US Navy commissions USS Tulsa
The US Navy commissioned its newest Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) 16, the USS Tulsa, at Pier 30/32 in San Francisco on 16 February.
The 3,200t Tulsa has been built by General Dynamics/Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. It is powered by two gas turbine engines, two main propulsion diesel engines and four waterjets and has a maximum speed of up to 40kt.
LCS 16 is the eighth vessel of the Independence-variant.
The LCS has been designed to operate in near-shore environments to support mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare missions. The LCS is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence.
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Navy takes delivery of New Jersey SSN
The USN’s Virginia-class SSNs are replacing the old Los Angeles-class SSNs. The Virginia-class SSNs are fitted with the latest sensors and weapons and around 48 submarines are planned, with a total of 38 currently ordered.
-
BMT and DNV partner to meet Australia’s heavy landing craft requirement
Under Project Land 8710 Phase 2, Australia has been seeking to acquire an undisclosed number of Littoral Manoeuvre Vessels to replace the Balikpapan-class. The programme has an estimated value of AU$1.4 billion (US$910 million), with IOC slated for 2032.
-
Babcock to take over upkeep of Royal Navy Type-23 frigates
The Royal Navy’s Type-23 Duke-class frigates for the UK Royal Navy were designed as anti-submarine warfare (ASW) ships but now have a multi-role function. Of the 16 Type 23s built, 12 remain in service with the Royal Navy and will be replaced by the Type-26 frigates before 2035.
-
Austal completes autonomy trials with former Royal Australian Navy patrol boat
The work took place under the Patrol Boat Autonomy Trial (PBAT), which has been a collaboration between Austal, Greenroom Robotics, the Trusted Autonomous Systems Defence Cooperative Research Centre and the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) Warfare Innovation Navy Branch.
-
Singapore launches fourth and final Type 218SG submarine
The era of southeast Asian submarine modernisation has been in full swing fuelled by growing tensions in the South China Sea.