The Independence-variant littoral combat ships USS Tulsa (LCS 16), right, USS Manchester (LCS 14) and USS Independence (LCS 2) are underway in formation in the eastern Pacific.

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 27, 2019) The Independence-variant littoral combat ships USS Tulsa (LCS 16), right, USS Manchester (LCS 14) and USS Independence (LCS 2) are underway in formation in the eastern Pacific. Littoral combat ships are high-speed, agile, shallow draft, mission-focused surface combatants designed for operations in the littoral environment, yet fully capable of open ocean operations. As part of the surface fleet, Littoral combat ships have the ability to counter and outpace evolving threats independently or within a network of surface combatants. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Shannon Renfroe) File# 190227-N-FC670-928