LCS-8 Montgomery
Constructed by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama, the Independence-class vessel is the fourth vessel of the trimaran design. Montgomery is preceded by USS Independence (LCS2), USS Coronado (LCS 4), and USS Jackson (LCS 6). Montgomery was christened Nov. 8, 2014, and commissioned on Sept. 10, 2016, in Mobile.
USS Montgomery (LCS 8) completed Final Contract Trials on 17 March 2017, marking the completion of the construction and initial operating testing of the Navy’s eighth Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The trial, administered by the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey, is part of a series of post-delivery test and trial events through which the ship and its major systems are exercised. The five-day trials began with pre-underway and material condition checks followed by at-sea demonstrations. Trial highlights included combat systems air and surface detect-to-engage scenarios, 57mm gun firing exercises, maneuvering testing and operation of the twin boom extendable crane.
The LCS class consists of two variants, the trimaran design Independence variant, and the monohull design Freedom variant. The ships are designed and built by two industry teams, led by Austal USA and Lockheed Martin, respectively. LCS 8 is the fourth LCS constructed by Austal USA. Both variants within the LCS class are fast, agile, focused-mission platforms designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open ocean operation. The LCS is designed to embark specialized mission packages to defeat "anti-access" threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines, and fast surface craft.
The Navy has been able to incorporate much of the knowledge gained in the construction, test and operation of LCS 1 and LCS 2, the lead ships of the class, to follow on ships. Many of those were in various stages of construction and would deliver to the Navy over the next few years. They include Montgomery's sister ships Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10), Omaha (LCS 12), Manchester (LCS 14) and Tulsa (LCS 16).
MONTGOMERY (LCS 8) conducted a DDR in February 2012 and was scheduled to conduct a PRR in April 2012, with the start of fabrication planned to begin in approximately May 2012.
The future USS Montgomery (LCS 8) launched from the Austal USA shipyard 06 August 2014, marking an important production milestone for the littoral combat ship program. Montgomery was procured under a block buy contract awarded in December 2010, and will be the second ship named for the capital of Alabama.
"It's exciting to see another Littoral Combat Ship achieve the launch milestone," said Capt. Tom Anderson, LCS program manager. "Serial production is in full swing at both building yards, with four LCS scheduled to deliver next year, which is great news for the fleet," Anderson added.
Following the launch, the ship will undergo outfitting, and test and evaluation of its major systems at the Austal shipyard. The ship's christening, a ceremony that marks the official naming of the vessel, was planned for the winter.
he Navy accepted delivery of future USS Montgomery (LCS 8) during a ceremony at the Austal USA shipyard, 23 June 2016. Delivery marks the official transfer of Montgomery from the shipbuilder to the Navy. It is the final milestone prior to commissioning, which is planned for September 2016 in Mobile, Alabama. LCS 8 is the seventh littoral combat ship to be delivered to the Navy and the fourth of the Independence variant, which is noted for its trimaran hull.
"Today marks a significant milestone in the life of the future USS Montgomery, an exceptional ship which will conduct anti-submarine, surface and mine countermeasures operations around the globe with ever increasing mission package capability," said Capt. Tom Anderson, LCS program manager. "I look forward to seeing Montgomery join her sister ships in San Diego this fall and deploy next year."
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