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| USS Independence, first of the Independence class LCS |
Sam Fellman
The fleet’s water jet-propelled trimaran is about to turn heads across the western Pacific.
Littoral combat ship Coronado set out from San Diego Wednesday on the ship’s maiden deployment, which will be the first deployment to 7th Fleet for the Independence-class LCS.
The ship will take part in the upcoming Rim of the Pacific exercise off Hawaii and then will conduct operations with Asia-Pacific allies and partners.
In addition to the core crew, the Coronado has embarked a MQ-8 Fire Scout drone helicopter, which has been outfitted with a radar that “will significantly improve the Navy’s surface search capabilities for LCS and its action group,” according to a 3rd Fleet release Tuesday.
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