The design was produced by the General Dynamics consortium for the Navy's LCS program, and competes with the Lockheed Martin–designed Freedom variant.

The trimaran hull also exhibits low hydrodynamic drag, allowing efficient operation on two diesel-powered water jets at speeds up to 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph), and high-speed operation on two gas turbine–powered water jets at a sustainable 44 knots (81 km/h; 51 mph) and even faster for short periods.

[3] The design for Independence is based on a high-speed trimaran (Benchijigua Express) hull built by Austal (Henderson, Australia).

In addition to cargo or container-sized mission modules, the bay can carry four lanes of multiple Strykers, armored Humvees, and their associated troops.

In addition, H-60-series helicopters provide airlift, rescue, anti-submarine, radar picket and anti-ship capabilities with torpedoes and missiles.

Delivery to the United States Navy was scheduled for December 2008.The originally planned second General Dynamics ship (LCS-4) was canceled on 1 November 2007.

[23] Independence was christened 5 October 2008 by Doreen Scott, wife of 10th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Terry D.

[24] Navy leaders said that the fixed price competition offered the Austal design an equal shot, in spite of her excess size, cost and limited service.

[27] In response to problems with the propulsion plant (the port gas turbine shaft seal sprang a leak), General Dynamics rearranged builder's trials to test other systems until this was fixed.

The inspection found 2,080 discrepancies, including 39 high-priority deficiencies, but concluded that all could be resolved before the Navy accepted the ship as scheduled.

[38] In 2011 the corrosion problem was found to be even worse than expected and repair would require time in a drydock to completely remove the water jets.

On 2 May 2012, Independence completed her maiden voyage to her homeport, Naval Base San Diego, CA,[45] where she was assigned to Littoral Combat Ship Squadron One[46] In 2013, leaked U.S. Navy documents that showed that the ship was originally to be named USS Liberty, but the name was changed due to the controversial 1967 USS Liberty incident.

[49] On 19 May 2014, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Fleet confirmed that Independence would take part in RIMPAC 2014, reversing an earlier decision to keep littoral combat ships in southern California to carry out tests and various exercises.

The first RIMPAC scenario was acting as plane guard for the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, for which it received "Bravo Zulu" (well done) from the strike group commander.

RIMPAC exercises were at a much higher operating tempo than previous tests, and Independence accomplished all tasks without experiencing any major difficulties.

Testing of the ASW package was conducted in September, where for the first time both the active and passive sonars were towed at once to make sure the two systems did not cross.

[52] On 20 June 2020, the US Navy announced that they would be taking Independence out of commission in March 2021, and placing her, along with Freedom, Fort Worth, and Coronado in reserve.