The U.S. Navy commissioned Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Kansas City (LCS 22) June 20. Kansas City is the 11th of the Independence-variant to join the fleet and second ship to be named for Kansas City. The name Kansas City was assigned to a heavy cruiser during World War II.
The U.S. Navy commissioned Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Kansas City (LCS 22) June 20. Kansas City is the 11th of the Independence-variant to join the fleet and second ship to be named for Kansas City. The name Kansas City was assigned to a heavy cruiser during World War II.
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Official U.S. Navy file photo of The Navy's newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship, the future USS Kansas City (LCS 22), arriving at its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego on May 24, 2020. (Picture source U.S. Navy)
USS Kansas City (LCS-22) is an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy that was built by the American Company Austal. The ship was christened on 22 September 2018 in Mobile, Alabama and launched 19 October 2018 into the Mobile River.
The Independence-class is an aluminum trimaran design originally built by an industry team led by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works for LCS 2 and LCS 4. Currently, Independence-variant LCS (LCS 6 and subsequent even-numbered hulls) are constructed by Austal USA in the company's Mobile, Alabama, shipyard.
The propulsion systems of Independence-class littoral combat ship consists of two General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, two MTU Friedrichshafen 20V 8000 Series diesel engines, two American VULKAN lightweight multiple-section carbon fiber propulsion shaftlines, two LJ160E and two LJ150E Wärtsilä waterjets retractable bow-mounted azimuth thruster and four diesel generators. She can reach a maximum speed of about 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph), with a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi).
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 armament also includes one BAE Systems Mk110 57mm gun, four 12.7mm machine guns, two 30mm Mk44 Bushmaster II guns, and 24 AGM-114L Hellfire air-to-surface missiles. The Independence-class ships also have an integrated LOS Mast, Sea Giraffe 3D Radar and SeaStar Safire FLIR. Northrop Grumman has demonstrated sensor fusion of on and off-board systems in the Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS) used on the LCS.
