Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)

Obi Wan Russell

Obi Wan Russell

Jedi Master
VIP Professional
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

When it comes to making holes in the enemy's shoreline, you can never have too bug a gun! But seriously, I would have gone with an OTO 3inch gun myself just for weight of the shells. Th 57mm makes me think of WW2 light tanks that couldn't blow the skin off a rice pudding! Fine for AA but borderline for NGFS. I think either LCS would be an ideal choice for the RNs C3 requirement, and buying off the shelf would save a small fortune. Expect a long drawn out bidding and assessment process instead which will eat up three quarters of the allocated budget and conclude yes we need 20 of these unmodified, but now can only afford five or six because we've spent the money on fact finding missions to the Bahamas and consultants fees.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

Obi Wan Russell said:
Expect a long drawn out bidding and assessment process instead which will eat up three quarters of the allocated budget and conclude yes we need 20 of these unmodified, but now can only afford five or six because we've spent the money on fact finding missions to the Bahamas and consultants fees.
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Well, hopefully the US will not continue to drag this out on its end as to the competition. I hope that next year...or latest, the year after, that a final determination is made and the production builds of either one or both vessels can move forward.

At that point we should have two of one and three of the other, or five vessels altogether. I expect a total build (either of one, or differing quantities of the two designs) to apporach 50+ vessles.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

More pictures of the launch and the vessel:

LCS-2 Independence-Emerging.jpg


LCS-2 Independence-closeup.jpg


LCS-2 Independence-night.jpg


LCS-2 Independence-Overhead.jpg
 
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adeptitus

Captain
VIP Professional
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

I'm a big fan of the LCS modular mission module concept. It gives the ship a lot of flexibility without major refit. This is a concept that other navies should seriously consider.

However, I'm NOT a fan of the LCS project costs. Also, unlike the LCS-1, I think LCS-2 use 11-cel SeaRAM instead of 21-cel RAM? I like the 20mm Phalanx addition but not the reduced number of rounds on the RAM launcher.

For a 2,000-3,000 ton ship, I'd agree that 76mm might have been a better choice. For Corvette sized surface combatant, I like the German Navy's Braunschweig class weapons load.
 
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Scratch

Captain
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

Regarding the CIWS I think the millenium gun would have been an even better choice. It's able to attack a wide variety of targets, including AShM, with a good caliber and has the AHEAD technology integrated.
However, I also don't see the point in putting a 11x RAM launcher there? Is the 21x that much more expensive?
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

Scratch said:
Regarding the CIWS I think the millenium gun would have been an even better choice. It's able to attack a wide variety of targets, including AShM, with a good caliber and has the AHEAD technology integrated.
However, I also don't see the point in putting a 11x RAM launcher there? Is the 21x that much more expensive?
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Even only 11 is better than none. But I agree...I believe it is the same box, just fewer missiles. I will have to look into it.
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

adeptitus said:
I think LCS-2 use 11-cel SeaRAM instead of 21-cel RAM? I like the 20mm Phalanx addition but not the reduced number of rounds on the RAM launcher.
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Now I have it.

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It is a single, self-contained unit, combining the missiles of the RAM (but only 11) with the self contained tracking and quick reaction (to engage multiple targets) of the Phalynx.

Here's some info:

The SEA RAM Anti-Ship Missile Defense System under development by RSC and RAMSYS is an evolved Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) comprising key attributes of both the existing Phalanx CIWS and the RAM Guided Missile Weapon System. SEA RAM is designed to extend the battle space of the CIWS and enable the ship to effectively engage multiple targets.

Leveraged technology from Phalanx and RAM integrates elements of each system into the self-contained SEA RAM System. An 11-missile round RAM guide assembly, loaded with RAM Block 1 guided missiles, replaces the 20 mm gun of Phalanx.

SEA RAM combines the superior accuracy, large intercept range and high maneuverability of RAM with the high resolution search-and-track sensor system and reliable quick response capability of Phalanx Block 1B.
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And a pic.

searam_4.jpg
 
A

adeptitus

Captain
VIP Professional
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

If you look at the LCS-2 photo, the RAM launcher mounted in the back as the R2D2 style dome on top. Only SeaRAM has that. The regular RAM launcher with 21 rounds doesn't.

RIM-116_Rolling_Airframe_Missile_Launcher_3.jpg



On LCS-2 they have 1 x SeaRAM and 1 x 20mm CIWS. On LCS-1 they have 1 x RAM.

The SeaRAM is an inexpensive plug-in option or Phalanx replacement/upgrade. But if you're building a ship from scratch, I'd think that you can do the proper system integration to use RAM instead of SeaRAM.

Here's an article on Malaysian navy regarding SeaRAM:
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“It is similar to the ‘plug and play’concept where we can install the vessel with the relevant hardware like surface-to-surface missile system, the Exocet MM40 and anti-aircraft missile system, the SEARAM.

“It will only take 24 hours to fix the hardware. This is because SEARAM fitting does not involve any extensive module projection from the deck.

“It only needs a perched missile launcher on the deck.
 
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harryRIEDL

New Member
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

Im not a fan of the LCS apart from the huge cost overruns its under gunned and LCS2 is all Aluminum which would lethal if theres a fire.
Also the moudal are ill defined
lastly the 40kn requirement is absurd
 
Jeff Head

Jeff Head

General
Registered Member
Re: US Navy LCS-2 Independence Floated/Launched

adeptitus said:
If you look at the LCS-2 photo, the RAM launcher mounted in the back as the R2D2 style dome on top. Only SeaRAM has that. The regular RAM launcher with 21 rounds doesn't.
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See my post 21.

At first glance I thought there were two weapons system on the deck house there. As it turns out, there is only the one SEA RAM.

SEA RAM, with its own tracking and engagement capability, is something that puts less burden on the overall sensor suite when place in "God" or auto mode. Still, I agre e that a RAM installation with the necessary ship-borne sensors would be best.
 
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