190419-N-KG738-1051 SAN DIEGO (April 19, 2019) The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Charleston (LCS 18) sails through San Diego Bay in transit to the ship’s Naval Base San Diego homeport, successfully completing the ship's maiden voyage from the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. Charleston is the ninth ship in the littoral combat ship Independence-variant class and is the eleventh LCS to be homeported in San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Woody S. Paschall/Released)