The Oct. 31 departure of USS Detroit (LCS 7) from Naval Station Mayport was significant for the U.S. Navy as the first deployment of a Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) homeported on the U.S. East Coast. It was also significant for Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Jacksonville as the start of a new model of logistics support for Littoral Combat Ships operating in the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. FOURTH Fleet area of responsibility.

As a Freedom class variant of Littoral Combat Ship, Detroit is a small, single hull, highly maneuverable vessel that is designed to operate near shore. The core crew of USS Detroit is between 40 and 50 personnel with a full complement of nearly 100. Detroit carries an aviation detachment, consisting of an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter and two MQ-8B Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Vehicles, and a U.S. Coast Guard law-enforcement detachment on its current deployment in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South’s Campaign Martillo, a counter illicit trafficking mission.

The small size of her crew is possible thanks to advanced automation of the ship’s systems and a distance-support model of logistics. This means Detroit relies on shore-based naval personnel and contractors for supply and maintenance. NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville is tasked with ensuring USS Detroit and her crew have the supplies they need while operating forward.

“The Logistics Support Team (LST) provides normal supply support such as Stock Control, Material Control, and Food Service Logistics to the ship,” according to the LST Deputy Director, Lt. Kayla Morrison. “We work with the LCS squadron who provides us the ship’s Operational Priorities and Policy.”  She went on to explain, “The LCS does not have the supply systems onboard to order provisions and supplies, it must be done from shore.”

To ensure mission success, detailed planning, communication, and efficiency are critical to this type of support. NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville personnel have been actively planning for the deployment of  Detroit for more than a year, being careful to include all parties involved. “Unlike a legacy ship, where almost all supply discussions are internal, the distance-support model requires most questions to be staffed through several different entities,” said Morrison. “In order to prevent response delays, we have worked hard to define roles and establish communication channels ahead of time.”

By committing to the success of the LCS distance-support model to maintain operational readiness, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville is answering a call put forth by NAVSUP Commander and Chief of Supply Corps Rear Admiral Michelle, Rear Admiral Michelle Skubic to ensure our warfighters have what they need, where and when they need it.

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville’s LST will maintain close communication with Detroit for the duration of her deployment and is prepared to adapt quickly to accommodate schedule changes or unexpected events. Like the LCS itself, NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville and the Logistics Support Team are agile partners in U.S. Naval operations.

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville is one of eight FLCs under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel, NAVSUP's mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter.

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