The US Navy’s first littoral combat ship, USS Freedom, has successfully completed its maiden voyage and arrived at its home port in San Diego.

During the three-week deployment, Freedom, the lead ship of its class crossed the waters of three countries and through the US 4th Fleet and US 3rd Fleet areas of responsibility.

Freedom conducted counter-illicit trafficking operations, seizing more than 5t of cocaine, alongside its first-strike high-speed operations, gunnery events and other missions with the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group.

The ship also performed exercises with partner navies, and conducted joint manoeuvres with USS McInerney and its unmanned aerial vehicle, Fire Scout.

Freedom will next be deployed to the International Fleet Review in Canada this summer. It will also take part in the 2010 “Rim of the Pacific” exercise.