SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - The Navy's first littoral combat ship USS Freedom will leave San Diego on Friday on its inaugural deployment.
"We are extremely happy and excited to head on out there and to be chosen to be the ones to do the inaugural deployment to southeast Asia," Commander Tim Wilke said.
During its scheduled eight-month deployment, the Freedom will conduct Marine security operations, participate in international exhibitions and train with vessels from other countries.
The 378-foot-long USS Freedom is the first in its class and was commissioned in 2008.
