SINGAPORE (July 27, 2013) Vice President Joe Biden delivers remarks to the crew on board the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) during a visit to the ship to thank Sailors and their families for their service. Freedom is in Singapore as part of her maiden deployment to Southeast Asia. Fast, agile and mission-focused, littoral combat ships are designed to operate in near-shore environments and employ modular mission packages that can be configured for surface warfare, mine countermeasures, or anti-submarine warfare. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Karolina A. Oseguera)