The US warship Fort Worth, sent near the Spratly Islands to challenge China's sovereignty claims, is a littoral combat ship (LCS), small in size, operating close to shore and equipped with enough firepower to prevent enemies from approaching the coast.

The littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) can operate at low speeds suitable for coastal operations or move quickly to avoid or pursue small boats and submarines. The US Navy announced on May 13 that USS Fort Worth had completed a week-long patrol in the South China Sea. USS Fort Worth was closely monitored by Chinese warships during the operation.

According to the US Navy, the USS Fort Worth has sailed through the South China Sea many times, but this patrol marked the first time an LCS has operated in international waters near the Spratly Islands. In this photo, sailors signal to help an AH-1 Corba helicopter land on the USS Fort Worth.

USS Fort Worth was delivered to the US Navy in September 2012. The ship is 119 m long, has a draft of 4 m, and a maximum speed of about 74 km/h. The main crew consists of 35 to 50 sailors. In the photo, members of the Surface Warfare Unit, Detachment 1, of USS Fort Worth pull a rope ladder onto the ship during an approach, search and seizure exercise.

Tensions in the South China Sea have increased in recent months due to China’s construction of numerous facilities, including a 3km-long airstrip, on seven reclaimed areas in the Spratly Islands. In this photo, sailors on the USS Fort Worth prepare to launch an MQ-8B Scout drone for a mission.

The US Navy announced that the USS Fort Worth and other LCS ships will visit the South China Sea more frequently. Pictured are members of the USS Fort Worth's Sea Combat Squadron 4.

Sailors on board loaded high-explosive, incendiary shells into the 30mm gun. The USS Fort Worth is also equipped with 50mm and 57mm guns, torpedoes and several types of missiles.

USS Fort Worth is a Freedom-class ship, one of two LCS classes in the US Navy. The LCS has a draft of 4.2 m to 4.5 m and a speed of 40 knots (74 km/h). It is designed to operate in coastal or shallow water environments, as its name suggests. In the photo, an inflatable boat prepares to approach the USS Freedom (LCS-1) during an exercise off the coast of Southern California. The USS Freedom is the first LCS, commissioned into the US Navy in 2008.

USS Independence demonstrates its maneuvering capabilities off the coast of San Diego, California. The Independence class is described as "military jet skis with decks for aircraft and guns."

USS Independence (left) and USS Coronado (LCS-4), Independence-class, move in the Pacific Ocean.

A Kongsberg strike missile launches from the USS Coronado during a test off the coast of Southern California in September 2014.

The future littoral combat ship USS Grabielle Giffords (LCS-10), Independence-class, prepares to be launched at the Austal shipyard in February.

According to VNE