Fast, Armed, and Friendly—USS Tulsa Visits Colombo Port!

COLOMBO (News 1st); The United States Embassy in Sri Lanka has announced the arrival of the USS Tulsa (LCS 16), an Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, at the Port of Colombo on August 27 for a brief stopover to refuel and resupply.

Built for speed, agility, and versatility, the USS Tulsa is capable of operating in both shallow coastal waters and the open ocean.

This visit marks the ship’s return to Sri Lanka after its previous engagement in 2021 during the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise with the Sri Lanka Navy.

The U.S. Embassy expressed deep appreciation for Sri Lanka’s warm welcome, highlighting the visit as a symbol of the strong bilateral partnership and a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, secure maritime routes, and regional prosperity.

About the USS Tulsa:

About the USS Tulsa: The USS Tulsa is an Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship designed to operate in near-shore environments and support forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions. Equipped with a trimaran hull, LCS 16 can achieve a top speed of greater than 40 Knots.

The USS Tulsa has the capability of transporting small assault helicopters and assault forces with vehicles, making the LCS 16 a formidable force that has the flexibility to adapt to different mission needs.

Named after the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oklahoma, the USS Tulsa was commissioned in San Francisco on the February 16, 2019.

Guided by the motto 'Tough, Able, Ready,' the USS Tulsa is armed with a 57mm naval gun, missile launchers, and a range of other offensive capabilities. It patrols the Indo-Pacific region to help keep the area safe and stable by responding to threats and supporting maritime security.