USS Detroit (LCS-7)

In 2002, the U.S. Navy initiated a program to develop the first of a fleet of littoral combat ships.{{cite web|title=US Navy Fact File: Littoral Combat Ship Class – LCS|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1650&ct=4|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302070526/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1650&ct=4|archive-date=2 March 2015|access-date=30 October 2015|publisher=US Navy}} 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|LCS-1|6}}.{{cite web|last=O'Rourke|first=Ronald|date=4 May 2010|title=Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress|url=http://www.dodbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/CRS-LCS-May-2010.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923231642/http://www.dodbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/CRS-LCS-May-2010.pdf|archive-date=23 September 2015|access-date=30 December 2014|publisher=Congressional Research Service}} Odd-numbered U.S. Navy littoral combat ships are built using the Freedom-class monohull design, while even-numbered ships are based on a competing design, the trimaran hull {{sclass|Independence|littoral combat ship}} from General Dynamics. The initial order of littoral combat ships involved a total of four ships, including two of the Freedom-class design.  Detroit is the fourth Freedom-class littoral combat ship to be built.

Detroit 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.{{cite news|last1=Osborn|first1=Kris|date=27 June 2014|title=Navy Engineers LCS Changes|website=www.dodbuzz.com|publisher=Monster|url=http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/06/27/navy-engineers-lcs-changes/|url-status=dead|access-date=12 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150429110622/http://www.dodbuzz.com/2014/06/27/navy-engineers-lcs-changes/|archive-date=29 April 2015}} 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.{{cite web|last1=Freedberg Jr.|first1=Sydney J.|date=4 April 2014|title=Sleepless In Singapore: LCS Is Undermanned & Overworked, Says GAO|url=http://breakingdefense.com/2014/04/sleepless-in-singapore-lcs-is-undermanned-overworked-says-gao/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710053716/http://breakingdefense.com/2014/04/sleepless-in-singapore-lcs-is-undermanned-overworked-says-gao/|archive-date=10 July 2015|access-date=30 December 2014|website=breakingdefense.com|publisher=Breaking Media, Inc.}}

File:U.S. Navy Commissions Littoral Combat Ship USS Detroit (LCS 7) (30380565082).jpg

The ceremonial “laying of the keel” was in early November 2012 at the Marinette Marine shipyards in Marinette, Wisconsin.{{cite web|last=Levin|first=Carl|author-link=Carl Levin|date=9 November 2012|title=USS Detroit Is Important to a City and a Nation|url=http://www.levin.senate.gov/newsroom/in_the_news/article/uss-detroit-is-important-to-a-city-and-a-nation/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121211235337/http://www.levin.senate.gov/newsroom/in_the_news/article/uss-detroit-is-important-to-a-city-and-a-nation/|archive-date=11 December 2012|access-date=29 November 2012|website=levin.senate.gov}} The ship was launched on 18 October 2014. The US Navy accepted Detroit into service on 12 August 2016; the ship was commissioned on 22 October 2016.{{cite web|title=Navy accepts new Littoral Combat Ship|url=http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Navy_accepts_new_Littoral_Combat_Ship_999.html|website=Spacewar.com}} She is assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two. The ship is sponsored by Mrs. Barbara Levin (Wife of Senator Carl Levin)

On 30 December 2016, Detroit participated in a homeport shift ceremony that took place at Naval Station Mayport. The ship was previously scheduled to be based out of Naval Base San Diego but was reassigned while en route.{{cite web |url=http://jacksonville.com/news/2016-12-30/mayport-officials-welcome-2-new-littoral-combat-ships |author=Daraskevich J |title=Mayport Officials Welcome 2 New Littoral Combat Ships |publisher=Florida Times Union |date=30 December 2016 |access-date=30 December 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

On 13 January 2017, Detroit completed her first flight deck evolutions to certify the flight deck for future air operations. The landings and VERTREP were conducted by the "Swamp Foxes" of HSM-74. On 8 March 2017, Detroit fired a vertical-launched AGM-114 Hellfire missile, the first such launch from a littoral combat ship.{{cite web |url=http://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2017/03/08/US-Navy-test-fires-surface-to-surface-missile-module/6861489005730/?st_rec=8611489660857 |title=U.S. Navy test fires surface to surface missile module |website=upi.com |last=Maass |first=Ryan |date=8 March 2017}} The Hellfire system is meant to engage small vessels and strike targets on land.

In January 2020, Detroit conducted freedom of navigation and intelligence-gathering operations in the Caribbean Sea.{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/us-freedom-of-navigation-operation-in-caribbean-off-venezuela-coast-2020-1 |title=A US warship sailed along Venezuela's cost to gather intelligence and send a message to Maduro |date=January 31, 2020 |first=Christopher |last=Woody |newspaper=Business Insider}}

Detroit, the fourth ship of the Freedom-class, was planned to be inactivated in FY 2022, and to join the Out of Commission in Reserve (OCIR) list, along with three other ships in the class: {{USS|Freedom|LCS-1|2}}, {{USS|Fort Worth|LCS-3|2}}, and {{USS|Little Rock|LCS-9|2}}.{{Cite web|last=Manaranche|first=Martin|date=2021-06-18|title=U.S. Navy Issues FY22 Shipbuilding And Decommissioning Totals To Congress|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/06/u-s-navy-issues-fy22-shipbuilding-and-decommissioning-totals-to-congress/|access-date=2021-06-18|website=Naval News|language=en-US}} However, in the final 2022 budget, Congress blocked the Navy's request to retire the three ships.{{Cite web |last=LaGrone |first=Sam |url=https://news.usni.org/2022/03/09/last-minute-fy-22-728-5b-defense-bill-funds-13-navy-ships-12-f-a-18s-saves-3-lcs-from-decommissioning |title=Last Minute FY 22 $728.5B Defense Bill Funds 13 Navy Ships, 12 F/A-18s; Saves 3 LCS From Decommissioning |website= news.usni.org |date= 10 March 2022 |access-date= 28 April 2022}}

On 21 June 2023 Detroit got underway for its final deployment to the 4th fleet AOR to support regional cooperation and security.{{Cite web |title=USS Detroit Deploys to Support Regional Cooperation and Security |url=https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3437178/uss-detroit-deploys-to-support-regional-cooperation-and-security/https://www.navy.mil/Press-Office/News-Stories/Article/3437178/uss-detroit-deploys-to-support-regional-cooperation-and-security/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=United States Navy |language=en-US}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

On 27 September 2023 Detroit returned to Mayport in preparation to decommission the ship two days later.{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=684518693699974&id=100064255496966&mibextid=oFDknk |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=www.facebook.com}}

On 29 September 2023, Detroit was decommissioned at Mayport.{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2023/09/27/navy-to-decommission-littoral-combat-ships-uss-little-rock-uss-detroit-this-week|title=Navy to Decommission Littoral Combat Ships USS Little Rock, USS Detroit This Week|website=usni.org|date=27 September 2023|access-date=30 September 2023}}{{cite web | title=News Release – USS Detroit (LCS 7) Decommissions | website=DVIDS | date=22 October 2016 | url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/454732/news-release-uss-detroit-lcs-7-decommissions | access-date=29 September 2023}}

• Battle "E" – (2019)

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{{Littoral combat ships}}

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Category:Freedom-class littoral combat ships

Category:Lockheed Martin

Category:2014 ships

Category:Ships built by Marinette Marine