Kacey Roberts
Austal’s U.S. business arm has christened the 19th Independence-variant littoral combat ship, USS Pierre, which was named in honor of South Dakota’s capital.
Larissa Thune Hargens, a South Dakota native and daughter of Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., sponsored the event, Austal USA said Sunday.
Designated LCS 38, USS Pierre is the final ship of its variant to be christened. In June 2023, the shipbuilder laid the keel for the vessel.
The ship was designed to operate in near-shore environments and to support the U.S. Navy’s unmanned programs.
Following the christening, USS Pierre will join sister ships in San Diego, California, before deployment to the Indo-Pacific Command region.
