LCS Crew 103 Rough Riders and the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) completed at-sea workups Feb. 24 following last week’s crew swap, the first of three crew swaps during the ship’s maiden 16-month deployment to the Asia-Pacific.
Embarked with the surface warfare mission package for the entirety of the deployment, the Rough Riders are joined by the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35, Detachment 2 All Stars and Surface Warfare (SUW) Mission Package, Detachment 1 Badgers.
Prior to getting underway, Crew 103 conducted a one-week in port turnover with Crew 104. During the first five days of the current underway period, the crew conducted at-sea workups to maintain the proficiency achieved during training in San Diego.
Workups with the SUW mission package include simulated visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) boardings and a weapons familiarization fire of the 30mm gun weapons system aboard Fort Worth.
Fort Worth is currently headed north for Foal Eagle in March. Held annually with the Republic of Korea navy, Foal Eagle is also the first exercise in Northeast Asia that incorporates LCS participation.
Image: US Navy