Defense Cuts: Four Navy Programs To Watch Closely

Forbes ^ | September 13, 2013 | Loren Thompson,

[yoe]

Over the next several weeks, there will be a raft of news stories disclosing cuts to Pentagon weapons programs. The stories will begin with briefings by the military services to the defense secretary’s management team next week about their planned budget requests for fiscal 2015, and then continue into the fitful beginning of the 2014 fiscal year two weeks later. In both cases, the focus of stories will be on how the Pentagon proposes to cope with deficit-reduction provisions in the Budget Control Act.

Those provisions are likely to significantly reduce the military capabilities of the U.S. because they mandate a trillion dollars in savings from the defense department between 2012 and 2021. Half of the cuts are already reflected in Obama Administration budget requests, but the other half — known a sequestration — are not. The sequestration cuts are expected to cut $52 billion, or roughly 10%, from the Pentagon request in the fiscal year beginning October 1, with the biggest percentage reductions coming from weapons programs.

[snip] The impact on military capabilities will become much more noticeable in the new fiscal year, potentially affecting programs vital to the nation’s future security. What follows is a brief description of four Navy programs that all have been subject to rumors about budget cuts. If any of them actually are cut, warfighters are more likely to die in the future, and wars are less likely to be won.

[Vermont Lt]

I know nothing about these ships, so you might need to explain it like I am five.

That said, are any ships armored enough to withstand a direct hit by one of those Russian or Chinese missiles? If that is the case, should the goal be sipped and aggressive defense (like a phalanx).

Again, I know nothing about this. Just wondering.

[DesertRhino]

The LCS has far less capability than a fletcher class destroyer from WII. That’s true in every measure except electronics and the ability to briefly speed like a motorboat.

The LCS firepower is a sad joke. A Fletcher could operate in water just as shallow, but it comes with a deadly battery of five 5 inch guns, and was festooned with 20mm and 40mm. It carries depth charges and 10 torpedoes.

An LCS basically carries the gun from a Bradley fighting vehicle, and an indirect rocket launcher that is the equivalent in range and power of large mortar.

The LCS is exempted from time proven USN damage control standards.

An LCS would be in grave danger if it comes within 2 miles of shore. It could easily be bested by a standard main battle tank on the beach.

[DesertRhino]

You mentioned Leyte gulf. Think of the USS Johnston. That ship took on a column of Japanese cruisers and Battleships. It blew the bow off one and set it afire with a torpedo, and raked the superstructure of another with a storm of 5 inch fire.
They bought precious time for the CVEs.

No matter how brave the lesbian captain might be, an LCS is utterly helpless if any other ship whatsoever decides to attack it