Media Release
First Austal LCS Joins US Navy Fleet
18 January 2010Thousands attend historic commissioning ceremony
Austal-designed and built Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), “USS Independence” has officially joined the operating forces of the United States Navy at an historic commissioning ceremony held near Austal’s Mobile, Alabama facility.
Thousands of Navy officials, politicians, industry delegates and spectators joined in welcoming “USS Independence” into the US Navy fleet, where it will serve as a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments. The ship is designed to defeat asymmetric "anti-access" threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft.
US Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead, was the principal speaker at the ceremony, which marked the birth of a new breed of naval surface combatant (read his comments here).
Austal’s proven low resistance trimaran hull form, “USS Independence” offers superior maneuverability and stability, endurance to travel 4,300 miles at 18 knots, three weapon zones, capacity for any two mission packages simultaneously, and a flight deck larger than any other surface combatant other than aircraft carriers.
Austal’s proven low resistance trimaran hull form, “USS Independence” offers superior maneuverability and stability, endurance to travel 4,300 miles at 18 knots, three weapon zones, capacity for any two mission packages simultaneously, and a flight deck larger than any other surface combatant other than aircraft carriers.
Austal Managing Director Bob Browning said the vessel would be an exciting addition to the US Navy’s fleet.
“USS Independence really is a new generation of combat ship. This technological leap in naval warfare will deliver significant advantages, not only in terms of increased capability, but also through vastly reduced operating costs over the life of the vessel,” Mr Browning said.“For a shipbuilder that started in business in Australia just 21 years ago to successfully hand over such a revolutionary platform to the most powerful navy in the world is both a momentous achievement and an honour. This is definitely one of Austal’s proudest moments.”
The 127 metre all-aluminium vessel is capable of being outfitted with reconfigurable payloads (Mission Packages) which can be changed quickly to support mine countermeasure, anti-submarine and surface warfare missions. The vessel has a maximum speed of more than 45 knots.
The performance benefits of the vessel’s trimaran hullform have been proven by the 127 metre “Benchijigua Express” which has been in commercial service in Spain since 2005. The hullform is also used for Austal’s next generation 102 metre trimaran ferry which was recently launched in Western Australia.
Doreen Scott, wife of the former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry Scott, served as ship's sponsor. In a time-honoured Navy tradition, she gave the first order to "man our ship and bring her to life!" following the breaking of the commissioning pennant. At that point “Independence” officially became a United States Ship (USS).
Austal USA President Joe Rella said delivery of the first LCS was a testament to the entire Austal USA workforce. “The combination of their skills and hard work, and our investment in ongoing training and new facilities such as the recently opened Modular Manufacturing Facility, positions us well for further success.”
Construction is already underway on Austal’s second US Navy LCS, “Coronado” which is expected to be delivered in 2012. Austal USA has also begun construction of the first Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV) which will be named “Fortitude” (JHSV 1). As Prime contractor, Austal will design and build up to 10 of the 103 metre JHSVs between now and FY13 – five for the US Navy and five for the US Army.
Background
- Austal (www.austal.com) is the vessel designer and builder in the General Dynamics consortium, which is one of two teams competing in the US Navy’s LCS program. For further information on the consortium visit http://www.gdlcs.com/
- USS Independence will be homeported in San Diego as a part of the US Navy’s Pacific Fleet.
- US Navy press releases on LCS 2 USS Independence can be found at http://www.navy.mil/local/lcs2/
- Five previous US Navy ships have been named Independence. The first Independence was a 10-gun sloop that served during the War of Independence. The second Independence, the first ship of the line in the Navy, was launched in 1814 as a 74-gun ship, but later refitted to a 54-gun frigate. The third Independence served with the Naval Overseas Transportation Service following the end of World War I. The fourth Independence (CVL 22), a small aircraft carrier commissioned in 1943, earned eight battle stars during World War II. The fifth Independence (CV 62) was an aircraft carrier commissioned in 1959 and decommissioned in 1998.
- During its current fiscal year, the US Navy intends to award a contract for up to ten LCS, with two ships in fiscal 2010 and options through fiscal 2014. The LCS fleet is projected to eventually reach 55 ships.
- Independence is manned by two rotational crews, "Blue" and "Gold," of 40 Sailors each. These crews are further augmented by detachment specialists for each of the mission modules.
- Following commissioning, Independence will conduct further testing and evaluation before eventually heading toward its homeport in San Diego.
- Additional quotes about “USS Independence”;
"The ship is large enough and flexible enough to hold just about anything you could think of in terms of coastal and littoral warfare. If you build modules we could carry them. That's one of the true unique things about Independence. I think we are going to expand way beyond the initial three mission sets the ship was designed to do, and of course do those extremely well." – Commander Michael Riley, commanding officer, Gold Crew. (http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=50455)"With this great product and this great ship, we will be ready to take her and do the nation's tasking, hopefully sooner rather than later." - Commander Curt Renshaw, commanding officer, Blue Crew. (http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=50413)
"It's going to change the way we do things, particularly in the surface force. This ship allows us the flexibility to complement almost all the pillars of the Maritime Strategy." - Commander Curt Renshaw, commanding officer, Blue Crew. (http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=49770)
"The embarkable mission package augments the sea-frame and gives LCS offensive capabilities in three focused mission areas: mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare” - Captain Michael Good, program manager, LCS Mission Modules. (http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=50488)
High resolution photographs available here
High resolution photographs available here
| Contact: | Austal |
| Phone: | 61 8 9410 1111 |
| Fax: | 61 8 9410 2564 |
| Email: | pubrel@austal.com |
