USS Canberra (LCS 30) Commissions in Sydney

23 July 2023

From Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

SYDNEY, NSW, Australia - Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) commissioned at the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base East in Sydney, Australia, July 22.

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The crew of the Navy's newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) brings the ship to life with sailors from the HMAS Canberra during the U.S. ship’s commissioning ceremony in Sydney, Australia July 22, 2023. Canberra is the second U.S. Navy ship named for Australia’s capital.

SYDNEY (July 22, 2023) The crew of the Navy's newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) brings the ship to life with sailors from the HMAS Canberra during the U.S. ship’s commissioning ceremony in Sydney, Australia July 22, 2023. Canberra is the second U.S. Navy ship named for Australia’s capital. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mark D. Faram)

During the ceremony, leaders and distinguished guests from the U.S. and Australia wished the crew of Canberra fair winds and following seas as they brought the ship to life and began its commissioned service.

Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, delivered the commissioning ceremony's principal address. The ceremony also featured remarks from His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley, AC, DSC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Honorable Caroline Kennedy, U.S. Ambassador to Australia, the Honourable Richard Marles, Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Adm. Michael Gilday, U.S. Chief of Naval Operations, Vice Adm. Mark Hammond, Royal Australian Chief of Navy, and Mr. Larry Ryder, Vice President of Business Development and Government Affairs, Austal USA. The commissioning caps a weeklong series of events celebrating the ship and its namesake city. During the ceremony, Canberra’s commanding officer Cmdr. Will Ashley, reported the ship ready, and ship sponsor, Honourable Marise Payne, the former Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs, gave the traditional order to “Man our ship and bring her to life!”

U.S. Admiral Michael Gilday, 32nd Chief of Naval Operations, and Australian Vice Admiral Chief of Navy Mark Hammond applaud while U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aiyanah Cruz and Australia Navy Able Seaman Matilda Brown unveil a kangaroo-shaped funnel emblem that will adorn the U.S. Navy's newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) during the ship’s commissioning ceremony in Sydney, Australia July 22, 2023.

SYNDEY - U.S. Admiral Michael Gilday, 32nd Chief of Naval Operations, and Australian Vice Admiral Chief of Navy Mark Hammond applaud while U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aiyanah Cruz and Australia Navy Able Seaman Matilda Brown unveil a kangaroo-shaped funnel emblem that will adorn the U.S. Navy's newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) during the ship’s commissioning ceremony in Sydney, Australia July 22, 2023. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)

"This truly is a special occasion for our fleet and our nation to be here with you in Australia, one of our closest allies, to celebrate the commissioning of our Navy’s newest warship that is destined to serve throughout the Indo-Pacific region," said Del Toro. "I am confident that wherever USS Canberra is sailing, and whatever challenges her crew may face, they are ready, as reinforced by this warship’s motto — 'Can Do!'"

Canberra departed its homeport of Naval Base San Diego for the first U.S. Navy ceremonial commissioning in Australia on June 13, visiting American Samoa and the Pacific Island Nation of Fiji prior to its arrival in Sydney for commissioning. Independence-variant littoral combat ships USS Jackson (LCS 6), USS Manchester (LCS 14), USS Oakland (LCS 24), and USS Mobile (LCS 26) are also operating in the Indo-Pacific.

Sailors aboard the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) man the rails of the ship during entry into Sydney, NSW, Australia. USS Canberra will be ceremoniously commissioned at the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base East in Sydney, Australia, on July 22, 2023. The crew will also conduct a namesake visit to the Australian Captial Territory of Canberra on July 23, 2023. USS Canberra’s commissioning is the embodiment of more than 100 years of mateship, and a reminder of the shared responsibility the U.S. and Australia have to each other as allies. Our continued commitment to strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and collaboration with regional partners supports a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.

SYDNEY (July 18, 2023) Sailors aboard the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Canberra (LCS 30) man the rails of the ship during entry into Sydney, NSW, Australia. USS Canberra will be ceremoniously commissioned at the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Base East in Sydney, Australia, on July 22, 2023. The crew will also conduct a namesake visit to the Australian Captial Territory of Canberra on July 23, 2023. USS Canberra’s commissioning is the embodiment of more than 100 years of mateship, and a reminder of the shared responsibility the U.S. and Australia have to each other as allies. Our continued commitment to strengthening bilateral defense cooperation and collaboration with regional partners supports a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mark D. Faram)

“Today marks a proud moment which our Royal Australian Navy is privileged to share alongside our allies and friends in the United States Navy,” said Australian Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. “The connection between our navies, forged in battle during the Second World War, is reflected in the name USS Canberra.”

Earlier in the week, Sailors from USS Canberra engaged in sporting events, shared meals, and exchanged ship tours with the crew of HMAS Canberra. The crew also participated in community relations events like a beach clean-up with the Taronga zoo.

Crewmembers are also honored to visit their namesake city, Canberra, for a Freedom of Entry march on July 23. The U.S. Navy has a strong tradition of developing relationships between a ship and their namesake community or family, establishing these enduring ties at the beginning of Canberra’s service will strengthen bonds between the ship and the people of Canberra. This tradition dates to medieval times and is the highest accolade bestowed by a town or city upon a group or individual as a reflection of trust and confidence held by the citizens. Canberra is recognized as a great innovative, creative, and artistic city and is one of the world’s most livable cities.

USS Canberra commanding officers Cmdr. Will Ashley and Cmdr. Bobby Barber raise their swords to begin the Freedom of Entry march in Canberra, Australia, July 23, 2023. Being granted Freedom of Entry allows a military unit to march through the streets with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and ensigns flying. This is the first time an Australian city has granted the honor to a foreign military unit.

SYNDEY - USS Canberra commanding officers Cmdr. Will Ashley and Cmdr. Bobby Barber raise their swords to begin the Freedom of Entry march in Canberra, Australia, July 23, 2023. Being granted Freedom of Entry allows a military unit to march through the streets with swords drawn, bayonets fixed, drums beating, bands playing and ensigns flying. This is the first time an Australian city has granted the honor to a foreign military unit. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)

Canberra is the second U.S. Navy ship named for Australia’s capital. The first, a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser, was renamed from Pittsburgh to Canberra on October 16, 1942, and was commissioned on October 14, 1943. It was named in honor of the Australian heavy cruiser HMAS Canberra, which was lost at the Battle of Savo Island in World War II. The ship was decommissioned on February 2, 1970, and was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register on July 31, 1978.

Independence-variant littoral combat ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.

Australia welcomed the USS Canberra to Sydney Harbour, with HMAS Canberra guiding the Independence-variant littoral combat ship to berth alongside Fleet Base East ahead of the formal commissioning on 22 July. The crews of HMAS Canberra and USS Canberra will focus on joint activities during commissioning week, including playing sport, ship tours and sharing their countries' culture and traditions. This ceremonial commissioning emphasizes the more than 100 years of mateship built on friendship, history, democracy, and respect. The two countries have fought side-by-side in every major conflict since World War I. Canberra’s namesake is a reminder of the shared responsibility the U.S. and Australia have to each other as allies.

For more news from Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One, visit https://www.surfpac.navy.mil/comlcsron1/ or follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/COMLCSRONONE/.