Another winter, another LCS gets set to join the fleet
November 20th, 2009 | Maritime operations Photos Ships | Posted by Phil Ewing
The littoral combat ship Independence pulled out for its acceptance trials, now finished, from Mobile, Ala. // Navy
After a long and winding technical journey that began in June with the main engine light-off, then initial delays, then included blazing speed, otherworldly photos and flooding in the jet-drive room, the littoral combat ship Independence got to its latest milestone this week. The ship finished its acceptance trials Thursday, which included a full-power run at a wave-scorching 45 knots.
A team from the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey was aboard for the demonstrations, and its inspectors now are going over their findings to determine whether they’ll recommend that the Navy accept the ship. We’ll be watching for that, as well as for new images from the Navy that show whether being aboard still makes you feel like you’re wrapped up in a monstrous burrito.
If all goes well, the Navy plans to commission the ship Jan. 16
