The US Navy has taken delivery of its 12th Independence-class littoral combat ship Oakland (LCS 24) from Alabama-based Austal USA.
The future USS Oakland is the second ship the company delivered to the US Navy in 2020, following the delivery of USS Kansas City (LCS 22) in February.
Earlier this month, we incorrectly reported on USS Kansas City becoming the 300th ship to join the US Navy as it entered service on June 20. According to a navy announcement from June 26, future USS Oakland is the 300th ship in the service’s inventory.
Oakland (LCS 24) was delivered after launching in July 2019 and completing acceptance trials in May this year.
Austal CEO David Singleton said the latest LCS delivery, during the current COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrates Austal USA’s commitment and capability to deliver in a challenging operating environment.
“There is a strong sense of pride and accomplishment at Austal USA with the successful delivery of LCS 24, during this current COVID-19 pandemic,” Singleton said.
“Austal USA has met the challenge to safely and efficiently maintain the delivery schedule of the future USS Oakland, while continuing to perform a critical role in the United States’ defence industrial base.”
The Independence-class LCS is a 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 meter high-speed trimaran hull warship integrates new technology and capability to support current and future mission capability from deep water to the littorals.
Five LCSs are presently under various stages of construction at Austal USA’s Mobile, Alabama shipyard; the future USS Mobile (LCS 26) is preparing for sea trials. Assembly is underway on the future USS Savannah (LCS 28) and USS Canberra (LCS 30), while modules for the future USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) and USS Augusta (LCS 34) are under construction in the module manufacturing facility (MMF). The future USS Kingsville (LCS 36) and USS Pierre (LCS 38) are under contract.
Austal USA is also under contract to build 14 expeditionary fast transport vessels (EPF) for the US Navy, with 11 vessels already delivered, an additional two vessels in various stages of construction and one scheduled.
