US Navy takes delivery of USS Oakland LCS 24 Independence-class littoral combat ship.

The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Oakland (LCS 24) Independence-class littoral combat ship June 26, 2020, during a ceremony at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. Four additional Independence-variant ships are under construction at Austal USA: Mobile (LCS 26), Savannah (LCS 28), Canberra (LCS 30) and Santa Barbara (LCS 32). Three additional ships are awaiting the start of construction.
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U.S. Navy USS Oakland (LCS 24) Independence-class littoral combat ship. (Picture source U.S. Navy)

The USS Oakland (LCS 24) is the 22nd littoral combat ship (LCS) and the 12th of the Independence variant to join the fleet. Its delivery marks the official transfer of the ship from the shipbuilder to the Navy, bringing the service's inventory up to 300. It is the final milestone prior to its scheduled commissioning in early 2021.

The future USS Oakland is the third U.S. Navy ship to honor the long history its namesake city has had with the Navy. The first Oakland was commissioned in 1918 and used to transport cargo. In 1943 the second USS Oakland was commissioned. Though in service for less than seven years, she was key to many anti-aircraft missions in the Western Pacific—Marshall Islands, Pagan Island, Guam, Iwo Jima, Rota, Peleliu and Okinawa. After the war, Oakland performed two duty patrols off the coast of China before her decommissioning in 1949.

The LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, while capable of open-ocean tasking and winning against 21st-century coastal threats such as submarines, mines and swarming small craft. The LCS is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence.

The future USS Oakland is the third LCS delivered to the Navy in 2020. The future USS St. Louis (LCS 19) was delivered Feb. 6, and the future USS Kansas City (LCS 22) delivered Feb. 12. Two additional ships—Minneapolis-St. Paul (LCS 21) and Mobile (LCS 26)—are planned for delivery this year.

USS Oakland (LCS-24) is an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy, the keel laying was held t the Austal USA shipyards in Mobile on 20 July 2018. The vessel launched on 21 July 2019 from Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. The Independence variant is an aluminum trimaran design originally built by an industry team led by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works for LCS 2 and LCS 4. Currently, Independence variant LCS (LCS 6 and subsequent even-numbered hulls) are constructed by Austal USA in the company's Mobile, Alabama, shipyard.

The USS Oakland (LCS 24) is powered by two gas turbines, two diesel engine, four waterjets, retractable Azimuth thruster, and 4 diesel generators. It can reach a maximum speed 40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph).

The armament of the USS Oakland includes one BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm gun, four .50 cal (12.7 mm) guns (2 aft, 2 forward) and Evolved SeaRAM 11 cell missile launcher. It can carry two MH-60R/S Seahawk helicopter and one MQ-Fire Scout unmanned autonomous helicopter.