Independence Begins Maiden Voyage: "The Navy's newest littoral combat ship, USS Independence (LCS 2), sailed away from Mobile, Ala. for the first time March 26.
The milestone marks the commencement of initial testing and evaluation of the aluminum vessel.
'We are excited to set sail, and remain grateful for the incredible support offered by the city of Mobile in helping us reach this milestone,' said Cmdr. Curt Renshaw, Independence Blue Crew commanding officer. 'This transit will allow us to gain valuable operational experience and is another large step toward bringing our unique and versatile capabilities to the fleet.'
Independence's maiden voyage will include stops in Key West and Mayport, Fla., before pulling into Naval Station Norfolk, Va. for additional testing and specialized crew training."
