The United States Navy has taken delivery of its newest Independence-class littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), Australian shipbuilder Austal said.
The newbuild has been handed over by Austal USA’s Mobile ship manufacturing facility in Alabama.
“This program continues to improve with efficiency and is delivering a first rate capability for the U.S. Navy,” David Singleton, Austal CEO, said.
The future USS Cincinnati will be the 18th LCS to join the navy’s fleet and the fifth US Navy ship to honor Ohio’s largest city.
The LCS provides a small surface combatant capability that is highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable vessel, designed to support mine focused countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions.
The Independence-variant integrates new technology and capability to support current and future mission capability, from deep water to littoral environments.
Following her commissioning, Cincinnati will join her nine sister ships already homeported in San Diego, 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), the future USS Tulsa (LCS 16) and the future USS Charleston (LCS 18).
Five small surface combatants are presently under various stages of construction at Austal’s Alabama shipyard. Austal is also under contract to deliver 14 expeditionary fast transport vessels (EPF) for the US Navy. The company has delivered ten EPFs into service with an additional two are in various stages of construction.
Related:
Littoral combat ship Cincinnati (LCS 20) completes acceptance trials
US Navy christens LCS Cincinnati