The US Navy commissioned its newest ship, the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Pierre (LCS 38), in a ceremony held in Panama City on November 15, 2025.
In the week leading up to the commissioning ceremony, the USS Pierre crew spent time around Panama City, hosting tours on board for local organizations. The vessel is the 19th and final Independence-variant littoral combat ship and the second US Navy ship to bear the name.
“ To commission a ship that represents our nation’s free and independent spirit, the strength of our constitutional republic, and our willingness to fight for what’s right around the world,” said Cmdr. Justin Guernsey , commanding officer of USS Pierre, during the ceremony.
The littoral combat ship class consists of two variants, Freedom and Independence, designed and built by two industry teams. Lockheed Martin leads the Freedom-variant team, the odd-numbered hulls, in Marinette, Wisconsin. Austal USA leads the Independence-variant team in Mobile, Alabama, for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls.
Littoral combat ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments. They integrate with joint, combined, manned, and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe, according to the navy.
LCS variant is playing a key role in advancing the US Navy’s unmanned programs, with USS Oakland (LCS 24) having recently served as a mothership for unmanned surface vessels and large flight decks supporting unmanned drones during an 18-month deployment to the US 7th Fleet.
USS Tulsa (LCS 16), USS Canberra (LCS 30) and USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) have deployed with the mine countermeasures (MCM) mission package, which features airborne and unmanned systems, enhancing littoral capabilities.