BY JESSICA MCCLANAHAN Office of Corporate Communications, NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Jacksonville
The U.S. Navy’s newest Independence class littoral combat ship (ILS), USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), sailed away September 28 from the shipbuilder’s lot at Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama to join the fleet. She is the fifth U.S. Navy vessel to be named after the city of Cincinnati, Ohio.
At christening, former Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus acknowledged the relationship between Cincinnati’s regional economy, shipbuilding, and the U.S. Navy. Mabus noted, Cincinnati is “home to the headquarters of GE Aviation, which builds and manages the engines for several of our [U.S. Navy] ships and aircraft.”
The ship bears a subtle tribute to the University of Cincinnati’s motto “Juncta Juvant,” translated from Latin to “Strength in Unity” which is emblazoned on the ship’s crest. This is particularly significant to NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) logisticians embedded with Naval Sea System’s Command (NAVSEA) at Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion, and Repair (SUPSHIP) activities, and in shipyards across the United States. Currently, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville has logisticians supporting six shipyards, in three states, performing logistics functions for new construction of nine separate platforms.
Working in concert, NAVSUP, NAVSEA, and Austal USA overcame complexities inherent in the ILS process, to ensure USS Cincinnati is delivered to operating forces in a high state of supply readiness.
Logisticians from NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville Site SUPSHIP Gulf Coast processed several incremental stock number sequence lists during the ships new construction. This resulted in more than 2,980 requisitions for government-furnished materiel. Prior to sail away, the ship was outfitted with over 5,600 line items of onboard repair parts, operating space items, and authorized medical and dental allowance list items. These initial outfitting items form the basis of the ship’s consolidated shipboard allowance list, enabling the ship to sustain operation at sea.
Responsible for the provisioning and outfitting of the ILS platform, Platform Manager Jody Dillon proudly stated, “The Cincinnati’s supply readiness is at 98.86% prior to sail away, and exceeds the CNO goal for new construction.”
The ship’s was commissioned October 5 in Gulfport, Mississippi, prior to being homeported in San Diego, California.