Families and friends welcome the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Augusta (LCS 34) as it arrives at Naval Station San Diego following six months of operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations, June 11, 2026. While deployed, Augusta was the first ship to integrate U.S. Navy aviation assets, Aerosonde Uncrewed Aerial Systems, and a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Detachment on the same platform to enable multi-domain operations. Augusta is a fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatant that operates in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS, like Augusta, integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kassandra Alanis)
Families and friends welcome the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Augusta (LCS 34) as it arrives at Naval Station San Diego following six months of operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations, June 11, 2026. While deployed, Augusta was the first ship to integrate U.S. Navy aviation assets, Aerosonde Uncrewed Aerial Systems, and a U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Detachment on the same platform to enable multi-domain operations. Augusta is a fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatant that operates in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS, like Augusta, integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kassandra Alanis)
NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO (March 4, 2026) — Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20) returned to its homeport of Naval Base San Diego after eight months of sustained operations in the U.S. 3rd and 7th Fleet areas of operations. Littoral combat ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century threats. LCSs integrate with joint, combined, manned, and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe. (U.S. Navy video by Lt. Drew Verbis)
SAN DIEGO –Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Augusta (LCS 34) arrived at its
San Diego homeport June 11, following six months of operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet in
support of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM)-led Operation Ardent Vanguard to protect
the southern border.
“Congratulations to Augusta for completing this underway in support of national tasking with
flying colors,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Zachary Smith, commanding officer of Augusta. “The
crew achieved more than 500 hours of flight operations with an MH-60S LCS detachment and
12 small boat operations with the 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat.”
Augusta and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments, under NORTHCOM’s
maritime homeland defense...
06.11.2026 | SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
Story by Lt. Brinn Hefron
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