Report: USS Freedom Suffered Minor Bilge Flooding

October 22, 2013 1:08 PM
USS Freedom (LCS 1) is underway in the Straits of Singapore on Aug. 16, 2013. US Navy Photo
USS Freedom (LCS 1) is underway in the Straits of Singapore on Aug. 16, 2013. US Navy Photo

The U.S. Navy’s first Littoral Combat Ship suffered minor flooding in port, according to a Monday report in Navy Times.

USS Freedom (LCS-1) was found to have three feet of water in the ship’s bilge in the bottom of the ship on Oct. 20.

Navy officials said a seawater service pipe ruptured causing the flooding and will result in only a “minimal operational impact,” of the ship, U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesman Capt. Darryn James told the paper.

Navy Times reported, “ a half-inch rupture was discovered in the discharge piping of the No. 1 gas turbine motor lube oil cooler. It is not yet clear whether the problem is due to a manufacturing defect, an installation problem, or some other issue.”

The crew was able to pump out the water and the ship — which was docked at the time — was never at risk.

The ship was scheduled for a limited underway period on Monday but will spend the time pier side at the Changi Naval Base in Singapore.

A problem with Freedom’s generators sidelined the ship in July and the Navy says it identified a series of problems and has scheduled changes for later ships in the class.

Freedom is scheduled to depart Singapore next month and return to homeport Naval Station San Diego by the end of the year.

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone

Sam LaGrone is the editor of USNI News. He has covered legislation, acquisition and operations for the Sea Services since 2009 and spent time underway with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and the Canadian Navy.
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