U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) arrived at the Singaporean Changi Naval Base to begin a rotational deployment in the Indo-Asia-Pacific.
Coronado’s arrival in Singapore on October 16 marks the first deployment of an Independence-variant littoral combat ship to Southeast Asia and the third overall, following USS Freedom (LCS 1) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3).
The San Diego homeported ship will operate from Singapore as a maintenance hub and exercise with allied and partner navies across the region during her deployment.
“The rotational deployment of littoral combat ships is an important part of our nation’s rebalance efforts to the Indo-Asia-Pacific,” said Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, Commander, Task Force 73. “Littoral combat ships are ideal for South and Southeast Asia, easily integrated into exercises and operations in the shallow and congested sealanes, enhancing U.S. presence and deepening ties with allies and partners. Littoral combat ships are in high demand out here – we’re happy to welcome Coronado and her crew.”
The ship is outfitted with the Surface Warfare (SUW) mission package, comprised of two 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB), two visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) boarding teams, two 30MM machine guns, two MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles, and, for the first time deployed on board an LCS to Southeast Asia, an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter.
The Independence variant boasts a larger flight deck than the Freedom variant, allowing for expanded aviation operations including dual helicopter-UAV operations, and has more fuel capacity providing increased operational capabilities.
Coronado and its combined crew of about 100 Sailors and the embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 23, began their deployment June 22, after departing San Diego. Prior to her arrival in Singapore, Coronado participated in the multinational Rim of the Pacific 2016 exercise, in which the ship conducted a Harpoon Block 1C missile LCS-based launch, the first of its kind.
Prior to Coronado’s deployment, the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) spent more than 16 months rotationally deployed to Singapore. During the first 14 months of the ship’s deployment, Fort Worth participated in the search and recovery efforts for AirAsia flight QZ8501, made 12 port visits in South and Southeast Asia, and participated in 10 bilateral and multilateral exercises across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.