Future US Navy littoral combat ship Augusta hits the water

Austal USA launched the US Navy’s 17th Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) into the water at its Mobile, Alabama facilities on Monday, May 23.

The future USS Augusta was later secured pierside on the Austal waterfront for machinery commissioning and system activation in preparation for sea trials later this year.

The LCS is the second US Navy ship to be named after Augusta, the capital city of the state of Maine. Upon completion, it will measure 418 feet (127 metres) long and 104 feet (31.6 metres) wide and displace 3,421 tons (3,104 tonnes) at full load.

The ship’s armament will include a BAE Systems naval gun, four 12.7-millimetre machine guns, and Evolved SeaRAM surface-to-air missiles.