US Navy commissions littoral combat ship USS Canberra in Australia

By Alvin Wu
Foreign Affairs
US Navy commissions littoral combat ship USS Canberra in Australia

View of the USS Canberra's commissioning ceremony. DEFENSE MEDIA ACTIVITY/Screenshot

July 24 (ZFJ) — The U.S. Navy commissioned Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) at the Royal Australian Navy’s Fleet Base East in Sydney on Saturday, July 22, marking the first time a U.S. ship entered service at a foreign port.

It is the second American ship named for Australia’s capital. The first was a Baltimore-heavy class cruiser, renamed in honor of the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra, which was lost at the Battle of Savo Island in WWII when defending U.S. Marines landing at Guadalcanal. The first USS Canberra was decommissioned on Feb. 2, 1970.

A commissioning is an official ceremony when a ship enters active service, and it is one of the most significant milestones in its life.

“This truly is a special occasion for our fleet and our nation to be here with you in Australia, one of our closest allies, to celebrate the commissioning of our Navy’s newest warship that is destined to serve throughout the Indo-Pacific region,” said U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro.

The other Independence-class littoral combat ships operating in the Indo-Pacific are the USS Jackson (LCS 6), USS Manchester (LCS 14), USS Oakland (LCS 24), and USS Mobile (LCS 26).

“Today marks a proud moment which our Royal Australian Navy is privileged to share alongside our allies and friends in the United States Navy,” said the Australian Chief of Navy, Vice Adm. Mark Hammond.

Independence-class littoral combat ships are fast surface combatants meant for near-shore and open-ocean operations. USS Canberra will be the 16th of these ships.

The ship’s commanding officer is Cmdr. Will Ashley, and it is part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

USS Canberra is sponsored by Australian Senator and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Marise Payne. As part of the ceremonies, Sydney granted the ship Freedom of Entry, the city’s highest accolade.

The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) departs San Diego Harbor for a routine underway off the California Coast on April 19, 2023. U.S. NAVY/Mark D. Faram

The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) departs San Diego Harbor for a routine underway off the California Coast on April 19, 2023. U.S. NAVY/Mark D. Faram

The ship was commissioned in the midst of escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific due to China’s increasing assertiveness in the region.

Talisman Sabre, the biennial and largest bilateral military exercises between the U.S. and Australia, began on July 21 this year with over 30,000 personnel. It will last two weeks.

The exercises include field training for logistics; amphibious landings; and ground, air, and maritime operations.

Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, Tonga, and the U.K. are also participating in this show of force and unity. India, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand are attending as observers.

Under the AUKUS security partnership, the U.S. and U.K. are helping Australia acquire a nuclear-powered submarine capability.

The U.S. intends to sell three Virginia-class submarines to Australia beginning in the early 2030s.

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