The littoral combat ship USS Freedom

The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) comes alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) for a refueling at sea in the Pacific Ocean April 7, 2010. Freedom is conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations in the area and Carl Vinson is supporting Southern Seas 2010. Southern Seas is a U.S. Southern Command-directed operation that provides U.S. and international forces the opportunity to operate in a multinational environment. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ashley Van Dien, U.S. Navy/Released)