Littoral Combat Ship

LCS 1  -  USS Freedom

 

 

 LCS-1 USS Freedom patch crest insignia

LCS-1 USS Freedom littoral combat ship Marinette Marine Systems US Navy

Type, Class:

 

Littoral Combat Ship - LCS; Freedom - class

planned and built as LCS-1

Builder:

 

Marinette Marine Corporation, Marinette, Wisconsin, USA

STATUS:

 

Awarded: December 15, 2004

Laid down: June 2, 2005

Launched: September 23, 2006

Commissioned: November 8, 2008

ACTIVE / in service (Pacific Fleet)

Homeport:

 

Naval Base San Diego, California

Namesake:

 

-

Ship’s Motto:

 

FAST, FEARLESS, FOCUSED

Technical Data:

(Measures, Propulsion,

Armament, Aviation, etc.)

 

see: INFO > Freedom class Littoral Combat Ship - LCS

 

ship images

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom littoral combat ship Marinette Marine Lockheed Martin US Navy

during maintenance - San Diego - July 2011

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom dry dock San Diego 2011

during maintenance - San Diego - July 2011

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 San Diego 2011

during maintenance - San Diego - July 2011

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom MH-60R Sea Hawk HSM-77 flight deck

MH-60R Sea Hawk (HSM-77) landing - Pacific Ocean - June 2011

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Pacific Ocean 2011

Pacific Ocean - June 2011

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom littoral combat ship

Pacific Ocean - June 2011

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom helicopter operations

Pacific Ocean - June 2011

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom helicopter operations

Pacific Ocean - June 2011

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter HSM-77 operations

MH-60R Sea Hawk (HSM-77) operations - Pacific Ocean - June 2011

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom ammunition onload Seal Beach California

ammunition onload - Seal Beach, California - September 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 ammunition load Seal Beach California

ammunition onload - Seal Beach, California - September 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom littoral combat ship

Pacific Ocean - July 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 RIM-116 rolling airframe missile RAM live fire exercise

RIM-116 rolling airframe missile (RAM) live fire exercise - Pacific Ocean - July 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom RIM-116 rolling airframe missile RAM live firing

RIM-116 rolling airframe missile (RAM) live fire exercise - Pacific Ocean - July 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Pearl Harbor Hawaii 2010

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Mk-46 30mm gun system

Mk-46 30mm gun system - Pacific Ocean - July 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom littoral combat ship Mk-110 57 mm 70 caliber gun

Pacific Ocean - July 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Mk-110 gun 57/70 caliber

Mk-110 57mm/70-caliber gun - Pacific Ocean - July 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom MH-60S Sea Hawk HSC-22

MH-60S Sea Hawk (HSC-22) - Pacific Ocean - July 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom exercise RIMPAC 2010 Pearl Harbor

exercise RIMPAC 2010 - Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - July 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Pearl Harbor Hawaii 2010 rimpac

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 littoral combat ship Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom rimpac 2010 Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii - June 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Mk-110 57mm/70-caliber gun

Mk-110 57mm/70-caliber gun - Pacific Ocean - June 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Pacific Ocean 2010

Pacific Ocean - June 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom replenishment

replenishment with USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) - Pacific Ocean - June 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 littoral combat ship

San Diego - June 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom San Diego

San Diego - June 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Pacific Ocean - June 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

San Diego - April 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

San Diego - April 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1

Pacific Ocean - April 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Pacific Ocean

Pacific Ocean - April 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Pacific Ocean - April 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Pacific Ocean - April 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 replenishment

Pacific Ocean - April 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Pacific Ocean 2010

Pacific Ocean - April 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom littoral combat ship US Navy

Pacific Ocean - March 2010

 

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Panama City 2010

Panama City - March 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1

Pacific Ocean - March 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Pacific Ocean - March 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Pacific Ocean - March 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Panama City

Panama City, Panama - March 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Cartagena Colombia 2010

Cartagena, Colombia - March 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Cartagena

Cartagena, Colombia - March 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Colon Panama 2010

Colon, Panama - March 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Caribbean Sea

Caribbean Sea - March 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom waterboard mission zone RHIB

waterboard mission zone - Caribbean Sea - February 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 waterboard mission zone RHIB

rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB) inside the waterboard mission zone - Caribbean Sea - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Mk-110 57/70 gun system

Caribbean Sea - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Mayport Florida 2010

Mayport, Florida - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Mayport, Florida - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Mayport

Mayport, Florida - February 2010

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Mayport Florida 2010

Mayport, Florida - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom littoral combat ship Mayport

Mayport, Florida - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Mk-110 gun 57mmL70

Mayport, Florida - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom MH-60S Sea Hawk HSC-22

MH-60S Sea Hawk (HSC-22) - Atlantic Ocean - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom high speed

Atlantic Ocean - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Mk-110 57mm gun fire exercise

Mk-110 gun live fire exercise - Atlantic Ocean - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean - February 2010

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom bridge

Atlantic Ocean - November 2009

 

USS Freedom LCS-1

Mayport, Florida - November 2009

 

LCS Freedom class Mk-110 57/70 gun GUNEX

Mk-110 gun surface gunnery exercise (GUNEX) - Atlantic Ocean - November 2009

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom MH-60S HSC-22 helicopter operations

MH-60S Sea Hawk (HSC-22) operations - Atlantic Ocean - September 2009

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom MH-60S Sea Hawk HSC-22 flight deck operations

MH-60S Sea Hawk (HSC-22) flight deck operations - Atlantic Ocean - September 2009

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Atlantic Ocean - September 2009

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 littoral combat ship

Atlantic Ocean - September 2009

 

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Atlantic Ocean - September 2009

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Atlantic Ocean - September 2009

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Charleston South Carolina 2009

Charleston, South Carolina - June 2009

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Alexandria Virginia 2009

Alexandria, Virginia - May 2009

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Alexandria Virginia 2009

Alexandria, Virginia - May 2009

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Norfolk Virginia 2008

Norfolk, Virginia - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Norfolk

Norfolk, Virginia - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Norfolk, Virginia - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Annapolis, Maryland - December 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Annapolis Maryland 2008

Annapolis, Maryland - December 2008

 

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Boston Massachusetts 2008

Boston, Massachusetts - December 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Montreal Canada 2008

Montreal, Canada - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Saint Lawrence River 2008

Saint Lawrence River - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Buffalo New York 2008

Buffalo, New York - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Cleveland Ohio 2008

Cleveland, Ohio - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio - November 2008

 

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom commissioning ceremony Milwaukee Wisconsin 2008

commissioning ceremony - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - November 2008

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 commissioning Milwaukee Wisconsin 2008

commissioning ceremony - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Milwaukee 2008

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - November 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Marinette Wisconsin 2008

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Marinette Wisconsin 2008

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Marinette Marine Systems

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Marinette Marine Systems

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Marinette

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom littoral combat ship marinette marine lockheed martin

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 trials 2008

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom class littoral combat ship

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom LCS-1

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Marinette Wisconsin 2008

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom LCS-1

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Marinette Marine Systems Lockheed Martin

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 builders trials

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom LCS-1

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom Lockheed Martin

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom class littoral combat ship

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 Marinette WI 2008

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2008 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom christening launching ceremony Marinette Wisconsin 2006

christening ceremony & launching - Marinette, Wisconsin - September 2006 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom side launching christening 2006

christening ceremony & launching - Marinette, Wisconsin - September 2006 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 christening launching September 2006

christening ceremony & launching - Marinette, Wisconsin - September 2006 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom christening ceremony launching 2006

christening ceremony & launching - Marinette, Wisconsin - September 2006 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

LCS-1 USS Freedom

Marinette, Wisconsin - September 2006 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

USS Freedom LCS-1 construction Marinette Marine Wisconsin

under construction - Marinette, Wisconsin - August 2006 (Lockheed Martin photo via NNS)

 

 

USS Freedom (LCS 1):

 

Construction:

The construction contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin's LCS team (Lockheed Martin, Gibbs & Cox, Marinette Marine, Bollinger Shipyards) in May 2004. Her keel was laid down on 2 June 2005, by Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin. The ship was sponsored by Birgit Smith, the widow of United States Army Sergeant 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mrs. Smith's initials are welded on the ship's keel. The couple's Saint Christopher medal and wedding bands are embedded in the ship's mast.

USS Freedom was christened on 23 September 2006, delivered to the Navy on 18 September 2008, and commissioned in Milwaukee on 8 November.

Cost overruns during Freedom's construction combined with projected future overruns led the government to issue a "Stop-work" in January 2007 and ultimately led to the cancellation of construction of LCS-3 (the second Lockheed Martin ship) on 13 April 2007. On 25 April 2008 the New York Times ran a highly critical article, arguing that both Freedom and competitor Independence demonstrated a failure of the Navy's littoral combat ship program.

Prior to delivery, the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) conducted acceptance trials aboard LCS-1, 17–21 August. INSURV found the ship to be "capable, well-built and inspection-ready" and recommended that the Chief of Naval Operations authorize delivery of the ship. Because the trials were conducted in Lake Michigan, some ship systems, including aviation and combat systems, could not be demonstrated. Systems not demonstrated during recent trials will be presented to INSURV in early 2009 trials in Norfolk and in the open ocean. The inspection discovered 2,600 total discrepancies, of which 21 were considered high-priority deficiencies.

"As part of LCS 1 acceptance trials, the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) identified 21 critical “starred” deficiencies and recommended the Chief of Naval Operations authorize delivery of LCS-1 after correction or waiver of these deficiencies. According to Navy officials, only 9 of these deficiencies were corrected prior to delivery. Navy officials report that transiting the ship away from Marinette, Wisconsin, prior to the winter freeze was a higher priority than timely correction of starred deficiencies. The Navy intends to correct remaining deficiencies during planned post-delivery maintenance availabilities."

One of the issues with the ship is that it is six percent overweight and therefore more likely to sink if damaged. This seems to have been caused by design changes during construction. The Navy says that the ship will require special operating procedures until this is corrected. The workaround selected will be to install external tanks for additional buoyancy. And the Navy states that LCS-1 now meets the damage stability requirement with the addition of the external tanks and that the design of USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) includes additional stability improvements.

Other issues include difficulty with the slow speed operations required for deep sea refueling, no ability to UNREP other supplies aboard other than by helicopter, and problems with side-door launches of remotely operated vehicles.

On 12 June 2009, The Navy confirmed that CNO Roughead had ordered a study of an early deployment of Freedom, before the expected date of 2012. Anonymous sources inside Lockheed Martin reported that Roughead wanted to use the first LCS to patrol for pirates off the coast of Somalia.

On 13 October 2009, the Department of Defense announced the Freedom would be deployed two years ahead of schedule. For this deployment 20 additional sailors will be carried for Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure operations in two shipping containers in the mission module cargo area. These containers will not include sanitary facilities, so they will be forced to use the ones in the ship's berthing spaces. About half of the 20 member boarding team will be temporarily replaced with United States Coast Guard law enforcement officers for some portion of the deployment. John C. Harvey, Jr. said that while the deployment was a success, manning may need adjustment.


Operations:

On 15 February 2010, Freedom set sail from Naval Station Mayport on its first deployment to support SOUTHCOM operations. On 22 February, off the coast of Colombia, the ship pursued a possible drug-running boat. The boat fled back into Colombian coastal waters and Freedom's crew recovered 1/4 ton of cocaine that had been dumped overboard by the boat's crew.

On 4 April 2010 Freedom entered the 3rd Fleet area of responsibility. She is currently carrying Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 22, Det. 2, a LCS Surface Warfare Mission Package, and a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment.

She is expected to be dry docked in San Diego’s Nassco shipyard so that her outer starboard waterjet can be replaced.

On 12 September 2010, the starboard Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine broke down and the ship had to rely on her diesel engines to return to port. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead said that the media had overhyped the issue and that such breakdowns were not uncommon.

During a heavy-weather ocean trial in February 2011, the ship sprung a six-inch crack in its hull that leaked 5 gallons of water an hour. The Navy is investigating. The problem appears to be due to faulty welds rather than a design error. The repairs are scheduled to begin on 27 June 2011. And last until September 19.

 

source: wikipedia

 

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