The view from USS Coronado in happier times. (Photo: USN/Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kaleb Staples)
The USN on 14 September decommissioned the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Coronado — just eight years after it entered service.
A ceremony was held at the USN base in San Diego, California.
Coronado was one of 14 Independence-variant LCS vessels built by Austal USA and General Dynamics for the USN.
As noted by Shephard Defence Insight, massive cost increases and delays and the failure of LCSs to meet performance expectations prompted the USN to curtail the construction programme.
Instead, the USN is pinning faith in the Constellation-class frigate programme.
The original intention of the DoD was to retire three more LCSs: the Freedom-class USS Fort Worth, USS Detroit and USS Little Rock.
However, this plan was blocked in mid-2021 by Congress when it marked up the Biden administration's FY2022 budget proposal, burdening the USN with three vessels it does not want in frontline service.
Forming part of the Reconciliation Bill, the funding will support multiple efforts involving autonomous capabilities, interceptors, missiles, rockets and torpedoes.
The delivery acceptance of the future USS Pierre marks the conclusion of the construction phase for the Independence-variant.
The new Barracuda version has been engineered to perform enhanced subsea and seabed warfare missions.
The nearly $25 billion investment will cover USCG procurement of cutters, aircraft, helicopters, training simulators and Polar capabilities over the next four years.
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
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