Austal USA launches US Navy’s newest LCS

Shipbuilder Austal USA has launched the future USS Canberra (LCS 30), the 15th of 19 Independence-class littoral combat ships being built for the US Navy.

As informed, Canberra is the first ship to be launched by Austal USA in 2021. What is more, it the first vessel to be launched from the shipyard’s new floating dry dock at Mobile Alabama.

LCS 30 is the second US Navy ship named in honour of the first HMAS Canberra, a Royal Australian Navy heavy cruiser that fought in the Battle of Savo Island in August 1942 during World War II.

Back in February 2019, Austal held a metal cutting ceremony for the newbuild.

The Independence-class LCS is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric “anti-access” threats, such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft.

The 127-metre high-speed trimaran hull warship integrates new technology and capability to support current and future mission capability from deep water to the littorals.

The shipbuilder has so far delivered twelve LCSs to the US Navy. In December 2020, the USS Mobile (LCS 26) was handed over to the navy.