The newest ship in the Navy, the USS Pierre, was commissioned Saturday in Panama City, Fla.: “Welcome to the fleet,” said Navy Secretary John Phelan, who gave the keynote address.

Pierre is the 19th and final Independence-variant littoral combat ship. The ship bears the name of the capital city of South Dakota.

“This is a moment of pride, not only for her crew, but for the shipbuilders of Austal USA, for the city of Pierre, S.D., and for all who will serve aboard her in the years ahead,” Phelan said. “This is not just a milestone, but a critical step forward in strengthening our Navy and ensuring America’s global maritime dominance.”

Phelan praised the shipbuilders, the sponsors and the namesake city.

“Our defense is above all the work of a nation united in purpose. (The ship’s) motto, ‘On the move, On the hunt’ — drawn from the city’s official motto — captures her continuous mission to find, hunt and neutralize threats before they can harm our sailors or Marines,” he said. “That mission is backed by serious capability: mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and a flexible mission bay and flight deck that can embark helicopters, unmanned aerial systems and small boats, allowing this crew to respond rapidly to evolving threats or humanitarian operations in some of the world’s most challenging littoral environments.”

Also among the speakers was the ship’s sponsor, Larissa Thune Hargens, a native of South Dakota and the daughter of Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

“Today marks a moment of pride, purpose and profound connection between the ship, her crew, her namesake city of Pierre and our great nation,” Hargens said. “As the ship sponsor, I again commit my support and appreciation to each of you and each crew who follows in your wake.”

The commissioning of the Pierre marks the end of an era.

Littoral combat ships are fast, nimble vessels prized for their abilities in coastal areas and the open ocean.

In the early 2000s, shipbuilders developed two variants, Independence and Freedom, each capable of surface warfare and mine hunting. The ships have different hulls and are designed and built by separate shipbuilders.

At one point, the Navy planned to have the ships make up about one-sixth of the service’s oceangoing fleet.

But the Independence variant suffered costly setbacks and delays, including cracked hulls and propulsion issues.

About 17 Independence-class vessels are active.

The Freedom variant also was plagued by propulsion problems and other costly issues. As a result, the Navy in 2022 proposed mothballing nine Freedom-class ships well ahead of their end-of-service dates. Ultimately, five of the ships were saved.

About 10 Freedom-class ships remain in service, according to the Navy’s website. The variant’s final vessel, USS Cleveland, is planned to be commissioned this fall, according to usscleveland.org.

The service now is prioritizing production of the Constellation-class frigate, which it says delivers a more powerful punch.

But with the aging Avenger-class minesweepers nearing retirement, the Navy recently designated at least three Independence-class ships — USS Canberra, USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara — to be homeported in Bahrain.

The USS Pierre — led by Cmdr. Justin Guernsey — will have a crew of 112 and depart Panama City next week, making several stops before arriving at its homeport of San Diego in December.

In the week leading up to the commissioning ceremony, the Pierre crew spent time around Panama City, hosted tours onboard for local organizations and built ties with the city hosting their ship’s commissioning ceremony.

Following her address, Hargens asked the crew to board the ship: “Officers and crew of the USS Pierre, man our ship and bring her to life.”

“Aye, aye ma’am,” the crew responded.

Contributing: Stars and Stripes reporter Shannon Renfroe

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previous coverage

• End of an era: The last Independence-class littoral combat ship has left for open waters
• USS Pierre completes sea trials, closing a chapter for the Navy’s Independence-class LCS