Austal launches future USS Oakland
Austal USA has launched the US Navy’s future USS Oakland (LCS 24) at its ship manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama.
The Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) will be delivered in 2020.
Oakland is the 12th of 19 Independence class LCS that will join the navy’s fleet. The class is an fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, while capable of open-ocean tasking defending against coastal threats such as submarines, mines and swarming small craft. They are capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence.
Four additional LCS are under various stages of construction at Austal’s Alabama shipyard. The future USS Kansas City (LCS 22) is preparing sea trials. The future USS Mobile (LCS 26), Savannah (LCS 28) and Canberra (LCS 30) are under construction, and Austal has four more LCS under contract.
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