“USS St. Louis Assumes U.S. Northern Command Mission At Southern Border” –SeaPower

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NAVAL STATION MAYPORT, Fla. (Sept. 13, 2026) – Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) departs Naval Station Mayport in support of U.S. Northern Command’s mission to secure the southern border of the United States, Sept. 13, 2026. Photo credit: U.S. Navy

The Navy League’s on-line magazine, Seapower, reports,

Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS St. Louis (LCS 19) departed Naval Station Mayport in support of U.S. Northern Command’s (USNORTHCOM) mission to secure the southern border of the United States, Sept. 13, 2026.

St. Louis assumes duties previously executed by the USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) in support of USNORTHCOM’s border security objectives. U.S. Northern Command is working together with the Department of Homeland Security to augment U.S. Customs and Border Protection along the southern border to disrupt illicit drug trafficking and protect the homeland.

Notice the statement makes no mention of the Coast Guard.

Until the current administration took over in 2025, NORTHCOM, really seemed to have no interest in the trafficking of drugs or people. Since then there has generally been an LCS underway for border security.

COMBATANT COMMANDS

  • USS Cooperstown (LCS 23) got underway May 16 and returned to Naval Station Mayport August 31, 2026.
  • USS Wichita (LCS 13) got underway 14 November 2025 and returned May 4, 2026. Wichita did have a CG LEDET.
  • USS St. Louis (LCS 19) Returns from Deployment in Support of Southern Border Operations, Nov. 11, 2025 (She did have a CG LEDET).
I have had difficulty locating any reports of successful interdictions under NORTHCOM.
Of course there is already a significant concentration of Coast Guard assets in the NORTHCOM AOR that have made numerous interdictions, but they do not report to NORTHCOM.
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Adding a single LCS to the already substantial Coast Guard forces in the Gulf and Caribbean may not be the best use of these more expensive assets. Historically the LCS were more successful when assigned to 4th Fleet and SOUTHCOM, particularly when patrolling the Eastern Pacific Drug transit zones,

1 thought on ““USS St. Louis Assumes U.S. Northern Command Mission At Southern Border” –SeaPower”

  1. At least the LCS is better than nothing at all. Granted the LCS sucks and be glad the LCS is not in CENTCOM or USINOPACOM. At least the LCS can be used for homeland and CONUS defense. I think with the remaining LCS, we should arm them at least to an ASUW Corvette.

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