USS Augusta (LCS 34) returns to San Diego

by Lt. Brinn Hefron

11 June 2026
SAN DIEGO

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Augusta (LCS 34) arrived at its San Diego homeport June 11, following six months of operations in the U.S. 3rd Fleet in support of U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM)-led Operation Ardent Vanguard to protect the southern border.

“Congratulations to Augusta for completing this underway in support of national tasking with flying colors,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Zachary Smith, commanding officer of Augusta. “The crew achieved more than 500 hours of flight operations with an MH-60S LCS detachment and 12 small boat operations with the 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat.”

Augusta and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments, under NORTHCOM’s maritime homeland defense authorities, was responsible for six interdictions of suspected smuggling vessels, preventing the flow of illegal drugs and other illegal activity.

While underway, Augusta successfully integrated three separate teams of U.S. Navy aviation, Aerosonde UAS and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments to enable multi-domain operations. Augusta conducted the most helicopter flight hours ever for an embarked aviation detachment on an operational Independence-variant LCS.

“The team integrated with embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement and Helicopter Sea Combat detachments, showcasing the capabilities of an LCS operating in the littorals,” said Smith. “I am proud to be the CO of this team of teams. Augusta carried out the ship’s motto: protecting the frontier!’”

Augusta is a fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatant that operates in near- shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS, like Augusta, integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.

For more news from Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron 1, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/comlcsron1/ or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/COMLCSRONONE/ or on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/littoralcombatshipsquadron1/.