The U.S. Navy commissioned the 19th and final Independence-class littoral combat ship today. The USS Pierre officially entered service, at a time when the Navy is looking to scrap or repurpose littoral combat ships.

The Navy welcomed the Pierre into service with a ceremony in Panama City, Florida. Elected representatives and Navy officials, including Navy Secretary John Phelan, spoke at the event. Phelan called the commissioning of the USS Pierre a “critical step” in strengthening the Navy. Cmdr. Justin Guernsey, the ship’s commanding officer, took the time to praise the more than 110 members of the crew.

“To my coyotes, these past few months you’ve had the opportunity to become intimately familiar with the performance and capabilities of the Navy’s newest fighting ship,” Guernsey said t

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