US Navy’s USS Charleston completes acceptance trials
The US Navy’s Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) USS Charleston has successfully completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico, NAVSEA announced on 31 July.
The vessel completed trials following a series of in-port and underway demonstrations for the navy's Board of Inspection and Survey.
During trials, the navy conducted comprehensive tests of the future USS Charleston to demonstrate the performance of the propulsion plant, ship handling abilities and auxiliary systems. While underway, the ship successfully demonstrated its bow thruster, twin boom extensible crane operations with the 11m rigid-hull inflatable boat, completed surface and air self-defence detect-to-engage exercises and demonstrated the ship's handling and manoeuvrability through high-speed steering and operation of its anchor.
Following delivery, the ship will undergo a post-delivery availability that includes crew training, certifications and familiarisation exercises. The ship will be homeported in San Diego with other Independence-class ships.
USS Charleston will be delivered to the navy in summer 2018. Several other Independence-variant ships are under construction at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule]()
Australia commissions HMAS Arafura three-and-a-half years behind schedule
The Royal Australian Navy has finally commissioned the first Arafura-class offshore patrol vessel – more than three years behind schedule – highlighting the programme’s delays, design compromises and ongoing industrial restructuring.
-
![Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates]()
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.
-
![US Navy foresees additional delays in the Columbia-class programme]()
US Navy foresees additional delays in the Columbia-class programme
After estimating that the first Columbia-class submarine would be delivered 16 months late, the US Navy has recently confirmed that an additional month will be required to complete its construction.
