Yes I am familiar with that presentation and if this "new," strategy is coupled with that, then it does make sense.
IMHO, the article in question would have been well served by coupling and referencing the CSBA article or discussion.
US Military News, Reports, Data, etc.
- Thread starter tphuang
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Yes I am familiar with that presentation and if this "new," strategy is coupled with that, then it does make sense.
IMHO, the article in question would have been well served by coupling and referencing the CSBA article or discussion.
Jura The idiot
General
I downloaded
and looked at what they recommended for the LCS (slide 22 out of 25; I have to retype it):
- Modify LCS to be the follow-on SSC
- Equip for defensive AAW, ASW and SUW missions
- 3D radar (not SPY)
- ASW mission package
- Same gun
- Upgrade selected LCS with VLS
Brumby
Major
Besides the presentation slides there is a 78 page document found on the same web page which goes into a bit more details on which the recommendations are formulated. It is the download button next to the print button.
Jura The idiot
General
thanks Brumby, I downloaded it so that I might armchair-admiral it
actually I'm going through it now, so far found one thing I haven't heard of yet (I have to retype it, it's at the bottom of p. 40 (52 of 78 in that PDF)):
Brumby
Major
[/URL]
"The Navy should also examine adding similar capabilities to amphibious ships and others, possibly even including logistics ships that provide supplies to other warships, Rowden said". Based on this quote, the meaning of distributed lethality becomes clearer as vessels regardless of class can be viewed as merely convenient delivery platforms and presumably using CEC, the targeting and guidance can come from a chain of assets equipped and tasked with that capability. I would term it as "distributed offensive capability".
"The Navy should also examine adding similar capabilities to amphibious ships and others, possibly even including logistics ships that provide supplies to other warships, Rowden said". Based on this quote, the meaning of distributed lethality becomes clearer as vessels regardless of class can be viewed as merely convenient delivery platforms and presumably using CEC, the targeting and guidance can come from a chain of assets equipped and tasked with that capability. I would term it as "distributed offensive capability".
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Brumby said:
Brumby I edited your post, adding the title to the article along with the link. We should add the titles to these articles rather than just a URL.
As to adding offensive weapons to logistic ships...I question the advisability of that.
They used to have defensive weaponry on those ships and I personally believe that should be brought back.
The reason they took them off was mainly financial because they could then man the ships with USNS crews (which are civilian contractors) rather than US Navy crews. But it leaves them open to attack without much defense at all other than possibly a frigate that is along with them.
However, adding offensive weapons means they will have to spend more time in company with the combatants and that they will become combatants themselves...without the crew or the structure built in for what that might entail. We cannot count on always having no peer threats out at sea. If we get into a habit of doing this, we will end up risking the logistics chain which, IMHO, is madness.
Using a logistics ship to bring such weaponry to the fighters is one thing...but then they need to skedaddle away from the much higher potential of combat to preserve them for what they are designed to do.
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Brumby
Major
Rowden is a Vice Admiral and presumably he understands the issues you raised. There are many ways to read into his statement, including :
(i) Shift towards enhanced offensive capability by way of platform and delivery system which may have been neglected in the past
(ii) Examine ways to leverage existing assets due to development of cooperative engagement capabilities. Some platforms may work better than others due to reasons as you have mentioned
(iii)Generally set the appropriate thinking and effort in a specific direction
Brumby
Major
I have given a bit of thought to what you have said regarding the overall questionable rationale of putting on offensive weapons onto logistic ships and I have to agree that there are significant practical issues especially in peacetime environment. In addition, I think there are more qualified platforms that could accommodate the offensive weapons without having to scrap the barrel such as :
LCS/SSC
Burkes
LPD's, LPD lite et al
I think the above vessels will significantly enhanced the depth and distribution of anti ship offensive capabilities which currently are predominantly dependent on strike assets from carrier groups.
Jura The idiot
General
I'm glad we're having Navy-related discussion here, but I'm not sure the USN Surface Warfare Division is going to evaluate it
Taking the LCS as an example, you may compare what that CSBA report (dated November 17) suggested(https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/us-military-news-thread.t1547/page-175#post-322813)
to how the LCS was actually "beefed up" (info released December 11):
https://www.sinodefenceforum.com/littoral-combat-ships-lcs.t3993/page-34#post-318867