Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)

news from Admiral Greenert: "In FY 2019, the Navy will then procure new Small Surface Combatants (FRIGATES), an upgraded design based on the LCS. They will offer improvements in capability, lethality, and survivability."

(part of
CNO Releases Annual Navigation Plan
available at )

anybody who cares is reminded those "improvements in capability, lethality, and survivability" here:

and the statement "This increased capability is achieved at less than 20% more cost than the current LCS." from
Dec. 11, 2014 fact sheet on the results of the Navy’s recent Small Surface Combatant study
available at

US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus names LCS-20 as USS Cincinnati

Naval Today said:

On July 19, the US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the next Independence variant littoral combat ship will be named USS Cincinnati (LCS 20).

Cincinnati will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. It will be 419 feet long and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 40 knots.

LCS 20 will be the fifth ship in naval history to be named Cincinnati with the first playing an integral part in the Civil War; the second enforcing neutrality laws during the Cuban Revolution and seeing service during the Spanish-American War; the third acting as a patrol and flagship during World War II; and the fourth, a Los Angeles class submarine, being commissioned in 1978 and serving during the Cold War.

The ship will be built with modular design incorporating mission packages that can be changed out quickly as combat needs change in a region. These mission packages are supported by detachments that deploy both manned and unmanned vehicles, and sensors in support of mine, undersea, and surface warfare missions.

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The USS Cincinnati, LCS-20, is expected to be delivered to the US Navy in 2018.

She will be the tenth Independence Class LCS, and the twentieth vessel overall. After the initial order of two vessels each (LCS-1 and LCS-3 for the Freedom class, and LCS-2 and LCS-4 for the Independence class), the US Navy placed an order for ten more each which would bring the total to 24 vessels, or twelve of each class.

So far, five of each have been launched, two more of each are building, and a total of ten of each have been named.

It's a two-fer. Another Independence class LCS, LCS-22, named:

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Naval Today said:

US Navy’s next Independence variant littoral combat ship will carry the name of USS Kansas City (LCS 22), the Secretary of the United States Navy Ray Mabus announced.

LCS 22 will be the second commissioned naval ship to bear the name Kansas City. The first was a replenishment oiler (AOE 3) which served a 25-year career and included service during the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm.

A fast, agile surface combatant, the LCS provides the required war fighting capabilities and operational flexibility to execute a variety of missions in areas such as mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare and surface warfare.

The ship will be built with modular design incorporating mission packages that can be changed out quickly as combat needs change in a region. These mission packages are supported by detachments that deploy both manned and unmanned vehicles, and sensors in support of mine, undersea, and surface warfare missions.

Kansas City will be built by Austal USA in Mobile, Alabama. It will be 419 feet long and be capable of operating at speeds in excess of 40 knots.

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So...here's what we have so far for the LCS vessels:

USS Freedom LCS-1 Launch: 9/23/2006 Commission11/8/2008 Active
USS Independence LCS-2 Launch: 4/26 2008 Commission 1/16/2010 Active
USS Fort Worth LCS-3 Launch: 12/7/2010 Commission 9/22/2012 Active
USS Coronado LCS-4 Launch: 1/12/ 2012 Commission: 4/5/2014 Active
USS Milwaukee LCS-5 Launch: 12/18/2013 Fitting out
USS Jackson LCS-6 Launch: 12/14/2013 Fitting out
USS Detroit LCS-7 Launch: 10/18/2014 Fitting out
USS Montgomery LCS-8 Launch: 8/6/2014 Fitting out
USS Little Rock LCS-9 Launch: 7/18 2015 Fitting out
USS Gabrielle Giffords LCS-10 Launch 2/25/2015 Fitting out
USS Sioux City LCS-11 Under construction
USS Omaha LCS-12 Under construction
USS Wichita LCS-13 Under construction
USS Manchester LCS-14 Under construction
USS Billings LCS-15 Under construction
USS Tulsa LCS-16 Under construction
USS Indianapolis LCS-17 Under construction
USS Charleston LCS-18 Under construction
USS St. Louis LCS-19 On order
USSCincinnati LCS-20 On order
LCS-21 On order
USS Kansas City LCS-22 On order
LCS-23 On order
LCS-24 On order

Odd numbers are Freedom Class. Even numbers are Independence Class.

That totals to four commissioned and active, six launched and fitting out, eight under construction, and six more on order. That brings us to the initial tenty-four vessels, twelve of each class.

Usefull list

Jura said:

news from Admiral Greenert: "In FY 2019, the Navy will then procure new Small Surface Combatants (FRIGATES), an upgraded design based on the LCS. They will offer improvements in capability, lethality, and survivability."

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

(part of
CNO Releases Annual Navigation Plan
available at

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

)

anybody who cares is reminded those "improvements in capability, lethality, and survivability" here:

and the statement "This increased capability is achieved at less than 20% more cost than the current LCS." from
Dec. 11, 2014 fact sheet on the results of the Navy’s recent Small Surface Combatant study
available at

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Click to expand...

On the topic and will be pertinent to Jeff's list.
A while back a asked Jeff if he thought the new frigate versions would be considered part of the same class as the LCS. His answer was a not sure. Well I think I found it.


Okay so in 2019 the Small Surface Combatant versions of LCS start up. These new Boats will be considered as Flight I of the design. Meaning they will continue to be considered Freedom and Independence classes respectively but extensive upgrades.
However these new ships will carry the Hull designation FF for Fast Frigate, additionally older ships of the designs will be refit with some of the same modifications and systems as the FF as this happens they to will be changed from LCS designations to FF.
So what that means is the Kansas City may start life as LCS 22 but will likely end its commission as the USS Kansas City FF 22

And if the line runs long enough who knows maybe just maybe a Flight II FFG for Fast Frigate Guided missile? To date the Navy decided against adding VLS launchers to the FF block of Freedom and Independence classes feeling that it was to heavy but things change after all not to long ago the USN was saying that it did not need Frigates and LCS was the future.

Bonus thoughts Both Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Austel have designed smaller derivatives of There LCS designs, for Perhaps one day the Coast Guard?

TerraN_EmpirE said:

... these new ships will carry the Hull designation FF for Fast Frigate, additionally older ships of the designs will be refit with some of the same modifications and systems as the FF as this happens they to will be changed from LCS designations to FF.

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IMHO, it's all symantics.

Since all of these vessels will have RAM or SeaRam, and since all of them will ultimately get stand-off SSMs, and since their diplacements are both at or over 3,000 tons, I have always considered them FFGs...even if we had to live with the LCS moniker.

Now that moniker for a bunch of them will be FF.

But FFG means guided missile frigate...and with the RAM missiles and a surface to surface guided missile...well, IMHO, that is exactly what they are.

TerraN_EmpirE said:

...
Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Austel have designed smaller derivatives of There LCS designs, for Perhaps one day the Coast Guard?

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Nope. Do not see it happening.

The three cutters that will make up the new US Coast Guard for the next several decades are already decided...pretty much.

The 4,500 ton National Security Cutter is the Legend Class and five of eight of those are already in the water with number six to follow this fall, and the last two building. That one is out for either of the LCS.

The 3,000 ton Offshore Patrol Cutter was a possibility...but the award for design was already given to three companies...Bollinger Shipyards Lockport LLC; Eastern Shipbuilding Group Inc.; and General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works. They intend to build 25 of these vessels, so it is a huge order for someone.

Bollinger is teaming with Damen so we might see one of their standard patrol designs modified for the Coast Guard.

Here's is GD BWI's OPC concept (clearly not one of the LCS designs):



Here is Eastern's OPC Concept:



At first blush I am more partial to Eastern's design...though we have yet to see Bollinger's. But with the 3 designs coming together...it is pretty much a no-op for either LCS design.

And finally, Bollinger has already won and is building the considerably smaller (350 ton) Fast Response Cutter, called the Sentinel class, with 13 out of 58 already in the water..

So there is just no place for a US Coast Guard version of the Freedom or Independence class vessels to go.

Still pretty impressive work considering that the Freedom Hull was based off a Motor Yacht and the Independence hull is based off a Super Ferry.

TerraN_EmpirE said:

Still pretty impressive work considering that the Freedom Hull was based off a Motor Yacht and the Independence hull is based off a Super Ferry.

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impressive work ... but how impressive is the USN LCS project overall?

1. the Independence-variant hasn't been deployed yet; when it will?
2. there are design problems, cost overruns, manufacturing delays of Mission Packages; correct me if I'm wrong, but I think none has been declared operational yet, and at the same time, hulls are being built by dozens ... shouldn't the USN have had to field the Mission Packages first (just on some barge for example, but to prove they're working)? well, the answer is NO according to the "concurrency" concept, when frames for their weaponry, and weaponry for its frames, are developed at the same time, which is something I don't like
   
3. "The underlying strength of the LCS lies in its innovative design approach, applying modularity for operational flexibility." says the USN web-page, and this is what I'll armchair-admiral now: If info came a hostile submarine was in a nearby Strait, an LCS would be sent from nearby Base with ASW Mission Packages, but what if this info turned out to be wrong, or the submarine just left, and instead a hostile Corvette was there with AShMs? Wouldn't it have been better if a Frigate had been sent??
   now the one we talked about most recently comes to my mind https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/pe...s-reports-data-etc.t5532/page-132#post-353151
   but I mean any ship which can go against several threats "at once" ... of course I know the cost of such a ship would be higher, but if LCSs will have to work in pairs and/or be covered by AB Destroyers, I don't like this "modularity"
4. but yes, the plan is to turn LCSs into Frigates which "will offer improvements in capability, lethality, and survivability." but did you notice both the Freedom and Independence hulls should be kept, and both should have "ASW Configured" and "SUW Configured" variants: four new types of frigates, and I don't like it either.

four salvos fired, right from the middle of Europe

Jura said:

impressive work ... but how impressive is the USN LCS project overall?

1. the Independence-variant hasn't been deployed yet; when it will?
2. there are design problems, cost overruns, manufacturing delays of Mission Packages; correct me if I'm wrong, but I think none has been declared operational yet, and at the same time, hulls are being built by dozens ... shouldn't the USN have had to field the Mission Packages first (just on some barge for example, but to prove they're working)? well, the answer is NO according to the "concurrency" concept, when frames for their weaponry, and weaponry for its frames, are developed at the same time, which is something I don't like
   
3. "The underlying strength of the LCS lies in its innovative design approach, applying modularity for operational flexibility." says the USN web-page, and this is what I'll armchair-admiral now: If info came a hostile submarine was in a nearby Strait, an LCS would be sent from nearby Base with ASW Mission Packages, but what if this info turned out to be wrong, or the submarine just left, and instead a hostile Corvette was there with AShMs? Wouldn't it have been better if a Frigate had been sent??
   now the one we talked about most recently comes to my mind https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/pe...s-reports-data-etc.t5532/page-132#post-353151
   but I mean any ship which can go against several threats "at once" ... of course I know the cost of such a ship would be higher, but if LCSs will have to work in pairs and/or be covered by AB Destroyers, I don't like this "modularity"
4. but yes, the plan is to turn LCSs into Frigates which "will offer improvements in capability, lethality, and survivability." but did you notice both the Freedom and Independence hulls should be kept, and both should have "ASW Configured" and "SUW Configured" variants: four new types of frigates, and I don't like it either.

four salvos fired, right from the middle of Europe

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"Damn the torpedo's full speed ahead", I will have to concur with you here brother, although I will not take you with me if I go look at another bike or car, you take the fun out of it, you're starting to sound like the "Honey Badger"? can we afford that? Heh, Heh, Hey!