"Little Crappy Ship" Topic

Here's an excellent article on the US Navy's LCS. It shows the program for what it is: The ship version of the F-35. Or worse.

I'll be right up front. I'm retired Navy, though an airdale with just over 5K hours of aircrew time. I bleed salt water, bunker fuel, black coffee and JP-5.

BUT……. I despise this ship, and the bill of goods that was sold to the taxpayers as something that it wasn't. It's worse than the DDG-1000 Frankenship.

But read the article. It's pretty good.

link

Worse, I suspect, since it is even more anemically underarmed, and costs a lot more, on a per unit basis.

Can't believe they didn't cancel it after the first two were produced, so clearly the manufacturers have friends in high places, in both the USN, and congress.

I live in Bath, Maine, where these were designed, and where the DDG-1000 is being fitted out. It's also got some problems. It's not quite fish or foul, being designated a destroyer, while being the same length and tonnage as the Graf Spee. I kid you not.

Much of the DDG-1000's technology isn't in place yet, as when the ship was designed, it was "assumed" that the technology required would be developed and available as construction got underway. It wasn't, and it isn't.

No one is yet convinced that the "new" bow design won't cause her to either nose dive or capsize in heavy seas. The betting pool is pretty large, however.

But LCS has some VERY serious problems, not the least of which is corrosion due to different metals being used together. She's failed at least 2 insurvs that I know of.

Seriously, The Navy should just continue to build the DDG-51 series and then choose and license-build one of the Euro-frigates to flesh out what we really need: escorts and ASW platforms.

I could go on, but it would be a LONG post.

V/R

That was well reasoned piece, highlights the difficulties of letting the bean-counters run the show……..

Seriously, The Navy should just continue to build the DDG-51 series and then choose and license-build one of the Euro-frigates to flesh out what we really need: escorts and ASW platforms.

We shouldn't even need to license a Euro design: the Israeli Sa'ar-class ( link ) are built in the United States!

I'm certain the contractors and sub-contractors made money – earning a return on their political contribution investments and that is what is really important in 'Murica today – who cares about the lives of our service members or the capabilities of their gear – long live the F-35 mentality (now if you'll excuse me I must pack for my trip to the DH)

Bribes, kickbacks, lobbyist pressure, corruption. Wasting the people's money with reckless abandon.