The problem is some ijjitt decided to give it 50kt speed, to give it which requires 50+% more tonnage and more than double the cost. And cuts the endurance down so low it needs frequent support.
I thought that was the function of Destroyers and Frigates - roughly the same size but each has different roles - missile defense and ASW (but each are sort-of able to multi-task A/R)- what makes this new class (supposedly) better than either?
Planners originally envisaged the LCS as a replacement for the fleet’s frigates, minesweepers and patrol boats, but the new assessments conclude the ships are not equal to today’s frigates or mine countermeasures ships, and they are too large to operate as patrol boats."Littoral" means the shallow waters close to shore. So the Littoral Combat Ship was supposed to bring capabilities close to the enemy shore, mainly by carrying unmanned floating and flying vehicles which it could deploy and control.
The problem is, as joe fonebone pointed out, by trying to have too many capabilities, you got an expensive, vulnerable ship that is not very good at any particular task.
The problem is some ijjitt decided to give it 50kt speed, to give it which requires 50+% more tonnage and more than double the cost. And cuts the endurance down so low it needs frequent support.