The US Navy’s 34th littoral combat ship will be named USS Augusta (LCS 34), Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer announced on Thursday.
The Independence-variant LCS is named in honor of the capital city of Maine, and is the sixth vessel to bear the name Augusta.
“It is an honor to name the next Independence variant LCS after the city Augusta,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “From the earliest days of the American Revolution to every conflict since, the citizens of Maine have been an important part of the Navy and Marine Corps team. I am pleased that a future ship will carry on that tradition of service by bearing the name and history of their great capital city.”
The future USS Augusta will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala. This ship will be 419 feet long with a beam length of 104 feet and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 40 knots.
The Navy has accepted delivery of 17 littoral combat ships (LCSs). Including the recent contract modifications, a total of 35 LCSs have been procured with 11 ships under construction (LCS 17, 19-26) and seven more ships in pre-construction ships (LCS 29 – 32, 34, 36, 38).