By CHRISTOPHER P. CAVAS
WASHINGTON — Turns out a littoral combat ship will be headed to Hawaii this summer after all.
Adm. Jon Greenert, chief of naval operations, told an audience in Washington Monday that the Independence will operate off Hawaii as part of the huge Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises to take place in June and July.
The move reverses an earlier decision that kept the Independence, along with the other three littoral combat ships in service, in southern California, carrying out tests and various exercises.
The recently commissioned Coronado, sister ship of the Independence, is participating in RIMPAC, but only in the waters off San Diego.
A spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor confirmed the Independence will take part in the seagoing phase of the exercises, scheduled to run July 6 through July 25.
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