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Ship's patch courtesy of
Don McGrogan,
BMCS, USN (Ret.)

Canberra (LCS 30)


"Can Do!"
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
Canberra (LCS 30) Building and Operational Data:
  • 06 October 2017: Contract Awarded to General Dynamics Corp.
  • 23 February 2018: President Donald J. Trump announced that LCS 30 will be named USS Canberra
  • 22 February 2019: Construction commenced at Austal USA, Mobile, Ala. with a "First Cut" Ceremony, when the first sheet for hull fabrication was machined
  • 10 March 2020: Keel-laying and authentication ceremony, keel authenticated by sponsor Marise Ann Payne, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs
  • 30 March 2021: Launched at BAE Systems, Mobile, Ala.
  • 05 June 2021: Christened at Mobile, Ala., standing in for the ship's sponsor who was unable to attend, was Alison Petchell, the Australian Minister Counsellor of Defense Materiel
  • 21 December 2021: In a ceremony held at Austal USA, the U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the ship from its builder
  • 18 July 2023: Arrived at Sydney, Australia
  • 22 July 2023: Placed in commission at the Royal Australian Navy Fleet Base East, Sydney, Australia; Cmdr. William Ashley 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: Fincantieri 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.

    "Canberra, The Ship"     -    "Canberra, 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.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    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)

    Canberra  1.) 279k       Canberra  2.) 243k       Canberra  3.) 133k


    22 February 2020: Mobile, Ala. ---
    Austal USA employees pose for a photo before making the the first cut to fabricate metal sheeting for the future USS Canberra. In the center photo,
    Dave Growden, Director LCS Program, starts the router for LCS 30. The right photo shows the aluminum disc made to commemorate the occasion.

    (© Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1.) 1530001        2.) 1530002        3.) 1530003



    Canberra  1.) 402k       Canberra  2.) 330k       Canberra  3.) 140k       Canberra  4.) 231k


    10 March 2020: Mobile, Ala. ---
    Four views taken at the Keel Laying Ceremony for the future USS Canberra (LCS 30). On the left is the ships' sponsor, the Honorable Marissa Ann Payne, Minister for
    Foreign Affairs of Australia, with Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson and Baldwin County Commissioners, city officials and other distinguished guests. In the second photo
    she's standing with Austal leadership and distinguished guests from the U.S. and Australian military services. In the third photo she's making the ceremony's keynote
    speech, and in the fourth she assists in welding her initials into the ships' keel.

    (© Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1.) 1530004        2.) 1530005        3.) 1530006        4.) 1530007



    Canberra  1.) 230k       Canberra  2.) 271k       Canberra  3.) 255k       Canberra  4.) 340k
    Canberra  5.) 283k       Canberra  6.) 266k       Canberra  7.) 217k       Canberra  8.) 284k


    29-30 March 2021: Mobile, Ala. ---
    The top four views of the future USS Canberra show her on 29 March, being rolled out of the fabricating shed where she was constructed. She was towed down river
    on the barge and placed into a drydock. The following morning the drydock was sunk, and she was launched and towed back to the fitting out shed at Austal's yard.

    (© Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1.) 1530008        2.) 1530009        3.) 1530010        4.) 1530011

    5.) 1530012        6.) 1530013        7.) 1530014        8.) 1530015



    Canberra  1.) 179k       Canberra  2.) 319k       Canberra  3.) 98k       Canberra  4.) 196k
    Canberra  5.) 370k       Canberra  6.) 437k       Canberra  7.) 107k       Canberra  8.) 160k


    05 June 2021: Mobile, Ala. ---
    Dignitaries, guests, officials and other community members celebrate the christening of the future USS Canberra (LCS 30).  The ship’s sponsor, Australian Senator and
    Foreign Minister Marise Payne, attended the ship’s keel laying ceremony in Mobile early last year, but was unable to attend today’s christening ceremony. Alison Petchell,
    the Australian Government’s Minister Counsellor Defence Materiel, christened the ship. His Excellency the Honourable Arthur Sinodinos, Australian Ambassador to the
    United States, delivered the christening ceremony’s principal address.

    (© Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1.) 1530016        2.) 1530017        3.) 1530018        4.) 1530019

    5.) 1530020        6.) 1530021        7.) 1530022        8.) 1530023



    Canberra  1.) 486k       Canberra  2.) 444k       Canberra  3.) 405k       Canberra  4.) 686k       Canberra  5.) 642k
    Canberra  6.) 545k       Canberra  7.) 582k       Canberra  8.) 445k       Canberra  9.) 577k       Canberra  10.) 482k


    10 November 2021: the Gulf of Mexico ---
    Ten views of the future USS Canberra (LCS 30) on builder's trials in the Gulf of Mexico.

    (© Photos courtesy of  Austal USA)

    1.) 1530024        2.) 1530025        3.) 1530026        4.) 1530027        5.) 1530028

    6.) 1530029        7.) 1530030        8.) 1530031        9.) 1530032        10.) 1530033



    Canberra  1.) 287k       Canberra  2.) 463k       Canberra  3.) 246k


    22 June 2022: San Diego, Cal. ---
    Independence-variant littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit Canberra (LCS 30) arrives at its homeport of  San Diego for the first time. LCS are fast, agile,
    mission-focused platforms designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS are capable of supporting forward
    presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.

    (U.S. Navy photos VIRIN #220622-N-ZS023-1138, 220622-N-ZS023-1151, and 220623-N-ZS023-1179 by MC2 Vance Hand from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    1.) 1530034        2.) 1530035        3.) 1530036

    Canberra
    1530037
    600k 19 April 2023: San Diego, Cal. - Tugboats push the future Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) to a pier at Naval Air Station, North Island for an onload, prior to a routine underway off the California Coast. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrates with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence missions around the globe.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #230419-N-NT811-1006 and 230419-N-NT811-1005 by MC1 Mark D. Faram from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    Canberra
    1530038
    564k

    Canberra  1.) 474k       Canberra  2.) 357k       Canberra  3.) 426k       Canberra  4.) 600k


    22 June 2022: San Diego, Cal. ---
    Four views of the future Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) departing San Diego Harbor for a routine underway off the
    California Coast. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments.

    (U.S. Navy photos VIRIN #230419-N-NT811-1004, 230419-N-NT811-1003, 230419-N-NT811-1002, and 230419-N-NT811-1001 by MC2 Vance Hand from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    1.) 1530039        2.) 1530040        3.) 1530041        4.) 1530042


    Canberra  1.) 768k       Canberra  2.) 705k       Canberra  3.) 638k       Canberra  4.) 530k


    02 June 2023: Pearl Harbor, Hi. ---
    The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) sails underway for routine training in the U.S. 3rd Fleet operating area. LCS are fast, optimally manned,
    mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in both littoral and open-ocean environments. LCS integrate with joint, combined, crewed, and unmanned systems for forward
    presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.

    (U.S. Navy photos VIRIN #230620-N-NT811-1007, 230602-N-NT811-1005, 230602-N-NT811-1004, and 230602-N-NT811-1006 by MC1 Mark D. Faram from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    1.) 1530043        2.) 1530044        3.) 1530045        4.) 1530046


    Canberra  1.) 521k       Canberra  2.) 580k       Canberra  3.) 398k       Canberra  4.) 382k


    20 June 2023: Pearl Harbor, Hi. ---
    In view 1, tugboats from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam come alongside the future Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30). The other
    views show the future USS Canberra mooring at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. LCS are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate
    in both littoral and open-ocean environments. LCS integrate with joint, combined, crewed, and unmanned systems for forward presence, maritime security, sea control,
    and deterrence missions around the globe.

    (U.S. Navy photos VIRIN #230602-N-NT811-1002, 230620-N-NT811-1009, 230622-N-NT811-1001, and 230622-N-NT811-1003 by MC1 Mark D. Faram from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    1.) 1530047        2.) 1530048        3.) 1530049        4.) 1530050

    "Canberra, The Ship"     -    "Canberra, The People"


    Canberra
    Memorabilia

    Ship's
    Emblem
    Canberra
    Courtesy of
    Wolfgang Hechler

    There is no DANFS History currently available for Canberra (LCS 30) at Navsource
    Canberra's Commanding Officers

    Blue CrewGold Crew
    1.) 22 Jul. 2023Cmdr. William Ashley (enl. ‘94, STA-21 ‘05) (Woodlake, Tex.)1.) 22 Jul. 2023Cmdr. James (Bobby) Barber (NROTC ‘04) (San Diego, Cal.)

    Additional Resources

    View Canberra's's Official Web page
    USS Canberra History on U.S. Carriers
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    Back to the DE / FF / LCS Ship Index
    Back to the Main Navsource Photo Index

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    This page created on 24 February 2018,
    and is maintained by Mike Smolinski

    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 21 November 2023