"A Positive LCS Review Effort " Topic

"A 29 February memorandum from Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, and Acquisition Sean Stackley and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems (N9) Mr. Brian Persons and Commander, Naval Surface Forces Vice Admiral Thomas Rowden orders the establishment of an Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) review designed to examine LCS manning, training, maintenance, and operational and warfighting capabilities. This is a good idea, and similar to reviews of the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigate class early in that program's production run. This review, however, may not have access to all required data, and could endanger a core LCS capability essential to future U.S. Navy force structure and deployment planning. The LCS program is controversial, has been plagued by material casualties in recent months, and has been the target of significant opposition in Congress. This review and its recommendations could play a role in restoring the confidence of the legislative branch in the LCS program.
The proposed review requests a 60 day evaluation of the LCS maintenance construct to include condition verses periodic, preventative maintenance; contractor verses organic ship, crew-based maintenance; and continental (CONUS)-based maintenance verses expeditionary maintenance efforts in the field. These components of the LCS program are good review targets, but a significant portion of the potential data set is not yet available for such a short review period. To date, only the LCS-1 (USS Freedom)-based variant has deployed to an overseas location. The LCS-2 variant USS Independence deployed to the 2014 Hawaii-based, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, but has yet to be deployed further afield. LCS 1 variants Freedom and Fort Worth, in contrast, have both deployed to Singapore for extended periods. Two LCS-2 variants; Independence and Coronado are scheduled to deploy to Singapore, but not until later this year. Coronado is also scheduled to participate in the 2016 RIMPAC exercise and conduct a test firing of an anti-ship cruise missile, a critical new LCS capability. The proposed review should wait until these events are complete and adequate data can be collected from both LCS variants while deployed to overseas locations and major exercises. The Navy has also been instructed to down select to one LCS variant in 2019. What happens if the data from the study covers only one variant in a deployed status and not the type ultimately accepted? A 60 day review will not be nearly adequate to collect all of this information…"
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Amicalement
Armand

The USN should allow the Coast Guard to buy a few LCS2s as cutters. That big helo deck is great for rescue and boarding operations.

They displace water nicely, pretty much in line with other, far more capable vessels, on a ton for ton basis.

There, my good "deed" for the day is done.

As always time will tell. It's clear these ships are ment mainly for Asia. They appear to be for patrol and to show the flag. They do not appear to be for use in a task force.