Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)

dtulsa

Junior Member
and on February 20
LCS crew marooned in Singapore on an open-ended deployment
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the LCS program is ... revolutionary indeed: "And to get underway, the crew, which will be Crew 203, needs a ship and for now all the trimaran LCS-2 variant ships are either in overhaul or undergoing repairs."
Does any one still think these tin cans are worth it I for one do mot
 

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 12, 2017) The littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) transits the South China Sea. The ship is a fast and agile warship tailor-made to patrol the region's littorals and work hull-to-hull with partner navies, providing the U.S. 7th Fleet with the flexible capabilities it needs now and in the future. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amy M. Ressler/Released)

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SULU SEA (Feb. 20, 2017) An MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter prepares to land aboard the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) following completion of routine operations in the Sulu Sea near the Balabac Strait. Coronado is specifically designed for this type of maritime security and counter-piracy operations and has a Surface Warfare mission package comprised of two 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boats, two visit, board, search and seizure boarding teams, two 30 mm machine guns, two Northrop-Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aerial vehicles, and a Lockheed-Martin MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter. Coronado is a fast and agile warship tailor-made to patrol the region's littorals and work hull-to-hull with partner navies, providing U.S. 7th Fleet with the flexible capabilities it needs now and in the future. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amy M. Ressler/Released)

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SOUTH CHINA SEA (Feb. 23, 2017) Sailors assigned to the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) swim in the South China Sea. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amy M. Ressler/Released)

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OUTH CHINA SEA (Jan. 31, 2017) The littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) departs Changi Naval Base for a scheduled underway. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Amy M. Ressler/Released)
 
Feb 10, 2017 how a Frigate should look like (a Frigate which makes sense, not USN "beefed up LCS" Frigate program),
and here's how a Littoral Combat Ship should look like (includes proven components; building at the shipyard of a customer; and price ceiling hahaha):
Malaysia lays keel for second littoral combat ship
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I post just the link because I don't have an access to the full article anyway; more info (presumably both hull mounted and towed sonars): Aug 3, 2014
 
for those who still remember Apr 7, 2016
Lockheed-LCS-costs.jpg
...
Pentagon blocks publication of potentially embarrassing cost overruns for two new Navy vessels
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The Pentagon office that reviews information to determine whether it’s classified has blocked publication of potentially embarrassing data on cost overruns for the first two vessels bought under the Navy’s primary Littoral Combat Ship contracts, according to a new congressional audit.

In a report examining Navy shipbuilding contracts, the U.S. Government Accountability Office deleted overrun information on two of the Littoral Combat Ships launched in late 2014 — the USS Milwaukee built by Lockheed Martin and the USS Jackson built by Austal Ltd. — at the request of the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review.

The GAO said the Defense Department “deemed the cost growth” on both vessels “to be sensitive but unclassified information, which is excluded from this public report. However, the per cent difference” in cost for each ship “was above target cost.” Other types of ships were listed with specific data on cost increases that ranged from 4 percent to 45 per cent.

“This seems to be an overly broad reading of competition-sensitive information,” said Mandy Smithberger, a director for the Project On Government Oversight’s military reform initiative. “Taxpayers are footing the bill for these overruns. They deserve to know the costs.”

The Littoral Combat Ship has been controversial, with two defense secretaries under President Barack Obama questioning whether the light ship intended for shallow coastal waters could survive in combat and cutting back the numbers planned. While President Donald Trump and his defense secretary, James Mattis, haven’t taken a stand on the ship, it could be one path toward Trump’s pledge to rapidly expand the Navy’s fleet to 350 vessels from about 272 today.

The two vessels are the first in a block of 10 that each contractor is building at regular intervals at what the Navy says are stable prices. The Navy plans to ask this year for authorization to build the final 12 of 40 ships as well as equipment for missions. Those final ships are described as “frigates” that will be better armed than the existing designs.

The LCS deletions were mentioned in a table that listed cost growth.

“Decisions about what information is sensitive are made strictly by the agencies, though we do ask them to present what we would consider as a valid rationale,” Michele Mackin, a GAO director and the report’s author, said in an email.

“In this case, DOD’s Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review provided us” in a Nov. 2 letter “with sensitivity markings indicating what information was considered official use only, or competition sensitive,” Mackin said. “The discussions of LCS cost overruns were marked as such and they provided legitimate information about how such details could impact ongoing competition.”

The Pentagon office that sought the deletions is best known for reviewing manuscripts by current and former military personnel for sensitive information.

The letter to the GAO asking for the deletions was signed by an assistant on behalf of Mark Langerman, chief of the Security Review Office. Langerman didn’t respond to an email asking for comment.

The Pentagon office “should have been able to disclose the magnitude of the cost growth even if some of the underlying details were competition sensitive,” said Steven Aftergood, director of the Federation of American Scientists’ Project on Government Secrecy.

“The department failed to consider the public interest in knowing that cost targets were being exceeded, and by how much,” he said. “Instead, it looks like DoD is trying to keep unfavorable facts out of the public eye. In the long-run, that’s not a smart move.”

Twenty-six ships of what’s now a 28-vessel program of original Littoral Combat Ships are delivered or on contract; the last two are being authorized this year. Over a decade, the vessels went from an estimated cost of $220 million per ship to an average currently of $478 million apiece, according to the GAO.
 

Jeff Head

General
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000-Hellfire.jpg

Naval Today said:
The U.S. Navy carried out the first ever structural test firing of the Surface to Surface Missile Module (SSMM) from littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Detroit (LCS 7), Naval Sea Systems Command announced on Tuesday.

The test took place on February 28 off the coast of Norfolk, Virginia, and marked the first launch of a missile from the SSMM from an LCS as well as the first vertical missile launched from an LCS, as part of the developmental test program for the Surface Warfare (SUW) Mission Package (MP).

SSMM utilizes the Army Longbow Hellfire Missile in a vertical launch capability to counter small boat threats.

Lockheed Martin-produced AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles are the next capability for the surface warfare mission package for the LCS. SSMM achieved initial operational capability (IOC) in November 2014 with delivery of the Gun Mission Module (two 30mm guns) and the Maritime Security Module (11m Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat for Visit Boarding Search and Seizure).

“The testing aboard USS Detroit was an important milestone in advancing LCS capability, not only for the LCS community but for the entire fleet. As small boat threats proliferate, the SSMM will give our ships added lethality,” said Cmdr. Michael Desmond, Detroit’s commanding officer.

A structural test fire is required every time when new or different ordnance systems are first installed on board Navy warships. Specifically, STF verifies that the ship’s structure and equipment as well as the interfaces between ordnance and the ship are capable of withstanding the vibration, shock, noise, gases and other blast derivatives from ordnance firing.

The U.S. Navy said the surface warfare mission package would begin developmental testing aboard USS Milwaukee (LCS 5) later this year and will culminate in operational testing and IOC in 2018.

Well, I am glad to see the Hellfir VLS finally getting aboard the LCS...but more important to me, is also adding the long rnge missiles...like the HArpoons to these vessels so they can also stand up to peer or near peer vessels they also might meet.

These vessels are too large and expensive to devote so much of their effort to countering swarming speed boats.

If that type of problem arises with someone...like say Iran...then park a couple of carriers close enough to use the airwing to take out every offensive vessel the belligerent has.

Anyhow, I also like seeing this:

170212-n-wv703-216.jpg
(That's an Independence class LCS transiting the South China Sea)

...and also hearing that Raytheon is going to build the Naval Strike Missile here in the US...that's very good news too.

With the exsting Harpoons and three new options for the US Navy in the NSM, the LRASM, and the Tactical Tomahawk, the US Navy will have a very effective counter surface capability again,
 

Jeff Head

General
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000-NSM.jpg


Naval Today said:
Raytheon has received an initial contract to produce Naval Strike Missile (NSM) launchers at its production facility in the United States.

Norwegian Kongsberg Defence Systems and the American Raytheon earlier announced their plans to bring the naval missile production from Norway over to Raytheon’s Louisville, Kentucky facility where the company also plans to perform final assembly, integration and test of the NSM.

“Building NSM launchers at our Louisville facility is an excellent extension of our long-standing relationship with Kongsberg,” said Dr. Taylor W. Lawrence, Raytheon Missile Systems president. “This contract will enable us to add jobs while providing our Norwegian teammates with world-class launchers.”

The U.S. Navy
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with the over-the-horizon missile to increase the ships’ strike capability.

“This contract is an important next step in our long-term partnership with Raytheon, and the historic first production contract for NSM in the US,” said Harald Ånnestad, Kongsberg Defence Systems president.

The two companies are also teamed on the development of the Joint Strike Missile and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems also known as NASAMS.
 

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
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Well, I am glad to see the Hellfir VLS finally getting aboard the LCS...but more important to me, is also adding the long rnge missiles...like the HArpoons to these vessels so they can also stand up to peer or near peer vessels they also might meet.

These vessels are too large and expensive to devote so much of their effort to countering swarming speed boats.

If that type of problem arises with someone...like say Iran...then park a couple of carriers close enough to use the airwing to take out every offensive vessel the belligerent has.

Anyhow, I also like seeing this:

View attachment 36874
(That's an Independence class LCS transiting the South China Sea)

...and also hearing that Raytheon is going to build the Naval Strike Missile here in the US...that's very good news too.

With the exsting Harpoons and three new options for the US Navy in the NSM, the LRASM, and the Tactical Tomahawk, the US Navy will have a very effective counter surface capability again,
Ofc ! a combattant in more a Frigate is not buid to fight only Pirates seriously ! in addtion guns are sufficient.
 
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