The littoral combat ship USS Canberra operates in the Persian Gulf on May 23, 2025. It has since arrived in Manama, Bahrain. (Facebook/U.S. Central Command)
The littoral combat ship USS Canberra arrived at the U.S. naval base in Bahrain last week, the first of four new vessels expected to replace aging mine countermeasures ships in the Middle East, according to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.
The older Avenger-class ships, which have operated in the region for decades, feature fiberglass-covered wooden hulls that the Navy says have become increasingly expensive to maintain.
The last three Avenger-class ships, purchased in 1990, are capable of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines. Wooden hulls were used primarily to reduce the ship’s magnetic signature, a key safety feature in mine countermeasure operations.
The littoral combat ship’s minehunting module was once scheduled to reach initial operating capability in 2015, but reliability issues delayed that until 2023, forcing the Navy to continue deploying the older minehunters.
USS Canberra, which left San Diego for Bahrain on its maiden deployment in March, moves at a top speed of about 46 mph, while the Avenger-class ships top out at about 16 mph.
Cmdr. Bill Golden, commanding officer of the littoral combat ship USS Canberra's blue crew, gives a tour on May 26, 2025, to a Bahraini military delegation in Manama, Bahrain. (Christopher J Krucke/U.S. Navy)
Canberra also comes equipped with unmanned maritime sensors designed to locate and destroy mines at a greater distance.
Canberra is conducting routine operations as part of its scheduled deployment. It eventually will be permanently stationed in Bahrain along with three more littoral combat ships, Navy officials told Stars and Stripes.
Canberra was welcomed with a ceremony Monday that included Bahraini defense officials, U.S. Ambassador to Bahrain Steven Bondy and NAVCENT commander Vice Adm. George Wikoff.
It is the first Independence-class littoral combat ship to be deployed to the region, NAVCENT said.
The Independence-class LCS is a trimaran with a larger flight deck than its counterpart, the single-hulled Freedom variant. Canberra also has room for two helicopters or multiple drones, according to manufacturer Austal USA.
Cmdr. Bill Golden, commander of Canberra’s blue crew, previously served aboard a mine countermeasures ship deployed to Bahrain. He said that “to see the differences between that platform and what Canberra offers is incredible.”
Since launching the LCS program in 2002, the Navy has received 35 vessels, with two more scheduled to be delivered.
The future USS Cleveland, a Freedom variant, and USS Pierre, an Independence variant, are under construction and expected to be commissioned later this fall.
