This milestone marks the final major step before the vessel’s delivery to the Navy. Upon commissioning later this autumn, USS Pierre will be homeported in San Diego, California.
Pierre will contribute to forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions. “As we step back and take stock of this milestone it is important that we recognize LCS 38 as what it is, an embodiment of naval ingenuity, adaptability, and of determination to deliver on our commitments,” said Jonas Brown, deputy program manager of the LCS Program Office (PMS 501).
“This is the close of an important chapter in United States shipbuilding history, and we must also remember that the story of LCS is still being written by our Sailors,” Brown added. “We are eager to deliver this powerful warship, where it will undoubtedly serve effectively in the Fleet.”
LCS 38 is the 19th Independence-variant vessel constructed and is the final ship of its kind. It is also the third U.S. Navy vessel to bear the name Pierre, in honour of the capital of South Dakota.
The name has a historic lineage, previously carried by the SS Pierre Victory—a World War II cargo ship credited with downing a kamikaze near Okinawa—and by the submarine chaser PC-1141, renamed USS Pierre in 1946. That earlier USS Pierre was decommissioned in 1958.
“The Independence-variant LCS is a testament to innovation, agility, and combat power,” said Melissa Kirkendall, acting Program Executive Officer for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC). “Pierre is not just the final LCS in its class–it’s a symbol of our Navy’s strength, lethality, and commitment to global security.”
Littoral Combat Ships are fast, manoeuvrable, and mission-oriented, designed to address 21st-century threats in near-shore environments. They can function independently or as part of a larger, networked naval force alongside cruisers and destroyers.
The LCS programme comprises two distinct variants: the trimaran-hulled Independence-variant, built by Austal USA, and the monohull Freedom-variant, led by Lockheed Martin. PEO USC oversees the development, maintenance, and modernisation of these vessels, along with the Navy’s unmanned and expeditionary warfare systems.
