Entering a new era of sea warfare and coastal threats, the US Navy began looking for a new generation of a smaller platform capable of operating independently or as part of a battle force. Thus, the littoral combat ship (LCS) program was developed in the early 2000s.
The program sought a dependable light frigate and littoral patrol ship as strong as an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer but with less intense presence—just enough to oversee coastal duties.
Additionally, the Navy was looking to fill in the inevitable gap the outgoing Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigates would leave following its decommissioning in the 2010s, which has proven to be a highly-capable platform for years.
During the mid-2000s, the Navy had granted a split construction contract for the LCS ships to America’s two major defense manufacturers. However, as promising as these vessels were at first, it wasn’t long before a slew of problems emerged—stirring doubts on whether the platform would even be a worthy investment.
Both variants have been plagued with technical challenges and design defects, with their viability in high-risk or contested areas a constant source of contention by authorities even up to the present.
In its fiscal 2023 report, the US Director, Operational Test & Evaluation stated that the survivability of the LCS was “challenged in a contested environment against selected kinetic threat types,” while viability for operations in cyber-contested environments was “currently unknown,” Naval Technology noted in an article posted earlier this year. Further citing the unsuitability of the LCSs due to propulsion failures and not mentioning the controversy regarding its “past cost growth.”
Accordingly, the Navy is said to have estimated that operating and supporting the anticipated 35 LCS warships will cost more than $60 billion. Of which, the Independence-class ships cost around $360 million each.
Despite providing a great platform for testing new technologies, the inadequacies of the LCSs have been the primary driver for the service to launch the FFG(X) program, known now as the Constellation class, which was announced in the mid-2010s.
The Even-Numbered Hulls
The Independence-class LCS, built by General Dynamics and Austal USA, features an aluminum trimaran hull with a slim “stabilized monohull” design intended to achieve a high speed beyond 40 knots.
It was initially a contender for the Navy’s future fleet of surface ships, which, in the early 2000s, was looking for a light, fast, shallow-draft vessels that could take on littoral or coastal waters missions. A stable ship that could operate in a near-shore environment, as well as “capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence” against 21st-century threats. Nevertheless, in May 2004, the service split the contract between Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics, each responsible for building the first two ships of Flight 0, or first-generation LCSs, based on their proposed designs.
While Lockheed built steel-monohulled Freedom-class ships classified with odd numbers, General Dynamics would go on to construct the Independence-class vessels with even number classifications.
General Dynamics received the contract for USS Independence (LCS-2) in October 2005, laying its keel three months later at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
Its construction, however, was not as smooth sailing as the Navy hoped.
First of all, the construction budget grew three times its original price tag, and trials ran behind schedule due to technical issues. Secondly, the first inspection conducted by the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) found hundreds of deficiencies. After much time consumed in rectifying the ship’s flaws, Independence was finally handed over in mid-December 2009 and entered service shortly after.
The increase in cost eventually became a concern, prompting the Navy to reevaluate the program and, as a result, suspend the construction of the second ships from both manufacturers in 2007.
Construction on the USS Coronado (LCS-4) resumed two years later when General Dynamics was granted the contract. Lockheed also received a building contract and continued to produce its LCS variant.
Originally, the program is speculated to fund up to 60 LCSs—30 each from the manufacturers—however, its final number has become unclear with the challenges it is facing even up to the present.
Even so, General Dynamics and Austal USA have successfully produced 14 Independence-class LCSs to date, with 12 presently in service and two already decommissioned after 11 and 8 years of deployment, respectively. Meanwhile, five ships are under construction.
Technical Specifications and Armaments
At first glance, one can already see the unique design the Independence-class ships features, particularly its trimaran hull, said to be making it more fast and agile, all while bearing a rear deck large enough to accommodate at least one MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopter or two MQ-8B Fire Scouts or one MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned tactical chopper. In addition, this class can also launch speedboats and other unmanned surface vehicles.
Tasked with operations like antisubmarine warfare, mine countermeasures, and surface warfare against small boats, the ship’s unusual hull shape increases its capacity to reflect radar, making it more stealthy.
The General Dynamics variants typically measure about 127.8 meters (419.3 feet) in length, a maximum beam of 31.5 m (103.35 ft), and about 4.25 m (13.94 ft) in the draught, with a full load displacement of 2,637 tons.
For its power and propulsion, an Independence-class ship is outfitted with two Rolls-Royce MT30 36MW gas turbines and two Fairbanks Morse Colt-Pielstick 16PA6B STC diesel engines, which drive the vessel’s four massive acoustically optimized Rolls-Royce waterjets. Meanwhile, four Isotta Fraschini Model V1708 ship service diesel generators provide the LCS’s auxiliary power, while an installed Fincantieri Marine Systems North America supplies its ride control system. With this, each LCS can reach a maximum speed of 45 knots within an 8,000-kilometer (18 knots) range.
Moving on to its complement. The Independence-class LCS has a core crew of 40, including eight officers and 32 enlisted, plus up to 35 special mission crew. Moreover, capable of carrying provisions for 21 days before needing replenishment.
Each ship is armed with BAE Systems mk110 57mm naval gun system for its main armaments, firing mk295 ammunitions at a rate of 220 rounds a minute up to 14 kilometers (9 miles). Furthermore, 50-caliber machine gun mounts are fitted port and starboard on the walkways on each side of the hangar and in the stern near the helicopter deck.
Raytheon Technologies’ SeaRAM Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) is used for air defense. This advanced ship defense system can defend against supersonic and subsonic attacks by launching 11 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) with a nine-kilometer range in combination with the sensors of the Phalanx 1B CIWS.
The mine warfare modules aboard the LCS variant include Lockheed Martin’s AN/WLD-1 Remote Minehunting System (RMS), Raytheon’s AN/AQS-20A mine-detecting sonar, organic airborne surface influence sweep, and airborne mine detection and neutralization systems. Moreover, it employs Lockheed’s tactical littoral ocean network Sea (TALON) underwater surveillance system, which combines a variety of acoustic sensors with semi-submersible vehicles and network-centric communications. A sophisticated deployable surveillance system, autonomous surface vehicles, helicopter-delivered missiles, and sonar were also installed on each class ship.
Lastly, for its anti-surface warfare, the ship employs two General Dynamics-built mk46 30mm cannons capable of firing 200 rounds per minute at ranges of up to two kilometers, as well as a new beyond-line-of-sight missile with a range of 40 kilometers. The MH-60R Seahawk helicopter on board may also be outfitted with guns and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, further increasing the overall firepower capacity of the LCS.
Independence-class Littoral Warship
All 14 LCSs bear the namesake of US states and capitals, except for USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10), USS Manchester (LCS-14), and USS Canberra (LCS-30). Below are the photos of the Independence-class LCSs built between 2018-present. Out of which, two of the first commissioned were retired in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
USS Independence (LCS-2)
Launched: 26 April 2008
Commissioned: 16 January 2010
Status: Decommissioned (29 July 2021)
Berth: Bremerton, WA
USS Coronado (LCS-4)
Launched: 14 January 2012
Commissioned: 5 April 2014
Status: Decommissioned (14 September 2022)
Berth: Bremerton, WA
USS Jackson (LCS-6)
“Victoribus Spolia (To The Victors, The Spoils)”
Launched: 14 December 2013
Commissioned: 5 December 2015
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Montgomery (LCS-8)
“Audemus Jura Nostra Defendere (We Dare Defend Our Rights)”
Launched: 6 August 2014
Commissioned: 10 September 2016
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10)
“Je Suis Prest (I Am Ready)”
Launched: 25 February 2015
Commissioned: 10 June 2017
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Omaha (LCS-12)
“Fortiter In Re (Resolute In Deed)”
Launched: 20 November 2015
Commissioned: 3 February 2018
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Manchester (LCS-14)
“Labor Vincit (Work Wins)”
Launched: 12 May 2016
Commissioned: 26 May 2018
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Tulsa (LCS-16)
“Tough, Able, Ready”
Launched: 16 March 2017
Commissioned: 16 February 2019
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Status: Active in service
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Charleston (LCS-18)
“While We Breathe, We Fight”
Launched: 14 September 2017
Commissioned: 2 March 2019
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Cincinnati (LCS-20)
“Strength in Unity”
Launched: 22 May 2018
Commissioned: 5 October 2019
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Kansas City (LCS-22)
“United We Stand, Divided We Fall”
Launched: 19 October 2018
Commissioned: 20 June 2020
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Oakland (LCS-24)
“Fortitude, Determination, Communication”
Launched: 21 July 2019
Commissioned: 17 April 2021
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Mobile (LCS-26)
“Victory through Perseverance”
Launched: 11 January 2020
Commissioned: 22 May 2021
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Savannah (LCS-28)
“Not for Self, but for Others”
Launched: 8 September 2020
Commissioned: 5 February 2022
Status: Active in service
Fleet: US Pacific Fleet
Home Port: Naval Base San Diego
USS Canberra (LCS-30)
Awarded: 6 October 2017
Launched: 30 March 2021
Status: Fitting Out
USS Santa Barbara (LCS-32)
Awarded: 18 September 2018
Launched: 12 November 2021
Status: Fitting Out
USS Augusta (LCS-34)
Awarded: 18 September 2018
Launched: 23 May 2022
Status: Fitting Out
USS Kingsville (LCS-36)
Awarded: 14 December 2018
Status: Under Construction
USS Pierre (LCS-38)
Awarded: 17 December 2018
Status: Under Construction
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