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NavSource Online: Littoral Warship Photo Archive

Independence (LCS-2)

Specifications:
Hull Type: Stabilized Trimaran Monohull
Displacement: 2176 tons (light), 2784 tons (full)
Dead Weight: 608 tons
Length: 418' (oa)
Beam: 93.2' (extreme)
Draft: 13' (Maximum Navigational Draft)
Propulsion: Two gas turbine engines, two propulsion diesels, two waterjets
Speed: 47 kts (sprint), 50+ kts (top speed)
Armament: Bofors 57mm naval gun; Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launcher; 3 - .50-caliber machine gun mounts
Combat Management System: Northrup Grumman ICMS
Electronics: Ericsson Sea Giraffe (air / surface surveillance, weapon assignment);
Decoy System: 3 - Super RBOC; 2 - Nulka Decoy launchers
Complement: 26
LCS Littoral Combat Ship (Flight 0, first generation):
  • Contract Awarded to General Dynamics Corp., 14 October 2005
  • Laid down, 19 January 2006 at Austal USA, Mobile AL
  • Launched, 29 April 2008
  • Expected Completion, October 2008

    Note:
    1.) The contract option awarded to Lockheed Martin Corporation is managed by Lockheed Martin's Maritime Systems and Sensors division in Moorestown NJ. The Lockheed Martin team includes: Marinette Marine shipyard, Bollinger Shipyards, Gibbs and Cox naval architects, Izar of Spain and Blohm & Voss naval shipbuilders.

    2.) The contract option awarded to General Dynamics is managed by Bath Iron Works at Bath ME. The major members of General Dynamics team are: Austal USA, based in Mobile AL; BAE Systems, Rockville MD; Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, Baltimore MD; CAE Marine Systems, Leesburg VA; Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore MD; General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Burlington VT; General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton CT; General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Washington DC; and General Dynamics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
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    Independence 102k 27 May 2004: Washington DC - The U.S. Navy announced today that General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, will be one of two defense contracting teams awarded contract options for final system design with options for detail design and construction of up to two Flight 0 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The LCS is an entirely new breed of U.S. Navy warship. A fast, agile, and networked surface combatant, LCS's modular, focused-mission design will provide Combatant Commanders the required warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to ensure maritime dominance and access for the joint force. LCS will operate with focused-mission packages that deploy manned and unmanned vehicles to execute missions including, Special Operations Forces (SOF) support, high-speed transit, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP). (Artist concept provided to the US Navy courtesy of General Dynamics, Photo #040527-O-0000G-004, from the Navy Newstand) NavSource
    Independence 116k 19 January 2006: Mobile AL - The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, the Honorable Delores Etter, center, shakes hands with Executive Chairman of Austal Ltd., Mr. John Rothwell, after her initials were inscribed onto a piece of Littoral Combat Ship Two (LCS-2) during the ship's keel laying ceremony. LCS-2’s speed, crew compliment and mission capabilities will be similar to Freedom (LCS-1), its sister ship. The Navy's 2nd Littoral Combat Ship is scheduled for commissioning in 2008. (US Navy photo #060119-N-0000X-001, from the Navy Newstand)
    Independence 183k 19 January 2006: Mobile AL - The Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, the Honorable Delores Etter, center, shakes hands with Executive Chairman of Austal Ltd., Mr. John Rothwell, after her initials were inscribed onto a piece of Littoral Combat Ship Two (LCS-2) during the ship's keel laying ceremony. LCS-2’s speed, crew compliment and mission capabilities will be similar to Freedom (LCS-1), its sister ship. The Navy's 2nd Littoral Combat Ship is scheduled for commissioning in 2008. (US Navy photo #060119-N-0000X-001, from the Navy Newstand)
    Independence 153k 27 April 2008: Mobile AL - USS Independence being prepared for her launching. She was moved to a floating drydock, from which she'll be floated off after being christened. Bill "Pinch" Paisley
    Instapinch Blog
    Independence 92k 29 April 2008: Mobile AL - The drydock is being lowered in preparation for floating off USS Independence.
    Independence 176k 29 April 2008: Mobile AL - USS Independence sits tied up in front of an erecting shed at Austal.
    Independence 79k 27 April 2008: Mobile AL - 29 April 2008: Mobile AL - Another view of Independence sitting tied up at Austal. Richard B. Cushing
    ENCM, USN (ret.)
    There is no DANFS History currently available for Independence (LCS-2) at NavSource
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    none
    Additional Resources and Web Sites of Interest
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    Last Updated 21 May 2008