[SunTzuWu]

These aren't capitol ships. There is a limit to how much damage a smaller vessel can sustain. But soon I'm sure, all the armchair Generals and Admirals will be along to express their outrage. Much like they did when they discovered that a Humvee couldn't withstand antitank mines.

[MSF BU]

HOw much does one of these cost as opposed to say...retaining the Wisconsin or Missouri? I thought the battleships were built like....battleships and could sustain a lot of damage and still hurl ordnance.

[Gen.Blather]

“These aren’t capitol ships. There is a limit to how much damage a smaller vessel can sustain.”

The Army’s recently killed Future Combat Systems (FCS) vehicle had similar problems. They had no armor and vertical sides so they could be flown into combat. When somebody asked where the armor was, they were told (by prime contractor Boeing) that the Army would have total control of ground and air and that there would be nothing to threaten these vehicles. That was before IED’s. But, still, even if you do away with the concept of IED’s, the large-scale use of expensive, vulnerable vehicles as the only vehicle in the field would necessarily lead to anti-vehicle weapons costing a fraction as much. As it turned out, IED’s and people willing to sacrifice themselves have changed the world all by themselves. IED’s and the lack of what you could call a “front line” made these vehicles expensive death traps.

Incidentally, Obama’s administration has cancelled all of the spare parts contracts (with my company, at least) for the Army’s vehicles. The Tank and Automotive Command told us that they have scrapped half the Army’s fleets to supply those spares. In two years, according to my company’s Logistics guys, there won’t be many working combat vehicles. Starting January 1st, my company is laying off between 70 and 80% of its employees.

[jospehm20]

“Much like they did when they discovered that a Humvee couldn’t withstand antitank mines.”

Or that the Bradley could not withstand a main gun round from a tank.

[Pollster1]

As an armchair Admiral (and former active duty officer), I am confused on this ship's mission. If it's cheap and disposable, what is it supposed to do that a Zodiac can't do? If it's supposed to be a combat ship, what prevents us from giving it the survivability of a real ship. My reading of this (I have enough of a NAVSEA background to think that I know what I'm talking about) is that Obama doesn't particularly care about dead sailors, so he won't pay to make this ship a proper warship. If you know better, then I'm all ears.

They're both supposed to fight in the littoral, and apparently neither is survivable in combat operations. For that $500M price tag, will the LCS crew at least be provided with a rubber patch kit and a scoop for bailing?

Even John Paul Jones, when he said, "I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way," was thinking of ships that could stand and fight, as well as run to carry the fight to the enemy, not just a ship that could run away but that couldn't take a hit.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

The purpose of a ship is to lay alongside another ship and to sink it. You are in deep kimchi if you can’t do that. One day you have a Navy, the next it is on the bottom of the ocean.

[arthurus]

Capital ships.

[Leisler]

I was pissed at the very existence of the HUMVEE. Heavy, thirsty and unprotected.

Also,the supposed most mobile mechanized military didn’t have one, zero, MRAP. Not even experimentally. Like as if mines didn’t chew up grunts in VN, and in every turd world conflict.

I would of gone even cheaper and more disposable with the n coastal ships( although it is nice the Navy noticed the majority of people live a near water, and ports and politics and stuff ) What are we saving all those Burke( ? ) Destroyers for, scrap?

It’s good to see them getting a touch more political and away from Blue Water sub hunting.

/bathtubadmiral off

[Mariner]

"These aren't capitol ships"

At 3ktons you are exactly correct.

However, to use an aluminum hull is asking for trouble. They'll still set off a mine but would be broken in half by one. To top it off they are very lightly armed.

I would rather see us buying 2,500 ton frigates with steel hulls, torpedoes, Harpoon missiles and 35kt speeds.