The USS Freedom left San Diego on March 1 for its maiden deployment. The Navy announced today it will make a port visit in Hawaii on March 11.
The USS Freedom is the Navy's first Littoral Combat Ship, or LCS:
Fast, agile, and mission-focused, LCS platforms are designed to employ modular mission packages that can be configured for three separate purposes: surface warfare, mine countermeasures, or anti-submarine warfare.
The Freedom is headed to Southeast Asia and Singapore, where the ship will spend roughly eight months. While there, the Freedom will conduct maritime security operations with regional partners and allies, according to the Navy.
Despite the negative effect sequestration cuts have had on many San Diego-based ships' scheduled deployments, the Freedom deployed as planned last week.
Adm. Cecil Haney, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said on the day the Freedom deployed from San Diego:
"Even in the face of potential budget cuts, there should be no doubt that the U.S. Pacific Fleet remains on watch and that we will continue to deploy our most capable units forward to operate with our allies and partners."
