Posted on 05/07/2008 8:24:11 PM PDT by Toddsterpatriot
We’ve been hearing rumblings about the U.S. Navy’s triple-hulled ships, but here’s one that was launched last month, the U.S.S Independence. Built by General Dynamics, it’s called a “littoral combat ship” (LCS), and the trimaran can move huge weapons around faster than any ship in the Navy. Ironic that with all that high tech built in, the ship reminds us of the Merrimac ironclad from Civil War days.
Littoral means close to shore, and that’s where these fleet-hulled babies will operate, tailor-made for launching helicopters and armored vehicles, sweeping mines and firing all manner of torpedoes, missiles and machine guns.
These ships were designed to be relatively inexpensive — this one’s a bargain at $208 million — and the navy plans to build 55 of them. This trimaran is the first of the new fire-breathing breed, ready to scoot out of dry dock at a rumored 60 knots. It's like a speedy and heavily-armed aircraft carrier for helicopters.
Where’s the Phalanx?
SAN DIEGO (NNS) — The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Class Squadron (CLASSRON) was formally established Feb. 15 in San Diego.
I have seen then inperson. Really great.
Fair winds and following seas!!
Go Navy!
It's perfectly capable of crossing oceans. And I imagine its promary mission will be in Persian Gulf waters....off Iran perhaps.
What worries you about an ocean passage in a tri-hull? It looks to be destroyer sized, and the trihull will give one heck of a lot smoother ride!
Cat ping!
IIRC The HUGE Containership Sealand McLean holds the Pacific crossing record at four days eighteen hours. I think that was San Francisco to Japan. The ship was huge, but was one of I think three traded to the Government in the seventies as they were too expensive to operate, and the theory of the times that speed was everything to compete in that Industry turned out to be not true.
My point is that a vessel the size of the SL-7 Sealand McLean, (it was the largest of its day, and way ahead of its time within the industry) can cross the Pacific in that amount of time, it’s quite realistic to believe these trimarans could achieve that stated speed.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/gd-lcs-side-001.jpg
Take care of Pirates and Persians.
It's not all that big. Plenty of things could carry it, if it can'd self deploy.
LOA — 127.6 m
BOA — 31.6 m
Draft - 4.4m
Displacement Full Load ~ 3120MT
Max Speed (Lightload) >40 knots
Mission Bay: 1,100 sq.m. (11,800 sq. ft.)
Flight Deck :1,030 sq.m. (11,100 sq. ft.)
>What worries you about an ocean passage in a tri-hull?
Years of sailing and many dead multi-hull ocean sailor friends.
It’s about time, and thanks to Congressman Duncan Hunter!
It needs lasers and rail guns.
It does look kinda like the Merrimac.
seems undergunned for its size
Including a mission module EACH LCS is up to the vicinity of $700 Million dollars at the moment.
I can't emphasize enough what a disaster this program has been. Wish I could say more.
Take all the gee-whiz articles you see about these vessels, print them out, and use them for toilet paper.
I can't even comment on this part of the article because I literally was rolling around on the floor laughing.
$208 Million WELL SPENT! God bless the United States Navy.
Sigh.
What part of “The person that wrote this article is an imbecile who knows nothing about either LCS” do you not understand?
As now upwards of a half-dozen people have pointed out, the cost for just the seaframe is now over $550 million dollars and it’s pretty clear the out-the-door price with mission modules is going to end up being somewhere in the vicinity of $700 million dollars when all is said and done(for both the LM and GD seaframes.)
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.