Ala.-built LCS 18 arrives in San Diego

SAN DIEGO - The Alabama-built USS Charleston, the newest Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, arrived at its San Diego homeport April 19 after completing its maiden voyage that took it from the Austal USA Shipyard in Mobile to its commissioning March 2 in Charleston, S.C. During the sail-around, LCS 18 made port calls to Mayport, Fla.; Little Creek, Va.; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Mazatlan, Mexico, and completed a successful transit through the Panama Canal. “(W)e’ve been away from our families for nine months, but during that time the crew maintained an infectious positivity throughout every aspect of bringing this ship to the fleet,” said Cmdr. Christopher K. Brusca, commanding officer. The ship is assigned to Commander Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1 (COMLCSRON ONE) until the future LCS Mine Countermeasures Division is established on the West Coast. (Source: LCS Squadron One 04/19/19) Charleston was christened last August at Austal USA. It is the nation’s 18th LCS, and the seventh of 12 LCS that Austal has under contract with the Navy.