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LCS-9 Little Rock

The ship’s commissioning date was initially anticipated to be in 2016, in Buffalo, New York. The week-long celebration, culminating with the commissioning, was re-scheduled to take place at the end of September 2017. It is interesting to note that, during the Navy’s 240-year history, the commissioning of the USS Little Rock marked the very first time that a ship will be commissioned alongside its namesake ship.

The Blue crew of Freedom-variant littoral combat ship, USS Little Rock (LCS 9) proudly delivered their ship to the fleet and brought her to life in front of a welcoming crowd of thousands at Canalside Buffalo, New York December 18, 2017. The littoral combat ship was commissioned next to the first USS Little Rock, a Galveston-class guided missile cruiser (CLG 4). The commissioning ceremony marked the first time a U.S. Navy ship has commissioned next to her namesake. Vice Adm. Luke M. McCollum attended on behalf of the chief of naval operations and was joined on by the Lieutenant Governor of New York, Kathy Hochul; Chairman of the USS Little Rock Namesake Committee Tom Prince; and the Mayors of Buffalo and Little Rock, Arkansas. The ship's sponsor was Janee Lambert Bonner, the wife of former Congressman Jo Bonner. She gave the command to "bring the ship to life!" She was selected by the secretary of the Navy for this very important role in Little Rock's life and is officially associated with the ship throughout its life. When PCU Little Rock (LCS 9) was christened and launched on 18 July 2015 at Marinette, Wisc., it was the second Navy vessel named after the capital city in Arkansas. Upon its champagne-splashed hull, the littoral combat ship continued the proud heritage of the original USS Little Rock (CL 92), which is now a museum ship at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park, Buffalo, NY.

The USS Little Rock (LCS 9) was the fifth littoral combat ship of the Freedom variant. On Oct. 5, 2011 Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) the Honorable Ray Mabus and the Mayor of Little Rock Mark Stodola spoke during the official naming ceremony for the ninth littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9). The ship’s name honors the capital city of Arkansas.

Little Rock is the second ship to bear the name of the capital city in Arkansas. The USS Little Rock (CL-92/CLG-4/CG-4) was originally a Cleveland-class light cruiser that served after World War II, and was one of six to be converted to a Galveston-class guided missile cruiser. She was decommissioned in 1976 and now holds a place of honor as a museum ship in Buffalo, NY.

Little Rock is designed to defeat growing littoral threats and provide access and dominance in the coastal waters. A fast, agile surface combatant, the LCS provides the required war fighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute focused missions close to the shore, such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare.

The LCS class consists of two different hull forms, the Freedom variant and Independence variant - a semi-planing monohull and an aluminum trimaran - designed and built by two industry teams; Lockheed Martin and Austel USA. These seaframes will be outfitted with reconfigurable payloads, called mission packages, which can be changed out quickly as combat needs demand. These mission packages are supported by special detachments that will deploy manned and unmanned vehicles and sensors in support of mine, undersea and surface warfare missions.

Little Rock will be 378 feet in length, have a waterline beam of 57 feet, displace approximately 3,000 tons, and make speed in excess of 40 knots. The construction will be led by a Lockheed Martin industry team in Marinette, Wis.

The future USS Little Rock was laid down June 27, 2013. LCS 9 was christened and launched 18 July 2015 during a ceremony at Marinette Marine Corporation’s shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. At 3400-tons, LCS 9 is 388 feet in length, has a beam of 57 feet, and can operate at more than 40 knots.