USS Freedom, the Navy’s first littoral combat ship, left her homeport at San Diego Naval Station, Calif., March 1, on her first deployment. Freedom will operate in waters near Southeast Asia and Singapore for the next eight months. The voyage will include port calls in Hawaii and Guam. In Singapore, Freedom will take part in the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference. While in Southeast Asia, the vessel will take part in some activities associated with the Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise.