In a follow-up to my post on Tuesday visiting the Vietnam-era Osprey class fast patrol boat PTF-26 dockside in Mobile, here is a look around the top of the Bay taken on the same day.
Of note, I was able to see the 18th Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, the future USS Kingsville (LCS 36), in post-delivery availability while the 19th (and final) Indy, PCU USS Pierre (LCS 38), is fitting out right outside Austal’s covered slipway. Kingsville, delivered to the Navy in March, is set to be commissioned across the Gulf on 24 August in Corpus Christi, Texas. Meanwhile, Pierre, christened in May, is scheduled to be delivered in FY25, closing the line as Austal pivots to make OPCs for the Coast Guard.
PCU USS Kingsville (LCS 36) Eger June 8 2024
PCU USS Pierre (LCS 38) Eger June 8 2024. Note that she doesn’t have her C-RAM fitted yet.
I also spied a trio of Military Sealift Command assets including the troubled USNS Sgt. William R. Button.
And this thing.
