U.S. Navy’s future Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) completed its acceptance trials November 18, the U.S. Navy announced.
The trials, which are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship to the Navy, consisted of a series of in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).
According to the navy, the ship successfully performed launch and recovery operations of the 11-meter, rigid-hull inflatable boat; surface and air self-defense, detect-to-engage exercises; and demonstrations of the ship’s maneuverability to include a full power run in excess of 40 knots.
Following delivery and commissioning in Galveston, Texas, LCS 10 will sail to California to be homeported in San Diego with sister ships USS Independence (LCS 2), USS Coronado (LCS 4), USS Jackson (LCS 6) and USS Montgomery (LCS 8).
The LCS class consists of two variants designed and built by two industry teams – the Freedom variant and the Independence variant. The Freedom variant team is led by Lockheed Martin for the odd-numbered hulls (e.g. LCS 1). The Independence variant team is led by Austal USA for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls.
Several more Independence variants are under construction at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. Future USS Omaha (LCS 12) and future USS Manchester (LCS 14) are preparing for builders trials in 2017. Future USS Tulsa (LCS 16) is scheduled to be christened in early 2017 while other sister ships, LCS 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 are all in varying stages of construction.