US Navy commissions littoral combat ship Mobile

The US Navy commissioned its newest littoral combat ship (LCS), USS Mobile, in a ceremony on Saturday, May 22.

The LCS is the fifth US Navy ship to honour the city of Mobile, Alabama, and is the 13th Independence-class LCS constructed by Austal USA.

Like other Independence-class ships, Mobile has a length of 418 feet (127.4 metres), a beam of 104 feet (31.6 metres), and a draught of 14 feet (4.27 metres). It can reach speeds in excess of 40 knots and can sail up to 4,300 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 20 knots.

Armament includes a BAE Systems 57-millimetre naval gun, four 12.7-millimetre machine guns, and surface-to-air missiles. There is also deck space for up to two MH-60 Seahawk helicopters or MQ-8 Fire Scout rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

Mobile will be homeported at Naval Base San Diego in California.