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The nation’s first Littoral Combat Ship, USS Freedom (LCS 1) departed from Naval Station Mayport, FL, on February 16, for its maiden deployment to the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Pacific Command areas of responsibility. This deployment comes approximately two years ahead of schedule.
During deployment, Freedom will conduct counter-illicit trafficking operations off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea with support from a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET). Additionally, she is expected to make Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) port visits in Colombia, Mexico and Panama.
“We are very excited about what LCS brings to the operational mission – not only its inherent capabilities – its sprint speed, modularity, and tremendous amount of automation…but its new tailored surface warfare mission package as well as its airborne use of force capabilities and the LEDET, will be key enablers to the CIT and TSC mission with our partner nation navies,” said Rear Adm. Vic Guillory, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command and U.S. 4th Fleet, in a recent Navy press release.
“We congratulate the USS Freedom and her crew on their maiden deployment as this new class of Littoral Combat Ships begins to fulfill important global security missions,” said Lockheed Martin Chairman and CEO Bob Stevens. “Her quality and proven performance enabled Freedom’s deployment two years ahead of schedule, a significant accomplishment in naval shipbuilding. As we compete to build additional ships for the U.S. Navy, the Lockheed Martin team remains focused on delivering an affordable surface combatant with the flexibility to provide security close to shore and on the open seas.”
USS Freedom (LCS 1) is the first of 55 the Navy plans for a new class of ships designed to operate in coastal waters. Her capabilities have been demonstrated since the ship was delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2008. She has sailed more than 12,000 nm, successfully completed sea trials, helicopter landings and certification, ship handling/refueling, weapons firings and certifications, combat system and exterior/interior communications, small boat launch and recovery and Surface Warfare mission-package testing.
