General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIt's Official: The U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ships are Truly 'Garbage'
The first four of the Navys notoriously expensive Littoral Combat Ships have under a year of service life left in their hulls. The announcement by Vice Admiral J. W. Kilby, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations listed March, 31, 2021 as the ships projected inactive date.
The four LCS ships listed, the USS Freedom, USS Independence, USS Fort Worth, and the USS Coronado are really newthe oldest of the four, USS Freedom, was launched in 2006, and the youngest, the Coronado was launched just nine years ago.
The LCS ships are made up of two classes, the Freedom-class and Independence-class. Both classes were intended to operate in littoral environments near shore and were designed to be highly flexible with easily swappable modules for different mission objectives. Rather than returning to the United States to be refitted for a new mission, the ships mission modulesmine sweeping, convoy escort, fire supportcould be swapped out while at sea, at least that was the idea. But not all of the ships mission modules are finished.
Naval shipbuilders designed the Independence-class with a unique trimaran hull design. Unlike conventional hulls, the trimaran design has a larger central hull and two smaller outrigger hulls on either side and is designed to reduce hydrodynamic drag. In addition, the class hull and bridge are sharply angled for a reduced radar profile. The design has had some problems though. One of the biggest problems? Hull corrosion caused by salt water. But the problems dont stop there.
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https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/it%E2%80%99s-official-us-navy%E2%80%99s-littoral-combat-ships-are-truly-garbage-163989
ProfessorGAC
(65,168 posts)Another boondoggle. And, ships designed to fight a war we will unlikely ever experience again.
Duh!
lpbk2713
(42,766 posts)The vessels served their purpose. To wit: They made the designers and builders a lot of money.
Nevilledog
(51,197 posts)soothsayer
(38,601 posts)Nevilledog
(51,197 posts)Men would never find it.
Hassler
(3,390 posts)uncle ray
(3,157 posts)dalton99a
(81,570 posts)UNCLASSIFIED//
ROUTINE
R 302033Z JUN 20 MID110000792573U
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC
TO NAVADMIN
BT
UNCLAS
NAVADMIN 187/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CNO WASHINGTON DC/N9/JUN//
SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2021 PROJECTED SHIP INACTIVATION SCHEDULE//
REF/A/DOC/OPNAVINST 4770.5H/20140424//
REF/B/ DOC/OPNAVINST 5400.44A/20111013//
AMPN/REF A IS OPNAV POLICY AND GUIDANCE FOR THE INACTIVATION, RETIREMENT, AND
DISPOSITION OF U.S. NAVAL VESSELS.
REF B IS NAVY ORGANIZATION CHANGE MANUAL
(NOCM) FOR SUBMITTING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE REQUESTS (OCR) TO INCLUDE SHIP
DECOMMISSIONINGS OR INACTIVATIONS.//
POC/M. COOPER/CIV/N9IS/TEL: 703-692-3534/EMAIL: MAX.COOPER(AT)NAVY.MIL//
RMKS/1. This message shall be read in its entirety to ensure all
stakeholders in the ship inactivation process are aware of the projected
retirement schedule for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), respective
responsibilities and necessary follow-up actions. Ship retirement decisions
reflected in paragraph 2 below align with the Presidents Budget for 2021.
This plan will be adjusted if necessary based on subsequent execution year
decisions made by leadership or as required by Congressional action.
2. To facilitate fleet planning efforts to conduct decommissioning
continuous maintenance availability (CMAV) or inactivation availability
(INAC), the projected schedule for inactivating U.S. battle force and non
battle force naval vessels in FY21 is promulgated as follows:
Ship Name Proj Inactive Date Post Inactive Status
USS ZEPHYR 31 Mar 2021 Dismantle
(PC 8)
USS SHAMAL 31 Mar 2021 Dismantle
(PC 13)
USS TORNADO 31 Mar 2021 Dismantle
(PC 14)
USNS SIOUX 30 Sep 2021 Dismantle
(T-ATF 171)
USS FORT MCHENRY 31 Mar 2021 OCIR
(LSD 43)
USS FREEDOM 31 Mar 2021 OCIR
(LCS 1)
USS INDEPENDENCE 31 Mar 2021 OCIR
(LCS 2)
USS FORT WORTH 31 Mar 2021 OCIR
(LCS 3)
USS CORONADO 31 Mar 2021 OCIR
(LCS 4)
3. Per reference (b), Fleet Commanders shall submit an Organizational Change
Request for commissioned U.S. ships and per reference (a) to formally notify
the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) of a ships
decommissioning, INAC, or end of service. Submit revisions due to
operational schedule changes per references (a) and (b). It is the
responsibility of Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command and Commander, U.S.
Pacific Fleet in coordination with their respective TYCOM to ensure the
appropriate lower echelon commands are notified of any changes in the ship
inactivation schedules, as well as Integrated Warfare (OPNAV N9I) and OPNAV
resource sponsor.
4. Adjustments to paragraph 2 ship inactivations that cross the current
fiscal year must be coordinated with OPNAV N9I due to Congressional
requirements for execution year force structure changes that differ from what
Congress authorized/appropriated and signed into law by the President. OPNAV
shall promulgate changes to the inactivation fiscal year as required.
5. The ships commanding officer, masters, or Immediate Superior In Command,
shall submit a final naval message (normally transmitted in conjunction with
the decommissioning ceremony) announcing the ships official retirement date
and include a brief history of the significant events in the life of the ship
per reference (a). The Naval History and Heritage Command (NAVHISTHERITAGE
WASHINGTON DC) and Naval Vessel Register Custodian (NVR NORFOLK VA), shall be
included as INFO addees.
6. Released by VADM J. W. Kilby, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations,
Warfighting Requirements and Capabilities, OPNAV N9.//
BT
#0001
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UNCLASSIFIED//
mathematic
(1,439 posts)canetoad
(17,183 posts)During the past week or so wasn't there an article posted here on DU about sub-standard steel being sold to the Pentagon for years?