Littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth decommissioned in San Diego

USS Fort Worth was decommissioned Wednesday during a ceremony at Naval Base San Diego.

The removal of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship from the fleet comes less than 14 years after it was commissioned in Galveston, Texas, on Sept. 22, 2012.

The ship was homeported in San Diego and deployed to Singapore on an 18-month rotational deployment from December 2014 to July 2016.

Fort Worth is among 14 ships and submarines the Navy plans to decommission or make inactive before the 2026 fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.

The LCS class was designed as fast surface combatants to operate in shallow waters close to shore, clearing mines to make way for other ships.

The class consists of two variants. USS Fort Worth is a mono-hulled Freedom-class LCS built in Marinette, Wis. The trimaran-hulled Independence variant was built in Mobile, Ala.

The Navy planned to buy up to 35 Littoral Combat Ships and currently has 27.

A 2022 Government Accountability Office report found that the littoral ships were less likely than other types of Navy ships to survive combat. The ships also had design and mechanical problems that increased maintenance time.

“The Navy hasn’t demonstrated that this type of ship can perform its intended missions,” the GAO report said.

After the Freedom-variant ships were originally scheduled for decommissioning in 2022, the Navy instead used USS Fort Worth as a largely in-port test bed in San Diego for new technology.

“As an operational unit and test platform, Fort Worth and its crew played an important role in the defense of our nation and maritime freedom,” the Navy said in a statement Wednesday.

The Navy said the decommissioning savings would go toward maintaining other Navy objectives.

“By retiring early-hull test platforms like Fort Worth, the Navy redirects investments toward upgrading the remaining LCS inventory with enhanced capabilities,” the Navy said in a statement Wednesday.

The early retirement will help ensure “the active ships remain relevant, combat-credible, and reliable throughout their service lives,” the Navy said.

The crew of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth participate in the ship’s decommissioning ceremony held at Naval Base San Diego, July 29, 2026. (Kassandra Alanis/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy Cmdr. Dana Canby, commanding officer of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth, discusses the legacy and service of the sailors who served aboard Fort Worth during the ship’s decommissioning ceremony held aboard Naval Base San Diego, July 29, 2026. (Kassandra Alanis/U.S. Navy)

The crew of the Freedom-class variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth stand by on the bow during the ship’s decommissioning ceremony, held at Naval Base San Diego, July 29, 2026. (Nate Jordan/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy sailors disembark the Freedom-class variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth during the ship’s decommissioning ceremony, held at Naval Base San Diego, July 29, 2026. (Nate Jordan/U.S. Navy)

The Scripps Ranch High School Air Force JROTC Unit (CA-935th) stand by during the decommissioning ceremony of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth, held aboard Naval Base San Diego, July 29, 2026. (Kassandra Alanis/U.S. Navy)

U.S. Navy sailors lower the commissioning pennant onboard the Freedom-class variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth during the ship’s decommissioning ceremony, held at Naval Base San Diego, July 29, 2026. (Nate Jordan/U.S. Navy)

Distinguished visitors tour the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth ahead of its decommissioning ceremony aboard Naval Base San Diego, July 28, 2026. (Kassandra Alanis/U.S. Navy)

Distinguished visitors tour the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth ahead of its decommissioning ceremony aboard Naval Base San Diego, July 28, 2026. (Kassandra Alanis/U.S. Navy)