January 19, 2006 The keel authentication ceremony for the LCS 2 was held at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama.

April 6, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter named the Navy's newest Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), built by General Dynamics, Independence.

April 26, 2008 The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Independence entered the water for the first time, after a complex operation in Mobile, Ala.

October 4, PCU Independence (LCS 2) was christened at 10:00 a.m., during a ceremony at Austal USA shipyard, Mobile, Alabama. Mrs. Doreen Scott, wife of the former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry Scott, served as the ship's sponsor. The prospective commanding officer of the Blue crew is Cmdr. Curt A. Renshaw and Cmdr. Michael B. Riley is CO of the Gold crew.

July 2, 2009 The littoral combat ship departed Mobile for builder’s trials three days later than scheduled after the shipyard crew aboard the Independence noticed an unusual noise in one of the two main diesel engines just after the ship had pushed off from its dock on Monday.

October 21, The Independence successfully completed its builder’s trials in the Gulf of Mexico after three-and-a-half month delay. In July the ship’s jet drive room flooded, and it had vibration and temperature problems with its propulsion systems. Underway for acceptance trials on Nov. 16.

December 18, LCS 2 was officially delivered to U.S. Navy during a short ceremony in Mobile, Ala.

January 16, 2010 USS Independence was commissioned during an 11 a.m. CST ceremony at Cooper Riverside Park in Mobile, Ala.

March 26, The Independence (Blue) departed Mobile for its maiden voyage to Norfolk.

March 29, The littoral combat ship arrived in Naval Air Station Key West, Fla., for a brief port call.

April 2, LCS 2 pulled into Naval Station Mayport, Fla., for a port visit.

April 14, USS Independence arrived in Naval Station Norfolk for a year of additional testing and specialized crew trainings before homeported in San Diego. During the transit she conducted tests of the ship's capabilities and extensive training with the SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense weapon system.

April ?, Cmdr. Kenneth M. Coleman relieved Cmdr. Curt A. Renshaw as CO of the Independence (Blue).

April 26, USS Independence pulled into Port Everglades, Fla., for the start of the annual Broward Navy Days Fleet Week. The ship departed Norfolk on April 17.

May 6, LCS 2 entered the BAE Systems Norfolk Ship Repair facility for a three-month industrial post-delivery availability (IPDA).

October 22, The Independence (Gold) departed Naval Station Newport, R.I., after a week-long port call.

February 15, 2011 The littoral combat ship departed BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards after a month of maintenance period and returned to Naval Station Mayport.

April 13, Cmdr. Gerald R. Olin relieved Cmdr. Michael B. Riley as CO of the USS Independence (Gold) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at Mayport.

July 6, In a statement by the Navy on June 23, it was revealed that diver inspections and ultrasonic tests conducted on LCS 2, "revealed aggressive galvanic corrosion pitting within all four of the water jet tunnels and water jet cone assemblies." Temporary repairs will allow the ship to operate safely until it can be drydocked.

September 2, USS Independence (Blue) pulled into St. Petersburg, Fla., for a Labor Day weekend. This is the first time that a U.S. Navy warship arrived for a port visit to this city. Tampa Bay’s shallow waters have not allowed it to host a large ship before.

September 12, The littoral combat ship arrived at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., where it will begin a weeks-long series of onboard combat systems in-port and sea tests.

October 1, Cmdr. Matthew J. Jerby relieved Cmdr. Kenneth M. Coleman as CO of the Independence (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at NAS Pensacola.

October 17, USS Independence pulled into Naval Station Newport, R.I., for a five-day port call in conjuction with the 20th Chief of Naval Operation's International Seapower Symposium, hosted by the Naval War College.

March 15, 2012 The Independence (Gold) completed a ten-week Phase II of Mine Countermeasures Misson testing. Sailors from Independence and embarked MCM Det. 1 conducted operations off the coast of Florida, training with organic assets including the Remote Minehunting Vehicle (RMV) and MH-60S helicopters especially configured to tow the Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS).

April 15, USS Independence (Gold) moored at Vasco Nunez de Balboa Naval Base, after transiting Panama Canal, for a brief port call to take on fuel and supplies.

April 23, The littoral combat ship arrived in Manzanillo, Mexico, for a five-day port visit.

May 2, USS Independence (LCS 2) arrived at its new homeport of Naval Base San Diego, Calif., after a 23-day transit from Naval Station Mayport, Fla.

August 3, Capt. Chris Peterschmidt relieved Capt. Robert Randall as Commodore, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron (LCSRON) 1, during a change-of-command ceremony on board the Independence.

September 5, USS Independence entered the dry-dock at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego for a six-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) that commenced on Aug. 13.

September 28, Cmdr. David Back relieved Cmdr. Gerald R. Olin as CO of the Independence (Gold) during a change-of-command ceremony at NASSCO dry-dock.

March 1, 2013 Cmdr. Joe A. Gagliano relieved Cmdr. Matthew J. Jerby as CO of the Independence (Blue) during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship. LCS 2 departed dry-dock in January and recently returned to Naval Base San Diego.

September 3, USS Independence commenced a three-and-a-half month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA) 2 while pierside at Naval Base San Diego; Underway for sea trials on January 16, 2014.

January 27, The Independence (Gold) moored at Schneider Dock and Intermodal Facility in Eureka, Calif., for a brief stop to refuel; Inport Humboldt Bay again on Jan. 31, Feb. 4-5 and Feb. 7.

February 12, USS Independence moored at Berth 2, B Street Pier/Cruise Terminal in downtown San Diego for an "Open House" from Feb. 12-13.

February 26, The Independence is currently underway for routine training in the SOCAL Op. Area. Returned home on March 1.

March 30, The littoral combat ship is currently conducting Remote Minehunting Vehicle (RMV) operations in the Santa Monica Bay.

April 2, Cmdr. Jeremy Gray relieved Cmdr. David Back as CO of the LCS 2 (Gold) during a change-of-command ceremony aboard the ship at Naval Base San Diego.

April 28, USS Independence (Blue) returned to homeport after a two-week underway in the SOCAL Op. Area.

May 18, The Independence is currently underway for developmental testing of the mine countermeasures mission package at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Point Mugu range, off the coast of southern California; Underway for a Friends and Family Day Cruise on June 27.

July 1, USS Independence (Blue) recently departed Naval Base San Diego to participate in a multinational exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014, in the Hawaiian Op. Area; Inport Pearl Harbor from July 6-10 and July 26- Aug. 2; Returned home on Aug. ?.

August 14, Cmdr. Michael L. Smith relieved Cmdr. Joe A. Gagliano as commanding officer of the Rotational LCS Crew 201 (Blue).

August 19, The Independence (Gold) departed Naval Base San Diego for a two-day underway off the coast of southern California.

January 27, 2015 USS Independence (Blue) returned to homeport after a month-long underway in support of counter-illicit trafficking operations off the coast of Central America.?

January 30, LCS 2 departed San Diego en route to Pensacola, Fla., to conduct operational evaluation and testing of the mine countermeasures mission package.

February 10, USS Independence moored at Cruise Terminal in Cartagena, Colombia, for a four-day port visit; Moored at Allegheny Pier on Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola on Feb. 20.

April 7, The littoral combat ship departed NAS Pensacola to prepare for its mine countermeasures mission package technical evaluation (TECHEVAL), beginning April 21. USS Independence will conduct several MCM missions at sea until the testing ends around June 9, and then will have to turn around and get ready for initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) in July.

September ?, Cmdr. Shelby Y. Baecker relieved Cmdr. Jeremy Gray as CO of the LCS Crew 202.

September 28, Rotational LCS Crew 201 assumed command of the USS Independence during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship at NAS Pensacola.

December 2?, Cmdr. Donald V. Rauch relieved Cmdr. Michael L. Smith as CO of the LCS Crew 201 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship at Allegheny Pier, NAS Pensacola.

February 2, 2016 General Dynamics-National Steel and Shipbuilding Co., San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $12,7 million modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-15-C-4313) for the USS Independence Drydocking Selected Restricted Availability (DSRA). Work is expected to be completed by September.

February 25, USS Independence moored pierside at BAE Systems Shipyard in San Diego after a two-week transit from Pensacola, Florida; Moved to NASSCO shipyard on March 22; Entered the dry-dock on April 4.

April 21, Rotational LCS Crew 202 assumed command of the LCS 2 during a crew exchange ceremony on board the ship at NASSCO dry-dock.

September 21, USS Independence undocked and moored at NASSCO shipyard's Berth 2; Underway for sea trials on Dec. 6; Moored at Berth 1, Pier 5 in Naval Base San Diego on Dec. 9.

July 7, 2017 Cmdr. Emily A. Cathey relieved Cmdr. Donald V. Rauch as as CO of the LCS Crew 201 during a change-of-command ceremony on board the Independence.

June 1, 2018 USS Independence recently moored at Berth 5, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego; Underway again from Dec. 11-12.

January 11, 2019 Cmdr. Matthew D. Scarlett relieved Cmdr. Emily A. Cathey as CO of the Independence during a change-of-command ceremony on board the ship.

January 25, USS Independence departed Naval Base San Diego for routine training in the SOCAL Op. Area; Moored at Navy Fuel Farm (NFF) on Naval Base Point Loma for a brief stop to refuel on Jan. 29; Moored at Berth 5, Pier 6 on Jan. 30; Underway again on Feb. 26.

February 27, USS Independence participated in a photo exercise (PHOTOEX) with the USS Manchester (LCS 14) and USS Tulsa (LCS 16), while underway off the coast of San Diego; Returned home on Wednesday afternoon; Underway again from March 5-6; Moored at Bravo Pier, NAS North Island for a brief stop to onload ammo on March 8; Underway again on March 25.

March 26, LCS 2 participated in a PHOTOEX with the USCGC Terrell Horne (WPC 1131), HMCS Whitehorse (MM 705) and HMCS Yellowknife (MM 706), while underway approximately 50 n.m. southwest of Ensenada, Mexico.

March 30, USS Independence moored at Ferry Terminal in Port of Mazatlan, Mexico, for a three-day liberty visit.

April 5, The Independence moored at Berth 5, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego; Underway for Surface Warfare Advanced Tactical Training (SWATT) exercise from April 17-22; Underway again from May 1-2; Moored at Bravo Pier for a brief stop to onload ammo before underway again on May 29; Returned home on May 31; Underway again on June 2; Moored at Pier 1W in Port of Astoria, Ore., from June 5-6.

June 6, USS Independence moored at Tom McCall Waterfront Park in downtown Portland, Ore., for a four-day port visit to participate in the annual Fleet Week celebration; Returned home on June 14; Underway again on June 18; Moored at NFF for a brief stop to refuel on June 19.

June 24, USS Independence moored at Berth 5, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego; Underway again from Nov. 5-? and Nov. 19-2?.

January 10, 2020 The Independence moored at Berth 5, Pier 6 after a one-day underway off the coast of southern California; Underway again from March 10-12, May 19-2? and June 22.

June 24, USS Independence moored at Navy Fuel Farm (NFF) on Naval Base Point Loma for a brief stop to refuel; Moored at Berth 1, Pier 4 on July 30; Moored at NFF for a brief stop before underway again on Aug. 3; Returned home on Aug. 7.

October 21, USS Independence moored at Berth 5, Pier 6 on Naval Base San Diego after underway for routine training in the SOCAL Op. Area; Moved to North Mole Pier on April 8, 2021.

July 29, The Independence, commanded by Cmdr. James A. Davenport, held a decommissioning ceremony at North Mole Pier after eleven-and-a-half years of active service and 0 deployments.

July 31, USS Independence was officially decommissioned and placed in "Reserve" status.

July 31, LCS 2 departed San Diego on Saturday morning, under tow by tug Drew Foss, en route to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS&IMF) in Bremerton, Washington.