USS ''Canberra'' (LCS-30) is an of the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

. She is the second US ship to be named ''Canberra'', after the Australian cruiser , named after the Australian capital and sunk during the

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Construction and career

''Canberra'' was built in Mobile, Alabama by

Austal USA Austal USA is an American shipbuilder based on Blakeley Island in Mobile, Alabama. It is a subsidiary of the Australian shipbuilder Austal, operating under a Special Security Arrangement which allows it to work independently and separately on ...

. She was christened on 5 June 2021, with Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Marise Payne Marise Ann Payne (born 29 July 1964) is an Australian politician who served in the Morrison Government as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2022 and as Minister for Women from 2019 to 2022. She has been a Senator for New South Wales si ...

, serving as the ship's sponsor. Arthur Sinodinos, Australia's

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was in attendance at the ceremony on behalf of Australia. 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. On 22 June 2022 ''Canberra'' arrived at her home port of San Diego Naval Base. ''Canberra'' was commissioned on 22 July 2023 at the

Royal Australian Navy The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) is the principal naval force of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The professional head of the RAN is Chief of Navy (CN) Vice Admiral Mark Hammond AM, RAN. CN is also jointly responsible to the Minister of ...

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in Sydney, Australia. It was the first commissioning ceremony for a US Navy warship held in an allied country. The following day, the crew of ''Canberra'' exercised a ceremonial Freedom of Entry to the city of Canberra. (see gallery)

Gallery

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

file:USS Canberra (LCS-30) - Freedom of Entry - Challenge.jpg , Challenge by ACT Chief Police Officer file:USS Canberra (LCS-30) - Freedom of Entry - Color Party.jpg , Color Party file:USS Canberra (LCS-30) - Freedom of Entry - Crew marching.jpg , Crew marching file:USS Canberra (LCS-30) - Freedom of Entry - 7th Fleet Band.jpg ,

United States Seventh Fleet The Seventh Fleet is a numbered fleet of the United States Navy. It is headquartered at U.S. Fleet Activities Yokosuka, in Yokosuka, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of ...

Band file:USS Canberra (LCS-30) - Freedom of Entry - HMAS Canberra (L02) contingent.jpg , HMAS Canberra (L02) contingent

References

External links

Independence-class littoral combat ships 2021 ships {{US-mil-ship-stub