Independence class USS Canberra arrives in her San Diego homeport


According to a tweet published by Austal USA on June 24, 2022, the future USS Canberra sailed away from Austal USA last month and arrived at her San Diego homeport.
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Russian Vyborg Shipyard laid the Purga ice class coastguard ship of project 23550 925 001 Independence-class LCS USS Canberra, San Diego. (Picture source: Austal USA)


USS Canberra (LCS-30) is an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy. The US Navy accepted delivery of the ship at Austral USA's facilities in Mobile on 21 December 2021. At this time it was scheduled to be commissioned in mid-2022.

The littoral combat ship (LCS) is a set of two classes of relatively small surface vessels designed for operations near shore by the United States Navy. Littoral combat ships are comparable to corvettes found in other navies. The Freedom class and the Independence-class are the first two LCS variants.

The development and construction of Independence as of June 2009 was running at more than 3 times budget. The total projected cost for the ship is $704 million. The Navy had originally projected the cost at $220 million. Independence began builder's trials in July 2009, three days behind schedule because of maintenance issues.

The ships are 127.4 m (418 ft) long, with a beam of 31.6 m (104 ft), and a draft of 13 ft (3.96 m).[6] Their displacement is rated at 2,377 tons light, 3,228 tons full, and 851 tons deadweight.

The Raytheon SeaRAM missile defense system is installed on the hangar roof. The SeaRAM combines the sensors of the Phalanx 1B close-in weapon system with an 11-missile launcher for the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, creating an autonomous system.

The flight deck, 1,030 m2 (11,100 sq ft), can support the operation of two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, or one CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter. H-60 series helicopters provide airlift, rescue, anti-submarine, radar picket and anti-ship capabilities with torpedoes and missiles.