Read it weep naval enthusiast.
The LCS is coming in at 3000 tons.
Its really a frigate but the Navy wouldn't dare call it that because it would immediately be compared to vessels around the world at the same weight class and would be found wanting.
No.
The Navy pulled a fast one and invented a new class of ship. The littoral combat ship.
This is pure bullshit but the congress critters like it..
Compare that to what others are doing with 3000 tons on the open water and it makes you want to punch walls. Take the Singaporeans for example. They didn't fall for the mission module bullshit, they built a combat ship and will modify it as needed. Let me introduce you to the Formidable class stealth frigate.
| General characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Type: | Frigate |
| Displacement: | 3,200 tonnes (3,150 long tons; 3,530 short tons) |
| Length: | 114.8 m (376 ft 8 in) |
| Beam: | 16.3 m (53 ft 6 in) |
| Draught: | 6.0 m (19 ft 8 in) |
| Installed power: | 4× ISM V1708 diesel generators, each producing 800 kilowatts (1,070 shp)[1] Total output: 3,200 kW (4,290 shp) |
| Propulsion: | 4× MTU 20V 8000 M90, each rated at 9,100 kW (12,200 shp)[2] (CODAD) Total output: 36,400 kW (48,800 shp) |
| Speed: | Maximum: 27 knots (50.0 km/h; 31.1 mph) Cruising: 18 kn (33.3 km/h; 20.7 mph) |
| Range: | 4,200 nautical miles (7,780 km) |
| Complement: | 71, excluding air crew detachment of approx. 19 |
| Sensors and processing systems: | Search radar: Thales Herakles multi-function radar Navigation radar: Terma Electronic Scanter 2001 Sonar: EDO Model 980 active low frequency towed sonar (ALOFTS) |
| Electronic warfare and decoys: | ESM: RAFAEL C-PEARL-M Decoys: Sagem Défense Sécurité New Generation Dagaie System, 2× forward & 1× aft. |
| Armament: | Anti-ship: 8× RGM-84C Harpoon SSM Anti-air: MBDA Aster 15/30[3] launched from 4× Sylver A50 8-cell VLS Anti-submarine: EuroTorp A244/S Mod 3 torpedoes launched from 2× B515 triple tubes with reloads Guns: Oto Melara 76mm Super Rapid gun (mounted in stealth cupola), 4× CIS 50MG 12.7 mm (0.50 in) HMG |
| Aircraft carried: | 1× S-70B Seahawk multi-mission capable naval helicopter |
| Aviation facilities: | Flight deck and enclosed hangar for up to two medium-lift helicopters |
Kinda makes you wonder what the hell the US Navy is thinking doesn't it?
Check out what China is putting into 1700 tons. http://www.afcea.org/signal/articles/templates/SIGNAL_Article_Template.asp?articleid=2596&zoneid=7
ReplyDeleteYour spot on with your assessment of the LCS.
for being a small island nation Singapore sure can pack a good punch! they are a good example of where quality can be a major force multiplier.
ReplyDeleteSingapore are also blessed by good relations with so many countries that they can pick and choose pretty much any equipment they want to use for cost/quality/utility purposes. Look at the weapons and systems fit above. A wide array of proven and advanced systems that they didnt have to pay to develop. Thats how you pack a punch.
ReplyDeleteThe LCS tried to reinvent the wheel and use too little proven technology. And its mission profile to me has always been ridiculous. Who needs a 40 knot minesweeper with a cargo box of fairly short range, small yield missiles on deck. Either send a burke (big fan of this do-it-all vessel) or create a more dedicated MCM asset.
and thats what it all boils down to.
ReplyDeletethe US Navy is scared to operate the way the British Navy does. the Brits will send out one of its Daring Class warships by itself to show the flag but the US Navy has to have its ships all in a task force.
its using the LCS simply to push up numbers and not capabilities and thats the rub of it. instead of getting another 25 capable Burke class destroyers we're gonna get 55 or so LCS that won't be able to fight off a well equipped off shore patrol boat!
Actually LCS grew out of the original street fighter concept which was 500 to 600 tons. They were supposed to cost at most $90 million in 2001.
ReplyDeleteSo the USN in it's wisdom took the concept and decided it should be a frigate, carry two helicopters, and still go 40+ knots. So they have $500+ million ships with a hidden cost for the mission module(s).
At this time none of the modules work. The asw module in the last USN report didn't add any capability. The mine warfare module doesn't work which leaves aside how cost ineffective it is carrying it on a $500 million ship. The surface warfare module is a total joke as the original missile was too short ranged and couldn't be made to work so now they're trying to get an even shorter ranged one to function.
Note the ship has no anti aircraft module and very limited self defense capability. The shallow draft would be quite useful if it had any reasonable capability for naval gunfire support which it doesn't with it's 57mm.
What the USN actually needed was some number of patrol boats, actual frigates, cost effective mine warfare craft, and a few ships dedicated to naval gunfire support.
What the USN decided they wanted was a patrol boat far too large and expensive, a small frigate that does nothing well if at all, a hideously expensive mine hunter, and a ship too lightly armed for NGS so instead they built 3 monsters with 2 6inch guns so expensive it's a matter of debate they'd be risked for NGS and of course only 3 were funded.
Oddly enough DDG-1000 might see additional funding as it does shallow water asw better than DDG-51 along with being cheaper to operate vs the cost growth in the flight III's. Which of course only makes sense in the USN since everyone else would use a frigate for shallow water asw at 1/5th the cost.
The USN has it's head so far up it's ass in terms of shipbuilding it's frankly stunning.
Actually, the LCS did not grow out of Streetfigther. The former is a misbegotten attempt to comingle missions on one platform, the later was a single purpose FAC.
ReplyDeleteI would not bet on any more DDG-1000s beyond three. The Navy might wish for more but at many billions each can NOT afford more.