The U.S. Navy announced it has accepted delivery of the future USS Pierre (LCS 38) on July 11, marking the completion of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) production line. Built by Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., Pierre is the 19th and final ship in the series.
The 418'x104' Pierre completed acceptance trials in June with the highest quality score achieved by any LCS in the past 15 years, according to the Navy. Following its commissioning later this year, the ship will be homeported in San Diego to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.
“The delivery of the final Independence-variant LCS marks the end of a chapter, but not the story,” Capt. Matthew Lehmann, program manager of the LCS program office, said in a statement. “The LCS program, for all its complexities, has pushed the boundaries of naval design and operational concepts. The LCS represents a bold vision for a more agile and adaptable Navy. We are seeing the fleet operating these ships with the advanced mission packages they were designed for, and they are continuing to evolve those operational concepts as more unmanned technologies come online."
The Navy describes the LCS as a fast, agile warship designed to operate in near-shore environments and counter 21st-century threats. These small surface combatants are equipped to address challenges in littoral regions and can operate independently or as part of a networked battle force alongside larger ships like cruisers and destroyers.
The LCS class includes two variants: the monohull Freedom variant, built by a team led by Lockheed Martin at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Marinette, Wis., (odd-numbered ships), and the trimaran-hulled Independence variant, built by Austal USA (even-numbered ships).
Pierre (LCS 38) is the third ship named in honor of Pierre, S.D. It is the second U.S. Navy warship to bear the name. The first was USS Pierre (PC-1141), a submarine chaser commissioned in 1943, renamed in 1946, and decommissioned in 1958. Another earlier namesake, the SS Pierre Victory, was a Victory-class cargo ship that shot down a kamikaze near Okinawa during World War II.
“Pierre is more than just the last number – it represents the hard work of manufacturers, suppliers, and builders from across the nation culminating in a warship that will serve as the Navy's most versatile workhorse for years to come,” said Melissa Kirkendall, acting program executive officer for PEO USC. “The legacy of Pierre and her sister littoral combat ships is the vibrant shipbuilding industrial base that we now have in the mid-tier yards that are now constructing the Navy’s next-generation warships.”
“The delivery of the future USS Pierre will be one of our most memorable milestone achievements as it marks the conclusion of Austal USA’s Independence-variant littoral combat ship program,” said Michelle Kruger, Austal USA president. “Our shipbuilding team has poured years of dedication, innovation, and manufacturing excellence into this ship, and the results are evident. Though USS Pierre is the last LCS Austal USA will deliver, we remain committed to supporting the U.S. Navy with innovative maritime solutions and the highest standards of quality.”
Austal USA is constructing seven more Navy and Coast Guard ships, as well as modules for both the Virginia- and Columbia-class submarine programs and aircraft elevators for the Ford-class aircraft carrier fleet.
