Mobile-built USS Montgomery passes tests on its way to September commissioning
The USS Montgomery littoral combat ship has passed its trials and will be commissioned in September. It was built for the U.S. Navy by Austal USA in Mobile. (Austal USA)
A U.S. Navy ship built in Mobile and named after the Alabama capital city celebrated a milestone this month as it cruises on its way to a much larger celebration in September.
Littoral combat ship USS Montgomery (also known as LCS 8) is the fourth Independence-variant LCS built by Austal at its plant in Mobile.
The Montgomery completed its acceptance trials on May 6 in the Gulf of Mexico, demonstrating to the Navy the successful operation of the ship’s major systems and equipment. The ship performed launch and recovery operations of the rigid hull inflatable boat, logged a four-hour full power run, demonstrated surface and air self-defense detect-to-engage exercises, completed tight turns and hit speeds in excess of 40 knots.
USS Montgomery passes its acceptance trials from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
Acceptance trials are the last significant milestone before delivery of the ship.
“I am excited that the Austal team has achieved another major milestone in the LCS program,” said Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle. “With seven LCS under construction, our focus on leveraging lessons learned from ship to ship is sharp. The momentum gained on this program is great to see and will position us well in the future.”
While the ship is named for the capital city, Perciavalle said those in the Port City should celebrate, too.
“The successful completion of these trials is tribute to not only the hard work and dedication of the men and women who make up Austal’s talented shipbuilding team but is a credit to the entire Mobile community,” he said. “This is truly a team effort between our expert shipbuilders and our local suppliers, local governments and supportive community.”
The Montgomery will be commissioned on Sept. 10 in Mobile. Officials celebrated the completion of the acceptance trials at a ceremony on May 12 at which they also looked ahead to the commissioning in a few months.
“It is a huge honor to have one of the most technologically advanced warfare systems in the world named after our city – a place known for military pride, patriotism and innovation,” Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange said. “We’ve long been known as the best hometown in the Air Force, but with this latest recognition, we like to think that we’re quickly becoming the best hometown in the entire military.”
City officials announced in March 2011 that Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus selected Montgomery as the namesake for the warship, which was christened in November 2014.
Last week, Strange joined USS Montgomery Commanding Officer Daniel Straub, Senior Chief Derek Monks, Culinary Specialist 1 Monica Rodriguez and Culinary Specialist 2 Jonathan Beck to reveal the commissioning date. Air University Commander Lt. Gen. Steve Kwast and Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Director Rear Admiral Clyde Marsh – both Montgomery residents –unveiled a photo of the Montgomery.
Strange presented Straub with a broom in recognition of the ship’s sweep of its recent acceptance trials.
“The USS Montgomery is the second ship named after the city of Montgomery, and it’s the fourth ship of the Independence variant of the littoral combat ships, and it’s undoubtedly the best,” Straub said. “These are not just the enthusiastic words of the commanding officer, but this has been proven with the recent acceptance trials. These successful results only add to the excitement my crew and I feel about getting onboard the Montgomery and sailing her to do our nation’s bidding.”
Commissioning tickets are available free to the public via the USS Montgomery Commissioning and Support Foundation at www.ussmontgomerycommissioning.com.
Austal USA has seven LCS program ships under construction. USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10) and USS Omaha (LCS 12) are preparing for trials. USS Manchester (LCS 14) was recently christened and launched. Final assembly is underway on USS Tulsa (LCS 16), and modules for USS Charleston (LCS 18) and USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) are in Austal’s module manufacturing facility.
