The U.S. Navy has officially commissioned the USS Pierre (LCS 38), the last of the 19 Independence-variant littoral combat ships, in a ceremony held in Panama City, Florida. This event marks the conclusion of a program that has faced significant challenges in fulfilling its initial goals.
During the commissioning ceremony, Secretary of the Navy John Phelan delivered a speech highlighting the government’s dedication to maritime strength, despite the program's difficult past. “President Trump is focused on rebuilding our shipbuilding capabilities because being a superpower means being a maritime power,” Phelan stated.
The commissioning occurs as the Navy wraps up the LCS program due to ongoing issues showing that these ships struggle to perform their planned missions reliably. The LCS was envisioned back in 2002 as a fleet of fast, adaptable ships designed for tackling mines, submarines, and surface threats in coastal areas. Instead, this fleet has become known for frequent mechanical breakdowns, subpar mission equipment, and limited durability.
The Pierre is the second vessel in the U.S. Navy's history to carry this name. It was constructed by Austal USA at their shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, and is one of the aluminum trimaran Independence variants. Larissa Thune Hargens, the ship's sponsor and daughter of South Dakota Senator John Thune, encouraged the crew with the words, “man our ship and bring her to life.”
The LCS class features two designs: the Freedom-class, which is a steel monohull made by Lockheed Martin in Marinette, Wisconsin, and the Independence-class, an aluminum trimaran built by Austal USA. These ships are designed to be flexible, with interchangeable mission packages for various operations.
Overall, 35 LCS vessels have been built, with LCS 31 and 38 nearing completion. The Independence variants are based in San Diego with Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1, while the Freedom variants operate from Mayport, Florida with Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 2.
As the Pentagon shifts its focus to preparing for high-level conflicts in the Indo-Pacific, the lightly armed LCS has been deemed unsuitable for engaging peer threats. The Navy is now planning to retire some of these ships early and is reallocating funds towards more capable Constellation-class frigates and traditional surface combat vessels.