USS Freedom to visit the Philippines during "Araw ng Kagitingan"

As the nation celebrates “Araw ng Kagitingan”, the United States Navy’s (USN) first littoral combat ship, USS Freedom (LCS 1), will arrive in Manila Tuesday for its firs port visit in Southeast Asia.

US authorities stressed the visit is not related to the on-going PH-US Balikatan Exercise, which opened April 5.

The US embassy, nonetheless, said Freedom’s visit in Manila highlights the strong historic, community, and military relations between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines.

It added the  port visit will also give the crew of the Freedom an opportunity to refuel and receive supplies for the next period of its eight-month deployment.

For Freedom’s Filipino-American crew members, their stop in Manila will be an opportunity for them to take time off with their relatives and friends.  The families of Filipino-American Sailors aboard Freedom hail from Manila, Quezon, Tarlac, and Zambales.

After its brief visit in Manila, the ship will proceed to Singapore, where it is scheduled to participate in the International Maritime Defense Exhibition and Conference.  The ship is also expected to take part in select phases of the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise series in Southeast Asia.

Freedom left its homeport of San Diego in California March 1 to venture out to the Asia – Pacific on its maiden deployment.

Adm. Cecil Haney, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, has said: “Freedom’s maiden deployment is another clear signal of the Navy’s enduring commitment to maintain security and stability in the vital Asia-Pacific region.”

“Rotationally deploying our new littoral combat ships improves our warfighting capability and directly supports the Navy’s rebalance strategy to the Asia-Pacific,” he added.

On the other hand, Vice Adm. Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, said Freedom’s deployment to the region  is a tremendous opportunity for the USN to bring its newest capability forward to conduct maritime security operations, port visits, and exercises with US allies, partners and friends alongside other 7th Fleet units.

The ship arrived at the US 7th Fleet area of responsibility second week of March.

The USN said that during the first LCS deployment, Freedom will demonstrate her operational capabilities and allow the Navy to evaluate crew rotation and maintenance plans.

Fast, agile, and mission-focused, LCS platforms are designed to employ modular mission packages that can be configured for three separate purposes: surface warfare, mine countermeasures, or anti-submarine warfare.

Since departing San Diego March 1, Freedom transited the Pacific Ocean, visited Hawaii and Guam where it made its or first 7th Fleet port visit.

Commanded by Cmdr. Timothy Wilke, Freedom is initially manned by her “Gold” crew of 91 Sailors to include mission package personnel and an aviation detachment to operate an embarked MH-60 helicopter. 

USS Freedom to visit the Philippines during "Araw ng Kagitingan"