US Navy Commissions Sixth Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship

The US Navy commissioned USS Sioux City (LCS 11) – the nation's sixth Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) manufactured by Lockheed Martin, at the United States Naval Academy on Saturday.

The LCS is a set of two classes of relatively small surface vessels designed for operations near shore. The Freedom class and the Independence class are the first two LCS variants. The automated combat ship is capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and is equipped with Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) and a Mark 110 gun, capable of firing 220 rounds per minute, the company said in a statement Saturday.

The Freedom-variant LCS is designed to integrate modular weapons, as well as manned and unmanned vehicles to deliver critical warfighting capability to the fleet in mine counter measures, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare.

The next Freedom-variant in the class is LCS 13, the future USS Wichita, slated for commissioning in Mayport, Florida, in January. LCS 19 is scheduled for christening on December 15.