In 2002, the Navy initiated a program to develop the first of a fleet of littoral combat ships.[11] The Navy initially ordered two monohull ships from Lockheed Martin, which became known as the Freedom-class littoral combat ships after the first ship of the class, USS Freedom.[11][12] Odd-numbered littoral combat ships are built using the Freedom-class monohull design, while even-numbered ships are based on a competing design, the trimaran hull Independence-class littoral combat ship from General Dynamics.[11] The initial order of littoral combat ships involved a total of four ships, including two of the Freedom-class design.[11]Sioux City was the sixth Freedom-class littoral combat ship to be built.
Sioux City includes additional stability improvements over the original Freedom design; the stern transom was lengthened and buoyancy tanks were added to the stern to increase weight service and enhance stability.[13] The ship will also feature automated sensors to allow "conditions-based maintenance" and reduce crew overwork and fatigue issues that Freedom had on her first deployment.[14]
In May 2022, Sioux City was assigned to the Sixth Fleet, while she was equipped with a surface warfare module. In late May, Sioux City was re-assigned to the Fifth Fleet and assigned to the Combined Task Force (CTF) 153 in the Red Sea.[17]
On 2 October 2022, Sioux City arrived at her homport of Mayport after a five-month deployment, becoming the first LCS to operate in the Baltic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Persian Gulf.[18]
On 14 August 2023, Sioux City was decommissioned at Naval Station Mayport and placed into a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) disposition status.[6]
This article includes information collected from the Naval Vessel Register, which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain. The entry can be found here.