The US Navy was assigned the 13th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) of the Independence — type USS Mobile (LCS 26). Soon he should begin his service.
According to Naval News, Austal USA delivered the 13th Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) of the Independence type to the United States Navy. USS Mobile was built at the company's shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.
LCS 26 is the fourth ship delivered by Austal USA to the US Navy this calendar year: in February, they received the USS Kansas City (LCS 22), in June, the USS Oakland (LCS 24), and in September, the USNS Newport (EPF).
The Independence-type LCS is a fast and maneuverable littoral combat ship that was developed as part of the ambitious Littoral Combat Ship program. The tasks of LCS ships include rapid transportation of cargo weighing up to 700 tons in the theater of war, mine reconnaissance and elimination of enemy-installed sea mines, conducting special operations, anti-terrorist protection and fighting submarines.
USS Gabrielle Giffords of the Independence type
Image source: wikipedia
In addition to Independence, the LCS developed another project called Freedom. Despite similar tasks, the ships have fundamental design differences. The Independence type LCS is a trimaran that is made entirely of aluminum. In turn, Freedom is a steel monohull ship with an aluminum superstructure.
A ship of the Independence type has a displacement (full) of about 3000 tons. It is 127 meters long and 32 meters wide. In the bow is a single 57 mm MK. 110 gun. To protect against air attacks, the ship has anti-aircraft missiles. Helicopters or UAVs can be based on Board. Additional weapons or other equipment can be placed in special modules and used depending on the goals and objectives of the ships.
Recall that in August [...], a new LCS ship of the Freedom type, the USS Minneapolis — Saint Paul, passed acceptance tests. The date of its delivery to the us Navy was previously called the fall of 2020.
USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Image source: Lockheed Martin
We also note that about a year ago, the US Navy presented interesting footage in which you can see how the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and the littoral combat USS Omaha (LCS 12) conduct refueling in the open sea. This is the first such operation involving an Independence-class ship and a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. The latter, as you know, is one of the most powerful and largest ships in world history.