Throughout USS Freedom’s recent participation in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) 2010, the U.S. Navy demonstrated one of the revolutionary concepts of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) – the ship’s mission packages. These packages are modular, interchangeable equipment tailored to support different missions, such as surface, anti-submarine, or mine warfare and are supported by Sailors of various specialties.

“It takes us around 24 hours, and all we need in port is a forklift and a crane at any port facility in the world to put everything together, crane our package on, bolt it down, and then we’re a more advanced surface warfare capable ship for littoral warfare,” said Petty Officer First Class Justin Silva in a Navy video discussing the mission package concept.

During the RIMPAC exercise, USS Freedom operated with the surface warfare mission package. This package features weapons specialists; small-boat crews; and a visit, board, search and seizure team. With this mission package, USS Freedom and its crew conducted a series of maritime security exercises with vessels from international navies and a live-fire exercise with the MK-110 57mm gun.