o Littoral Warfare Ship Photo Index

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Navsource Online: Littoral Warship Photo Archive
Ship's patch courtesy of
Don McGrogan,
BMCS, USN (Ret.)

Little Rock (LCS 9)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - L - R - K
"Back With A Vengeance"
Specifications - LCS Littoral Combat Ship - Freedom Class (Variant 1, Flight 0, first generation):
Hull Type: Semi-planing Monohull
Displacement: 2135 tons (light), 2862 tons (full) Dead Weight: 727 tons
Length: 324 (wl), 378.9' (oa)
Beam: 43' (wl), 57' (extreme)
Draft: 13' (navigational), 14' (draft limit)
Propulsion: Two Rolls-Royce MT30 36MW gas turbines, FM Colt-Pielstick 16PA6B STC diesel engines driving four Rolls-Royce waterjets
Auxiliary Power: Four Isotta Fraschini Model V1708 ship service diesel generator sets
Speed: 45 kts
Armament: BAE Systems Land and Armaments Mk110 57mm naval gun system
Combat Management System: Lockheed Martin open architecture COMBATSS-21
Electronics: EADS TRS-3D C-band radar (air / surface surveillance, weapon assignment)
Decoy System: Soft-Kill Weapon System (SKWS) decoy launcher from Terma A/S of Denmark
Complement: 26
Little Rock (LCS 9) Building and Operational Data:
  • 15 July 2011: Named USS Little Rock
  • 16 March 2012: Contract Awarded to Lockheed Martin Corp.
  • 27 June 2013: Keel laid at Marinette Marine Shipyard, Marinette, Wis.; keel authenticated by Mrs. Janee Bonner
  • 18 July 2015: Launched and christened, sponsored by Mrs. Janee Bonner, wife of U.S. representative Josiah R. (Jo) Bonner of Alabama
  • 25 August 2017: Completed Acceptance Trials, a series of graded in-port and underway demonstrations for the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV)
  • 25 September 2017: The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the ship during a ceremony at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard
  • 16 December 2017: Commissioned alongside ex-USS Little Rock (CLG 4) at the Canalside, Buffalo, N.Y.; Cmdr. Todd Peters in command, assigned to LCS Squadron 2 at Mayport, Fla.
  • 24 December 2017: Arrived in Montreal, Canada for a port visit enroute to homeport Mayport, Fl.; trapped by ice in the St. Lawrence Seaway for three months
  • 31 March 2018: Departed Montreal heading for the warmer climes of Mayport, Fla.
  • 12 April 2018: Arrived at Naval Station, Mayport, Fla. after a four month trip from her commissioning
  • 23 May 2018: Arrived at Homeport Pier, Stapleton, Staten Island, New York for a six day visit to celebrate Fleet Week New York City
  • 06 February 2020: Gold crew, with embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 Det. 4, departed Mayport for its maiden deployment in the U.S. 4th Fleet Area of Responsibility
  • 21 February 2020: Moored at Pier A, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for a four-week port call to conduct emergency repairs
  • 23 March 2020: Moored at Naval Station Mayport, Wharf D2, ending her initial deployment
  • 01 April 2023: Gold crew, with an embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28 Det. 5, departed Mayport for a scheduled deployment in support of counter-illicit trafficking operations
  • 27 September 2023: Moored at Naval Station Mayport, Wharf B3, following a successful six-month deployment in the U.S. 4th Fleet AOR
  • 29 September 2023: Decommissioned at the U.S. Naval Station, Mayport, Fla. after 5 years and 4½ months of service

    Note:
    1.) The contract option awarded to Lockheed Martin Corporation is managed by Lockheed Martin's Maritime Systems and Sensors division in Moorestown, N.J. The Lockheed Martin team includes: Marinette Marine shipyard, Bollinger Shipyards, Gibbs and Cox naval architects, Izar of Spain and Blohm & Voss naval shipbuilders.

    2.) The contract option awarded to General Dynamics is managed by Bath Iron Works at Bath ME. The major members of General Dynamics team are: Austal USA, based in Mobile AL; BAE Systems, Rockville MD; Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, Baltimore MD; CAE Marine Systems, Leesburg VA; Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Baltimore MD; General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products, Burlington VT; General Dynamics Electric Boat, Groton CT; General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, Washington DC; and General Dynamics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.

    "Little Rock, The Ship"     -    "Little Rock, The People"
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		Size Image Description Contributed
    By And/Or Copyright
    Freedom
    1501001a    		 172k 27 May 2004: Washington, D.C. - The U.S. Navy announced today that Lockheed Martin Corporation - Maritime Systems & Sensors Division, Moorestown, N.J., will be one of two defense contracting teams awarded contract options for final system design with options for detail design and construction of up to two Flight 0 Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). The LCS is an entirely new breed of U.S. Navy warship. A fast, agile, and networked surface combatant, LCS's modular, focused-mission design will provide Combatant Commanders the required warfighting capabilities and operational flexibility to ensure maritime dominance and access for the joint force. LCS will operate with focused-mission packages that deploy manned and unmanned vehicles to execute missions including, Special Operations Forces (SOF) support, high-speed transit, Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), and Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP).

    (Artist concept provided to the U.S. Navy courtesy of Lockheed Martin Corporation, Photo #040527-O-0000L-003, from the Navy News Stand)    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE/FF/LCS
    Archive Manager
    Freedom
    1501001b    		 365k undated: Marinette, Wis. - An aerial view of Fincantieri Marinette Marine, which was founded in 1942 along the south bank of the Menominee River in Marinette, Wisconsin. The river forms the border between Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Originally built to meet America's growing demand for naval construction, today FMM is one of the premier builders of vessels for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. From humble beginnings with a contract to build five wooden barges, FMM has grown into a world-class shipbuilder, having designed and built more than 1,500 vessels. In conjunction with the Lockheed Martin Corp., all of the planned Freedom Class LCS's will be built here, beginning in 2005 with USS Freedom (LCS 1).

    (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine)
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    05 March 2016: A ten view series of PCU Little Rock (LCS 9) being worked on in the fabrication shed at the Marinette Marine shipyard.

    (© Photos courtesy of  Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine)

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    Little Rock
    1509005    		 119k 19 February 2014: Marinette, Wis. - Little Rock being moved from the Fabrication Building to the launch cradle in preparation for her launching.

    (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine)
    Little Rock
    1509006    		 286k 17 July 2015: Marinette, Wis. - Little Rock in her launch cradle. She is being dressed for her christening and launching on 18 July.

    (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine)
    Little Rock
    150900)    		 275k 18 July 2015: Marinette, Wis. - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks with media before the christening and launch ceremony for the littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Little Rock (LCS 9) at Marinette Marine Corp. shipyard in Marinette, Wis.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #150718-N-AC887-001 by MCC Sam Shavers, from the Navy News Stand)
    Little Rock
    1509002    		 184k 18 July 2015: Marinette, Wis. - Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus delivers remarks during the christening and launch ceremony for the littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Little Rock (LCS 9) at Marinette Marine Corp. shipyard in Marinette, Wis.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #150718-N-AC887-002 by MCC Sam Shavers, from the Navy News Stand)
    Little Rock
    1509003    		 536k 18 July 2015: Marinette, Wis. - Janee Bonner, ship's sponsor for the littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Little Rock (LCS 9), breaks a bottle accross the ship's bow during a christening and launching ceremony at Marinette Marine Corp. shipyard in Marinette, Wis.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #150718-N-ZZ999-116 courtesy of Lockheed-Martin, from the Navy News Stand)
    Little Rock
    1509004    		 429k 18 July 2015: Marinette, Wis. - The littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit Little Rock (LCS 9) is launched into the Menominee River in Marinette, Wisc. after a christening ceremony at the Marinette Marine Corporation shipyard.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #150720-N-ZZ999-115 courtesy of Lockheed-Martin, from the Navy News Stand)
    Little Rock  404k       Little Rock  545k       Little Rock  445k       Little Rock  478k       Little Rock  396k

    09 November 2016: Marinette, Wis. - A five view series of PCU Little Rock (LCS 9) departing the Marinette Marine shipyard for builder trials in Lake Michigan. As she heads
    down the Menominee River she passes through the Ogden St. / 1st Street bridge, connecting Marinette, Wis. with Menominee, Mich. In the last photo she's passing the lighthouse
    at Ann Arbor Park in Michigan and entering the lake. Note the builder's flag flying from the port yardarm.

    (Photos courtesy of   Lockheed Martin Team Freedom)

    1509034   -   1509035   -   1509036   -   1509037   -   1509038
    Billings
    1515007    		 487k 01 July 2017: Marinette, Wis. - The future USS Billings (LCS 15) is pictured sitting in the launch cradle next to the Menominee River on the morning of her launching. Already in the river, just ahead of the launch area is the future USS Little Rock (LCS 9).

    (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine)
    Little Rock
    1509019    		 372k 01 July 2017: Marinette, Wis. – A beautiful morning sunrise over the Menominee River. PCU Billings (LCS 15) sits high in her launch cradle while PCU Little Rock (LCS 9) and PCU Wichita (LCS 13) sit peacefully at their fitting out piers.

    (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine)
    Little Rock
    1509018    		 653k 23 August 2017: Lake Michigan – PCU Little Rock (LCS 9) is designed to defeat next generation threats, information assurance is key to the Littoral Combat Ship mission. Cyber security has been built into the Freedom-variant LCS design, and enables the ship to complete its missions.

    (Photo courtesy of Lockheed Martin, Fincantiere Marinette Marine)
    Little Rock
    1509017    		 487k 25 August 2017: Lake Michigan - The future littoral combat ship USS Little Rock is underway during a high-speed run in Lake Michigan during acceptance trials.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #170825-N-IJ355-001 courtesy of Lockheed-Martin, from the Navy News Stand)
    Little Rock  192k       Little Rock  162k       Little Rock  238k       Little Rock  367k
    Little Rock  403k       Little Rock  250k       Little Rock  305k       Little Rock  361k

    05 December 2017: Buffalo, N.Y. - An eight view series of PCU Little Rock (LCS 9) arriving at Canalside in Buffalo, N.Y. She'll be commissioned here on
    16 December, in the shadow of her predecessor ex-USS Little Rock (CLG 4). Little Rock, ex-USS The Sullivans (DD 537) and ex-USS Croaker (SS 246)
    are all berthed here at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval Park & Museum.

    (All photos this series © Derek Gee and the Buffalo News.)

    1509020   -   1509021   -   1509022   -   1509023

    1509024   -   1509025   -   1509026   -   1509027
    Little Rock  453k       Little Rock  283k       Little Rock  186k       Little Rock  241k       Little Rock  191k       Little Rock  331k

    16 December 2017: Buffalo, N.Y. - The Blue Crew of PCU Little Rock (LCS 9) stands formation in a snow storm prior to the "Manning of the Ship" at Little Rock's
    commissioning ceremony. It's the first time in the Navy’s 242-year history that a ship was commissioned alongside its namesake. Little Rock is the fifth freedom-variant
    LCS to join the fleet. The fast, shallow-draft vessel has a modular design capable of implementing a variety of mission packages as an asset to the fleet in both the shallow
    coastal regions as well as trans-Atlantic service.

    (U.S. Navy Photos courtesy of Lockheed-Martin, from the Navy News Stand)

    1509028   -   1509029   -   1509030   -   1509031   -   1509032    -   1509033
    Little Rock  255k     Little Rock  92k     Little Rock  87k     Little Rock  70k     Little Rock  1051k
    Little Rock  118k     Little Rock  74k     Little Rock  88k     Little Rock  74k     Little Rock  47k

    December 2017: Buffalo, N.Y. - After her commissioning, USS Little Rock (LCS 9) departed Buffalo, N.Y. on 20 December enroute to her new homeport of Mayport, Fla.
    On 20-21 December she fueled at Port Colburne, Ontario, the southern terminus of the Welland Canal, which connects Lake Erie to Port Weller on Lake Ontario, and the St.
    Lawrence Seaway. The Welland Canal is 27 miles long and consists of eight locks which lower a ship 326' heading north to the Seaway, bypassing the Niagara Falls. The trip through
    the Canal takes approx. 11 hours. On 22 December she moored to the south wall of the Bertrand H. Snell Lock of the Wiley Dondero Canal at Massena, N.Y., and departed on the
    23rd for a port visit to Montreal, Canada. The first view above shows the Canal, looking southward from Port Weller on the northern end.

    (Photos courtesy of  Little Rock Blue Crew, from Facebook, Little Rock Blue Crew (LCS Crew 109, the Warhawgs)

    1509039   -   1509040   -   1509041   -   1509042   -   1509043

    1509044   -   1509045   -   1509046   -   1509047   -   1509043
    Little Rock
    1509049    		 129k 24 December 2017: Montreal, Canada - Following an icebreaker and a tugboat, USS Little Rock approaches Montreal on for a port visit. The ship would be stuck in Montreal indefinitely due to icy conditions in the St. Lawrence River and a shortage of icebreaking tugs.

    (Photo courtesy USS Little Rock Blue Crew – Warhawgs Facebook page, from the U.S. Naval Institute News)
    Little Rock
    (1509050)    		 310k 31 March 2018: Montreal, Canada - USS Little Rock is finally ice-free and underway in the St. Lawrence Seaway enroute to her homeport at Mayport, Fla.

    (Photo by René Beauchamp, via Twitter, from the U.S. Naval Institute News)
    Little Rock  192k     Little Rock  278k     Little Rock  355k

    25 April 2018: Norfolk, Va. - Three views of the littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) as she departs Naval Station Norfolk to conduct routine training.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #180425-N-KZ419-358, 180425-N-KZ419-381, 180425-N-KZ419-404 by SN Dawson Roth from the Navy News Stand)

    1509051   -   1509052   -   1509053
    Little Rock 1.) 129k     Little Rock 2.) 271k     Little Rock 3.) 584k
    Little Rock 4.) 399k     Little Rock 5.) 325k     Little Rock 6.) 294k     Little Rock 7.) 317k


    06 February 2020: Mayport, Fla. - The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) departs Naval Station Mayport for the ship's maiden deployment. Little Rock's deployment will be the third deployment of a littoral combat ship in support of Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF) South's Campaign MARTILLO. Campaign MARTILLO, which is a multinational effort launched in January 2012 targeting illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along Central America. Little Rock’s operations will involve practical exercises and exchanges with partner nations in support of Campaign MARTILLO, support Fourth Fleet interoperability and reinforce the U.S position as the regional partner of choice. The deployment of a littoral combat ship to the region demonstrates the commitment to regional cooperation and security. This deployment will be the third to this region and the third to include a Freedom-variant LCS in support of the Joint Interagency Task Force South’s campaign. The first deployment was made by USS Freedom (LCS 1) in 2010 and was followed by USS Detroit (LCS 7) in Oct. 2019.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #1.) 200206-N-QI061-0074, 2.) 200206-N-QI061-0099, 3.) 200206-N-DW182-1024, 4.) 200206-N-QI061-0133, 5.) 200206-N-QI061-0173, 6.) 200206-N-DW182-1050, and 7.) 200206-N-DW182-1055 by MC3 Nathan T. Beard (1-5) and MC2 Devin Bowse (6, 7) from the Navy News Stand)

    1509054   -   1509055   -   1509056

    1509027   -   1509058   -   1509059   -   1509060
    		 Lee Wahler
    Lcdr., USN (ret.)
    Jacksonville, Fla.
    Little Rock
    1509061    		 602k 12 February 2020: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - Guantanamo Bay Port Operations tugboat and push boat maneuver the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) to another pier. Little Rock is deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) Campaign MARTILLO targeting counter illicit drug operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #200212-N-RL695-1009 by MC3 Marianne Guemo from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    		 Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Manager, Navsource
    DE / FF / LCS Archive
    Little Rock
    1509062    		 498k 16 February 2020: The Caribbean Sea - The Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) underway in the Caribbean. Little Rock is deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) Campaign MARTILLO targeting counter illicit drug operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #200216-N-RL695-2050 by MC3 Marianne Guemo from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Little Rock
    1509063    		 852k 16 February 2020: The Caribbean Sea - The Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) underway in the Caribbean. Little Rock is deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) Campaign MARTILLO targeting counter illicit drug operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #200216-N-RL695-2050 by MC3 Marianne Guemo from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Little Rock
    1509064    		 492k 17 April 2023: The Caribbean Sea - The littoral combat ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) steams in the Caribbean Sea while deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations. Little Rock is assigned to Commander, Task Force 45 (CTF-45). CTF-45 is the 4th Fleet task force charged with executing combined naval operations, building and strengthening Latin American, south of Mexico, and Caribbean maritime partnerships, and acting as a DoD ready service provider to JIATF-S in support of counter illicit-drug trafficking operations in the Central and South American waters.

    (U.S. Navy courtesy photo VIRIN #230417-N-N3764-1000 by U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command / U.S. 4th Fleet from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Little Rock
    1509065    		 465k 11 July 2023: Cartagena, Colombia - Littoral Combat Ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) arrives in Cartagena, Colombia in preparation for UNITAS LXIV. UNITAS is the world’s longest-running maritime exercise. Hosted this year by Colombia, it brings together multinational forces from 20 partner nations, including 26 warships/vessels, three submarines, 25 aircraft (fixed wing/helicopter) and approximately 7,000 people. The exercise trains forces in joint maritime operations that enhance tactical proficiency and increase interoperability with the presence of unmanned air, surface, and submarine systems.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #230711-N-AO868-1009 by MC2 Conner Foy from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Little Rock
    1509066    		 1m 16 July 2023: The Caribbean Sea - USS Little Rock (LCS 9) transits the Carribean Sea during UNITAS 23. UNITAS 23. Little Rock is one of 26 vessels to participating in UNITAS LXIV, the world's longest running maritime exercise, July 11-21. Colombia is hosting UNITAS LXIV this year with nearly 7,000 people from 20 nations.

    (U.S. Navy photo VIRIN #230716-N-AO868-1012 by MC2 Conner Foy from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Little Rock
    1509067    		 410k 17 August 2023: Fort-de-France, Martinique – USS Little Rock (LCS 9) arrives in Fort-De-France for a routine port visit. Little Rock is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations assigned to support Commander, Task Force 45’s mission. The mission includes combined naval operations, partnership building, and acting as a service provider to Joint Interagency Task Force South by supporting counter illicit-drug trafficking in Central and South American waters.

    (French Navy photo VIRIN #230817-O-N3764-1001 from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    "Little Rock, The Ship"     -    "Little Rock, The People"
    Little Rock
    Memorabilia
    Ship's Emblem
    Little Rock
    Courtesy of
    Don McGrogan
    Little Rock History
    View the USS Little Rock (LCS 9) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.
    Little Rock's Commanding Officers

    Blue Crew (LCS Crew 109, The Warhawgs)Gold Crew (LCS Crew 115, The Scorpions)
    1.) 16 Dec. 2017Cmdr. Todd Peters (prior enl. / OCS ‘00) (St. Augustine, Fla.)1.) 16 Dec. 2017Cmdr. Roberto C. Dumlao (OCS ‘99) (Seoul, Korea / Chicago, Ill.)
    2.) 30 Nov. 2018Cmdr. Lenard C. Mitchell (prior enl. / BOOST ‘00) (Canton, Miss.)2.) 20 Apr. 2018Cmdr. Tyrone Bush (enl. ‘89 / ECP ‘99) (Jakin, Ga.)
    3.) 05 Jul. 2020Cmdr. Raymond Brian Crosby (USNA '01) (Greensboro, N.C.)3.) 09 Sep. 2019Cmdr. Bradley D. Long (USNA ‘01) (Reston, Va.)
    4.) .. Nov. 2021Cmdr. Jason Gerard Jeanpierre (USNA '03) (Baton Rouge, La.)4.) 19 Mar. 2021Cmdr. Dominick Albano (enl. ‘84, OSCM, LDO, Line ‘08) (Philadelphia, Pa.)
    5.) 10 Jun. 2022Cmdr. Michael R. Chesnut (USNA ‘05) (Augusta, Ga.)
    Additional Resources
    View Little Rock's Official Web page
    USS Little Rock History on U.S. Carriers
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
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    This page created on 21 March 2011,
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    Page Last Updated: 08 May 2024