SAN DIEGO, Calif. - The Austal USA-built Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) returned to her homeport of Naval Base San Diego on June 14 following a 26-month rotational deployment.
Charleston departed San Diego on April 7, 2021, on her maiden deployment with an embarked detachment from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21.
While deployed, the ship completed mission tasking for both U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet Areas of Operation patrolling the East and South China Seas.
Charleston was also the first LCS to conduct mine countermeasure training outside U.S. waters and was the first commissioned U.S. ship to enter the port of Manilla, Philippines. since 2019.
“Returning from the longest littoral combat ship deployment to date is an extremely proud moment for our crew,” said Cmdr. Matthew Knuth, commanding officer of Charleston 's Gold crew.
As an LCS, Charleston has both a Blue and Gold crew, which alternate being “on-hull” aboard ship and “off-hull” conducting training in San Diego.
Gold crew spent three periods on-hull forward-deployed aboard the ship. Blue crew spent two periods on-hull.
The ship remained away from homeport during the entire deployment in part to the work of both crews and Maintenance Execution Teams (METs) that met the ship in maintenance hubs in Guam, Hawaii, and Singapore. (LCS Squadron One 06/15/23) Austal USA' shipyard is located on the Gulf Coast at Mobile, Ala.
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