In May 1998, the US Navy launched the new USS Independence, its first Littoral Combat Ship. It is one big, lean, mean, sea-based fighting machine.
This is a newly designed littoral military vessel. Littoral means “just offshore”, the way the new navy has to operate. With naval battles on the high seas now virtually extinct for the U.S. armed forces, the navy’s role has become more one of infantry invasion and airstrike support – and with this new role comes a need for vessels more suited to littoral (just offshore) operations.
This ship is a fast moving trimaran with helicopter decks, a stealthy radar profile and a healthy array of arms. It’s configurable to suit a wide array of littoral combat missions, including minesweeping, anti-submarine and surface combat support – and would not look the least bit out of place soaring over the credits of a Star Wars movie.
The rear deck is suitable for two Seahawk helicopters, and can also support Harrier jump-jets if necessary. Onboard weaponry includes a 57mm Bofors gun, four .50 caliber guns, chaff, missile and torpedo decoy launchers, an 11-missile SeaRAM launcher, 8 Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles, mine detection and towed array sonar units, and a vertical launching system for ASROC-style surface missiles or Evolved Sea Sparrow type missile defenses.
