USS Mobile (LCS-26) is an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy.[1][7] Named for the city of Mobile, Alabama, she is the fifth ship to carry the name.[8][9]

USS Mobile on 9 January 2020
History
United States
NameMobile
NamesakeMobile
Awarded31 March 2016[1]
BuilderAustal USA[1][2]
Laid down14 December 2018[3]
Launched11 January 2020
Sponsored byRebecca Byrne
Christened7 December 2019[4]
Acquired9 December 2020[5]
Commissioned22 May 2021[6]
HomeportSan Diego
IdentificationHull number: LCS-26
MottoVictory through Perseverance
StatusActive
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeIndependence-class littoral combat ship
Displacement2,307 metric tons light, 3,104 metric tons full, 797 metric tons deadweight
Length127.4 m (418 ft)
Beam31.6 m (104 ft)
Draft14 ft (4.27 m)
Propulsion2× gas turbines, 2× diesel, 4× waterjets, retractable Azimuth thruster, 4× diesel generators
Speed40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)+, 47 knots (54 mph; 87 km/h) sprint
Range4,300 nautical miles (8,000 km; 4,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)+
Capacity210 tonnes
Complement40 core crew (8 officers, 32 enlisted) plus up to 35 mission crew
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Sea Giraffe 3D Surface/Air RADAR
  • Bridgemaster-E Navigational RADAR
  • AN/KAX-2 EO/IR sensor for GFC
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • EDO ES-3601 ESM
  • SRBOC rapid bloom chaff launchers
Armament
Aircraft carriedMH-60R/S Seahawks

Design

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In 2002, the United States Navy initiated a program to develop the first of a fleet of littoral combat ships.[10] The Navy initially ordered two trimaran hulled ships from General Dynamics, which became known as the Independence-class littoral combat ship after the first ship of the class, USS Independence.[10] Even-numbered US Navy littoral combat ships are built using the Independence-class trimaran design, while odd-numbered ships are based on a competing design, the conventional monohull Freedom-class littoral combat ship.[10] The initial order of littoral combat ships involved a total of four ships, including two of the Independence-class design.[10] On 29 December 2010, the Navy announced that it was awarding Austal USA a contract to build ten additional Independence-class littoral combat ships.[11][12]

Construction and career

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Mobile was built in her namesake city by Austal USA.[13][14] The Navy accepted delivery of Mobile on 9 December 2020, during a ceremony held at the Austal USA shipyards. Mobile was commissioned on 22 May 2021.[6][15]

On 7 April 2024, Mobile conducted a joint patrol in the South China Sea with BRP Antonio Luna and BRP Valentin Diaz of the Philippine Navy, HMAS Warramunga of the Royal Australian Navy, and JS Akebono of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. This marked the first multinational patrol between the nations.[16]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Mobile (LCS-26)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  2. ^ "Austal Awarded Contract for 26th Littoral Combat Ship" (Press release). Austal USA. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Navy Lays Keel of Future USS Mobile" (Press release). United States Navy. 17 December 2018. NNS181217-11. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  4. ^ "The Future USS Mobile (LCS 26) is Christened at Austal USA" (Press release). Austal USA. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Austal USA Delivers the Future USS Mobile (LCS 26) to the U.S. Navy" (Press release). Austal USA. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  6. ^ a b "Navy Commissions Littoral Combat Ship USS Mobile" (Press release). United States Navy. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  7. ^ Lauten, Elizabeth (22 September 2016). "U.S. Navy's next Littoral Combat Ship to be named USS Mobile". Alabama Today. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Secretary of the Navy Names Two Littoral Combat Ships" (Press release). U.S. Department of Defense. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  9. ^ "Secretary of the Navy Names Two Littoral Combat Ships" (Press release). U.S. Navy. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  10. ^ a b c d "US Navy Fact File: Littoral Combat Ship Class – LCS". US Navy. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  11. ^ Special from Navy Office of Information (29 December 2010). "Littoral Combat Ship Contract Award Announced" (Press release). Navy News Service. NNS101229-09. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  12. ^ Osborn, Kris (27 June 2014). "Navy Engineers LCS Changes". www.dodbuzz.com. Monster. Retrieved 12 July 2014.
  13. ^ "Littoral Combat Ship Manchester (LCS 14) Completes Acceptance Trials" (Press release). Austal. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  14. ^ Specker, Lawrence (12 December 2017). "Austal makes first cut on LCS 26, the future USS Mobile". Alabama Media Group. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  15. ^ "U.S. Navy Commissions Its 26th Littoral Combat Ship USS Mobile". Naval News. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  16. ^ Lariosa, Aaron-Matthew (7 April 2024). "U.S., Japanese and Australian Warships Join Philippine Forces in South China Sea Patrol". USNI News. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
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