US Navy to christen future USS Canberra LCS 30 Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship LCS.

According to information published by the U.S. Department of Defense on June 5, 2021, the U.S. Navy has christened its newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship (LCS), the future USS Canberra (LCS 30), on Saturday, June 5, 2021, in Mobile, Alabama.
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Drawing of future USS Canberra LCS 30. (Picture source Austal USA)

The future USS Canberra LCS 30 is the 15th Independence-variant LCS and 30th in class. It is the second ship named in honor of the city of Canberra. The first USS Canberra (CA 70) was laid down as USS Pittsburgh on Sept. 3, 1941, and renamed Canberra on Oct. 15, 1942. She was named in honor of the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra, which sank after receiving heavy damage during the Battle of Savo Island. CA 70 was the first U.S. Navy cruiser named for foreign capital. USS Canberra (CA 70) received seven battle stars for her service in World War II. 

The USS Canberra (LCS-30) is an Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) that will be built for the United States Navy by Austal USA. LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. The platform is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.

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 in Marinette, Wisconsin (for the odd-numbered hulls). The Independence-variant team is led by Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., (for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls).

The Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship is based on a trimaran hull design. The ship is 127.4 m long, with a beam of 31.6 m, and a draft of 3.96 m. She has a displacement of 2,176 tons light, 2,784 tons full, and 608 tons deadweight.  Currently, 13 Independence-class LCS are in service with the U.S. Navy and three are under construction.