Posted on 10/14/2006 10:00:11 AM PDT by Jeff Head
US NAVY LAUNCHES AND CHRISTENS FIRST LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP (LCS)
From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
MARINETTE, Wis. (NNS) -- Thousands looked on Sept. 24, 2006, as the Navy christened and launched the nation's first littoral combat ship, Freedom (LCS 1), at the Marinette Marine shipyard.
“Just a little more than three years ago she was just an idea, now Freedom stands before us. And on this morning, we christen her, send her down the ways and get her ready to join the fleet next year,” said Adm. Mike Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations. “It comes none too soon, because there are tough challenges out there that only she can handle.”
The 377-foot Freedom is capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and can operate in water less than 20 feet deep. The ship will act as a platform for launch and recovery of manned and unmanned vehicles. Its modular design will support interchangeable mission packages, allowing the ship to be reconfigured for antisubmarine warfare, mine warfare, or surface warfare missions on an as-needed basis.
Click on thumbnails for a larger picThe Lockheed Martin vessel is 377 feet long, will displace 2900 tons, has a top speed in excess of 50 knots, will be armed with a 57 mm gun, a RAM CIWS system, a 40 ft small boat, and two H-60 helos or up to three VUAVs. In addition, it can be outfitted for differing operation packages including anti-surface, anti-submarine, anti-mine, or special operations.
The General Dynamics Trimaran version , LCS 2 [i]Independence[/i], will be luanched and christened in 2007.
US COAST GUARD LAUNCHES AND CHRISTENS FIRST NATIONAL SECURIY CUTTER
US Coast Guard Public Affairs
The first National Security Cutter (NSC), USCGC Bertholf, was built at the Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) Ingalls Operations in Pascagoula, Miss. A ceremony was held on September 9, 2004 to mark the beginning of construction of the first NSC. The cutter was launched on September 29, 2006. The construction of the second NSC is underway. (Photos courtesy of Northrop Grumman)
Click on thumbnails for a larger picEight vessels are planned to be built. They displace 4,300 tons, have a CODAG propulsion, are armed with a 57mm main gun, carry two helos, or up to four VUAVs, or a mix of one helo and two VUAVs, have a close in weapons system (I believe VLS cells), is outfitted with a small boat package, and have enhancied interoperability between Coast Guard and US Navy.
The old PT boats were similar in scope, but a lot smaller. These will be a good thing for PHIBRON operations, special forces, anti-mining, ASW, etc in the littoral regions and under cover of carrier or other strike groups further out to sea.
LCS 1 has MANY (some very big) problems and is being built just to be built. It is hoped that at least some of its fundamental problems can be fixed in future builds but I think that even that is unrealistically optimistic.
LCS 2 will be the real thing. Even though it is not without sins, it is far and away superior militarily, technically, and even financially. Come future builds, it's superiority will just increase.
Oh well, politics and industrial welfare continues well and strong in Washington.
For the sake of the thread, here are a couple of pics of artist renderings of the GD design.
Having said all of that, I believe Lockheed will make their LCS design work...it's just that I think for this role, the trimaran design is better, and GD has a lot of great shipbuilding experience.
Anybody find "U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter" somewhat redundant?
Also note the gun being delivered by BAE:
MINNEAPOLIS -- BAE Systems has been awarded a contract from Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) to deliver a second 57-mm Mk 110 Naval Gun system for its integration onto the U.S. Coast Guard's Maritime Security Cutter, Large. The gun system was selected as the main battery on the Large, a new ship under development as part of the Integrated Deepwater System program.200 rounds/minute of 57 mm is enough to ruin most people's day"The Mk 110 fires 220 rounds per minute with superior accuracy and has a range of up to nine miles," said Jeff Graslewicz, BAE Systems' Mk 110 program manager. "The Mk 110 is unmatched, and it's the perfect choice for the Maritime Security Cutter, Large - it's going to provide our sailors with sophisticated firepower, precision and protection."
The BAE Systems 57-mm Mk 110 Naval Gun system was also selected as the Close-in Gun System on the U.S. Navy's DD(X) ship. Additionally, Lockheed Martin selected the Mk 110 for its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Flight 0, and General Dynamics has baselined the gun system for its version of the LCS. Once in full-rate production the 57-mm Mk 110 will be manufactured at BAE Systems' facility in Louisville, Ky.
This versatile gun system is paired with the Bofors Defence family of 3P (Pre-fragmented Programmable Proximity fuzed) ammunition for combating aerial, surface, and ground targets. This ammunition, designated as the Mk 295 Mod 0, gives the Mk 110 Naval Gun increased tactical flexibility and ammunition effects.
Thanks for the ping!
Excellent find on the documentation of what several of us have tried to say in our own words. Thanks.
Ah...but that is not a CVN-21, thats the first in class, CVGS-1 (Carrier Garbage Scow), I guess the actual USS Bill Clinton.
Let me be a little more clear, BOTH types ARE going to production - period.
Oh and its not that a trimaran is better suited for the task its that the Lockheed side messed up big time. [Hint, they didn't built the ship that was asked for or what they said they were going to build.]
This is the first I have heard that the competition has been in essence suspended and that both designs are going to be produced.
Interesting. If this is so, will they both still be multi-mission for the same missions and a complete overlap, or will they earmarked for differing missions?
Care to elaborate?
That's sooo wrong.
...or run them down.
reliability and accuracy problems. When fired at maximum ROF, there is a tendency for the mount to "self-destruct," in the words of one of the Project Engineers who worked on the weapon. During a test shoot, the weapon was unable to hold a 20-round burst on a 20 x 20 foot (6m x 6m) target at 500 yards (460 m).The Italian 127mm can only do 40 rpm of much heavier rounds (67 lbs avg)
The 57mm's high rate of fire will put a comparable amount of HE on target, and is likely to be more effective against swarm attacks of lots of small expendable boats.
Realisticly, anything that needs hitting with a 127mm is worth hitting with a missile
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