ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Nov. 13, 2018) The littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) transits the Severn River before it arrives at the U.S. Naval Academy. Sioux City, slated for commissioning Nov. 17, will be the thirteenth littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the sixth of the Freedom variant. It is the first ship named for Sioux City, the fourth largest city in Iowa. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Burke/Released)
The USS Sioux City, a littoral combat ship of the U.S. Navy valued at $362 million, was decommissioned in August 2023 following less than five years of service during a ceremony at Naval Station Mayport, Florida.
Once billed as the future of the fleet, the LCS program has been hindered by mission modules that haven’t materialized, as well as class-wide propulsion.
Hull crack issues that have plagued the Freedom and Independence LCS classes, respectively.
Furthermore, officials now admit to stand little chance of surviving a conventional battle against China or another nation’s navy.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (Nov. 13, 2018) The littoral combat ship Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Sioux City (LCS 11) is moored at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Sioux City, slated for commissioning, Nov. 17, 2018, will be the 13th littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the sixth of the Freedom variant. It is the first ship named for Sioux City, the fourth-largest city in Iowa. (U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Nathan Burke/Released)
Naval Surface Force Atlantic spokesman Lt. Cmdr. David Carter said Wednesday that the decision to decommission the ship “was not about the material condition.”
“Ultimately, the Navy has to make difficult decisions on how to invest in the future,” Carter said in an email.
“To maintain our strategic advantage, particularly under fiscal constraints, it is important for the Navy to carefully review our force structure regularly and divest of legacy capabilities that no longer bring sufficient lethality to maximize our effectiveness in deterring and defeating potential adversaries.”
The Sioux City’s history was not entirely devoid of achievement.
During its brief tenure, it completed four deployments between December 2020 and October 2022, including operations within the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet’s areas of responsibility.
CARIBBEAN SEA – (May 23, 2021) — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) conducts a bi-lateral maritime interdiction exercise with the Dominican Republic Navy coastal patrol vessels Orion (GC 109) and Betelgeuse (GC 102), May 23, 2021. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marianne Guemo/Released)
During a hearing last summer, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif., displayed a floor chart titled “Leaking Cracked Ships” that contained a picture of each LCS with a lemon, playing on the slang for a defective vehicle.
“We all know what lemon cars are. We have a fleet of lemon LCS ships,” she said at the time.
“We have spent billions of dollars on this fleet when they have no capability to help us deal with our largest threat, which is that of China and Russia.
The only winners have been the contractors on which the Navy relies for sustaining these ships.
As the last commanding officer of the Sioux City, Cmdr, Michael Gossett. noted during the decommissioning ceremony.
CARIBBEAN SEA – (May 23, 2021) — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11), top, conducts a bi-lateral maritime interdiction exercise with the Dominican Republic Navy Defiant-class patrol vessel Betelgeuse (GC 102), May 23, 2021. Sioux City is deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations to support Joint Interagency Task Force South’s mission, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Marianne Guemo/Released)
The focus should be on the collective memories, culture, and successes forged during the ship’s service—a legacy that will endure beyond its premature retirement.
Relevant articles:
– OUR OPINION: Thumbs down to decommissioning the USS Sioux City — and bringing it here, siouxcityjournal.com
– US Navy Commissions One LCS, Decommissions Two, navalnews.com
– The Inside Story of How the Navy Spent Billions on the “Little Crappy Ship”, propublica.org
– Navy decommissions LCS Sioux City after less than five years at sea, Navy Times, Aug 16, 2023