The US Navy’s second littoral combat ship (LCS-2), USS Independence, has completed its acceptance trials and will soon enter naval service.

The ship, being built at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, is expected to be delivered in mid-December 2009 and is scheduled to be commissioned on 16 January 2010, defensenews.com reports.

During the two-day trials, Independence cruised at speeds of up to 45kt and demonstrated its systems to a team from the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV).

The official results of the trials, including the type and number of trial cards, are currently being reviewed by the navy, according to a Naval Sea Systems Command statement.

The 127.8m-long and 28.4m-wide ship has a full load displacement of 2,637t, with an operational range of 4,300nm and can cruise at a speed of 50kt.

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