USS Detroit (LCS-7) was the fourth littoral combat ship of the United States Navy.[1] She is the sixth ship to be named after the city of Detroit, Michigan.[2]
In 2002, the U.S. Navy initiated a program to develop the first of a fleet of littoral combat ships.[3] The Navy initially ordered two monohull ships from Lockheed Martin, which became known as the Freedom-class littoral combat ships after the first ship of the class, .[4] Odd-numbered U.S. Navy littoral combat ships are built using the Freedom-class monohull design, while even-numbered ships are based on a competing design, the trimaran hull from General Dynamics. The initial order of littoral combat ships involved a total of four ships, including two of the Freedom-class design. Detroit is the fourth Freedom-class littoral combat ship to be built.
Detroit includes additional stability improvements over the original Freedom design; the stern transom was lengthened and buoyancy tanks were added to the stern to increase weight service and enhance stability.[5] The ship will also feature automated sensors to allow "conditions-based maintenance" and reduce crew overwork and fatigue issues that Freedom had on her first deployment.[6]
The ceremonial “laying of the keel” was in early November 2012 at the Marinette Marine shipyards in Marinette, Wisconsin.[7] The ship was launched on 18 October 2014. The US Navy accepted Detroit into service on 12 August 2016; the ship was commissioned on 22 October 2016.[8] She is assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two. The ship is sponsored by Mrs. Barbara Levin (Wife of Senator Carl Levin)
On 30 December 2016, Detroit participated in a homeport shift ceremony that took place at Naval Station Mayport. The ship was previously scheduled to be based out of Naval Base San Diego but was reassigned while en route.[9]
On 13 January 2017, Detroit completed her first flight deck evolutions to certify the flight deck for future air operations. The landings and VERTREP were conducted by the "Swamp Foxes" of HSM-74. On 8 March 2017, Detroit fired a vertical-launched AGM-114 Hellfire missile, the first such launch from a littoral combat ship.[10] The Hellfire system is meant to engage small vessels and strike targets on land.
In January 2020, Detroit conducted freedom of navigation and intelligence-gathering operations in the Caribbean Sea.[11]
Detroit, the fourth ship of the Freedom-class, was planned to be inactivated in FY 2022, and to join the Out of Commission in Reserve (OCIR) list, along with three other ships in the class:,, and .[12] However, in the final 2022 budget, Congress blocked the Navy's request to retire the three ships.[13]
On 21 June 2023 Detroit got underway for its final deployment to the 4th fleet AOR to support regional cooperation and security.[14]
On 27 September 2023 Detroit returned to Mayport in preparation to decommission the ship two days later.[15]
On 29 September 2023, Detroit was decommissioned at Mayport.[16] [17]