“Mobile’s first deployment to the 7th Fleet was incredibly successful, and we are extremely proud of the achievements of both crews,” said Capt. Douglas Meagher, commodore of Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One. “Mobile operated jointly with other U.S. Navy assets and with international allies and partners to not only strengthen our relationships, but also to demonstrate the tactical capabilities and strategic value of littoral combat ships.”
Mobile participated in South China Sea Freedom of Navigation, Maritime Domain Awareness and Patrols alongside the Philippine Navy, Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Thailand 2023, the Langkawi International Maritime Aerospace Exhibition 2023 in Malaysia (LIMA 2023) , and Noble Dingo with the Royal Australian Navy. Mobile also participated in trilateral exercises alongside the French Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, multinational maritime cooperation exercises with the Philippine Navy, the Royal Australian Navy and the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and bilateral operations with the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Italian navy.
“I am extremely proud of the resilience and self-sufficiency our Sailors demonstrated during deployment,” said Cmdr. David Gardner, Mobile Gold crew commander. “Mobile operated outside the normal U.S. Navy logistics umbrella for extended periods, necessitating deliberate planning and sometimes time-critical actions to ensure Mobile’s full mission readiness despite the lengthy operations and distance to support from the shore. The man hours and money saved through Mobile’s self-sufficiency and ‘can do’ mentality were key to our success.”
Mobile was showcased at the International Maritime Defense Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2023 at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base. The exhibition included displays and tours of 22 warships from 13 countries.
Mobile participated in CARAT Thailand 2023, a bilateral exercise between Thailand and the United States aimed at promoting regional security cooperation, sustaining and strengthening maritime partnerships, and improving maritime interoperability.
Mobile was an active participant in LIMA 2023, which brought together industry stakeholders, government and military officials from more than a dozen countries focused on the maritime and space sectors for defense, civil and commercial applications. In addition to exhibitions, forums and conferences, LIMA 23 also organized various activities such as cultural exchanges, flight simulators, technology talks and career fairs for participants.
Mobile conducted bilateral operations with the Royal Navy in the South China Sea to enhance allied interoperability and execute complex scenarios to improve combined readiness. The operation was followed by a separate bilateral operation with the Italian Navy, which also took place in the South China Sea.
“These sailors return to their families with significant operational experience. Given the nature of our minimum crew, each of these Sailors has accumulated hundreds of hours of experience in specialized evolutions, both in real-world events and through training while deployed,” said Gardner. “The result is that mobile sailors are highly qualified and progress quickly in their careers. Mobile displays both the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and Surface Warfare Officer pennants as a visual indication of our highly combat-qualified team.”
Mobile is homeported in San Diego as part of Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One. Littoral combat ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-dedicated surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st century threats. LCS integrates with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control and deterrence missions worldwide.
For more news from Commander Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/comlcsron1/ or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/COMLCSRONONE/.
