Breaking news
US Navy Commissioned Austal-Built Independence-Class Littoral Combat Ship USS Jackson (LCS 6).
| 2015
(June,
30, 2015)- The USS Jackson during sea trials. (Photo by U.S. Navy) |
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While first to be named for the city of Jackson, two other ships have
born the moniker of the city's namesake Andrew Jackson. Built at the Washington
Navy Yard in 1832 for the United States Revenue Cutter Service, the first
was a cutter that served along the east and gulf coasts discouraging smuggling
operations, assisting distressed shipping, and conducting counter piracy
operations. She remained in service for 33 years before being decommissioned
and was sold after the Civil War in 1865.The second was one of the original
"41 for Freedom" fleet ballistic missile submarines. USS Andrew
Jackson (SSBN 619) was commissioned July 3, 1963. Following commissioning,
President John F. Kennedy, embarked in USS Observation Island (EAG-154),
observed Andrew Jackson launch a Polaris missile during shakedown training,
just six days before the president was assassinated. Converted in 1973
to carry Poseidon missiles, the boat served 26 years conducting strategic
deterrent patrols as part of the nation's nuclear triad. Jackson is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric "anti-access" threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft. The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom variant and the Independence variant - designed and built by two industry teams. The Freedom variant team is led by Lockheed Martin (for the odd-numbered hulls, e.g. LCS 1). The Independence variant team is led by Austal USA (for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls) and was originally led by General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works (LCS 2 and LCS 4). Link to Independence class LCS technical datasheet |
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