On April 7, 2021, Charleston departed San Diego for her maiden deployment with an embarked detachment from Helicopter Sea Fight Squadron (HSC) 21. Whereas deployed, the ship accomplished mission tasking for each U.S. third and U.S. seventh Fleet Areas of Operation like patrolling the East and South China Seas, coaching for contested maritime resupply tasking, and working with an Amphibious Prepared Group. Charleston was additionally the primary LCS to conduct mine countermeasure coaching outdoors U.S. waters and was the primary commissioned U.S. naval ship to enter the port of Manilla, Philippines since 2019.
“Getting back from the longest littoral fight ship deployment up to now is an especially proud second for our crew,” mentioned Cmdr. Matthew Knuth, commanding officer of Charleston Gold crew. “Our work over-the-horizon wouldn’t have been attainable with out the dedication of each Sailor of each Charleston crews and all of the entities that supported us on the market.”
Charleston participated in varied workout routines whereas beneath the operational management of Destroyer Squadron Seven together with Cooperation Afloat Readiness Coaching Brunei, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Timor Leste, Train Kakadu 2022, built-in Operation Noble Vanguard 22, Operation Loaded Stingray, Operation La Perouse, and Tremendous Garuda Protect.
The ship accomplished joint missions in assist of ahead presence and maritime regulation operations. The U.S. Coast Guard’s Pacific Tactical Legislation Enforcement Detachment 104 teamed with Charleston and HSC 21 to guard United States and Pacific Island Nation useful resource safety and sovereignty throughout a Secretary of Protection Oceania Maritime Safety Initiative mission. The ship additionally performed mixed, built-in, naval operations with nations like Australia, Japan, France, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand, and the UK. Throughout its 26-month deployment it performed a number of patrols within the East and South China Seas, offering a ahead presence to discourage aggression and preserve an open and free Indo-Pacific area.
“Our presence within the Indo-Pacific strengthened partnerships, developed relationships, and elevated the Fleet’s lethality,” mentioned Cmdr. Nellie Wang, commanding officer of Charleston Blue crew. “I couldn’t be extra honored to have been part of this deployment’s Charleston staff.”
As a littoral fight ship, Charleston has each a Blue crew and a Gold crew, which alternate being “on-hull” aboard the ship and “off-hull” conducting coaching in San Diego. Gold crew spent three durations on-hull forward-deployed aboard the ship, and Blue crew spent two durations on-hull. The ship remained away from homeport through the entirety of its deployment thanks largely partially to the work of each crews and Upkeep Execution Groups (METs) that met Charleston in upkeep hubs all through Oceania to incorporate Guam, Hawaii, and Singapore.
“From the times of COVID seclusion in Guam to return to regular operations in Singapore, the mighty Charleston was there answering the decision for each sort of tasking conceivable,” mentioned Cmdr. John Actkinson, who was aboard Charleston Gold crew as each government officer and commanding officer through the deployment. “Most noteworthy to me was after we have been the primary LCS to drag into Sasebo, Japan, we have been tasked to take 45 pallets of products out into the Philippine Sea to replenish a destroyer that couldn’t come into port.”
The crews additionally deepened relationships with allies, companions, and mates via distinguished customer conferences aboard the ship. Charleston hosted the German Minister of Protection, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer; Japanese Maritime Self-Protection Pressure Vice Adm. Fukuda Tatsuya, commander of Fleet Escort Pressure, and Rear Adm. Shimizu Hitoshi, commander of Escort Flotilla Two; and the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Mike Gilday.
With Charleston’s arrival again to homeport, there are at present three Independence-variant littoral fight ships deployed to offer ahead presence and conduct maritime safety, sea management, and deterrence missions each near-shore and on the excessive seas.
Charleston is homeported in San Diego as a part of Mine Division Twelve and Littoral Fight Ship Squadron One. LCS are versatile, mission-focused platforms designed to function in near-shore environments and win in opposition to Twenty first-century coastal threats.
For extra information from Commander, Littoral Fight Ship Squadron One, go to https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/comlcsron1/ or observe on Fb at www.fb.com/COMLCSRONONE/.
