More Troubles For The US Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship As The USS Freedom Suffers Engine Problems

The Freedom underway in Singapore on May 17. (MC1 Jay C. Pugh/US Navy)

LCS Suffers Engine Problem -- Defense News

WASHINGTON — The USS Freedom, first of the US Navy’s littoral combat ships, was forced to return to port in Singapore Tuesday after sediment was discovered in the ship’s lube oil system.

The incident took place days after the ship concluded a successful appearance at a major defense exhibition in Singapore, where the Freedom attracted significant interest.

According to Capt. Darryn James, a Navy spokesman for the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, the ship was only a few hours out of Singapore when the problem was discovered.

“After getting underway on the morning of May 21 (May 20 in Hawaii), USS Freedom returned to Changi Naval Base approximately 8 hours later after the crew detected sediment in the ship’s lube oil system,” James said in an emailed statement. The ship “returned to port under its own power and at no time was the crew in any danger.

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Update: USS Freedom Cuts Short Initial Singapore Underway -- Aviation Week

My Comment: So much for using the USS Freedom to push LCS exports.