United States Navy commissions the USS Jackson

On Saturday, December 5, the city of Gulfport, Mississippi had the privilege of christening the USS Jackson. The christening takes place nearly 2 years after the ship was launched; December 14, 2013; out of Mobile, Alabama. Performing the ceremony was former Mississippi Governor and current Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.

"I hereby place United States Ship Jackson in commission. May God bless and guide this warship and all who sail in it," said Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, standing on a raised platform before the impressive USS Jackson.

The USS Jackson will be the third Independence-class littoral combat ships. The USS Jackson has one very unique feature that distinguishes it from its sister ships. The difference is the USS Jackson does not use props for propulsion the way other ships do. Instead it uses water-jet to make it more maneuverability and agile.

The USS Jackson began its journey at the Austal USA's Modular Manufacturing facility in Mobile, Alabama. That is where construction began on August 1, 2011 and it stayed until the United States Navy took delivery of the ship on August 11, 2015. On that day it was Capt. Warren R. Buller II, commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron, that took delivery of the USS Jackson.

"We are pleased to receive the future USS Jackson into the LCS class," Buller said. "Jackson will operate out of Mayport, Florida, while conducting full ship shock trials, prior to joining her sister littoral combat ships in their homeport of San Diego in late 2016."

Once the USS Jackson its final destination it will be used in shallow coastal water to detect mines, subs, and to pursue small craft. With a top speed of 47 knots (54 miles per hour), the USS Jackson should not have much of a problem chasing down any vessel it comes across.