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.
WTF?
They need two in NORVA that's for sure around the Naval Bases. 50 plus Knots would cover a good area response wise.
The accent is on the 2nd syllable.
Stock options? Or could you point to source material that explains in detail what doesn't work with the FIELDED ship, and the time machine that shows the NOT FIELDED ship won't have any problems?
I find that systems that aren't fielded yet are ALWAYS 10 times better than the ones that ARE fielded. :-)
Yes indeed.
Thanks for the PING.
The Navy is fast developing their littoral capabilities. I guess if we have to begin patrolling our expanded security perimeter, we're going to need a different kind of vessel to do it.
Or if you're shooting at small craft. The LCS is intended for inshore work, where we wouldn't be willing to risk a billion-dollar-plus Aegis cruiser/destroyer.
Yes we are. My only real concern is that we are being told that 50+ of these vessels will be part of our 313 ship Navy of the future. I believe we need 50+ of these vessels for sure, but I also believe the other number is far too small. I personally think we need a good 450 other major surface combatants and support vessels to maintain our position of dominance on the high seas.
Our Navy is much too small at this time and our Merchant Marine is non-existant. This must change, or Gorbachev will be right. We will be forced to bow down to China and India.
GlobalSecurity.org has an interesting bit about the "StreetFighter" concept for the new Navy:
As of mid-2001 the Office of Naval Research was considering construction of a Littoral Combat Ship with a displacement of 500 to 600 tons. The LCS would have a draft of about three meters, an operational range of 4,000 nautical miles, and a maximum speed of 50-60 knots. The cost per ship might be at least $90 million.They want to make a ship cheap enough, and with few enough sailors manning it, that they can risk sending it to where it might actually be in danger. No admiral in 2006 wants to risk actual danger to a carrierThe Streetfighter would be a smaller, very fast ship (part of the more general Streetfighter concept), that could compete successfully with the enemy for control of coasts and littoral waters. These ships are envisioned as costing less than 10% as much as current Battle Force ships, while comprising more than 25% of the total number of surface combatants [that is at least 25 but no more than 50 units].
The President of the Naval War College, Admiral Art Cebrowski, and others such as Capt. Wayne P. Hughes, have advocated the deployment of larger numbers of smaller ships to operate in “harm’s way” in littoral waters. Cebrowski and Hughes talk of “tactical instability,” where a navy is unwilling to risk its ships because the fleet is constituted principally of small numbers of expensive ships. They propose “re-balancing the fleet” by supplementing the currently planned large surface combatants with the procurement of smaller ships.
You bet you...this will be a mine hunter extrodinaire...in addition to its many other capabilities. I like the modular mission concept with a one day turnaround to refit for different missions.
Here's a good site regarding it.
In addition, one of the LCS designs is in fact a trimaran...see post 23.
I think it's those performance based specs that we went to. Instead of the Navy telling the contractor what to build, the contractor does what they want and the taxpayers pay. The incremental or spiral builds, while understandable, truly do cause problems, even though you get more as technology improves. (or that's what is supposed to happen, anyway).
Tinhorn dictator looking at the US Navy off his coast: "I didn't think they'd take my threats littorally!"
http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/ships-pg.html
Ships of the U.S. Navy, 1940-1945
Patrol Craft
Yes, it's been testing for several years (since the late 80s), but was a limited test and not aa prototype...meaning no follow-on construction. it;s top speed is about 15 knots and it displaces about 600 tons (really small). Crew of ten and unarmed. Pure test bed.
Sort of puts old Shamu, splashing around in his pool, to shame, doesn't it? :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
