The Freedom (LCS 1) is the lead ship of the Freedom-class of littoral combat ships (LCS) and the third United States Navy ship to be named for the concept of freedom. The construction contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin's LCS team (Lockheed Martin, Gibbs & Cox, Marinette Marine, Bollinger Shipyards) in May 2004. Marinette Marine Corp. in Marinette, Wisconsin, began construction of the ship in February and the keel was laid down on June 2, 2005.

September 23, 2006 The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Freedom was christened during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Marinette Marine shipyard in Marinette, Wis. Mrs. Birgit Smith served as the ship's sponsor. She is the widow of Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul Ray Smith, who was killed in action in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. LCS 1 will be manned by one of two rotational crews, Blue and Gold, similar to the rotational crews assigned to Trident submarines. The crews will be augmented by one of three mission package crews during focused mission assignments. The CO of the Blue Crew is Cmdr. Donald Gabrielson and the Gold is commanded by Cmdr. Michael P. Doran.

On April 25, 2007, a fire erupted at Marinette Marine, damaged the PCU Freedom and sustained significant damage. The ship was 80% completed.

April 25, 2008 Lockheed Martin and Marinette Marine Corp. successfully demonstrated the first "light-off" of one of Freedom's two main gas turbine propulsion engines in Marinette, Wis. Testing of the Rolls Royce MT-30 gas turbine engine is a significant step as the ship prepares for sea trials this summer.

July 28, The Freedom underway for first time from Marinette, Wisconsin, to conduct Builder's (Alpha) trials; Underway for acceptance trials on Aug. 20.

September 18, Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast officially accepted delivery of the Freedom on behalf of the Navy from the Lockheed Martin/Marinette Marine/Gibbs and Cox team in Marinette, Wis.

October 27, The Freedom arrived in Duluth, Minn., for a scheduled port visit.

November 8, USS Freedom is commissioned during a ceremony at Veterans Park, Milwaukee, Wis.

November 11, The Freedom moored at Seaway Terminal in Port Huron, Mich., for a brief port call to conduct emergent repairs and to refuel.

November 16, After a port visit to Cleveland, Ohio, from Nov. 13-15, the first littoral combat ship arrived in Buffalo, New York, for a brief port call, before continuing its voyage to NAB Little Creek for a year-long testing and evaluation; Inport Montreal, Quebec, from Nov. 20-21.

November 28, The littoral combat ship departed Quebec City after a week-long port call.

December 4, USS Freedom departed Halifax, Nova Scotia, after a three-day port visit.

December 5, The Freedom arrived in Boston, Mass., for a scheduled port call.

December 10, LCS 1 pulled into Annapolis, Md., for a visit to U.S. Naval Academy.

December 15, USS Freedom arrived in Norfolk Naval Station for post-delivery tests and sea trials. The ship will be primarily berthed at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and will remain in Hampton Roads until early 2010, when will change its homeport to San Diego.

May 4, 2009 USS Freedom arrived in Alexandria, Va., for a scheduled port visit.

May 22, The littoral combat ship completed a second round of acceptance trials that featured a successful four-hour, full-power run and both surface and air detect-to-engagement demonstrations of the ship's combat management system.

June 8, LCS 1 arrived in Charleston, S.C., to enjoy a break from the testing and evaluation phase.

September 17, The Freedom is currently undergoing its post-delivery test and trials period after completing a two-month industrial post-delivery availability (IPDA) at Colonna's Shipyard in Norfolk on Sept. 8.

September 28, The littoral combat ship is currently underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting flight deck certification.

November 12, USS Freedom (Blue), commanded by Cmdr. Kristy Doyle, pulled to Mayport Naval Station for a brief port visit, after a transit from Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, before conducting independent ship training and certification for its upcoming maiden deployment. The U.S. Navy announced Oct. 13 the decision to deploy the Freedom in early 2010 to the Southern Command and Pacific Command areas ahead of her originally scheduled deployment in 2012.

November 21, LCS 1 returned to Mayport after a five days of integrated training with the Gold Crew. The Freedom will conduct additional system testing and training before it heads into its final Integrated/Advanced Phase training with the U.S. Coast Guard in January.

January 26, 2010 USS Freedom (Gold) pulled to Mayport Naval Station to begin final preparations for its maiden deployment next month. The littoral combat ship completed a Continuous Maintenance Availability at Colonna's Shipyard in mid-January.

February 8, The Freedom returned to Mayport after completing final pre-deployment training and certification.

February 16, USS Freedom (Gold) departed Naval Station Mayport for its first operational deployment in support of counter-illicit trafficking operations and theater security cooperation in the U.S. 4th Fleet Area of Responsibility. The ship will also change its homeport to San Diego.

February 22, LCS 1 achieved its first drug seizure when it disrupted a high-speed "go-fast" vessel and recovered quarter of a ton of cocaine.

March 3, USS Freedom intercepted and captured a high-speed "go-fast" vessel carrying 1.5 tons of cocaine.

March 8, The littoral combat ship arrived in Colon, Panama, for refueling and stores replenishment.

March 11, LCS 1 disrupted a high-speed "go-fast" vessel and recovered 4,680 pounds of cocaine; Brief stop in Colon on March 18.

March 19, The Freedom pulled into Cartagena, Columbia, to begin the first theater security cooperation (TSC) port visit.

March 25, USS Freedom pulled into Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base for a scheduled port visit to Panama City after transiting the Panama Canal. During late February and early March, the Freedom operated out of Colon, Panama, and embarked members of the PPF during a series of CIT operations known as Operation Conjuntos.

March 31, LCS 1 achieved its fourth drug seizure when it disrupted a "go-fast" vessel with four suspects and recovered a ton of cocaine.

April 7, USS Freedom recorded another milestone after conducting integrated at-sea operations with USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) CSG, including the first ever refuling of littoral combat ship from an aircraft carrier.

April 10, The littoral combat ship arrived in Manzanillo, Mexico, for a scheduled port call.

April 23, USS Freedom arrived in its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego for the first time.

In early May, the Freedom moved to General Dynamics-NASSCO shipyard for repairs when issues developed with a waterjet, which is part of the ship's propulsion system.

June 16, USS Freedom (Blue) departed San Diego for a three-month underway period in support of exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010.

June 24, LCS 1 pulled into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, to take part in the first phase of 22nd RIMPAC.

July 31, Cmdr. James Edwards relieved Cmdr. Kris Doyle as CO of USS Freedom (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship at Pearl Harbor.

September 14, The Freedom is currently conducting the first major Pacific Fleet ordnance operation for an LCS-class vessel at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach, Calif.

September 23, During the operations off the coast of southern California, Sept. 12, the turbine blading had broken off and damaged the starboard-side Rolls-Royce MT30 engine. The ship returned to port using its diesel engines. The LCS-class ships will carry equipment, during the deployments, to change the engines, although the Freedom wasn’t yet carrying that gear when the engine was disabled. The broken one will be replaced at Naval Surface Warfare Center in Port Hueneme. USS Freedom was already scheduled to go to Port Hueneme, Calif., in late September to carry out handling exercises and tests of its mission modules.

The Northrop Grumman Corporation-built MQ-8B Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) achieved a significant development milestone when it flew its first test flights from the USS Freedom, off the coast of southern California, Nov. 13-24.

February 11, 2011 Cmdr. Matthew Weber relieved Cmdr. James R. Garner as CO of USS Freedom (Gold).

March 18, A 6-inch crack in the Freedom's hull, three and a half feet below the waterline in a weld seam between two steel plates, caused the ship to abort sea-keeping trials in mid-February and return to San Diego. Repairs were completed March 12, after a cofferdam was built and installed around the crack, during the scheduled repair period.

April 15, USS Freedom (Gold) recently departed San Diego for a shakedown cruise off the coast of southern California.

June 7, The littoral combat ship is currently underway for routine training in the SOCAL Op. Area; Underway for a Friends and Family Day Cruise on June 11.

June 27, LCS 1 entered the dry-dock at BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair facility for a four-month, $1.8 million worth, Post Shakedown Availability (PSA).

February 1, 2012 The Freedom suffered a failure of the port shaft mechanical seal during sea trials off the coast of southern California.

February 26, USS Freedom entered the graving dock at Naval Base San Diego for a six-week drydocking availability to repair the damaged shaft seal. Completed the two-month PSA-2 on March 28.

May 1, Cmdr. Patrick C. Thien relieved Cmdr. James Edwards as CO of the Freedom (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship.

May 30, USS Freedom successfully passed its Board of Inspection and Survey (INSURV) assessment during the Super Trial, from May 22-24. The trial follows an early May rigorous Type Commander (TYCOM) Material Readiness Inspection (TMI), that showed that half of the inspected areas were rated red, or no-go. The ship will continue on with Surface Warfare Mission Module test and evaluation through June.

July 9, USS Freedom commenced its final, 10-week, Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) while pierside at Naval Base San Diego.

July 27, Cmdr. Timothy B. Wilke relieved Cmdr. Matthew Weber as commanding officer of LCS 1 (Gold).

October 29, The Freedom (Gold) recently returned to homeport after conducting sea trials in the SOCAL Op. Area; Underway for local operations on Nov. 26.

January 2, 2013 USS Freedom (Blue) departed Naval Base San Diego for routine training.

January 15, The littoral combat ship recently entered the dry-dock at Naval Base San Diego for a month-long maintenance and to recive its new paint job, conceived and designed by the Blue Crew, the combination of flat black, haze gray, haze white and ocean gray. The scheme, approved by a panel of vice admirals, is similar to those used on Navy ships during World War II to confuse enemy observers; Underway for sea trials from Feb. 21-22.

March 1, USS Freedom (Gold), with an embarked one MH-60R Seahawk from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73 detachment, departed San Diego for its first major deployment. The ship will use the Changi Naval Base in Singapore as its forward-deployed base of operations, for approximately seven months.

March 11, LCS 1 arrived in Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for a three-day port call.

March 29, The Freedom pulled into Apra Harbor, Guam, for a five-day port call.

April 9, The littoral combat ship moored at Manila South Harbor, Republic of the Philippines, for a routine port call to refuel and pick up supplies; Arrived in Singapore on April 18; Emergent repairs to the faulty lube oil coolers in late April.

May 17, USS Freedom departed Singapore for local operations after participated in International Maritime Defense Exhibition Asia (IMDEX) from May 14-16; Held an "Open House" at Changi Naval Base from May 18-19.

May 21, The Freedom moored at Berth 7, Changi Naval Base after a brief underway, to conduct emergent repairs, after the crew detected sediment in the ship’s lube oil system.

June 11, LCS 1 departed Singapore for sea trials and to participate in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2013 exercise.

June 15, USS Freedom (Gold) moored at Tanjung Gelang Naval Base, in Kuantan, Malaysia, for a scheduled port call; Underway for at-sea phase of CARAT on June 18; Inport Kuantan again from June 21-23; Returned to Singapore in early July; Underway for at-sea phase of CARAT Singapore on July 19; Returned for emergent repairs to its diesel generators on July 20; Underway again from July 23-25; Underway for sea trials on July 30; Moored at Sembawang Terminal in Singapore for crew swap on Aug. 2.

August 8, USS Freedom (Blue) departed Sembawang for local operations. Moored at Berth 7, Changi Naval Base on Aug. 19; Underway for at-sea phase of annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise from Sept. 2-12; Underway for local operations from Sept. 23-30.

November 16, USS Freedom underway for the first time since late September after piersided for more than three weeks due to emergent repairs to its steerable water-jet hydraulic systems. The ship was previously scheduled to participate in CARAT Brunei from Nov. 14-20.

November 18, LCS 1 moored at Multi-purpose Terminal in Muara, Brunei, for a brief port call to refuel while en route to the Philippines to deliver medical supplies in support of Operation Damayan.

November 26, USS Freedom conducted a Passing Exercise (PASSEX) with the Bangladesh navy ship BNS Somudro Joy (F28).

November 29, The littoral combat ship pulled into Apra Harbor, Guam, for a routine port call.

December 13, The Freedom pulled into Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, for a three-day port call.

December 15, Cmdr. Roger D. Heinken, Jr., relieved Cmdr. Patrick C. Thien as CO of the USS Freedom (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

December 23, USS Freedom returned to Naval Base San Diego after a nearly ten-month deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

January 17, 2014 Cmdr. Michael R. Jarrett, Jr., relieved Cmdr. Timothy B. Wilke as CO of LCS 1 (Gold) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at San Diego.

March 7, The Freedom (Gold) recently departed homeport for local operations.

March 10, USS Freedom is currently underway three miles of the coast of Del Mar beach aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., for training drills with the Bravo Company, 1st Recon Bn. It was the first time the Marines used a littoral combat ship for the drills and determined that using an LCS gives the reconnaissance teams the ability to launch from the ship and be recovered at a greater distance out to sea.

March 18, The Freedom recently moored at Deperming Pier on Naval Base Point Loma for magnetic treatment (DEPERM).

April 25, LCS 1 departed Naval Base San Diego for a three-week underway to conduct its first combined operations with the MQ-8B Fire Scout and MH-60R Seahawk, assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 Det. 1.

June 17, USS Freedom recently commenced a Selected Restricted Availability (SRA) while moored at Pier 4 on Naval Base San Diego.

October 27, The Freedom (Blue) is currently underway for sea trials and in support of Task Group Exercise (TGEX).

February 1, 2015 USS Freedom (Gold) is currently underway for routine training in the SOCAL Op. Area.

February 20, The litoral combat ship returned to homeport after completing its Independent Deployer Certification Exercise (IDCERTEX).

March 9, USS Freedom recently moored at Pier 30/32 in San Francisco, Calif., for a brief port visit.

March 13, LCS 1 recently moored at Pier 1 in Port of Astoria, Oregon, for a brief stop to refuel; Inport San Francisco again from March 27-28.?

March 30, USS Freedom moored at Berth 2, Pier 4 on Naval Base San Diego after a 24-day underway for Rough Water Trials (RWT) off the coast of Oregon.

April 9, Cmdr. Michael L. Atwell relieved Cmdr. Roger D. Heinken, Jr., as CO of the USS Freedom (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

April 13, The Freedom (Blue) moored at Bravo Pier, Naval Air Station North Island for a brief stop before underway for local operations.

April 27, USS Freedom recently departed San Diego to participate in IDCERTEX with the USS Higgins (DDG 76), USS Chung-Hoon (DDG 93) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3; Returned home on May 5; Underway for local operations from June 11-12.

June 17, LCS 1 recently entered the graving dry-dock at 32nd Street for a four-month Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA).

September 11, Rotational LCS Crew 111, commanded by Cmdr. Michael D. Brasseur, assumed command of the Freedom during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship.

September 19, USS Freedom undocked and moored at Berth 2, Pier 5 on Naval Base San Diego.

February 19, 2016 The Freedom (Crew 111) departed homeport for a three-day underway to conduct sea trials, following an extended eight-month availability; Underway in support of Independent Deployer Certification Exercise (IDCERTEX) from April 1-11; Underway again on April 28; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 4 on May ?.

May 9, Rotational LCS Crew 106, commanded by Cmdr. Michael R. Wohnhaas, assumed command of the USS Freedom during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship.

July 9, USS Freedom departed Naval Base San Diego to participate in a multinational mine countermeasures exercise, off the coast of southern California, in support of Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2016; Returned home for emergent repairs on July 13; Underway again on July 19; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 4 on July 29.

August 3, The Southwest Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC) inspectors found a significant damage to the Freedom's main propulsion diesel engine (MPDE) #2, following a casualty on July 11 caused by a leak from the attached seawater pump mechanical seal. Based on initial assessments, the engine will need to be removed and rebuilt or replaced; Moved to Berth 2, Pier 5 on Sept. 28.

October 13, Vice Adm. Thomas S. Rowden, Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet relieved of duty Cmdr. Michael Wohnhaas due to a "loss of confidence in his ability to effectively lead and carry out his assigned duties." Capt. Matthew McGonigle, deputy commodore of LCS Squadron One, assumed temporary command of the Rotational LCS Crew 106.

October 27, USS Freedom moored at Bravo Pier, NAS North Island for a brief stop to offload ammunition; Entered the graving dry-dock at 32nd Street on Dec. 1.

January ?, 2017 Cmdr. Christopher M. Farricker relieved Capt. Matthew McGonigle as commanding officer of the LCS Crew 106.

May 4, LCS 1 undocked and moored at Berth 1, Pier 4 on Naval Base San Diego.

September ?, Rotational LCS Crew 102, commanded by Cmdr. Michel C. Falzone, assumed permanently command of the USS Freedom during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship. As a result of the 2016 LCS 60-day study, the core crews and mission module detachments are merged into a single fused crew of approximately 70 personnel, making the LCS 1 a single crew test ship.

October 1?, USS Freedom moved from Berth 1 to Berth 2, Pier 4 on Naval Base San Diego.

November 9, Cmdr. Jose A. Roman relieved Cmdr. Michel C. Falzone as CO of the LCS Crew 102 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the Freedom.

June 11, 2018 Cmdr. Kevin B. O'Brien relieved Cmdr. Christopher M. Farricker as CO of the USS Sioux City (LCS 11) Gold during a change-of-command ceremony on board the Freedom.

December 10, USS Freedom departed Naval Base San Diego for a two-day underway to conduct sea trials after piersided for more than two years; Moored at Navy Fuel Farm (NFF) on Naval Base Point Loma for a brief stop to refuel on Dec. 13.

April 17, 2019 USS Freedom departed homeport for routine training in the SOCAL Op. Area; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 6 on May ?; Underway again on May 9; Brief stop at NFF to refuel before returned home on May 10.

May 16, LCS 1 moored at Berth 1, Pier 4 on Naval Base San Diego after a one-day underway off the coast of southern California; Underway again on July 8; Brief stop at NFF to refuel before moored at Berth 2, Pier 4 on July 10.

July 26, Cmdr. Lawrence M. Repass relieved Cmdr. Jose A. Roman as CO of the Freedom during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

October 10, USS Freedom departed Naval Base San Diego for routine training in the SOCAL Op. Area; Moored at NFF for a brief stop to refuel before returned home on Oct. 16; Underway again on Dec. 1?; Brief stop at NFF to refuel before moored at Berth 2, Pier 5 on Dec. 14.

February ?, 2020 USS Freedom moored at Berth 2, Pier 4 on Naval Base San Diego; Underway again from Feb. 18-21 and March 24; Brief stop at NFF to refuel before returned home on March 27.

April 6, The Freedom moored at Bravo Pier, NAS North Island for a brief stop to onload ammo before underway in support of the USS Makin Island (LHD 8) ARG's Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise; Brief stop at Bravo Pier again on April 7; Moored at NFF for a brief stop to refuel on April 12; Returned home on April 16; Moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 on June ?; Underway again on July 28.

July 29, USS Freedom anchored at Coronado's Anchorage A-137 for a brief stop; Returned home on July 31; Underway again from Aug. 31- Sept. ? and Sept. 14; Moored at Berth M/N, Naval Air Station North Island on Sept. 17; Moved to Berth 2, Pier 1 on Sept. 18; Underway again on Oct. ?.

October 9, The Freedom moored at Navy Fuel Farm (NFF) for a brief stop to refuel before returned home; Underway again from Nov. 10-12 and Dec. 19; Moored at Bravo Pier for a brief stop to onload ammo on Dec. 21; Brief stop at NFF to refuel before moored at Berth 2, Pier 1 on Dec. 22.

January 11, 2021 USS Freedom depareted San Diego for a scheduled deployment in support of counter-illicit trafficking operations.

January 16, USS Freedom moored at Cruise Ship Dock 3 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for a one-day stop to refuel; Participated in a passing exercise (PASSEX) with the El Salvadorian and Guatemalan patrol boats on Jan. 21; Moored at Berth 3 in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala, from Jan. 21-22.

February 7, LCS 1 moored at Pier 2N on Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base, Panama, for a one-day stop to refuel; Moored at Berth 7 in Port of Balboa on Feb. 14; Moved to Pier 2S, Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base for upkeep on Feb. 16; Departed Panama on Feb. 27; Moored at Pier 1N in Port of Manta, Ecuador, to refuel from March 7-8; Moored at Pier 2S on Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base from March 19-25; Moored at Pier C in Port of Acajutla, El Salvador, from March 31- April 1.?

April 7, The Freedom, with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) team 107, seized 3,500 pounds of cocaine after interdicted a "go-fast" speed boat, while underway off the coast of Mexico.

April 12, USS Freedom moored at Berth 1, Pier 3 on Naval Base San Diego following a three-month deployment in the U.S. 4th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AoR).

May 19, The Freedom moored at Bravo Pier, NAS North Island for a brief stop to offload ammunition.

September 29, USS Freedom held a decommissioning ceremony at Quay Wall 2 after a nearly 13 years of active service.

September 30, USS Freedom was officially decommissioned and placed in "Reserve" status.

September 30, The Freedom departed San Diego, under tow by USNS Grasp (T-ARS 51), en route to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS&IMF) in Bremerton, Washington.