USS Freedom (LCS 1) completed a second round of acceptance trials May 22 that featured a successful four-hour, full-power run and both surface and air detect-to-engagement demonstrations of the ship's combat management system.
The trials evaluated the ship's major systems and equipment that were not tested during the first round of trials in August 2008 in Lake Michigan.
The four-day trial evaluated the material condition and performance of the ship's major systems. Officials from the Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) noted that since the last trails, the ship had made improvements in the propulsion plant, machinery control system, communication systems and information systems.
The first round of acceptance trials took place in the constrained waters of Lake Michigan, which restricted the performance of certain tests. Because the Great Lakes are fresh water, the Navy could not test the ship's cathodic protection, degaussing and reverse osmosis system. The ship's surveillance and identification systems must be tested at a sufficient range from land, and treaty and overboard discharge limitations prevented the demonstration of fire suppression and waste discharge systems.
During this second trial, major systems and features were demonstrated for INSURV, including aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery and fin stabilizers, in addition to the full-power run and detect-to-engage sequences. The Navy is reviewing the results of the trials and will correct any identified deficiencies. There were no major safety issues or operational restrictions determined during the trial, although the ship must complete a number of scheduled system certifications before it can conduct unrestricted operations.
Since her initial acceptance trials nine months ago, Freedom has been very active. She was delivered and commissioned, steamed from the Great Lakes to Norfolk, conducted multiple port visits, witnessed the first crew turnover, conducted tests and trials off of Norfolk and has undergone a brief maintenance period. The ship recently paid a visit to Alexandria, Va., where it was visited by hundreds of people from the Department of Defense, Congress, industry, media and the general public.
USS Freedom will now continue its operational testing intended to allow the ship's crew to exercise the ship's systems. Following all trials and testing, the ship will be ready for a fleet deployment to satisfy operational missions. This is a standard Navy practice employed to introduce first-of-class ships into service.
LCS is a new breed of U.S. Navy warship with versatile warfighting capabilities, ready for open-ocean operation but optimized for littoral, or coastal, missions. Operational experience and analyses indicate that potential adversaries will employ asymmetric means to deny U.S. and allied forces access into critical coastal regions, such as strategic chokepoints and vital economic sea lanes. LCS is specifically designed to defeat such "anti-access" threats, which include fast surface craft, quiet diesel submarines and various types of mines.
The Navy's Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships is responsible for the development and acquisition of U.S. Navy surface ships and is currently managing the design and construction of 11 major ship classes and a wide range of small boats and craft. These platforms range from major warships such as frontline surface combatants and amphibious assault ships to air-cushioned landing craft, oceanographic research ships and special warfare craft. Since its creation in November 2002, PEO Ships has delivered 31 major warships and hundreds of small boats and craft from more than 20 shipyards and boat builders across the United States.
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