“The delivery of USS Cleveland, our final Freedom-variant LCS, symbolizes the U.S. Navy’s unwavering vigilance and a steadfast commitment to protecting national interest and ensuring global stability,” said Jay Iungerich, acting deputy programme manager of the LCS Program Office. The ship will be commissioned in Cleveland, Ohio in early 2026 before being homeported in Mayport, Florida to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.
“With the final Freedom-variant LCS now delivered, we celebrate the successful outcome of years of innovation and commitment,” said Melissa Kirkendall, Program Executive Officer, Unmanned and Small Combatants. “This highly capable and lethal warship is ready to assert maritime dominance and protect global waters with unparalleled precision and power.”
USS Cleveland honours the city of Cleveland, Ohio and is the fourth US Navy ship to carry the name. The lineage includes USS Cleveland (C-19), commissioned in 1903 and later redesignated CL-21, which served as flagship of the Atlantic Fleet and supported convoy and troop movements in the First World War before decommissioning in 1929.
The second ship, USS Cleveland (CL-55), served from 1942 and took part in major Pacific campaigns including Guadalcanal, Bougainville, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, before her decommissioning in 1947. The third, USS Cleveland (LPD-9), commissioned in 1976, supported global missions for three decades including Operation Desert Shield/Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom until her decommissioning in 2011.
LCS 31 now continues this legacy as a fast, agile, mission-focused warship designed for near-shore operations against modern threats. The LCS class can operate alone or as part of a networked battle force alongside larger surface combatants such as cruisers and destroyers.
