USS Wichita relieves USS St. Louis, assumes role at the Southern Border
27 January 2026
MAYPORT, Fla. --
The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Wichita (LCS 13) departed Naval Station Mayport, Florida, to support U.S. Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) southern border operations, Nov. 14.
Wichita assumes duties previously executed by the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19). The ship will conduct similar operations as St. Louis in support of USNORTHCOM’s border security objectives. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border with additional military forces.
U.S. Navy assets are deployed under U.S Northern Command’s maritime homeland defense authorities with a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment embarked to enable maritime interdiction missions to prevent the flow of illegal drugs or other illegal activity. Since entering the Gulf of America, St. Louis received support from the “Valkyries” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50 Detachment 5 and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 408.
“USS Wichita stands ready to relieve St. Louis as the leading edge for NORTHCOM’s homeland defense mission,” said Cmdr. Travis Snover, Wichita’s commanding officer. “We will carry on the dedication, impact and hard work of our fellow shipmates and will live up to our motto as the ‘Keeper of the Seas.’”
The littoral combat ship (LCS) platform is a fast, agile, mission-focused warship designed to operate in near-shore environments to counter 21st-century threats. It is a class of small surface combatants armed with capabilities to defeat challenges in the world’s littorals. LCS can operate independently or in high-threat scenarios as part of a networked battle force that includes larger, multi-mission surface combatants such as cruisers and destroyers.
"St. Louis’ deployment is a powerful example of how we're prioritizing maritime homeland defense, which directly impacts national security," said Vice Adm. Doug Perry, commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet. “I look forward to Wichita supporting U.S. Northern Command in implementing our shared commitment to readiness, presence and collaboration with partners and Allies.”
Wichita is assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron (LCSRON) 2 and homeported at Naval Station Mayport.
U.S. 2nd Fleet, reestablished in 2018 in response to the changing global security environment, develops and employs maritime ready forces to fight across multiple domains in the Atlantic and Arctic in order to ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied, and partner interests.
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