Posted on 04/12/2012 9:19:24 PM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
LCS Couldn't Survive War With China, But It Could Help Prevent It: CNO
WASHINGTON: As Chinese and Filipino ships continue to face off in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, the Chief of Naval Operations acknowledged that the Navy's prized new Littoral Combat Ship might not survive a shooting war against a well-armed adversary like China. But, Adm. Jonathan Greenert said this morning at a National Press Club breakfast organized by Government Executive magazine, the small, versatile vessel could free up larger warships from the day-to-day policing, presence, and partnership-building missions that are the best way to prevent a crisis from erupting in the first place.
"These are not large surface combatants that are going to sail into the South China Sea and challenge the Chinese military; that's not what they're made for," Greenert said of the LCS class. Even the LCS contingent soon to start operating out of Singapore will focus on exercises, port visits, humanitarian assistance, and counter-piracy operations with Southeast Asian partners -- taking that burden off the more war-worthy carrier, cruisers, and destroyers based in Japan.
Worldwide, said Greenert, "Littoral Combat Ships will tend to displace amphibious ships and destroyers in Africa and South America. That will free up surface combatants, more high-end ships," for East Asia. The Navy already deploys half its available at-sea vessels in the Western Pacific, about 50 ships on an average day but currently up to 54, largely in response to the looming North Korean missile test. The plan is to go up to a baseline "WestPac" presence of 58 ships by 2020 as more of a planned 55 Littoral Combat Ships come on line.
(Excerpt) Read more at defense.aol.com ...
But they are not a warship meant to go one on one with large enemy surface combatants.
Here's my page reagrding the LCS.
In addition to these, we desperately need to build a good, all purpose guided-missile Frigate. What some are now calling the multi-mission combatant.
Hey Jeff hope things are going good for you.
How embarrassing!
Our Lockheed LCS looks like a tug boat compared to GD’s sleek hull.
I’ve no clue regarding performance (since in the space part of the business)...
No worries, the GD design has been having more than it’s share of issues.
That’s not to say that they won’t eventually get it together, but the boat is not ready to fight.
Aside from the poor armament, aren’t the two LCS models both hampered by lack of range?
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