[Yo-Yo]

The coasties couldn’t afford to operate them. The transmissions that integrate the cruising diesels with the high-speed gas turbines, basically don’t work. To fix them, the Navy would have to cut the hulls open. Cheaper to build new ships with the improved transmissions.

The proposal for Coast Guard Cutter use would be to eliminate the gas turbine and the combining transmission, and just go with diesel power. You'd lose the top end of the DCS, but would increase range and endurance by eliminating the gas guzzling turbine while still reaching 20 knots which is what most Coast Guard Cutters do today.

The Navy LCS requirement was for a 40+ knot dash speed capability, but that isn't needed for Coast Guard use.

[Tallguy]

I wonder about the overall sea-keeping ability of that hull design. The navy is buying the FREMM design for the next frigate. That might be a little large for a cutter, but there are smaller foreign frigate designs that would fit the bill.

[BroJoeK]

"The proposal for Coast Guard Cutter use would be to eliminate the gas turbine and the combining transmission, and just go with diesel power.
You'd lose the top end of the DCS, but would increase range and endurance by eliminating the gas guzzling turbine while still reaching 20 knots which is what most Coast Guard Cutters do today."

Max speed of both Freedom & Independence class LCS's is limited by problems -- with gearing on Freedom and structural cracks on Independence.
Somewhere I heard their max speed is now just 15 knots.

Legend class Coast Guard cutters are listed as 28 knots, max., with a range over 12,000 miles versus the LCS's 3,500 miles.

Somehow, I just don't think the Coast Guard will like those LCS's.