USS Mobile completes acceptance trials

The US Navy’s future USS Mobile (LCS 26), the 13th Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship, has completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama-based shipbuilder Austal said.

Austal Chief Executive Officer David Singleton said Mobile was the third naval ship to successfully complete acceptance trials at Austal USA in 2020.

“I know that the Austal USA team are particularly proud of this latest LCS, which is named after their home city of Mobile, and they have every reason to be proud given this is the third ship built by Austal USA to have completed acceptance trials for the US Navy in 2020,” Singleton said.

Acceptance trials involve the execution of a number of tests on ship’s major systems and equipment by the Austal USA-led industry team while the vessel is underway.

The trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship, scheduled for October 2020.

The LCS 26 was christened in December 2019 becoming the 20th ship to be christened for the US Navy at the yard in 5 years.

The Independence-class LCS is a high-speed, shallow-draft surface combatant with an aluminium trimaran hull that provides multi-mission capability.

These ships are designed to defeat littoral threats, execute mine warfare and anti-submarine warfare missions.

Austal USA is contracted to design and construct 19 Independence-class LCS for the U.S. Navy.

Its Independence-class LCS program is at full rate production, with five ships currently under construction including Mobile.

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) continues her deployment with the Pacific fleet, while nine other Independence-class LCS are homeported in San Diego, USA.

The future USS Savannah (LCS 28) has launched and is preparing for trials and final assembly is underway on the future USS Canberra (LCS 30) and USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32).

Modules for the future USS Augusta (LCS 34) are under construction in the module manufacturing facility.