USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10)

History of USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10)

USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) awarded to Austal USA on March 16, 2012. The keel was laid on April 16, 2014, and the sea was launched on February 26, 2015. The warship was named in June 2015 and officially commissioned on June 10, 2017, starting service with the U.S. Navy. USS Gabrielle Giffords belongs to the Independence-class "Littoral Combat Ship" group and is one of thirteen planned ships.

Five were active duty as of 2017.

The warship is named after former U.S. Senator Gabriel Giffords.

The

Independence class stems from the original Austal cruise program, which focused on achieving high speeds (about 40 knots). As in this cruise ship program, the militarized independent class uses a trimaran hull with the bridge structure integrated into the ship's silhouette. The center of the bridge is the helideck above the stern and the bow that tapers sharply forward. The Littoral Combat Ship classification derives from the class's littoral support design.

The group also retains its inherent stealth characteristics and displays a smaller footprint.

Giffords drained 3,105 tons under load, had an overall length of 418 feet, a beam of 104 feet, and a draft of 14 feet. Power is a combined system of 2 gas turbines, 2 diesel generator sets and 4 water jets (the latter for fine-tuning positioning). 4 x diesel generators are also carried. Under ideal conditions, it can reach a speed of 47 knots and a range of 4,300 nautical miles.

The crew complements Crew 75, which includes 40 base personnel and up to 35 mission-oriented crew members.

The ship is equipped with the Sea Giraffe 3D surface/air search radar system and Bridgemaster-E navigation aids radar. Also carries an AN/KAX-2 ED/IR sensor.

The EDO ES-3601 ESM is suitable for electronic warfare and incorporates four BAe Systems Mark 36 SRBOC Rapid Bloom chaff launchers for enhanced point defense protection against incoming airborne threats.

Armament includes a forecastle-mounted 57mm BAe Systems Mk 110 series deck gun, 11-unit Evolved SeaRAM missile magazine and 4 x 12.7mm machine guns.

The helideck can support up to 2 Sikorsky MH-60R/S Seahawk (or similar) medium naval helicopters. In addition, the ship is equipped to support the launch and recovery of Northrop Grumman's MQ-8 Fire Recon UAV helicopter.

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