ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Navy has revised its ship decommissioning schedule for fiscal 2021, including the date for the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard, severely damaged by fire in 2020. The list also included the first two littoral combat ships.
In an Feb. 12 administrative message, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations announced the plans to decommission seven ships from the fleet and remove from service one ship from the Military Sealift Command.
The ships to be retired and their 2021 retirement dates are listed below:
Ship Name Projected Inactivation Date Post Inactive Status
USS Zephyr (PC 8) March 2 Dismantle
USS Shamal (PC 13) Feb. 25 Dismantle
USS Tornado (PC 14) March 4 Foreign Military Sales
USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) Apr. 16 Reserve
USS Freedom (LCS 1) Sept. 30 Reserve
USS Independence (LCS 2) July 31 Reserve
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) April 15 Dismantle
USNS Sioux (T-ATF 171) Sept. 30 Foreign Military Sale
The first two littoral combat ships are considered experimental and are of an earlier configuration than later production ships. They will be placed in a preserved status for re-activation if needed, as will the USS Fort McHenry.
The three Cyclone-class coastal patrol ships are the only ones of the class not based in the Persian Gulf.
The Navy also plans to retire 48 more ships during fiscal 2022-2026.
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