USS Freedom (LCS-1) Conducted Operations in South China Sea

The Navy’s USS Freedom conducted several operational patrol missions in the South China Sea while on a 32,000-mile, 10-month long maiden deployment through the Pacific region, service officials said.

As a first-in-class vessel, the USS Freedom or Littoral Combat Ship 1 is a research and development ship engineered to pave the way forward for what the Navy plans will be many high-speed, shallow water multi-mission vessels that will eventually comprise a large percentage of the Navy’s fleet.

The ship just completed its first deployment from San Diego to Guam, Singapore, the South China Sea and the Philippines – where it assisted with disaster relief missions.

During its deployment in the South China Sea, the USS Freedom conducted a handful of operational patrols for the Navy’s Commander of the 7th fleet, Vice Adm. Tom Copeman, Commander, Naval Surface Forces, told reporters Jan. 6.

The missions included surface surveillance with radar and shipboard sensors and sending helicopters up to help create a maritime picture within the area, he added. The rationale for these missions was to help provide commanders with a common operational picture of the area, Copeman explained.

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