| 05 Jul 11 | • | - | U.S. Navy decides to name next LCS (LCS 9) USS Little Rock. |
| 06 Jul 11 | • | - | Ray Mabus, Secretary of the Navy calls USS Little Rock Association during the Association's Reunion Banquet and announces that LCS9 will be named Little Rock! (Loud Applause!) |
| 15 Jul 11 | • | - | Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the next Freedom-Class littoral combat ship (LCS) will be named the USS Little Rock LCS 9. |
| 05 Oct 11 | • | - | Navy holds "Ship Naming Ceremony" |
| 27 Jun 13 | • | - | Navy celebrates the keel laying of the future USS Little Rock LCS 9 at the Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, WI. Ship sponsor Janee Bonner (wife of U.S. Rep. Joe Bonner of Alabama) authenticated the keel by having her signature welded into it. |
| 07 Aug 14 | • | - | Navy announces that USS Little Rock LCS 9 will be based at Mayport, Florida. |
| 27 Mar 15 | • | - | The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Little Rock was moved from the Hull Block Erection Building #10 for the first time, mounted on Self Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMT's), and completed a 180 degree turn on land before resting at the waterfront of the Menominee River in Marinette, Wis. |
| 18 Jul 15 | • | - | PCU Little Rock was christened and launched during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony at Marinette Marine Shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin. Ms. Janee L. Bonner, the wife of former U.S. representative Josiah R. Bonner, Jr., (R-Ala.), served as sponsor of the ship. CDR Kevin W. Ralston is the CO of LCS Crew 109, and CDR Paul R. Burkhard is CO of LCS Crew 109. Comments included remarks by the Honorable Ray Mabus - Secretary of the Navy and member of the USS LITTLE ROCK Association. (Click HERE to see comments.) |
| 08 Jan 16 | • | - | Mayport, FL - LCS Crew 109 became the first Naval Station Mayport LCS crew to be commissioned. The event was held at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center. |
| 16 Apr 16 | • | - | The Navy announces that the new USS Little Rock will be commissioned at Canalside in Buffalo, NY alongside the "old" USS Little Rock. This will be the first time in U.S. Navy history that this has been done. The new combat vessel will join the Navy's fleet during ceremonies on the city's waterfront later this year or early next year. |
| 09 Nov 16 | • | - | LCS 9 Departs Marinette shipyard for the first time to conduct Builder's sea trials on Lake Michigan. |
| 14 Nov 16 | • | - | Day-long underway for Bravo trials.
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| 03 Aug | • | - | PCU Little Rock (Crew 109), commanded by CDR Todd D. Peters, departed Marinette shipyard for a one-day underway to conduct sea trials, after piersided for nine months; Underway again from Aug. 7-8 and Aug. 11-12; Brief underway on Aug. 17; Day-long underway for acceptance trials on Aug. 23. |
| 07-17 Aug | • | - | Underway at various times for testing. |
| 23 Aug | • | - | Underway for acceptance trials. |
| 04 Sep | • | - | Future Littoral Combat Ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) has completed its acceptance trials, attaining the highest score of the five Freedom-class LCS vessels completed to date. During the five-day trial, it completed a full-power run along with all associated steering and maneuvering events and also surface and air self-defense detect-to-engage exercises, as well as demonstrating the performance of the ship's propulsion plant, auxiliary systems and the ship's handling. Manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Fincantieri Marinette Marine are now preparing Little Rock for delivery to the Navy in the coming weeks. |
| 25 Sep | • | - | U.S. Navy officially accepted delivery of the LCS 9 during a short ceremony at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Corp. Shipyard. |
| 01 Dec | • | - | The Little Rock departed Marinette, Wis., for the last time. |
| 02 Dec | • | - | Transited the Strait of Mackinac. |
| 03 Dec | • | - | Transited the Detroit River |
| 04 Dec | • | - | PCU Little Rock moored at Canalside waterfront in downtown Buffalo, N.Y., in preparation for its commissioning ceremony. |
| 15 Dec | • | - | Gold Star Mothers host a special luncheon for the crew of Little Rock LCS 9. |
| 16 Dec | • | - | USS Little Rock was commissioned during an 11 a.m. EDT ceremony in Buffalo, New York. This is the first time in the U.S. Navy's 242-year history that a new ship is commissioned alongside its namesake, the ex-USS Little Rock (CL 92, CLG 4 & CG 4), at the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park. Commanding Officer of LCS 9 is CDR Todd Peters, Executive Officer is CDR Lenard Mitchell, and Command Master Chief is MCPO Joseph Reynolds. |
| 20-21 Dec | • | - | The Little Rock departed Buffalo en route to its homeport of Mayport, Florida; Moored at Wharf 16 in Port Colborne, Ontario, to refuel. on Dec. 21. |
| 21 Dec | • | - | Transited the Welland Canal |
| 22-23 Dec | • | - | Entered the St. Lawrence River on Dec. 22; Moored at Snell Lock lower wall in Massena, N.Y., from Dec. 22-23. |
| 24 Dec | • | - | USS Little Rock (Crew 109) moored at Berth 33 in Port of Montreal, Quebec, for an extended visit due to a frozen river. |
| 4 Jan | • | - | LCS 9 moved to Berth 48. |
| 16 Jan | • | - | Moved back to Berth 33. |
| 19 Jan | • | - | Moved to Berth M2, MacKay Wharf. |
| 05 Mar | • | - | Moved to Berth 52. |
| 31 Mar | • | - | Departed Montreal |
| 03 Apr | • | - | LCS 9 moored at HMC Dockyard Jetty NB4 on Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a three-day port visit. |
| 08-09 Apr | • | - | Moored at Quay Wall East in Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. |
| 11 Apr | • | - | Arrived in the Jacksonville Op. Area |
| 12 Apr | • | - | USS Little Rock moored at Berth 2, Delta Wharf in its homeport of Naval Station Mayport, Fla., after more than a four-month transit from Marinette, Wis. |
| 20 Apr | • | - | The Little Rock departed Naval Station Mayport for routine operations. |
| 23-25 Apr | • | - | Moored at Berth 6, Pier 10 in Naval Station Norfolk, Va. |
| 2? Apr | • | - | Returned to Mayport. |
| 20 May | • | - | Underway en route to New York. |
| 23 May | • | - | USS Little Rock moored at Homeport Pier in Stapleton, Staten Island, N.Y., for a six-day port visit to participate in the annual Fleet Week New York City. |
| 23-29 May | • | - | USS Little Rock moored at Homeport Pier, 305 Front Street, Staten Island, NY for a six-day port visit to participate in "Fleet Week New York City". Ship was open for tours |
| 30 May | • | - | Moored at Pier 16S on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story for a brief stop. |
| 01 Jun | • | - | Returned to Mayport, FL. |
| 19 Jul | • | - | USS Little Rock moved from Wharf D3 to Wharf C2 on Naval Station Mayport for a brief stop. |
| ? Jul | • | - | Underway. |
| 6-10 Jul | • | - | Moored at Berth 6, Pier 12 on Naval Station Norfolk. |
| 16 Jul | • | - | Moored at Wharf D3 at NavSta Mayport. |
| 2? Jul | • | - | Underway. |
| 27 Jul | • | - | The Little Rock moored at Berth 5, Pier 4 on Naval Station Norfolk for a one-day port call. |
| 28 Jul | • | - | Moored at deperming crib on Lambert's Point Magnetic Treatment Facility in Norfolk for a brief DEPERM. |
| ? Aug | • | - | Returned to Mayport. |
| 04 Oct | • | - | USS Little Rock moored at Wharf D2 on Naval Station Mayport after underway for Final Contract Trials (FCT). |
| 09 Nov | • | - | The Rotational LCS Crew 115 (Gold), commanded by CDR Tyrone Bush, assumed command of the LCS 9 during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship. |
| 30 Nov | • | - | CDR Lenard C. Mitchell relieved CDR Todd D. Peters as CO of the LCS Crew 109 (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony at the Mayport Beacon. |
| ? Dec | • | - | The Little Rock entered the dry-dock at BAE Systems Jacksonville Ship Repair facility on Fanning Island, Fla., for a Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). |
| 26 Feb | • | - | USS Little Rock undocked and moored pierside on BAE Systems shipyard. |
| 07 Jun | • | - | The Rotational LCS Crew 109 (Blue) assumed command of the Little Rock during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship. |
| 15 Jun | • | - | The Navy's Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21), is christened during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony on Saturday, June 15, in Marinette, Wisconsin. |
| 19 Jul | • | - | USS Little Rock moved "dead-stick" from BAE Systems shipyard to Wharf D3 on Naval Station Mayport. |
| 09 Aug | • | - | Brief underway for sea trials. |
| 22 Aug | • | - | USS Billings LCS 15 moved to Wharf D3, outboard USS Little Rock LCS 9. |
| 30 Aug | • | - | Emergency sortie all ships due to approaching Hurricane Chantal. |
| 09 Sep | • | - | CDR Bradley D. Long relieved CDR Tyrone Bush as CO of the LCS 9 Gold Crew during a change-of-command ceremony on Naval Station Mayport. |
| 02 Oct | • | - | The Navy's Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), is christened during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony Saturday, Oct. 5, in Gulfport, Mississippi. |
| 06 Dec | • | - | The Rotational LCS Crew 115 (Gold) assumed command of the Little Rock during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship. |
| 17 Dec | • | - | USS Little Rock moored at Wharf C2 on Naval Station Mayport after a one-day underway in the Jacksonville Op. Area. |
| 18 Dec | • | - | Underway. |
| 19 Dec | • | - | Moored at Wharf D3, Naval Station Mayort. |
| 06 Jan | • | - | USS Little Rock LCS9 moved from Delta Wharf to Wharf C2 at Naval Station Mayport |
| 13 Jan | • | - | Underway. |
| 15 Jan | • | - | Moored at Wharf D3, Naval Station Mayport. |
| 20 Jan | • | - | Little Rock made a brief stop at Wharf C1 before mooring at Wharf D3, after one-day underway in the Jacksonville Op. Area. |
| ?? Jan | • | - | The Navy announces Little Rock will be equipped with a laser weapon system, most likely the 150-kilowatt class HELIOS system developed by Lockheed Martin. |
| 05 Feb | • | - | Moved to Wharf C2 for ammo on-load. |
| 06 Feb | • | - | USS Little Rock (Gold) departs on her maiden deployment to U.S. Southern Command Area of Responsibility (AoR) with embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 22 Det. 4 operating with U.S. 4th Fleet. A U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment, and an aviation detachment will operate an embarked MH-60 helicopter and MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Vehicles. The ship is expected to conduct operations targeting international drug trafficking in Central American coastal waters. This will be the third deployment of an LCS in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South's Campaign MARTILLO. CDR Brad Long, Little Rock's Gold Crew's commanding officer said:
"I expect this deployment to offer a great opportunity to work together with regional partners throughout Southern Command Area of Responsibility. We hope to advance and strengthen these partnerships to enhance the security in that region." |
| 08 Feb | • | - | Little Rock transited southbound, approximately 20 NM off the coast of Miami, Florida, just after midnight; and then transited eastbound, approximately 12 NM off the coast of Jardines del Rey, Cuba, just before midnight. |
| 10 Feb | • | - | Moored at Bravo Wharf at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. |
| 11 Feb | • | - | Moved to Pier A. |
| 14 Feb | • | - | Underway. |
| 21 Feb | • | - | LCS 9 moored again at Bravo Wharf, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. |
| 28 Feb | • | - | The Navy's Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Cooperstown (LCS 23), is christened during a 10 a.m. CDT ceremony Saturday, Feb. 29, in Marinette, Wisconsin. |
| ?? Mar | • | - | In March 2020 a failure occurred in USS Little Rock's combining gear system which links the ship's gas turbines and diesel engines, to the main drive shaft to in order to achieve the ship's 40-knot top speed. |
| 08 May | • | - | Change of Command ceremony held at the Ocean Breeze Conference Center, Naval Station Mayport |
| CDR Lenard Mitchell was properly relieved as Commanding Officer and CDR Brian Crosby officially assumed the duties and responsibilities as Commanding Officer of USS LITTLE ROCK's Blue Crew | |||
| 26 May | • | - | The Little Rock moved from Delta Wharf to Wharf C2 on Naval Station Mayport; Moved back to Wharf D2 on May 28. |
| 31 Jul | • | - | The Rotational LCS Crew 109 (Blue) assumed command of the Little Rock during a crew exchange ceremony aboard the ship. |
| 05 Aug | • | - | LITTLE ROCK moved "dead-stick" from Naval Station Mayport, FL to BAE Systems shipyard. |
| 06 Aug | • | - | USS Little Rock (LCS 9) successfully enters dry dock BAE Systems Shipyard in Jacksonville, FL |
| 12 Aug | • | - | BAE Systems' shipyard is working on three "LCS" ships: USS Indianapolis LCS 17, USS Billings LCS 15 and USS Little Rock LCS 9. |
| 15 Dec | • | - | The Navy has determined that a flaw in the Freedom-class LCS's combining gear is an engineering defect that Lockheed Martin will have to fix. In March 2020 a failure occurred in Little Rock's combining gear system which links the ship's gas turbines and diesel engines, to the main drive shaft to in order to achieve the ship's 40-knot top speed. |
| 21 Jan 21 | • | - | According to the Maritime Executive, the world's largest maritime media platform covering maritime news . . . . . . .
"The U.S. Navy says that it will not be taking delivery of any more Freedom-class littoral combat ships (LCSs) until lead contractor Lockheed Martin has fixed a major problem with the vessel's combining gear, the transmission that marries power input from the vessel's diesel engines and gas turbines."The article continues "Planned orders for both LCS variants have been trimmed back in favor of a new conventional frigate design (the FFG(X)), but the Navy has already contracted for 16 Freedom-class vessels. The first two in the series are slated for early decommissioning, eight are in service or repair, and the final six are in various stages of construction."In addition, Defense News reports that the temporary operating restrictions will limit the service's current LCS fleet to a top speed of 34 knots rather than the normal 40-plus knots until the retrofit process is complete. |
| 01 Apr 21 | • | - | Blue Crew / Warhawgs were out today serving the community picking up trash along Atlantic Blvd. |
| • | - | Warhawg's Chiefs' Mess celebrated the 128th CPO birthday with a presentation and a cake cutting ceremony. | |
| 22 Jan 22 | • | - | Littoral combat ship Little Rock lost power while operating at sea and had to return to
port on 22 Jan 2022 according to a Navy. Click HERE for full story. |