USS Canberra (LCS-30) on 19 April 2023
History
United States
NameCanberra
NamesakeHMAS Canberra
Awarded6 October 2017[3]
BuilderAustal USA[3]
Laid down10 March 2020
Launched30 March 2021
Sponsored byMarise Payne[3]
Christened5 June 2021[5]
Acquired21 December 2021[1]
Commissioned22 July 2023[2]
HomeportSan Diego
IdentificationHull number: LCS-30
MottoCan Do! [4]
Statusin active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and typeIndependence-class littoral combat ship
Displacement2,307 metric tons light, 3,104 metric tons full, 797 metric tons deadweight
Length127.4 m (418 ft)
Beam31.6 m (104 ft)
Draft14 ft (4.27 m)
Propulsion2× General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 2× diesel, 4× waterjets, retractable Azimuth thruster, 4× diesel generators
Speed40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)+, 47 knots (54 mph; 87 km/h) sprint
Range4,300 nautical miles (8,000 km; 4,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)+
Capacity210 tonnes
Complement40 core crew (8 officers, 32 enlisted) plus up to 35 mission crew
Sensors and
processing systems
  • Sea Giraffe 3D Surface/Air RADAR
  • Bridgemaster-E Navigational RADAR
  • AN/KAX-2 EO/IR sensor for GFC
Electronic warfare
& decoys
  • EDO ES-3601 ESM
  • 4× SRBOC rapid bloom chaff launchers
Armament
Aircraft carried2× MH-60R/S Seahawks

USS Canberra (LCS-30) is an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy.[3][6] She is the second US ship to be named Canberra, after the Australian cruiser HMAS Canberra, named after the Australian capital[6] and sunk during the Battle of Savo Island.

Construction and career

Canberra was built in Mobile, Alabama by Austal USA.[7] She was christened on 5 June 2021, with Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, serving as the ship's sponsor. Arthur Sinodinos, Australia's Ambassador to the United States was in attendance at the ceremony on behalf of Australia.[8]

The US Navy accepted delivery of the ship at Austal USA's facilities in Mobile on 21 December 2021. At this time she was scheduled to be commissioned in mid-2022.[9] On 22 June 2022 Canberra arrived at her home port of San Diego Naval Base.[10]

Canberra was commissioned on 22 July 2023 at the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base East in Sydney, Australia.[2][11] It was the first commissioning ceremony for a US Navy warship held in Australia.[12][13] The following day, the crew of Canberra exercised a ceremonial Freedom of Entry to the city of Canberra.[14] (see gallery)

Gallery

2023 Freedom of Entry - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (23 July 2023)

References

  1. ^ "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Canberra (LCS 30)" (Press release). NAVSEA. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b "USS Canberra (LCS 30) Commissions in Sydney" (Press release). United States Navy. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d "Canberra (LCS-30)". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  4. ^ "USS Canberra (LCS 30)". The Institute of Heraldry. United States Army. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  5. ^ "Austal USA hosts christening ceremony for the future USS Canberra (LCS 30)" (Press release). Austal USA. 5 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  6. ^ a b Brown, Andrew (24 February 2018). "Donald Trump announces newest US warship to be named after Canberra". Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  7. ^ "US Navy to name LCS 30 after Australian WWII cruiser HMAS Canberra". Naval Today. 26 February 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  8. ^ "Navy to Christen Littoral Combat Ship Canberra". defense.gov. 4 June 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Navy Accepts Delivery of Future USS Canberra (LCS 30)". Naval Sea Systems Command. 22 December 2021.
  10. ^ "PCU Canberra (LCS 30) Arrives at San Diego Homeport for First Time" (Press release). United States Navy. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  11. ^ "US Navy warship USS Canberra commissioned in Sydney". Sky News Australia. 22 July 2023. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  12. ^ "USS Canberra Will Join the U.S. Fleet in Australia to Honor Namesake" (Press release). United States Navy. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  13. ^ "USS Canberra arrives in Sydney for historic commissioning". SBS World News. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
  14. ^ "USS Canberra personnel parade in Australia capital amid joint war games". Reuters. 23 July 2023. Retrieved 23 July 2023.

External links

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