The US Navy officially received the future USS Augusta (LCS 34) from Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama on May 12.
The second ship to bear the name of Augusta, Maine, completed acceptance trials in March, and is now on track to be commissioned in the fall of 2023.
It will be homeported in San Diego, California where Austal USA has the capability to dry-dock and provide lifecycle sustainment support for the Independence-variant ship class and other similar sized ships.
Continuing the pace of naval deliveries in 2023, the USS Augusta becomes the second Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) handed over by Austal USA, closely following the Freedom-variant USS Marinette (LCS 25) in February, while Austal USA works on constructing two more Independence-variant LCS vessels, namely Kingsville (LCS 36) and Pierre (LCS 38), with Kingsville having been recently launched.
The inaugural vessel to honor the capital of Maine, the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine, ex-USS Augusta (SSN 710), served actively for a span of 24 years before its decommissioning on February 11, 2009.
“The delivery of the future USS Augusta marks a noteworthy milestone in the life of this ship and forges a great connection to the citizens of Maine, a state with a long history of shipbuilding,” said LCS program manager, Capt. Andy Gold. “I look forward to seeing the future USS Augusta and her sailors bring critical capability to the fleet.”
The Augusta is a fast and agile vessel capable of reaching speeds exceeding 40 knots. It is designed for operations in near-shore environments while also capable of open-ocean tasks. LCS possesses formidable capabilities to counter modern maritime threats, including mines and swarming small craft.
