USS Freedom (LCS-1)

The USS Freedom (LCS-1) is the lead ship of the Freedom-class littoral combat ships (LCS). Designed by Lockheed Martin, it represents one of two distinct LCS designs developed for the United States Navy. LCS vessels are intended to operate in littoral zones (close to shore) and are designed for a variety of missions including mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare.

The Freedom is characterized by its semi-planing monohull design, which allows for relatively high speeds. Its modular design allows for the installation of mission packages tailored to specific mission requirements. The ship is equipped with a flight deck capable of accommodating MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Construction of the USS Freedom began in 2005 at Marinette Marine in Marinette, Wisconsin, and it was commissioned in November 2008. Throughout its service life, the Freedom participated in various deployments and exercises. However, the Freedom class of LCS has faced criticisms regarding its reliability, maintainability, and overall effectiveness in fulfilling its intended role.

In 2021, the Navy announced plans to decommission the Freedom along with other early Freedom-class ships due to concerns over engineering issues and the high cost of upgrades necessary to keep them operational. The ship was officially decommissioned on September 29, 2021, in a ceremony held in Marinette, Wisconsin. Its relatively short service life has generated debate about the LCS program and its overall value to the Navy. The decommissioning occurred much earlier than the initially anticipated lifespan of a naval vessel, further fueling these discussions.