LCS Crew 111 Returns USS Fort Worth to San Diego

by Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

07 October 2016

SAN DIEGO - The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) and LCS Crew 111 returned to their homeport of San Diego, Oct. 7, following a 23-month rotational deployment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific area of operation.

Fort Worth’s deployment was part of an initiative to deploy up to four littoral combat ships to the region on a rotational basis. As the second LCS to deploy under this initiative, Fort Worth operated out of Singapore as a maintenance and logistics hub from which the ship conducted patrols and trained with regional navies. “USS Fort Worth did very important work in 7th Fleet on her maiden deployment these past two years,” said Cmdr. Michael D. Brasseur, commanding officer of Fort Worth.

Fort Worth is a high-speed, agile warship designed to operate close to shore and deploy with modular mission packages to include surface warfare, mine warfare, and anti-submarine warfare.

While operating out of Singapore, Fort Worth conducted maritime patrols, port visits, and exercises with regional navies, including several phases of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT), Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) Vietnam, and Foal Eagle off the Korean Peninsula. The ship also joined multi-lateral search efforts in the Java Sea for Air Asia Flight 8501 in Jan. 2015.

Five different rotational crews operated Fort Worth during the deployment. Crew 111 has operated the ship since June.

"I am very proud of my team’s tireless work ethic and ultra-positive approach to all challenges," said Brasseur. “We celebrate the professionalism displayed by our fellow LCS Crews 104, 103, 102, and 101 that served on Fort Worth while deployed."

Fort Worth is homeported in San Diego and is part of U.S. Naval Surface Forces and U.S. 3rd Fleet. The ship and crew will commence preparations for a six-month scheduled maintenance availability beginning in early 2017.