The New USS Independence

instapinch.com ^ | Friday, May 2nd, 2008...1:16 pm

[7thson]

My surface ship buddy Tim passed on these photos of the second class of littoral combat ship (LCS 2), named Independence, and built by General Dynamics/Bath iron Works in their Mobile, Alabama shipyards.

The other ships built thus far for the LCS program have been by Lockheed Martin and have had their fair share of problems, having had two of their follow-on LCS programs cancelled for cost overruns. Both GD and Lockheed Martin had contracts canceled for their 2nd hulls, due primarily to an inability to agree on a fixed price contract with the Navy (edited thanks to Ken Adams in the comments).

I have no idea how GenDynamics is doing, but this first ship looks absolutley wicked! Its tri-maran hull combined with the capabilities and look of a warship makes it something out of this world.

[7thson]

I did a quick search and did not see anything on this. I served on the USS Independence (CV62) from Aug 82 to Sep 84. This is the new Indy. Cool looking ship. Anyone know anything about these class of ships?

[jwparkerjr]

re: Mobile, Alabama shipyards

The yards that were Alabama Dry Dock and Ship Repair 50 years ago (ADDSCO)?

I worked at ADDSCO in 1963 when they were rebuilding the aircraft carrier Saipan for use as a floating command post by President Kennedy. The project was scrubbed following his death.

[Evil Slayer]

I want one of those. Would be a great addition to my self defense weapons I have already. One can never be over prepared for Armageddon. :)

[GreyFriar]

Oh Wow, a 57mm gun. Those were obsolete for infantry use by 1944 and now it is the sole armament of our newest combat ship. Somali pirates will probably need two minutes to capture it, but I guess the sloped sides are suppose to protect it from the pirates boarding.

[bert]

.......Those were obsolete for infantry use by 1944 .....

How did infantry use a 57 mm gun

[tgusa]

Here’s the scoop on LCS ..

http://peoships.crane.navy.mil/lcs/program.htm

[decimon]

Quite a sculpture. If it performs as it looks then it should be quite a ship.

[7thson]

Sounds cool.

[EricT.]

I’m pretty sure this 57mm gun is way different from anything fielded in WWII. You can’t judge everything by bore size.

The sloped sides produce a much smaller radar reflection, so it is a bit stealthier than old timey ships.

This is a giant speed boat that packs a mean punch. Basically, it’s a combination frigate and PT boat plus a whole lot more.

[mkjessup]

.......Those were obsolete for infantry use by 1944 .....
How did infantry use a 57 mm gun

VERY CAREFULLY. LOL

[EricT.]

A little info on the Mk 110 57mm naval gun: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bofors_57_mm_gun

[Oztrich Boy]

Oh Wow, a 57mm gun. Those were obsolete for infantry use by 1944 and now it is the sole armament of our newest combat ship. Somali pirates will probably need two minutes to capture it, but I guess the sloped sides are suppose to protect it from the pirates boarding.

In two minutes the Somali Pirates would have 440 57mm shells impacting on their vessel. It isn't your Grandfather's 57mm.

Like armament selection choice it is a compromise, It this case: large enough to do damage vs, rate of fire high enough to be effective against anti-ship missiles

[Paladin2]

Uh, the picture shows twin twin-50s on the stern corners.

[Paladin2]

correction: single 50s.

[Bender2]

Re: I worked at ADDSCO in 1963 when they were rebuilding the aircraft carrier Saipan for use as a floating command post by President Kennedy. The project was scrubbed following his death.

From http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/usnshtp/cv/cvl48cl.htm

“...the less-capable Saipans were pushed into reserve and reclassified as aircraft transports. However, in the early 1960s these still relatively new ships were heavily modified for a new mission, providing seagoing command facilities for the Nation's leaders in the event of a Nuclear crisis.”

USS Arlington (AGMR-2) [ex-USS Saipan]
Underway, circa 1967
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

USS Wright (CC-2)
Underway, 17 June 1963. Note the extensive array of large communications antennas installed on the ship's former flight deck.
Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center.

[EternalVigilance]

[TXnMA]

"Oh Wow, a 57mm gun. Those were obsolete for infantry use by 1944..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bofors 57mm Mk3:

220 RPM -- and stealthy because it can hide (depress) its barrel when not firing...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Only" 57mm? Well, I hear that the few Iraqi tankers who have survived seeing this "mere 30mm" fired ...live in deathly fear of it:

GAU-8 30mm

BTW, thanks for providing the opportunity to share a little "gun porn"... '-)

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I always worry when I see ships like this how they could stop an air attack from aircraft and/or missiles. It would last about 10 minutes in range of a Sherman class destroyer. What is its anti ship capabilities? What is its ASW capability? And it is obviously useless for shore bombardment.IMHO

[r9etb]

Dang ... they must have hired some Russian aircraft designers to fuglify that ship.

[aegiscg47]

Well, yes, if it allowed itself to get in range of a Sherman for a gun duel! This ship also has a RAM system and large number of decoys, so it would be hard to engage with SSMs and could defend itself. I'm pretty sure that the mission modules will include some kind of way to add Harpoons or Tomahawks in case of a general war.