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NavSource Online: Littoral Warship Photo Archive
Ship's patch courtesy of
Don McGrogan,
BMCS, USN (Ret.)

Cincinnati (LCS 20)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - C - I - N
"Strength In Unity"
Specifications - LCS Littoral Combat Ship, Independence Class (Variant 2, Flight 0, first generation):
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; 4 - .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
Cincinnati (LCS 20) Building and Operational Data:
  • 29 December 2010: Contract Awarded to General Dynamics Corp.
  • 06 June 2013: Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced LCS 20 will be named USS Cincinnati
  • 10 April 2017: Keel-laying and authentication ceremony held at Austal USA, Mobile, Ala; keel authenticated by sponsor Penny Pritzger, former U.S. Secretary of Labor
  • 05 May 2018: Christened by ship's sponsor Penny Pritzger
  • 21 May 2019: Rolled out of fabrication, barged to BAE Systems, Mobile, transferred to a drydock and launched
  • 08 February 2019: Successfully completed acceptance trials on the Gulf of Mexico
  • 21 June 2019: U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) during a ceremony at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala.
  • 05 October 2019: Commissioned at Gulfport, Miss., Cmdr. Jedediah Kloppel in command, assigned to LCS Squadron 1 at San Diego, Cal.

    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, Ala.; 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, Conn.; General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Washington, D.C.; and General Dynamics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

    "Cincinnati, The Ship"     -    "Cincinnati, The People"
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Independence
    1502001a    		 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 U.S. Navy courtesy of General Dynamics, Photo #040527-O-0000G-004, from the Navy Newstand)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Independence
    1502001b    		 492k undated: Mobile, Ala. - An aerial view of the Austal USA shipyard, the American branch of operations for Australian shipbuilder Austal. Founded in 1999 along the west bank of Blakely Island on the Mobile River in Mobile, Alabama. The shipyard was initially engaged in building high-speed aluminum ferries, such as the Lake Express for service across Lake Michigan, and the Alakai for Hawaii Superferry. Construction on the first Littoral Combat Ship of the USS Independence variant was begun in 2006. In conjunction with the General Dynamics Corp., all of the planned Independence Class LCS's will be built here.

    (Photo courtesy of AUSTAL, USA)
    Cincinnati
    1502001    		 160k 19 July 2015: Cincinnati, Oh. - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announces Littoral Combat Ship 20 will be named USS Cincinnati at the Cincinnati Reds baseball game.

    (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of  Austal USA)
    Cincinnati  172k       Cincinnati  149k       Cincinnati  176k       Cincinnati  133k       Cincinnati  130k

    10 April 2017: Mobile, Ala. - Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and ship’s sponsor Penny Pritzger authenticated the keel for the 10th Independence
    variant of the littoral combat ship class during the ceremony. While keel laying traditionally represents the formal start of a ship's construction, advanced
    modular shipbuilding allows fabrication of the ship to begin months in advance. Today, keel laying continues to symbolically recognize the joining of the
    ship's components and the ceremonial beginning of the ship."

    (Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1520002   -   1520003   -   1520004   -   1520005   -   1520006
    Cincinnati  429k       Cincinnati  409k       Cincinnati  220k       Cincinnati  298k       Cincinnati  373k

    05 May 2018: Mobile, Ala. - Five views of the ceremony as ship’s sponsor Penny Pritzger christens the future USS Cincinnati, the 10th Independence variant
    of the littoral combat ship class. In a tradition carried over from seafaring's earliest days, the ship's sponsor breaks a bottle of sparkling wine across the ship's bow.

    (Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1520007   -   1520008   -   1520009   -   1520010   -   1520011
    Cincinnati  531k       Cincinnati  343k       Cincinnati  480k

    21 May 2018: Mobile, Ala. - Three views of the future USS Cincinnati being rolled out of assembly bay #4 at Austal USA shipyard.
    She'll be barged downriver to BAE Systems where she'll be transferred to a floating drydock, and then officially launched.

    (Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1520012    -    1520013    -    1520014
    Cincinnati
    1502015    		 482k 22 May 2018: Mobile, Ala. - The future USS Cincinnati is launched at BAE Systems Corp.

    (U.S. Navy photo courtesy of  Austal USA)
    Cincinnati
    1502022    		 445k 18 July 2018: the Gulf of Mexico - The future USS Cincinnati is underway for acceptance trials, which are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship to the Navy.

    (U.S. Navy photo #190210-N-NC292-1000 from the Navy News Stand)
    Cincinnati  261k       Cincinnati  328k       Cincinnati  339k       Cincinnati  364k       Cincinnati  470k       Cincinnati  435k

    08 February 2019: the Gulf of Mexico - Six views of the future USS Cincinnati at sea undergoing Acceptance Trials.

    (Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1520016   -   1520017   -   1520018   -   1520019   -   1520020   -   1520021
    Cincinnati  1.) 413k   Cincinnati  2.) 315k   Cincinnati  3.) 188k   Cincinnati  4.) 106k   Cincinnati  5.) 169k

    05 October 2019: Gulfport, Miss. - A five view photo series of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20)
    being commissioned at Gulfport. LCS 20, the fifth ship to be named Cincinnati, will be homeported at Naval Base San Diego.

    1.) The crew of Cincinnati runs aboard to man the ship and bring her to life. ................................................ (Photo #191005-N-DH124-0074)
    2.) The crew of Cincinnati mans the ship. ....................................................................................................... (Photo #191005-N-DH124-0095)
    3.) The crew of Cincinnati mans the ship. ....................................................................................................... (Photo #191005-N-DH124-0086)
    4.) Brad Wenstrup, U.S. Representative for Ohio's 2nd congressional district gives the principal address. ..... (Photo #191005-N-DH124-0061)
    5.) Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Jedediah Kloppel, gives his remarks during the ceremony. ........................... (Photo #191005-N-DH124-0118)

    (U.S. Navy photos by MCC Rosalie Chang from the Navy News Stand)

    1520025   -   1520023   -   1520024   -   1520026   -   1520027
    Cincinnati
    1502028    		 392k 01 November 2019: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - The Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) transits toward Naval Station Guantanamo Bay accompanied by Navy tug Santaquin (YTB 824). Cincinnati was commissioned on 05 October 2019 and is the fifth ship to be named after Cincinnati, Ohio. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay is the forward, ready, irreplaceable U.S. sea power platform in the Caribbean.

    (U.S. Navy photo #191101-N-TB177-1043 by MC2 Kevin J. Steinberg from the Navy News Stand)    		 Lee Wahler
    Lcdr., USN (ret.)
    Jacksonville, Fla.
    Cincinnati
    1502029    		 745k 20 November 2019: San Diego, Cal. - The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) transits San Diego Bay as it arrives at its new homeport for the first time. Commissioned on 05 October, Cincinnati is the 12th homeported in San Diego.

    (U.S. Navy photo #191120-N-SB299-1117 by MC2 Alex Millar from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Archive Manager
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Navsource
    Cincinnati
    1502033    		 209k 23 February 2021: the Pacific Ocean - USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) approaches Nimitz-class nuclear aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) during a replenishment-at-sea. Vinson is currently underway conducting routine maritime operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #210223-N-SS900-1038 by MC3 Aaron T. Smith from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Cincinnati
    1502030    		 400k 07 June 2021: San Diego, Cal. - Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS O'Kane (DDG 77) salute to render honors to Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) as the two ships pass in the San Diego Bay. O'Kane is currently underway conducting routine maritime operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #210607-N-LN093-1083 by MC2 Jasen Moreno-Garcia from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Cincinnati
    1502031    		 278k 08 August 2021: the Pacific Ocean - The Independence variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) approaches the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) for a refueling-at-sea. Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #210808-N-GD018-1108 by MCSN Clayton Augustine Wren from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Cincinnati
    1502032    		 277k 08 August 2021: the Pacific Ocean - Operations Specialist Seaman Alara Toto, from Tuscan, Ariz., stands aft lookout watch as the Independence variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) approaches the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during a simulated refueling-at-sea . Abraham Lincoln is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #210808-N-VI910-1091 by MC3 Javier Reyes from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Cincinnati
    1502034    		 218k 08 December 2021: the Pacific Ocean - USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) participates in formation steaming with amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), amphibious landing ship dock USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), and guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) during Steel Knight 22 (SK22). SK22 is a 1st Marine Division led annual training exercise which enables the Navy-Marine Corps team to operate in a realistic, combined-arms environment to enhance naval warfighting tactics, techniques and procedures.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #211208-N-CC171-431 by Ens. John Saaday, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Cincinnati
    1502035    		 507k 18 April 2022: San Diego, Cal. - USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) sails in the San Diego Bay Channel. LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #220418-N-NK931-514 by Lt.(jg) Samuel Hardgrove, LCSRon 1, from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    "Cincinnati, The Ship"     -    "Cincinnati, The People"
    Cincinnati Memorabilia
    Ship's
    Emblem
    Indianapolis
    Courtesy of
    Richard Mattie    		 Christening
    Booklet
    Indianapolis
    Courtesy of
    Jim Davenport
    Cincinnati History
    View the USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    Cincinnati's Commanding Officers
    Dates of Command Commanding Officers
    1.) 05 Oct. 2019 - 02 Oct. 2020Cmdr. Jedediah August Kloppel (Spearfish, S.D.)
    2.) 02 Oct. 2020 - 15 Jul. 2022Cmdr. Colin A. Corridan (Ma.MarAd '99) (Springfield, Mass.)
    3.) 15 Jul. 2022 - Cmdr. Robert Terence Burke (OCS ‘03) (Tucson, Ariz.)
    Additional Resources
    View Cincinnati's Official Web page
    USS Cincinnati History on U.S. Carriers
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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    This page created on 04 September 2015,
    and is maintained by Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 05 March 2023