The Charleston (LCS 18) is the ninth ship in the Independence-class littoral combat ships and the sixth ship in the U.S. Navy named in honor of the city of Charleston, South Carolina.

June 28, 2016 The keel authentication ceremony for the LCS 18 was held at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Ala.

August 26, 2017 The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Charleston was christened during a 10 a.m. CST ceremony at Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama. Mrs. Charlotte Riley, the wife of former Mayor of Charleston Joe Riley, served as sponsor of the ship. Cmdr. Christopher K. Brusca (LCS Crew 216) is the prospective commanding officer.

September 13, PCU Charleston exited the assembly bay #5 at Austal's facility for the first time and was transported down river, while sitting on a deck barge, to BAE Systems Southeast Shipyard's floating dry-dock; Launched on Sept. 14.

April ?, 2018 The Charleston entered the floating dry-dock at the World Marine of Alabama shipyard in Mobile.

May 1, LCS 18 recently undocked and moored at combined wharf on Austal USA shipyard; Moved to Vessel Completion Yard, at the northern tip of Pinto Island, on May ?.

June 14, PCU Charleston departed Mobile for the first time to conduct Builder's sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico; Moored at Vessel Completion Yard on June 16; Day-long underway for acceptance trials with the INSURV on July 27.

August 31, U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Charleston during a short ceremony aboard the ship; Commenced Crew Move Aboard (CMA) process on Nov. 10.

February 17, 2019 PCU Charleston (Crew 216) departed Mobile, Ala., for the last time en route to its namesake city; Moored at Wharf D2 on Naval Station Mayport, Fla., from Feb. 20-22.

February 24, LCS 18 moored at Berth 1, Columbus Street Terminal in Port of Charleston, S.C., for an eight-day visit in preparation for its commissioning ceremony.

March 2, USS Charleston was commissioned during a 10 a.m. EDT ceremony at Charleston, South Carolina.

March 6, The Charleston moored at Pier 13N on Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Virginia; Underway on March 2?.

April 6, The littoral combat ship moored at Pier 16 in Port of Cristobal, Panama, for an overnight stop to refuel; Transited the Panama Canal southbound on April 7; Moored at Berth 3, Multipurpose Terminal in Port of Mazatlan, Mexico, from April 13-15.

April 19, USS Charleston made a brief stop at Navy Fuel Farm (NFF), on Naval Base Point Loma, before moored at Berth 6, Pier 1 in its homeport of Naval Base San Diego for the first time; Underway off the coast of San Diego from May 23-24 and May 28-29.

June 17, The Charleston moored at North Mole Pier on Naval Base San Diego after a week-long underway for Career Orientation Training for Midshipmen (CORTRAMID) summer cruise.

June 27, USS Charleston moored at Berth 1/2, Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego; Held an "Open House" from June 28-30; Moored at North Mole Pier on July 1; Underway again from July 8-11.

July 18, The Charleston moored at Berth 5, Pier 13 on Naval Base San Diego after a day-long underway off the coast of southern California.

August 1, The Charleston moored at North Mole Pier on Naval Base San Diego after a one-day underway in the SOCAL Op. Area; Underway again on Aug. 12; Conducted Surface Ship Radiated Noise Measurement (SSRNM) testing, off the northeast coast of San Clemente Island, on Aug. 14; Returned home on Aug. 15.

August 30, LCS 18 moored at Berth 6, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego after a two-day underway in the SOCAL Op. Area; Underway for Final Contract Trials (FCT) with the INSURV from Sept. 18-19; Brief underway on Sept. 25; Moored at NFF for a brief stop to refuel before underway again on Oct. 4.

October 7, USS Charleston moored at Pier 35 South in San Francisco, Calif., for a four-day port visit to participate in the 39th annual Fleet Week celebration; Participated in a Parade of Ships on Oct. 11.

October 14, The Charleston moored at Berth 6, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego; Moored at NFF for a brief stop to refuel on Oct. 24; Underway on Oct. 25.

October 30, Austal USA, Mobile, Ala., was awarded $21,5 million for cost-plus fixed-fee task order N69316-20-F-4000 against previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00024-19-G-2318) for the USS Charleston's Post Shakedown Availability (PSA). Work will be performed in Seattle, Wash., and is expected to be completed by September 2020.

November 1, USS Charleston moored at Pier M2 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for a five-day port call before underway at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) Barking Sands Op. Area, off the western coast of Kauai; Moored at Pier M2 again from Nov. 12-13; Returned home on Nov. 19.

December 6, USS Charleston moored at Berth 6, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego after a four-day underway in the SOCAL Op. Area.

December 6, Cmdr. James H. Hoey relieved Cmdr. Christopher K. Brusca as CO of the LCS Crew 216 (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the Charleston.

January 8, 2020 USS Charleston moored at Bravo Pier, NAS North Island for a brief stop to offload ammunition; Underway en route to Seattle on Feb. 3; Moored pierside at Vigor Shipyards on Feb. 7; Underway for sea trials on July 31; Arrived off the coast of San Diego on Aug. 4; Moored at Berth 6, Pier 6 on Aug. 5.

August 19, The Charleston moored at Berth 5, Pier 13 on Naval Base San Diego after a one-day underway for sea trials; Moved to Berth 6, Pier 6 on Sept. 3.

October 9, The Rotational LCS Crew 219 (Gold), commanded by Cmdr. Joseph C. Burgon, assumed command of the Charleston during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship.

November 23, USS Charleston departed Naval Base San Diego for routine training in the SOCAL Op. Area; Brief stop at Bravo Pier to onload ammo before returned home on Nov. 25; Underway in support of amphibious landing exercise Steel Knight/Dawn Blitz 21, off the coast of Camp Pendleton and San Clemente Island, on Dec. 4; Moored at NFF for a brief stop to refuel on Dec. 9; Returned home on Dec. 14; Underway again from Dec. 16-18.

March 20, 2021 USS Charleston moored at Berth 6, Pier 6 after a brief underway off the coast of San Diego; Underway again from March 26-29; Moored at Bravo Pier for a brief stop to onload ammo on March 31.

April 7, USS Charleston (Gold), with an embarked Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21 Det. 4, departed San Diego for its maiden deployment in the U.S. 7th Fleet AoR.

April 8, The Charleston successfuly conducted the live fire test of a SeaRAM Point-Defense Weapon System (PDWS), while underway at the Point Mugu Test Range; Moored at Bravo Pier for a brief stop to onload ammo on April 9; Moored at NFF for a brief stop to refuel on April 10.

April 16, LCS 18 moored at Pier M2 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for a one-day port call; Moored at Delap Dock East in Port of Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, to refuel from April 24-25.

April 27, An MQ-8B Fire Scout crashed into the side of Charleston after taking off from the ship around 9.40 a.m. local time, while underway in the central Pacific Ocean. The unmanned aerial vehicle was lost at sea and no one was injured.

April 30, USS Charleston moored at Uniform Wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, for an eight-day port call; Moored at Uniform Wharf again from May 2?- June 6; Transited the Verde Island Passage westbound on June 10; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Pecos (T-AO 197) on June 11; Moored at Berth 5, RSS Singapura to refuel from June 14-16; Transited the Malacca Strait northbound from June 16-17.

June 23, USS Charleston moored Ashroff Quay in Port of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, for a three-day visit boefore participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise; Inport Trincomalee again from June 30- July 1; Transited the Malacca Strait southbound from July 5-6; Moored at Berth 5, RSS Singapura from July 6-8.

July 13, The Charleston conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Tippecanoe (T-AO 199), while underway in the South China Sea; Moored at Berth 2, Romeo Wharf in Apra Harbor for a Planned Maintenance Availability (PMAV) from July 19- Aug. 7; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Rappahannock (T-AO 204) on Aug. 10; Transited the Verde Island Passage westbound on Aug. 15.

August 16, USS Charleston moored at Berth 2, Pier 15 in Manila South Harbor, Republic of the Philippines, for a one-day port call to refuel; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USS America (LHA 6), while underway in the Philippine Sea, on Aug. 23; Moored at Unifom Wharf in Apra Harbor for a crew exchange on Aug. 31; Brief underway on Sept. 14; Departed Guam on Sept. 20.

September 20, USS Charleston (Blue), commanded by Cmdr. Clayton C. Beas, conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the HMNZS Aotearoa (A11), while underway off the coast of Guam; Moored at Victor Wharf in Apra Harbor from Sept. 22-23; Moored at Berth 2, Romeo Wharf from Sept. 27-30; Moored at Army Pier in White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, for a brief stop to refuel on Oct. 7; Transited the San Bernardino Strait southbound on Oct. 9.?

October 11, The Charleston recently arrived off the coast of Palawan, Republic of the Philippines, to participate in a Maritime Training Activity (MTA) Sama-Sama; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Big Horn (T-AO 198) on Oct. 14; Brief stop at Pol Pier in Subic Bay to refuel before moved to Rivera Wharf East on Oct. 17; Departed Subic Bay on Oct. 18; Transited the San Bernardino Strait northbound on Oct. 19.

October 20, The Charleston conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Carl Brashear (T-AKE 7), while underway in the Philippine Sea; Moored at Uniform Wharf in Apra Harbor from Oct. 25- Nov. 11.

November 10, Cmdr. John I. Actkinson relieved Cmdr. Joseph C. Burgon as CO of the LCS Crew 219 (Gold) during a change-of-command ceremony at the Naval Base San Diego's chapel.

November 15, USS Charleston moored at Uniform Wharf on Naval Base Guam for a two-day port call; Moored at Berth 3, Main Wharf in Port of Lae, Papua New Guinea, to refuel from Nov. 22-23; Moored at Uniform Wharf in Apra Harbor for a brief stop on Nov. 29.

December 6, The Charleston arrived off the coast of Timor-Leste to participate in CARAT exercise; Moored at Berth A in Port of Dili from Dec. 7-9; Moored at Uniform Wharf in Apra Harbor from Dec. 16-27 and Dec. 31.

January ?, 2022 USS Charleston moored at Victor Wharf on Naval Base Guam; Underway again on Jan. 17; Transited the San Bernardino Strait southbound on Jan. 20; Moored at Pol Pier in Subic Bay for a brief stop to refuel on Jan. 21; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS John Ericsson (T-AO 194), while underway in the South China Sea, on Jan. 26 and 28th; Conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the USNS Guadalupe (T-AO 200) on Feb. 2 and 8th.

February 11, The Charleston (Blue) recently transited the San Bernardino Strait northbound; Moored at Uniform Wharf in Apra Harbor for a crew exchange on Feb. 15; Brief underway on March 2; Underway again on March 7; Conducted operations off the west coast of Guam from March 7-11; Moored at Berth 2, Sierra Wharf from March 1?-24; Moored at Berth 3, Tango Wharf on March 31; Moved to Uniform Wharf on April 5; Departed Guam on May 3.

May 10, LCS 18 (Gold) moored at Berth 1, India Basin in Fleet Activities Sasebo, Japan, for a two-day port call; Participated in a PHOTOEX with the USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5), while underway off the west coast of Kyushu in support of exercise Noble Vanguard, on May 19; Moored at Berth 6, India Basin from May 20-21 and May 24- June 17; Conducted operations in Sagami Wan on June 21.

June 22, USS Charleston moored at Berth 12 in Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, for a two-day port call; Transited the Balabac Strait westbound on July 2; Moored at Cruise Terminal in Port of Muara, Brunei, for a brief stop on July 3; Moored at Berth 5, RSS Singapura for a crew exchange on July 6; Brief underway on July 17; Departed Singapore on July 24; Moored at Berth 5, RSS Singapura again from July 26-30.

August 3, The Charleston (Blue) participated in a PHOTOEX with the RSS Resolution (LST 208), RSS Supreme (FFG 73), KRI Makassar (590), KRI Bung Tomo (357), KRI John Lie (358) and KRI Frans Kaisiepo (368), while underway in the Natuna Sea, as part of exercise Garuda Shield; Moored at Berth 6, RSS Singapura from Aug. 6-9; Moored at Berth 7, RSS Singapura from Aug. 15- Sept. 2.

September 2, Capt. Timothy D. LaBenz relieved Capt. Thomas M. Ogden as Comander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the Charleston at RSS Singapura.

September 6, USS Charleston moored at East Berth, Cruise Terminal in Tanjung Benoa, Bali, Indonesia, for a one-day port call; Moored at Berth 2, East Arm Wharf in Port of Darwin, Australia, from Sept. 11-15.

September 20, The Charleston conducted a replenishment-at-sea with the HMAS Stalwart (A304), while participating in a multinational exercise Kakadu 22 in the Timor Sea; Anchored in Anson Bay, approximately 70 n.m. southwest of Darwin, for a brief stop on Sept. 21; Moored at Berth 3, East Arm Wharf in Port of Darwin for a brief stop on Sept. 25.

September 28, USS Charleston moored at East Berth, Cruise Terminal in Tanjung Benoa, Bali, for a four-day port call; Moored at Berth 5, RSS Singapura from Oct. 6-15 and Oct. 16-18.

October 23, USS Charleston moored at Conventional Terminal in Port of Muara, Brunei, for the in-port phase of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise; Underway for at-sea phase on Oct. 28; Moored at Berth 5, RSS Singapura from Nov. 1-18.

November 20, The Charleston moored at New Deep Water Terminal in Port of Kuantan, Malaysia, for the in-port phase of CARAT exercise; Underway for at-sea phase on Nov. 26; Moored at Berth 5, RSS Singapura on Nov. 30; Moored at Berth 7 after a brief underway in the Strait of Singapore on Dec. 12; Underway again on Dec. 1?; Moored at Berth 7, RSS Singapura from Dec. 19-27.

January 3, 2023 USS Charleston moored at Berth 5, RSS Singapura for a 13-day port call to conduct crew exchange; Moored at Conventional Terminal in Port of Muara, Brunei, from Jan. 21-25; Moored at Berth 6, RSS Singapura from Jan. 28- Feb. 2.

February 5, LCS 18 (Gold) participated in a PASSEX with the JS Makinami (DD 112), while underway in the Natuna Sea; Brief stop in RSS Singapura on Feb. 7; Moored at Berth 7, RSS Singapura from Feb. 8-27; Transited the Malacca Strait northbound from Feb. 27-28.

March 2, USS Charleston moored at Ao Makham Deep Sea Port in Phuket, Thailand, for a four-day liberty visit; Moored Ashroff Quay in Port of Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, from March 11-12.

March 14, The Charleston (Gold) participated in a PHOTOEX with the FS Dixmude (L9015), FS La Fayette (F710), JS Suzutsuki (DD 117), HMAS Perth (FFH 157), HMS Tamar (P233) and INS Sahyadri (F49), as part of exercise La Perouse 2023, while underway east of Sri Lanka; Transited the Malacca Strait southbound from March 16-18; Moored at Berth 6, RSS Singapura from March 18-27.

March 24, Cmdr. Matthew T. Knuth relieved Cmdr. Andrew A. Lamson as CO of the LCS Crew 219 (Gold) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

April 5, The Charleston transited the Surigao Strait northbound; Moored at Berth 4, Sierra Wharf in Apra Harbor, Guam, from April 5-19 and April 28- May 17; Moored at Delap Dock East in Port of Majuro, Republic of the Marshall Islands, to refuel from May 22-23; Moored at Pier B16 in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, from May 28- June 7.

June 14, USS Charleston (Gold) moored at Berth 2, Pier 5 on Naval Base San Diego following an extended 26-month deployment.

July 20, The Charleston moored at Bravo Pier on Naval Air Station North Island for a brief stop to offload ammo before moored at Berth 2, Pier 4 on Naval Base San Diego; Day-long underway on July 24; Moored at Bravo Pier for a brief stop to offload ammo on July 31; Moved "dead-stick" to Pier 4S in BAE Systems shipyard on Aug. 11; Entered the Pride of California Dry Dock on Sept. ?.

March 19, 2024 USS Charleston undocked, on late Tuesday evening, and moored at Pier 4S on BAE Systems shipyard.