LCS-2 Independence
The sixth ship to bear the name is USS Independence (LCS 2). Commissioned in January 2010, her unique design and use of interchangeable technology, like USS Freedom (LCS 1), allows for operational flexibility supporting various mission requirements. In April 2012 she passed through the Panama Canal for the first time, trained with the Mexican Navy, and accomplished her first visit to a foreign port when she put in to Manzanillo, Mexico where her Sailors participated in a community outreach project. In 2014 she took part and successfully completed RIMPAC 2014.
The first Independence, a Continental sloop built in Baltimore, Md., was sailing with Ranger and John Paul Jones in 1776 when Ranger received the first national salute of our flag. The next Independence, a ship-of-the-line, was commissioned in June 1814 and immediately joined frigate Constitution protecting Boston Harbor during the War of 1812. Over the course of the next 99 years, she was brought in and out of service (mostly in) until finally decommissioning just two years shy of the 100th anniversary of her launching.
From one of the Navy’s longest-lived ships, to one of its shortest-lived, the next Independence was a steamer commissioned Nov. 16, 1918 that made one cargo run to Europe, returning to the state and decommissioned just four months and four days later on March 20, 1919. Two aircraft carriers have born the name. The first, (CVL 22), was commissioned Jan. 14, 1943 and served with distinction during World War II. The fifth Independence, (CVA-62), was commissioned Jan. 10, 1959 and served for more than 39 years seeing action in the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam and Desert Storm before being decommissioned Sept. 30, 1998.
On 3 April, 2012 the tri-hull designed ship received a Bravo Zulu from Commander Naval Surface Forces for achieving a calibration readiness rating of 98.8%. The significance of this accomplishment cannot be understated or dismissed, as a majority of commands struggle to meet or maintain the minimum calibration readiness level of 85%. In the most recent CNSP message, only eight other ships in the surface forces had attained a rating of 95% or higher. The Shipboard Instrumentation and Systems Calibration (SISCAL) Program is responsible for the calibration and maintenance support of permanently installed shipboard instrumentation and machinery control systems. The combination of Littoral Combat Ship minimally manned concepts, shore support groups, and the substantial number of items requiring attention has generated significant challenges. The INDEPENDENCE has over 1100 instruments, signal conditioners, and gauges that are subject to SISCAL requirements.
Several challenges are inherent to conducting calibrations on any vessel. LCS ships are faced with addition hurdles that must be overcome. LCS Concept of Operations stipulates that SISCAL events will be incorporated into Corrective Maintenance Availabilities (CMAV’s) rather than conducted as a separate event as on other classes of ships. Most preventive and corrective maintenance actions are accomplished during these designated periods. The LCS-2 SISCALS were performed over five 10-day events in Mayport, Florida.
Several obstacles, such as being a first in class ship, complicated an already difficult task. Many systems could not be tested using standard test equipment as they included cutting edge components and/or were from different countries all over the world. LCS platforms are also not manned for ship-managed gauge calibration. Most other ships have Level One Fleet Calibration Activities. In the case of LCS-2, this function was performed by NAVSSES in Mayport. While in San Diego, Level one calibration is planned to be performed by CNSP and Level two items will be continue to be handled by NAVSSES. The USS Independence’s accomplishment of a 98.8% calibration rating is thereby more extraordinary than the simple numbers illustrate.
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