"Does the U.S. Need Dedicated Mine Warfare Ships?" Topic

I am sure the Pentagon and the rest of the Military Industrial Complex visit TMP nearly as often as Frothers TMP exiles for guidance.

"Since the end of WWII, naval mines have sunk or damaged more U.S. ships than any other form of armament."

well clearly the current version is not working very good. So maybe their new plan will work better.

USN mine warfare capability tends to go n cycles along the following lines.

1) US ship mined
2) call on RN to send minesweepers and minehunters to help
3) spend oodles on rinky dink new mine countermeasures capability
4) avoid mines for the next X years
5) allow US capability to run down
6) return to (1)

MCM systems deployed from LCS (or any other vessel capable of accepting the modular command and launch & recovery system) is probably going to be the way of the future, bt it depends on being able to deploy the MCM assets far enough away from the mother ship to mean she doesn't need very ;ow signatures, and being able to do so quickly. Current offboard systems tend to lack range and speed (although there are some interesting hybrid systems coming)

First off, if there is a God in heaven, we'll see the LCS program cancelled before any more of our tax money is flushed down that black hole. Think of the LCS as the Navy's answer to the whole F-35 program. It's a waste of money, time and resources.

There's a reason that it's known in the fleet as the "Little Crappy Ship". It's had numerous difficulties with it's insurvs and to date, despite all the hoopla and fanfare from the big bugs who are invested big time into it, the LCS has no dedicated modules, and can't deploy anywhere without significant mechanical and corrosion problems.

It's supposed to be this great littoral warfighter, but it'll be shot to heck by anything from a .50 on up. It's great speed is touted, but it will burn through it's available fuel in 24 hours.

But back to the modules. There is no available crew space for those who will come aboard to operate whatever module is fitted. That means ersatz bunking. Also those people will be designated solely for the module, so will not be available and/or trained in any LCS damage control or casualty systems. As it is, LCS depends far too much on technology to run things, so it can reduce the actual number of billets required. But technology can't plug holes, turn valves, fight fires, dog hatches or remove a casualty from some space.

As to those modules, where are they? Where will they be assigned? At what base will they be homeported, their crew stationed awaiting their use? How will they be mated to the LCS? Will they be taken to the ship, or the ship pulled out of theater while the module(s) are swapped out? Heck of a thing in combat to have to pull a ship out of service so as to pull one module and fit another, plus get all the new crew there, aboard, etc.

It was another case of some big bug getting smacked by the good idea fairy, and convincing others to go with it. If it's the future of the US Navy, then that future is looking pretty darned grim.

And don't get me started on DDG-1000, the Frankenship in search of a purpose.

link

"Think of the LCS as the Navy's answer to the whole F-35 program."

No need to worry. The F-35 is now being redesigned to also be the primary Anti-Mine platform. Inclusive of land, sea and outer space. To save both time and money, they are resurrecting the Sherman Crab Flail device from WWII.

Other: Buy some Mine Counter Measures ships from the UK.

Imagine the effect it will have on the US defense industry when they realize the Navy is willing to find cost effective solutions abroad instead of spending trillions on programs that ultimately produce a few prototypes & little else.

^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^