The trimaran-hull USS Independence left San Diego Friday for Naval Air Station Pensacola to conduct operational evaluation and testing of its mine countermeasures mission package.
The lead vessel of the Independence variant of the new littoral combat ships will sail through the U.S. 4th Fleet area of responsibility, transiting the Panama Canal and making a port visit to Cartagena, Columbia.
“Each member of the team worked diligently to ensure we departed San Diego ready for the transit and, more importantly, to arrive in Pensacola prepared to execute (mine countermeasures) mission package testing so critical to our Navy’s mission,” said Cmdr. Michael Smith, commanding officer.
The littoral combat ships are designed to accomplish a wide variety of missions, with equipment easily swapped as necessary. A total of 52 are being built. Two ships of each variant, trimaran and single hull, are already based in San Diego.
The Independence is expected to return to San Diego later this year.
