The U.S. Navy commissioned USS Pierre (LCS 38) on Saturday in Panama City, Fla., marking the completion of the Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) line. Built by Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., Pierre is the 19th and final ship in the class.
John Phelan, Secretary of the Navy, delivered the commissioning ceremony’s principal address.
“Reflecting upon the strength of American shipbuilding and national commitment, the commissioning of USS Pierre marks an important moment for the fleet. President Trump is committed to restoring our shipbuilding capacity because he knows that to be a superpower, one must be a seapower,” said Phelan. “This ship represents the skill, dedication, and craftsmanship of the builders, yard workers, and industry partners who brought her from concept to keel commissioning. The leadership and crew of USS Pierre carry forward the pride of their namesake with a steady course and clear purpose. They are backed by the Navy, the nation, the shipbuilders who brought her to life, and the families whose support and sacrifice make service possible.”
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.
The ship’s sponsor is Larissa Thune Hargens, daughter of Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). Hargens’ grandfather was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight in Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18) on the USS Intrepid (CV-11) during World War II.
“The USS Pierre is more than a ship,” said Hargens during the ship’s christening ceremony. “It is a vessel of protection and safety, of hope and freedom, carrying the collective values of honor, courage, and commitment of those who built it and of those men and women who will serve on it - the very same qualities exhibited by my late grandfather. It is a privilege to be a part of this legacy in such a meaningful way, and it is humbling to stand up here among our heroes in uniform who defend and protect our freedoms each and every day.”
Delivered in July, 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. 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).
Michelle Kruger, Austal USA president, said, “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.”
