USS Cleveland, the final Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS), has been delivered to the U.S. Navy and will be commissioned early next year.
The warship is the 16th monohull LCS variant; all have been built by Fincantieri subsidiary Marinette Marine. The 117-metre vessel displaces 3,500 tonnes, has a crew of 50, a range of 3,500 nautical miles and is capable of a top speed of 47 knots.
She is expected to be commissioned in Cleveland, Ohio in early 2026, before sailing to her new home port in Mayport, Florida.
As per a U.S. Navy press statement: “LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused warship designed to operate in near-shore environments to counter 21st-century threats. It is a class of small surface combatants armed with capabilities to defeat challenges in the world’s littorals.
“LCS can operate independently or in high-threat scenarios as part of a networked battle force that includes larger, multi-mission surface combatants such as cruisers and destroyers.”
The U.S. Navy’s Program Executive Officer, Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC )Melissa Kirkendall commented: “With the final Freedom-variant LCS now delivered, we celebrate the successful outcome of years of innovation and commitment.
She added: “This highly capable and lethal warship is ready to assert maritime dominance and protect global waters with unparalleled precision and power.”
In total the U.S. Navy ordered 35 LCS vessels; the other 19 of them were built to the Independence-class trimaran design by Austal USA.
- You can read more details on the U.S. Navy website