Several more Independence variants are under construction at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. Future USS Omaha (LCS-12) and future USS Manchester (LCS-14) are preparing for builders trials in 2017. Future USS Tulsa (LCS-16) is scheduled to be christened in early 2017. Other sister ships, future USS Charleston (LCS-18), future USS Cincinnati (LCS-20), future USS Kansas City (LCS-22), future USS Oakland (LCS-24), and future USS Mobile (LCS-26) are all in varying stages of construction.

The LCS class consists of two variants – the Freedom variant and the 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 the subsequent even-numbered hulls.

Each LCS will be outfitted with a single mission package made up of mission modules containing warfighting systems and support equipment. A dedicated ship crew will combine with aviation assets to deploy manned and unmanned vehicles and sensors in support of mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, or surface warfare missions.

LCS10 Completes Acceptance Trials with Dolphins in tow

 

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

 

Independence-class

Ship Laid down Launched Commissioned Homeport
USS Independence (LCS-2) 01-19-2006 04-26-2008 01-16-2010 San Diego, California
USS Coronado (LCS-4) 12-17-2009 01-14-2012 04-05-2014 San Diego, California
USS Jackson (LCS-6) 08-01-2011 12-14-2013 12-05-2015 San Diego, California
USS Montgomery (LCS-8) 06-25-2013 08-06-2014 09-10-2016 San Diego, California
USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) 04-16-2014 02-25-2015
USS Omaha (LCS-12) 02-18-2015 11-20-2015
USS Manchester (LCS-14) 06-29-2015
USS Tulsa (LCS-16) 01-11-2016
USS Charleston (LCS-18) 06-28-2016
USS Cincinnati (LCS-20)
USS Kansas City (LCS-22)
USS Oakland (LCS-24)