The US Navy commissioned USS Savannah (LCS 28) as the newest Independence variant littoral combat ship (LCS) in a ceremony in Brunswick, Georgia, on February 5.
Savannah officially entered service after being handed over to the navy by Alabama-based shipbuilder Austal USA in June last year.
Savannah is the 14th Independence variant LCS and the sixth ship to bear the name. The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom and the Independence, designed and built by two industry teams. Lockheed Martin leads the Freedom variant team, or odd-numbered hulls, constructed in Marinette, Wisconsin. Austal USA leads the Independence variant team in Mobile, Alabama for LCS 2 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls.
“The city of Savannah, Georgia, has played an important role in our nation’s naval history,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. “I have no doubt the sailors of USS Savannah (LCS 28) will carry on the fighting spirit of this city and will play an important role in the defense of our nation and maritime freedom.”
USS Savannah will be homeported at Naval Base San Diego, California.
The Independence-class LCS is a 127-meter high-speed trimaran 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.
Future USS Canberra (LCS30), the 15th ship of the type, was handed over late last year and is expected to commission this summer.
Austal is working on four more ships in the class at its yard in Mobile. USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) and future USS Augusta (LCS 34) are in the water, while modules are under construction on the future USS Kingsville (LCS 36) and the future USS Pierre (LCS 38).
