The US Navy’s next two Independence-class littoral combat ships (LCS) will be named USS Augusta (LCS 34) and USS Kingsville (LCS 36).
Announced by US Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, the future USS Augusta is named after the capital city of Maine and the future USS Kingsville in honour of the city of Kingsville, Texas.
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LCS 34 is the sixth vessel to bear the name Augusta and LCS 36 is the first ship to bear the name.
Both the vessels will be constructed by Austal USA’s manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama. Austal secured the contracts to build the two ships last year.
Spencer said: “From the earliest days of the American Revolution to every conflict since, the citizens of Maine have been an important part of the Navy and Marine Corps team. I am pleased that a future ship will carry on that tradition of service by bearing the name and history of their great capital city.
“The citizens of Kingsville have been steadfast partners to the Navy and Marine Corps team and their enduring support of our future strike fighter pilots have helped make the city of Kingsville the gateway for naval aviators.”
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By GlobalDataSpanning a length of 419ft, the Independence-class variants will have a beam length of 104ft and can cruise at speeds of more than 40k.
So far, the Navy has accepted delivery of 17 littoral combat ships (LCSs).
Recent contract modifications bring the total number of LCSs to 35 and 11 of these ships, LCS 17, 19-26 are under construction, while seven more ships are in the pre-construction phase.
LCS vessels are built to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions.
They are equipped with new technology to support current and future mission capability from deep water to the littorals.
Construction of the LCS 34 vessel is expected to begin next year.
