The Navy Now Wants To Retire The First Four Of Its Troublesome Littoral Combat Ships

The Drive ^ | February 10, 2020 | Tyler Rogoway

[mowowie]

It was something many of us saw as a near-certain eventuality, the Navy has formally announced that it wants to retire its first four Littoral Combat Ships. Split evenly across both the Freedom and Independence classes of the failed Littoral Combat Ship concept, the oldest of the vessels was commissioned just 12 years ago, the youngest a mere six years ago. Yes, you read that right—six years ago! The troublesome fleet within a fleet has been serving as a training and test force, a dubious role from the start that the Navy says isn't even needed anymore. Giving up on the vessels as front line ships began a few years ago as part of a restructuring plan that was initiated as the program became increasingly mired in technological and logistical turmoil.

[Spktyr]

We bought more than 4. Closer to 40 than 4.

[Spktyr]

The LockMart “Freedom” variant of the LCS is a single steel hull with an aluminum superstructure. The “Independence” trimaran is the one that’s all aluminum.

[Mr Ramsbotham]

I was just being facetious; the Canadians have no interest in military matters. O Canada, WE stand on guard for thee!

[FLT-bird]

LCS. Sailors call them Little Crappy Ships.

[Spktyr]

Well, they bought a bunch of subs from the British that promptly thought it was a good idea to sink... But even they don’t want USN configured LCS ships.

Meanwhile, there’s some interest in the “Saudi config”: https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/why-saudi-arabia-buying-billion-dollar-ship-navy-doesnt-even-want-75461

[heshtesh]

I thought the Brits learned in the Falklands that making a combat vessel out of aluminum wasn’t a good idea.

Funny thing with aluminum, when it starts to burn it tends not to stop till it consumes everything.
https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=A3F7C12C44A4A605E9D3D007E3DC97979712C779&thid=OIP.d7Q4KMnIwoZvjqGYvyrkqAHaJ4&mediaurl=https%3A%2F%2Fty4stroke.com%2Fattachments%2Fimg_0825-jpg.138969%2F&exph=768&expw=576&q=burnt+snowmobile+on+trail&selectedindex=2&ajaxhist=0&vt=0&eim=0,1,2,3,4,6,8,10

[Red Badger]

[Red Badger]

Pork Floats!: Congress Inserts Three Littoral Combat Ships The Navy Doesn’t Want Into Budget
While adding ships, Congress cut funding to mission module development, creating a nasty paradox in which critical LCS missions are left in doubt.
By Tyler RogowaySeptember 19, 2018:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/23697/pork-floats-congress-inserts-three-littoral-combat-ships-the-navy-doesnt-want-into-budget

[null and void]

Agreed.

[outpostinmass2]

And they are but ugly ships to boot.

[null and void]

*sigh* that problem is universal.

[grobdriver]

God bless those who go down to the sea in ships.

I went Naval Air.

[Squantos]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Gabrielle_Giffords

Sink this one first .....

[Nothingburger]

There is a precedent for a class of US Navy ships that proved utterly useless, although you have to go back to the Civil War. Here’s a link:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casco-class_monitor

[Big Red Badger]

Exactly!

[ozarker]

I wonder if it would be possible to use O.H. Perry class frigates that are in mothball fleet. Could they be refurbished with new electronics and weapons? That could be a stop-gap until we have actual working frigates and destroyers. I was aboard knox class frigate for 4 1/2 years, everything above waterline was aluminum. Our CIC was protected by 1/2 inch or so of it. It did not feel very safe.

[mowowie]

did you read the support helicopter article?
Jeeeezzz...........

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Reconfigure them and put them on permanent standby to provide power for the serial disaster that is Puerto Rico. Or, as prison ships and movable brigs.

(”Opt to spend your time in the brig in the Sunny Caribbean at Guantanamo Cuba! Experience the onboard in the relaxed atmosphere with 3 square meals and hospital care, surrounded by beautiful prison island Cuba, and a view across the strait to dark and exotic Haiti!”)

[Red Badger]

Saw it, didn’t need to read it. Knew what it was...............

[Who is John Galt?]

And, in each case politics and money (pork) prevailed and political decisions, not engineering decisions, caused the projects to miserable, expensively, fail.

Bingo! In similar situations, I'm reminded of the old saying that "a platypus is a duck designed by a committee." If you actually want something that works, give the engineers the specs and a budget, and then keep the politicians and accountants off their backs...