The U.S. Navy has decided to deploy Littoral Combat Ships and Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transport vessels instead of reactivating Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates to support U.S. Southern Command operations, USNI News reported Monday.
Navy Secretary Richard Spencer asked Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations, to send at least four LCS and T-EPF units to aid anti-trafficking missions of Southcom’s Joint Interagency Task Force South in 2018.
Spencer wrote the request in an internal memo obtained by USNI News.
“We discussed the idea of reactivating FFG-7 ships, but the process of evaluating alternatives identified better solutions using LCS and T-EPF ships,†Spencer noted.
SOUTHCOM conducts monitoring and armed support operations to stop illegal trade in Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
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