Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)

D

Deleted member 675

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Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

Jeff Head said:
The DDX is still not a done deal and has been reduced to as few as 8-12 vessels.
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Hey, at least your government actually takes military spending seriously. Ours just sees it as something that can be cut to fund bone-idle sods who do nothing for the country.

I tell you what, let's reverse positions. We can have 12 Type-45s, CVF and new frigates - you can have your surface fleet slashed in half, with no DDX, no new carriers, etc. How do you feel? That's how we feel right now.
 
bd popeye

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

FuManChu said:
Hey, at least your government actually takes military spending seriously. Ours just sees it as something that can be cut to fund bone-idle sods who do nothing for the country.

I tell you what, let's reverse positions. We can have 12 Type-45s, CVF and new frigates - you can have your surface fleet slashed in half, with no DDX, no new carriers, etc. How do you feel? That's how we feel right now.
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Ouch! :eek: That felt below average! But I get your point. Good thing the US defense industry has very powerful "influnence' in the halls of the US congress...Otherwise with who know what may happen??

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Did you guys know that the USN called for a stop in construction of the LSC-3for a period of 90 days? This is being done to review cost over runs.

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Navy Issues Stop Work Order for Littoral Combat Ship 3
Story Number: NNS070114-01
Release Date: 1/14/2007 9:45:00 AM

From Navy Office of Information

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy issued a stop work order Jan. 12 to Lockheed Martin Corp. Maritime Systems & Sensors unit, Moorestown, N.J., for the construction of the third Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). This stop work order will take effect immediately and is for a period of 90 days.

The stop work order was issued because of significant cost increases currently being experienced with the construction of LCS-1 and LCS-3, under construction by Lockheed Martin.

“I determined that at this point in time it was critical to stop work on LCS-3 to assess the LCS program and ensure we understand the program’s cost and management processes before we move forward. It is essential that we complete LCS 1 and get it to sea so we can evaluate this new ship design” said Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter.

The Navy is working closely with the contractor to identify the root cause of the costs growth. The Navy is reviewing the overall acquisition strategy for the LCS program and is working closely with the contractors to keep this program on track.

The contract for LCS-3 was awarded June 26, 2006, for $197.6 million, and the ship is being constructed at Bollinger Shipyard, Lockport, La.

"The Littoral Combat Ship program remains of critical importance to our Navy. With its great speed and interchangeable warfighting modules, the ship will provide unprecedented flexibility, allowing us to combat almost any specific threat -- from enemy mines to submarines to even pirates. It will help us defend our nation not just in the deep blue, but up close in the coastal regions of the world where our enemies like to hide and where so many of our friends and partners strive to prosper," said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Mullen.

The Navy is committed to the LCS class ship as it remains the cornerstone of the future fleet by providing critical capability.

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D

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Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

bd popeye said:
Ouch!
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I'm sorry, popeye, but to see what can even be considered as a complaint over US defence spending is very frustrating for me, given the current situation. Imagine what things would be like for you guys on 2.2% of GDP - wouldn't pretty would it?

There's also part of me that's saying "if the US hadn't gone into Iraq, we wouldn't be in this mess to begin with". Although Downing Street had a moral obligation to increase the defence budget, they didn't. Part of me hates Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, but another part of me hates the US. Maybe the US could spring us a few billion dollars next time it wants our help - it seems to give money to just about everyone else, even if its merely to use their borders.

Sorry, but I'm just really upset and want to express my feelings somehow. I certainly don't hold anything against you guys, because I know you're on our side. I'll stop the ranting - you guys get back to talking about a very interesting ship.
 
P

Pointblank

Senior Member
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

Compare that to Canada, which has one totally outdated destroyer now due to be sunk in a sink-ex, 3 sister ships that needed replacement a decade ago, 12 frigates that are needed refits right when they were launched, are overloaded and as such, various upgrades (such as the upgrade to the APAR radar) were scrapped because the ships were too top-heavy, 2 supply ships that are starting to fall apart at the seams due to age, and replacements aren't due for another 5 years, 3 used British submarines that are suffering from various glitches, 1 submarine that is severely damaged in a fire and won't be repaired for another 5 years, 12 minesweepers that can't sweep mines because they are steel-hulled (a big no-no for minesweeping) and there are limited numbers of the mechanical sweepers, and 27 Sea King helicopters that are ancient and out of date, and won't be due for replacement until 2009 (and that date is being threatened due to delays at Sikorsky).
 
bd popeye

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
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Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

Fu..I made a mistake. I should have posted Ouch..that would hurt. Because it would.

I honestly understand how you feel and in no way am making light of the situation.

If such cutbacks did occur in the US the clamour for the defense industry would be so loud you would here it in London.

I for one would think that the politicians were giving up before any battle was fought. All just to save a few $$$$$...

Hey Fu, no hard feelings at all. I really do understand how you feel.

Maybe the US could spring us a few billion dollars next time it wants our help - it seems to give money to just about everyone else, even if its merely to use their borders.
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There's a whole lot I could say about this statement..but I won't. It would be to political & historical....
 
D

Deleted member 675

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Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

bd popeye said:
I honestly understand how you feel and in no way am making light of the situation.
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No problem, but don't worry I could see the sincerity in your post.

Hey Fu, no hard feelings at all. I really do understand how you feel.
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Cheers, Pop, you really are one of the good guys. :)

There's a whole lot I could say about this statement..but I won't. It would be to political & historical....
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Heh, think no more about it - that was an "angry joke".

From now on I'm going to just hope for the best and enjoy HMS Dauntless' launch next week.

Anyway, thought I might provide something useful with a link to our new OPV(H), HMS Clyde - guess you could say she's the closest thing we have to the LCS right now. She'll be off to the Falklands for five years, without need for refit - crews will helicopter in on rotation, so I believe.

Apologies if you've seen it before, but I think it's quite lovely.

opvh-dec04.jpg
 
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bd popeye

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

Beautiful ship Fu! Yep it's nice to live somewhere the basic information about the military is readily available. Not guesswork.

As an example the work stoppage on LCS-3 as I previously posted. The USN was concerned about the rising cost. Stopped the work for 90 days..no biggie...And had a news relaese about it.
 
D

Deleted member 675

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Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

bd popeye said:
Beautiful ship Fu!
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Yeah, though I like the RIM-116 and Mark 50 torpedoes on the USS Freedom. That somehow seems an appropriate weapons fit to me for a ship that size. It isn't trying to be a frigate or corvette, but it has a purpose to serve other than in "low-threat patrols".

Of course Clyde is just an ocean-going patrol ship, but maybe if she were re-designed to fit in those afore-mentioned systems, she could fill a useful gap in the Royal Navy's future capabilities. Not to replace our frigates, but supplement them so they can be reserved for escorting the carriers, etc. It's just so daft to have destroyers and frigates busting drug-runners.

I was going to ask how much Freedom cost, but then I noticed an article that said the price had jumped from $220 million to $331 million-$410 million. Clyde was only $60 million, so that's not bad. I wonder how much it would cost to have a "Clyde-class" ship fitted with RIM-116. Any ideas, Popeye? If you know how much the torpedo system would cost, that would be interesting as well.
 
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bd popeye

bd popeye

The Last Jedi
VIP Professional
Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

was going to ask how much Freedom cost, but then I noticed an article that said the price had jumped from $220 million to $331 million-$410 million. Clyde was only $60 million, so that's not bad. I wonder how much it would cost to have a "Clyde-class" ship fitted with RIM-116. Any ideas, Popeye? If you know how much the torpedo system would cost, that would be interesting as well.
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I have no idea. Jeff Head or Obi Wan may know.

But wait..that's were globalsecurity.org comes in.

It says $9.2 million per system...
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RIM-116 average unit cost Block 0 $.2.73 Million, Block 1 $.4.44M
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Not cheap..but well worth the cost.
 
D

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Re: US Navy launches and christens first Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

bd popeye said:
Not cheap..but well worth the cost.
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I'm a bit confused by the way those prices were configured. What was it - $4.4 million for Block 1? Can't be - Phalanx is over $5 million. Or was it $44.4 million for RAM?
 
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