The keel of the US Navy's 18th Independence-class littoral combat ship (LCS) was laid during a ceremony at Austal USA's Mobile, Alabama facilities on Wednesday, February 23.
Upon completion, the future USS Kingsville will measure 418 feet (127 metres) long and 104 feet (31.6 metres) wide and displace 3,421 tons (3,104 tonnes) at full load. Armament will include a BAE Systems naval gun, four 0.50-calibre (12.7-millimetre) machine guns, and Evolved SeaRAM surface-to-air missiles.
The LCS is the first US Navy ship to be named after the city of Kingsville, Texas.
