[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] - The USS Freedom, which was commissioned in 2008, will be decommissioned from the active fleet on September 30 after 13 years of service
- The USS Independence, which was commissioned in 2010 is set to decommission on July 31 after 11 years
- Both littoral combat ships - which are designed for operations close to shore - were expected to have a 25-year service life
- Each was expected to cost around $220 million to build, but costs ended up swelling to $600 million apiece
- Both ships will be joining the reserve fleet after they are decommissioned
- They were originally commissioned for the War on Terror, but are not properly equipped to combat warships from China and Russia
- The Littoral Combat Ships have small crews and were designed for operations close to shore
- They have been marred by lack of use and mechanical failures
- Some sailors have nicknamed the fleet the 'Little Cr*ppy Ships'
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