The Navy and ship builder Austal USA christened on Saturday the future USS Pierre, the 19th — and last — littoral combat ship destined to be based in San Diego.
Ship sponsor Larissa Thune Hargens, daughter of South Dakota Sen. John Thune, broke a ceremonial bottle of sparkling wine over the bow of the aluminum trimaran before an audience of over four hundred guests at the shipyard in Mobile, AL.
It’s the second ship to be named in honor of the capital city of South Dakota, and the last of the fast, maneuverable Independence-variant warships to be built for the Navy.
“Austal USA has grown from a small commercial shipyard to a large, advanced defense ship manufacturer primarily thanks to the Indy-variant LCS program,” said Austal USA President Michelle Kruger.
“Christening this ship, the last Austal USA-built LCS, makes me a bit nostalgic but I know, for this company and the great team we’ve assembled, the future is bright and limitless,” she said.
The warship is 418 feet long and armed with a main gun, anti-aircraft missiles and machine guns, as well as two helicopters. It’s designed to operate in near-shore environments and can sprint at speeds over 50 mph.
“As we christen the USS Pierre, we also celebrate the extraordinary crews that will sail this ship, employing the capabilities and versatility of the littoral combat ship class, which will continue to play a pivotal role in safeguarding our nation’s interests now and for years to come,” said Rear Adm. Kevin Smith.
Following delivery, the future USS Pierre will join her sister ships homeported at Naval Base San Diego and deploying to Indo-Pacific region.