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Navsource Online: Littoral Warship Photo Archive


Ship's patch courtesy of
Don McGrogan,
BMCS, USN (Ret.)

Wichita (LCS 13)


Flag Hoist / Radio Call Sign:
N - W - I - C

"Keeper Of The Seas"
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
Wichita (LCS 13) Building and Operational Data:
  • 04 March 2013: Contract Awarded to Lockheed Martin Corp.
  • 09 February 2015: Keel laid at Marinette Marine Shipyard, Marinette, Wis.; keel authenticated by Mrs. Kate Staples Lehrer, wife of Jim Lehrer, PBS newsman
  • 15 September 2015: Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that LCS 13 would be named Wichita
  • 17 September 2016: Launched and christened by sponsor by Mrs. Kate Staples Lehrer
  • 12 July 2018: Completed builder's trials
  • 22 August 2018: In a ceremony held at Fincantieri Marinette Marine, the U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the ship from its builder
  • 12 January 2019: Commissioned at Mayport, Fla., Commander Nathan Rowan (Blue) in command, assigned to LCS Squadron 2 at Mayport
  • 24 February 2021: Departed Mayport, Fla. on her maiden deployment to the U.S. Southern Command / 4th Fleet area of operations
  • 08 July 2021: Returned to Mayport, Fla. after a successful completion of her maiden deployment to the Caribbean Sea
  • 30 March 2022: Departed Mayport, Fla. on her second deployment to the U.S. Southern Command / 4th Fleet area of operations
  • 21 October 2022: Returned to Mayport, Fla. after a successful completion of her second deployment to the Caribbean Sea

    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.

    "Wichita, The Ship"     -    "Wichita, 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, Photo #040527-O-0000L-003 courtesy of The Lockheed Martin Corporation 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)
    Wichita
    1513001
    214k 17 September 2016: Marinette, Wis. - Kate Lehrer, sponsor of the future USS Wichita (LCS 13), breaks a bottle of champagne across LCS-13's bow during the ship's christening ceremony. Once commissioned, LCS-13 will be the third naval vessel to honor Kansas's largest city.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #160917-N-N0101-100 courtesy of The Lockheed Martin Corporation from the Navy News Stand)
    Wichita
    1513002
    394k 17 December 2013: Marinette, Wis. - The 13th littoral combat ship, the future USS Wichita (LCS 13) launches sideways into the Menominee River after being christening by ship sponsor Kate Lehrer. Once commissioned, LCS 13 will be the third naval vessel to honor Kansas's largest city.

    (U.S. Navy Photo #160917-N-N0101-101 courtesy of The Lockheed Martin Corporation from the Navy News Stand)
    Lee Wahler
    Lcdr., USN (ret.)
    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)
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE / FF / LCS
    Archive Manager
    Wichita 1.) 476k   Wichita 2.) 564k   Wichita 3.) 364k   Wichita 4.) 436k   Wichita 5.) 864k   Wichita 6.) 934k  

    11 July 2018: Lake Michigan - The future littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) conducts acceptance trials, which are the last significant milestone before a ship
    is delivered to the Navy. LCS-13 is a fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments as well as the open-ocean. It is designed
    to defeat asymmetric threats such as mines, quiet diesel submarines and fast surface craft.

    (U.S. Navy photo #1.) 180711-N-N0101-390, 2.) 180711-N-N0101-377, 3.) 180711-N-N0101-374, 4.) 180711-N-N0101-376,
    5.) 180711-N-N0101-369, and 6.) 180711-N-N0101-368 courtesy of The Lockheed Martin Corporation from the Navy News Stand)

    1.) 1513003   2.) 1513004   3.) 1513005   4.) 1513006   5.) 1513007   6.) 1513008
    Lee Wahler
    Lcdr., USN (ret.)
    Jacksonville, Fla.
    Wichita 1.) 171k   Wichita 2.) 332k   Wichita 3.) 272k   Wichita 4.) 277k  

    12 January 2019: Mayport, Fla.
    1.) The audience stands as the ensign is raised above the littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) during its commissioning ceremony at Naval Station Mayport. Wichita is
    the fourteenth littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the seventh of the Freedom variant. It is the third Navy combat ship named after Wichita, the largest city in Kansas.
    2.) Cmdr. Nathan Rowan, the commanding officer of the littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13), delivers remarks during Wichita's commissioning ceremony.
    3.) Kate Lehrer, ship sponsor of the littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13), prepares to motivate the ship's crew during Wichita's commissioning.
    4.) The crew of the Navy's newest littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) bring the ship to life

    (U.S. Navy photos #1.) 190112-N-DA434-157, 2.) 190112-N-DA434-230, 3.) 190112-N-DA434-175, and 4.) 190112-N-DA434-199 by MC3 Alana Langdon from the Navy News Stand)

    1.) 1513009   2.) 1513010   3.) 1513011   4.) 1513012
    Mike Smolinski
    Clifton, N.J.

    Navsource DE / FF / LCS
    Archive Manager
    Wichita
    1513013
    407k 04 March 2020: Jacksonville, Fla. - The Freedom-class littoral combat ships USS Wichita (LCS 13) and USS Billings (LCS 15) moor alongside each other using a Yokohama mega fender, the world's largest floating pneumatic fender, at Naval Station Mayport, Fla. Wichita and Billings are currently homeported at Naval Station Mayport.

    (U.S. Navy photo #200304-N-KK394-1011 by MC2 Anderson W. Branch from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita 1.) 447k   Wichita 2.) 226k   Wichita 3.) 349k  

    24 February 2021: Mayport, Fla.
    Three views of USS Wichita (LCS 13) getting underway from Naval Station Mayport with her crew manning the rails.

    (U.S. Navy photos #1.) 210224-N-RL695-1060, 2.) 210224-N-RL695-1094, and 3.) 210224-N-RL695-1101 by MC2 Marianne Guemo from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    1.) 1513030   2.) 1513031   3.) 1513032
    Wichita
    1513014
    465k 02 March 2021: The Caribbean Sea - Two views of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) as she transits the Caribbean Sea. Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210302-N-N3764-000120030 and 210302-N-N3764-0007 by AG1 Keith E. Mitchell from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513015
    520k
    Wichita
    1513018
    212k 31 March 2021: The Caribbean Sea - Crewmembers assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22, Detachment 8, and flight deck personnel assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13), conduct hoist training with a dummy aboard the ship. Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210331-N-N3764-0102 and 210331-N-N3764-0101 by AG1 Keith E. Mitchell from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513019
    66k
    Wichita
    1513020
    174k 02 April 2021: The Caribbean Sea - The littoral combat ship USS Wichita fires the 57mm MK 110 gun during a live-fire exercise. Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210402-N-N3764-0110 by Lt.(jg) Kyle Milchuck from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513016
    390k 09 April 2021: The Caribbean Sea - Two views the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) and Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard patrol vessel HMJS Cornwall sailin formation during a live-fire exercise. Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which include counter illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

    (U.S. Navy photo #2210409-N-N3764-0104 and 210409-N-N3764-0103 by AG1 Keith E. Mitchell from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513017
    539k
    Wichita
    1513021
    537k 09 April 2021: The Caribbean Sea - USS Wichita (LCS 13) prepares to deploy a floating training target for use during a live-fire exercise with the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard patrol vessel HMJS Cornwall. Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210409-N-N3764-0105 by AG1 Keith E. Mitchell from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513022
    493k 16 April 2021: The Caribbean Sea - The littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) prepares to recover an 11-meter rigid hull inflatable boat while underway in the Caribbean Sea. Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210416-N-N3764-0111 by AG1 Keith E. Mitchell from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513023
    171k 20 April 2021: Ponce, Puerto Rico - A sailor assigned to USS Wichita (LCS 13) shifts colors as the ship pulls into Ponce, Puerto Rico for a brief stop for fuel and provisions while Wichita is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210420-N-N3764-0303 by AG1 Keith E. Mitchell from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513024
    205k 01 May 2021: The Caribbean Sea - USS Wichita, with embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 402, intercepts a go-fast vessel during counter-narcotics operations.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210501-N-N3764-0001 by U.S. Naval Forces, Southern Command from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513025
    244k 06 June 2021: The Caribbean Sea - The Freedom-variant littoral combat ships USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and USS Wichita (LCS 13), conduct operations in the Caribbean Sea. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210606-N-RL695-1270 by MC2 Marianne Guemo from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513026
    448k 04 July 2021: The Caribbean Sea - The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) and its embarked aviation detachment, participate in a maritime training exercise with the Freedom-variant littoral combat ships USS Sioux City (LCS 11) and USS Billings (LCS 15). This exercise marks the first time three Freedom-variant littoral combat ships are deployed and operating together. Sioux City, Wichita, and Billings are deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210704-N-RL695-2028 by MC2 Marianne Guemo from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513027
    414k 04 July 2021: The Caribbean Sea - The Freedom-variant littoral combat ships USS Wichita (LCS 13), USS Billings (LCS 15), and their embarked aviation detachments participate in a maritime training exercise with the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11).

    (U.S. Navy photo #210704-N-RL695-1853 by MC2 Marianne Guemo from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513028
    382k 04 July 2021: The Caribbean Sea - The littoral combat ships USS Sioux City (LCS 11), UWichita (LCS 13), USS Billings (LCS 15), and their embarked aviation detachments participate in a maritime training exercise. This exercise marks the first time three Freedom-variant littoral combat ships are deployed and operating together.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210704-N-KY668-1479 by MC3 Austin G. Collins from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513029
    471k 04 July 2021: The Caribbean Sea - The Freedom-variant littoral combat ships USS Sioux City (LCS 11), USS Wichita (LCS 13), USS Billings (LCS 15), and their embarked aviation detachments participate in a maritime training exercise.

    (U.S. Navy photo #210704-N-RL695-1340 by MC2 Marianne Guemo from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513033
    355k 30 March 2022: Mayport, Fla. - The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) departs Naval Station Mayport, Florida for the ship’s second deployment. During the deployment to the U.S. Southern Command's area of responsibility, Wichita, with embarked helicopter and USCG law enforcement detachment, will support Joint Interagency Task Force South's mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

    (U.S. Navy photo #220330-N-WH773-946 by Lt. Anthony Junco, LCSRon Two, from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513034
    394k 09 April 2022: The Caribbean Sea - An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the “Shadow Det” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, Detachment 7, transfers ammunition from the littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) to the littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS 15). Billings is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

    (U.S. Navy photo #220409-N-GF955-1032 by MC3 Aaron Lau from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513035
    419k 05 May 2022: The Caribbean Sea - The littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13), the Dominican Republic coastal patrol vessel Altair (GC-112), and Dominican Republic Boston Whaler interceptor patrol boat Duhbe (LI-164) conduct a bilateral maritime interdiction exercise.

    (U.S. Navy photo #220505-N-N3764-0103 and 220505-N-N3764-0101 by AG1 Jonathan Richards from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513036
    550k
    Wichita 1.) 448k   Wichita 2.) 501k   Wichita 3.) 471k  

    04 August 2022: The Caribbean Sea
    Three views of A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Joint Task Force-Bravo’s 1-228th Aviation Regiment performing deck landing qualifications aboard the littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13), off the coast of Honduras. As an example of multi-domain operations, Joint Task Force-Bravo U.S. Army and Wichita U.S. Navy assets worked together to ensure both entities are mission ready to support humanitarian assistance, disaster relief efforts or other contingency operations across the United States Southern Command area of responsibility.

    (U.S. Air Force photos #1.) 220804-F-OT558-6064, 2.) 220804-F-OT558-6062, and 3.) 220804-F-OT558-6074 by Tech. Sgt. Amber Carter from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)

    1.) 1513037   2.) 1513038   3.) 1513039
    Wichita
    1513040
    532k 10 September 2022: The Caribbean Sea - USS Wichita (LCS 13), USS Billings (LCS 15), and an MH-60s Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, Detachment 6, participate in a photo exercise in the Caribbean Sea. Wichita and Billings are deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.

    (U.S. Navy photo #220910-N-N3764-1003 and 220910-N-N3764-1001 by MN2 Justin Hovarter from the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service)
    Wichita
    1513041
    475k

    "Wichita, The Ship"     -    "Wichita, The People"


    Wichita Memorabilia
    Ship's
    Emblem
    Wichita
    Courtesy of
    Wolfgang Hechler
    Christening
    Booklet Cover
    Wichita
    Courtesy of
    Richard Mattie
    Challenge
    Coin
    Wichita
    Courtesy of
    Richard Mattie

    Wichita History
    View the USS Wichita (LCS 13) DANFS history entry located on the Naval History and Heritage Command web site.

    Wichita's Commanding Officers
    Thanks to Wolfgang Hechler
    Date of Command Commanding Officers
    1.) 12 Jan. 2019 - 28 Jun. 2019Cmdr. Nathan Rowan (NROTC '00) (Tenn.)
    2.) 28 Jun. 2019 - 12 Feb. 2021Cmdr. Chavius Germaine Lewis (OCS ‘00) (Sylvester, Ga.)
    3.) 12 Feb. 2021 - 10 Jun. 2022Cmdr. Daniel Alexander Reiher (USNA '01) (N. J.)
    4.) 10 Jun. 2022 - 03 Mar. 2023Cmdr. Eric E. Meyers (enl. '92 / ROTC '01) (Kankakee, Ill.)
    5.) 03 Mar. 2023 -Cmdr. Brett M. Ringo (NROTC '06) (Colchester, Conn.)

    Additional Resources

    View Wichita's Official Web page
    USS Wichita History on U.S. Carriers
    View Wichita's Facebook page
    Tin Can Sailors
    The U.S. Navy Memorial
    The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
    The Destroyer History Foundation
    Back to the DE / FF / LCS Ship Index
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    This page created on 07 June 2013,
    and is maintained by Mike Smolinski
    All pages copyright Navsource Naval History
    by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved.
    Page Last Updated: 08 May 2024