The USS Freedom (LCS-1), the first of the Littoral Combat Ships, took part in real operations during its first major overseas deployment last year, a deployment that had been billed as an opportunity to evaluate the ship’s capabilities and crew training, sizing and rotation. Vice Adm. Tom Copeman, the commander of surface forces for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, declined to provide details, but confirmed the Freedom took part in patrol operations for the 7th Fleet in the South China Sea,…
