The future USS Oakland, the 12th Independence variant littoral combat ship built by Austal USA, has successfully completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico.
The ship was built on the Mobile waterfront at Austal USA, the city’s largest industrial employer with some 4,000 employees.
Acceptance trials are the last major step before a ship is delivered to the U.S. Navy.
The ship, which will be the USS Oakland once christened, is a high-speed, shallow-draft craft designed to perform well in shallow coastal waters and in the open ocean.
“I take great pride in how our LCS team has continued to accomplish important milestones amidst this Covid-19 crisis,” Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle said. “This is a testament to teamwork and the perseverance of our amazing employees, contractors and the Navy’s team to push on during a time of major adversity.”
Including the USS Oakland, Austal has six ships under construction in Mobile. “The future USS Mobile (LCS 26) has launched and is preparing for trials,” the company reports. “Final assembly is well underway on the future USS Savannah (LCS 28) and USS Canberra (LCS 30). Modules for the future USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) are under construction in the module manufacturing facility. Austal cut the first aluminium to mark start of construction for the future USS Augusta (LCS 34) in early April.”
