More photosPosted on 09/10/2012 2:12:26 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
GALVESTON — Several thousand onlookers will crowd Pier 21 in Galveston next week, eager for a glimpse at a new breed of Navy warship and the crew that will man her.
The vessel is a football field in length and so fast designers compare her to a sports car on supersized steroids. She’ll arrive at Port 21 as the Fort Worth and gain the official title of the USS Fort Worth after commissioning ceremonies Sept. 22.
Ernie Connor, U.S. Navy retired, director of the Galveston Naval Foundation, described how events will take place during the ceremony.
“Congressman Kay Granger says, ‘Captain, man our ship and bring her to life,’” Connor said. “Sailors will man the ship, light off the various systems, and then, as the newest ship in the Navy, she and her crew stand ready to complete her role as part of the mightiest Navy in the world.”
The Galveston group is the host of the commissioning ceremony.
Granger, a Republican from Fort Worth, led a small army pushing for the name “Fort Worth” to be placed on the new ship, a maverick among more staid Navy vessels.
Where older warships similar in size carry crews of more than 200, the USS Fort Worth operates with a crew of 40, using cutting-edge technology and switchable modules to reconfigure the high-speed vessel for different missions.
[SNIP]
On a recent visit to Galveston, Cmdr. Randy Blankesnhip, commanding officer of the Fort Worth’s Blue Crew, and Lt. Cavell Thomas invited the public to tour the ship, meet the crew and ask questions.
“Our crew is really looking forward to the hospitality of the city,” Blankenship said.
[SNIP]
(Excerpt) Read more at galvestondailynews.com ...
Look at the picture again. The center of the transom looks like two doors leaving an opening about 1/3rd of the ship wide
I’d have to see it open, or a cutaway diagram etc.
Good article, thanks for the link. Got any pics, diagrams or cutaways of the transom? I’m intersted in its specwar support capabilities.
The problem is some ijjitt decided to give it 50kt speed, to give it which requires 50+% more tonnage and more than double the cost. And cuts the endurance down so low it needs frequent support.
Defense Industry Daily has a big article on LCS from Aug 22, 2012 with lots of info.
Ping to #27
Beat me to it.
Or maybe I'm blind.
Some people!?
Actually the specwar mission is the only one the design makes sense for - hold well offshore, then dash in under cover of darkness, deploy spectroop boats, exit. But the cost/ship got so high they started to look for other missions, to which it is not suited.
and the USS Freedom from Lockheed:
So, the picture does depict a different ship.
Dang ....
I spent some time looking for a cutaway drawing of the FREEDOM class LCS, and came up empty-handed. Some pics of buxom babes in wedding dresses (not sure how bing got on to that ...) but not what I was looking for. Like Lockheed doesn't want anybody to know what's inside.
Same article that was referrd to in post 9. they are talking the logistics of getting the modules to the ship. NOT the swapping of those modules. Everything takes weeks to get to the ship when it's forward deployed
http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/skjold/
Try searching for: “littoral combat ship” “USS Freedom”
My next novel is set between Ireland and Morocco with a sea jihad theme. An ex-Norwegian "Storm Class" PB will feature in a starring role. Triple turbo diesels, top speed around 30 knots (today), clear off the Penguin missile cannisters on the aft deck to support large RIBs (or RHIBs if you prefer) for special operations. A modern 76 or 57mm gun up front gives it a very lethal and accurate punch, for an old "milsurp" vessel.
Finally!
It can launch an 11 Meter RIB as well as a selection of submersibles
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