YOKOSUKA, Japan – Senior leadership from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States defense services assembled together aboard the USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), hosted by U.S. 7th Fleet, for the 2023 Information Warfare (IW) Waterfront Conference in Yokosuka, Japan,...

A Dallas, Texas, native and 2018 Midlothiaio High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the deployed Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18)...

PORT HERA, Timor-Leste – Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) and Timor-Leste Defense Force (F-FDTL) partnered in the 27th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) maritime exercise in the territorial waters surrounding Port Hera, Dec. 6-7...

PHILIPPINE SEA (Nov. 26, 2021) – A Chula Vista, California, native and 2009 Hilltop High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the deployed Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18). Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Michael A. Hice joined the Navy in 2015 and has been...

USS Charleston Has The Watch. Routine Operations in U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility...

Chief Machinist's Mate (Select) Adam Tomas, from Marion, N.C., assigned to Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), prepares to get fitted for new uniforms at the Navy Exchange in Arpa Harbor, Guam...

Sailors participate in simulated medical emergency response procedures on the mess decks aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), during routine operations...

Sailors transfer ammunition from the mission bay aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18)...

Sailors conduct a vertical replenishment from the flight deck aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), with a MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 21, with dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Carl Brashear...

An Orange Park, Fla., native and 2003 Oakleaf High School/2017 University of Florida Graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the deployed Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18)...

Sailors conduct a foreign object debris walkdown on the flight deck aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), prior to flight operations...

Naval Air Crewman (Helicopter) 2nd Javier Rosas, from San Mateo, Calif, left, and Lt. Garret Smart, from Draper, Utah, conduct a preflight inspection of a MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter, attached to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 21, prior to flight operations aboard...

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) moors pier side in Subic Bay, Philippines, during a routine port visit...

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), transits the South China Sea during routine operations...

Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), left, pulls alongside Fleet replenishment Oiler USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) prior to an underway replenishment...

Sailors attend a chemical, biological, and radiological training class in the mess decks aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), during routine operations...

Aviation Electrician's Mate 3rd Class Cullen Penrod, from Jacksonville, Fla., signals to a MH-60S Seahawk Helicopter, assigned to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 21, aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), during flight operations...

Mineman 2nd Class Alan Molina, from Summit, Ill., stands look out watch on the starboard bridge wing aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) during routine operations...

Sailors transfer 57mm Mark 110 ammunition on the foc’sle aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18)...

U.S. Sailors and U.S. Marines, assigned to Command Task Force 76, tour the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), with Command Master Chief Jessica Kerr, from Belmont, N.C...

Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Jasmine Munoz, from Henderson, Nev., stands look out watch on the starboard bridge wing aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18)...

Aviation Electrian's Mate 3rd Class Isaac Redding, from Wahoo, Neb., left, and Aviation Machinist's Mate 3nd Class Jordan Jackson, from Mace, Ariz., assigned to the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 21, shift colors, as Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS...

Mineman Seaman Timothy Messick, from Panama City, Fla., center, dons firefighting equipment during a damage control training exercise aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18)...

Engineman 1st Class Scott Kruse, from Murrieta, Calif., uses a fuel conditioning control panel aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), during routine operations...

U.S. Marines with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit deploy equipment serving as an advanced staging platform aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18), during Noble Jaguar 2021, Oct. 5, 2021...