Jeanette Steele
The USS Coronado LCS-4 which will be homeported in San Diego, came into San Diego Bay on its way to Naval Base San Diego Monday morning. This is the third ship named for Coronado. — John Gastaldo / John Gastaldo/U-T San Diego
The Navy’s aluminum trimaran littoral combat ship will take its maiden deployment -- more than six years after the first one was commissioned.
The Coronado, LCS 4, departs San Diego Wednesday morning, bound for Hawaii and then Asia.
It’s a milestone because the Navy has endured criticism over the ship class, called under-gunned and overpriced for what it delivers.
At the Rim of the Pacific exercises, the Coronado will shoot a Harpoon missile – the first time a littoral will fire the potent weapon, more typical of bigger warships.
"It's time to demonstrate the full potential of these ships to the fleet,” said Cmdr. Scott Larson, commanding officer of one of the ship’s interchangeable crews.
The lead ship of the aluminum trimaran line – the Independence, LCS 2, also based in San Diego – spent a long time as a test platform for mine warfare equipment being developed for the Navy’s littoral ships.
The Independence was dispatched to the Rim of the Pacific exercises off Hawaii in 2014, but it didn’t go on to complete a regular deployment.
This time, Coronado and its 70 sailors will continue on to the waters around Asia to show American presence in an increasingly tense region. The ship will also take part in goodwill activities with partner nations.
jen.steele@sduniontribune.com
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jun/21/coronado-lcs-maiden-deployment/
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