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General Characteristics

Crew List

Memorabilia

About the Ship's Coat of Arms

Image Gallery

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USS Independence (LCS 2)

- decommissioned -

USS INDEPENDENCE was the lead ship of the INDEPENDENCE - class of Littoral Combat Ships and the General Dynamics consortium's design for the Navy's littoral combat ship program. It is a trimaran design and competes with Lockheed Martin's USS FREEDOM (LCS 1) monohull design. The USS INDEPENDENCE was the seventh ship in the Navy to bear the name and the first ship in the fleet fitted with the SeaRAM system. In 2020, the Navy decided that it was too expensive to upgrade the INDEPENDENCE and that the ship was to be decommissioned. Although built for an expected 25-year service life, the INDEPENDENCE held a decommissioning ceremony at San Diego, Calif., on July 29, 2021, and was officially decommissioned on July 31, 2021. During her 11 years of service she acted as a test platform for mission package development. The ship is presently laid up at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash.

General Characteristics:	Awarded: October 14, 2005
	Keel laid: January 19, 2006
	Launched: April 29, 2008
	Commissioned: January 16, 2010
	Decommissioned: July 31, 2021
	Builder: Austal USA, Mobile, Ala.
	Propulsion system: two LM2500 gas turbine engines, two diesel engines, four waterjets
	Length: 418 feet (127.5 meters)
	Beam: 104 feet (31.5 meters)
	Draft: 13 feet (4 meters)
	Displacement: approx. 3,104 tons full load
	Speed: 47 knots
	Armament: one Mk-110 57mm gun, one SeaRAM CIWS
	Aircraft: two MH-60 helicopters
	Crew: 8 officers, 32 enlisted (two crews, a gold and a blue one) and up to 35 mission crew

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Crew List:

This section contains the names of sailors who served aboard USS INDEPENDENCE. It is no official listing but contains the names of sailors who submitted their information.

Click here to view the list.

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Click here to see which USS INDEPENDENCE memorabilia are currently for sale on ebay.

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About the Ship's Coat of Arms:

The Shield:

Dark blue and gold are traditionally associated with the United States Navy. The field is charged with a representation of LCS 2 at sea. The crenellated bordure bears six merlons, each representing one of the previous ships to bear the name INDEPENDENCE. The eight mullets on the bordure recall the battle stars awarded INDEPENDENCE (CVL 22) for distinguished service during World War II. Gold also denotes excellence.

The Crest:

The Liberty Bell signifies the freedoms achieved by America's independence from England's domination and emphasizes the participation in gaining national independence of the first ships to bear the name. The stars and stripes and commodore's pennant of the early nineteenth century recall the nation's struggles of that historic period.

The Motto:

"Libertas Per Laborem Audentium" (Independence Through Bold Action) in gold letters on a dark blue scroll garnished Argent doubled gold with dark blue garnish.

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USS INDEPENDENCE Image Gallery:

The photos below were taken by me and show the INDEPENDENCE at Naval Base Norfolk, Va., on October 29, 2010.

The photos below were taken by me and show the INDEPENDENCE at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on May 8, 2012 - only 6 days after her maiden arrival in San Diego.

The photos below were taken by me and show the INDEPENDENCE undergoing a Post Shakedown Availability at NASSCO in San Diego, Calif., on October 3, 2012.

The photos below were taken by Henry Schnutz and show the INDEPENDENCE at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on August 27, 2013.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the INDEPENDENCE at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on December 27, 2014.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the INDEPENDENCE undergoing a drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA) at General Dynamics-National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif., on April 18, 2016.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the INDEPENDENCE at General Dynamics-National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif., on October 6, 2016.

The photos below were taken by Sebastian Thoma and show the INDEPENDENCE at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on December 20, 2016.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the INDEPENDENCE at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on October 11, 2017.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the INDEPENDENCE at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., on September 28, 2018.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning on June 7, 2019, during an open ship event aboard USS INDEPENDENCE (LCS 2) as part of the Rose Festival at Portland, Or.



			Click here for more Photos.

The photos below were taken by Michael Jenning and show the decommissioned INDEPENDENCE laid up at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Wash., on June 12, 2022.

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