The only problem with that is they totally screwed up they should have adopted the Stan flex sys. from Europe instead. That way it could be modified to suit the mission instead of trying to identify the mission for the ship's after their already built.
Except that falls into the five difrent frigates for five fleets model. the Thing is The US is a panOcean navy and likes to from time to time move ships from one fleet to another. Also what happens if the mission needs change. a few years back every one was worried about the Somali Pirates but as time has gone by the threat reduced the attention there reduced the chance of profit. So the need changed the location did not. from 151 attacks in 2011it droped to single digits in 2012.
We have a not made or designed in the US phobia in our defense industry
The Berry Amendment prevents the US form buying mission critical foreign made military equipment. Any Military hardware used by the US in major roles has to be assembled in the US and or be able to be made in the US that is Law.
As to designed abroad. the Hull for the Independence Class was designed by the Australian based Austal corporation based on the work they were doing for the Benchijigua Express fast ferry used in the Canary Islands. The maker Austal opened a Us Branch Austal USA and there Mobile. Ab yard where they Assemble the Independence and JHSVs
The Freedom class is based on an the hull of a 67 meter motor yacht called the Destriero built by Fincantieri - Cantieri Navali Italiani S.p.A.
And also isn't that what we have destroyers and cruisers to escort Cvn's for the lcs/sec would be a very poor escort for the flattops.And don't forget each carrier has at least one sub. in its group
destroyers are for escort but are armed against larger surface ships. you send destroyer against a Frigate fine but In the Middle East you are dealing with small Fast Attack Craft. Using a destroyer to hunt Boghammar is like using a tank to hunt a guy on a moped with a RPG.
And A submarine would be even less effective against FACs.
We are talking about what is little more than a civilian inboard or outboards with a machine gun and rockets and Torpedoes mounted to it. Its a Runabout with a bad attitude Speed boats with teeth, a motor Torpedo boat crewed with maybe half a dozen men packing max fire power in small fast movers often speeding up to 50 Kts with weights of maybe 20-30 tons.
