USS Canberra (LCS-30)

For other ships with the same name, see USS Canberra.

USS Canberra (LCS-30) is an Independence-class littoral combat ship of the United States Navy.^[1][6] She is the second US ship to be named Canberra, after the Australian cruiser HMAS Canberra, named after the Australian capital^[6] and sunk during the Battle of Savo Island.

USS Canberra (LCS-30) on 19 April 2023
History
United States
Name	Canberra
Namesake	HMAS Canberra
Awarded	6 October 2017[1]
Builder	Austal USA[1]
Laid down	10 March 2020
Launched	30 March 2021
Sponsored by	Marise Payne[1]
Christened	5 June 2021[2]
Acquired	21 December 2021[3]
Commissioned	22 July 2023[4]
Homeport	San Diego
Identification	Hull number: LCS-30
Motto	Can Do! [5]
Status	in active service
Badge
General characteristics
Class and type	Independence-class littoral combat ship
Displacement	2,307 metric tons light, 3,104 metric tons full, 797 metric tons deadweight
Length	127.4 m (418 ft)
Beam	31.6 m (104 ft)
Draft	14 ft (4.27 m)
Propulsion	2× General Electric LM2500 gas turbines, 2× diesel, 4× waterjets, retractable Azimuth thruster, 4× diesel generators
Speed	40 knots (74 km/h; 46 mph)+, 47 knots (54 mph; 87 km/h) sprint
Range	4,300 nautical miles (8,000 km; 4,900 mi) at 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)+
Capacity	210 tonnes
Complement	40 core crew (8 officers, 32 enlisted) plus up to 35 mission crew
Sensors and processing systems	Sea Giraffe 3D Surface/Air RADAR Bridgemaster-E Navigational RADAR AN/KAX-2 EO/IR sensor for GFC
Electronic warfare & decoys	EDO ES-3601 ESM 4× SRBOC rapid bloom chaff launchers
Armament	BAE Systems Mk 110 57 mm gun 4× .50 cal (12.7 mm) guns (2 aft, 2 forward) Evolved SeaRAM 11 cell missile launcher Mission modules
Aircraft carried	2× MH-60R/S Seahawks

Construction and career

Canberra was built in Mobile, Alabama by Austal USA.^[7] She was christened on 5 June 2021, with Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, serving as the ship's sponsor. Arthur Sinodinos, Australia's Ambassador to the United States was in attendance at the ceremony on behalf of Australia.^[8]

The US Navy accepted delivery of the ship at Austal USA's facilities in Mobile on 21 December 2021. At this time she was scheduled to be commissioned in mid-2022.^[9] On 22 June 2022 Canberra arrived at her home port of San Diego Naval Base.^[10]

Canberra was commissioned on 22 July 2023 at the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base East in Sydney, Australia.^[4][11] It was the first commissioning ceremony for a US Navy warship held in Australia.^[12][13] The following day, the crew of USS Canberra alongside the crew of HMAS Canberra exercised a ceremonial Freedom of Entry to the city of Canberra.^[14] (see gallery)

Gallery

2023 Freedom of Entry - Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (23 July 2023)

• 
  Challenge by ACT Chief Police Officer
• 
  Color Party
• 
  Crew marching
• 
  United States Seventh Fleet Band
• 
  HMAS Canberra (L02) contingent