Navy to commission LCS 18

WASHINGTON - The Navy will commission its newest Independence-variant Littoral Combat ship (LCS), the future USS Charleston (LCS 18), during a 9 a.m. (CT) ceremony March 2 in Charleston, S.C. “The future USS Charleston is proof of what the teamwork of all of our people - civilian, contractor (Austal USA of Mobile, Ala.) and military - can accomplish together,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina will deliver the commissioning's principal address. Charlotte Riley, wife of former Charleston Mayor Joe Riley, is the ship’s sponsor. The ship will be homeported in San Diego, alongside sister Independence variant LCS built by Austal USA. The ceremony, using hashtag #USSCharleston, can be viewed on the Navy Live blog, visit http://navylive.dodlive.mil/?p=48648. (Source: Navy.mil 02/27/19)