USS Tulsa (LCS-16) is a Freedom-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy. She is the second U.S. Navy ship named after the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Overview
- Class and type: Freedom-class littoral combat ship
- Builder: Austal USA, Mobile, Alabama
- Cost: Approximately $360 million
- Laid down: 11 January 2017
- Launched: 11 February 2018
- Christened: 11 February 2018, by Susan Bynum, wife of then-Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum.
- Commissioned: 16 February 2019, in San Francisco, California.
- Homeport: Naval Base San Diego, California
- Status: Active, in service.
- Motto: "Spirit of the Frontier"
- Insignia: The ship's crest features a stylized rendition of the Tulsa skyline, an oil derrick symbolizing Oklahoma's energy industry, and an arrow representing the state's Native American heritage, all against a background that blends the ship's modern silhouette with traditional naval elements.
Design and Capabilities
As a Freedom-class LCS, Tulsa is designed for operations in coastal environments (littoral zones) and for addressing asymmetric threats. She is characterized by her relatively shallow draft, high speed, and modular design, which allows her to swap out mission packages for specific tasks, including:
- Surface Warfare (SuW): Against fast attack craft and other small vessels.
- Mine Countermeasures (MCM): Detecting and neutralizing sea mines.
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW): Targeting quiet conventional submarines.
Tulsa is powered by a gas turbine and diesel engine combination, enabling speeds in excess of 40 knots. Her flight deck and hangar can accommodate two MH-60R/S Seahawks helicopters or a combination of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Service History
Following her commissioning, USS Tulsa joined the U.S. Pacific Fleet, homeported in San Diego, California. She has participated in various exercises and deployments, demonstrating her capabilities in areas of responsibility for the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleets. Her primary role involves maintaining maritime security, conducting presence operations, and supporting special operations forces.