Papers Released Show Problems with Littoral Combat Ship (Severe hull cracks, speed limited to 15kts)

POGO ^ | April 23, 2012 | Danielle Brian

[CrazyIvan]

“Milwaukee - gotta love them union welders.”

I attended the commissioning in Milwaukee. I used to run a
shop that made custom motorcycle frames. (work now sent to
China). I'm not too shabby, but the guys who actually did
the welding were true artists. I took a couple of pictures
of the welding and showed them when I got back. I thought
they were going to puke.

[phormer phrog phlyer]

I met ADM Roughead in Baghdad, not real impressive.

[JerseyanExile]

The Swedes used a carbon-fibre composite hull on their Visby-class corvette.

[RitchieAprile]

sailors on HMS Sheffield found out how vulnerable these Al vessels are.

[Thrownatbirth]

I guess we never learned our lesson from the now-scrapped DLG Class guided missile frigates (remember the Belknap fire?) I was on the Leahy (DLG-16) when her aluminum superstructure actually separated from the main deck during during a sea state 5. There were no agnostics aboard that night.

It's also interesting to note that LCSs can't refuel at sea - they become hydrodynamically unstable when pulling up alongside an AO. I suppose we can tow them to Japan.

[tcrlaf]

“cannot travel into head seas at any speed.”

What a confidence builder. I’m sure the Chinese Admirals are laughing...

BOTH of these classes have major problems, the least of which is a shortage of crew, leading to severe and dangerous fatigue.

[headstamp 2]

More troubles for the Silkworm magnets.

[MasterGunner01]

The LCS has been plagued with troubles from inception. USS FREEDOM (LCS-1) was originally to have been built of aluminum, but that was somehow changed to steel and the design is seriously flawed (overweight). This design flaw trickles down to many, may other areas.

USS INDEPENDENCE (LCS-2) is all aluminum and more survivable in a fight due to its three hulls vice one in LCS-1. However, the aluminum hull has experienced severe salt water corrosion problems and has necessitated a long and protracted yard period to apply the fixes.

Both ships are seriously under armed. They cannot survive without protection of the surface battle group. The Navy has said they are basically throwaway warships — but they disguise this with a fancy euphemism.

The ships are highly computerized to reduce manning, and the standard crew is about 45 officers, chiefs, and enlisted. There are too few hands to do things aboard ship and stand watches and endure long deployments.

Habitability issues when aviation assets or when VBSS (visit, board, search, seizure) teams or other teams are embarked. In these cases. “crew modules” that accommodate four sailors are embarked to provide sleeping quarters. All other features designed for a crew of 45 are overtaxed by the additional personnel including: messing, shower and head facilities, laundry.

The navy is very proud of the fact the LCS can crank 45 knots. Whoopie! I don't suppose the Navy has figured that an LCS running at 45 knots cannot outrun an anti-ship cruise missile traveling at Mach 0.8 to 2.0? Another question for the Navy “experts”: who's going to handle casualties and do damage control after you take a hit or hits? Crickets.

[ArmyTeach]

She was a beauty, a queen of the Sea.

[xrmusn]

The title Captain often elicits the question “Army or Air Force”.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
True but sometimes works to advantage.
Especially when in the “Gator” Navy and the USMC Combat Cargo Officer is a Capt....

A lot gets done when “Capt So & So” from USS LST calls for a sedan or some needed supplies....

[fella]

“Look for the Union Label”

The pictures of the cracks seem to indicate bad welds. The construction records should tell which welders did the welds and which inspectors approved them. It might prove interesting to see if the same welders and inspectors show up at the bad welds.

[Sporke]

Yes she was. I loved being on that ship but I was lucky to get off of it when I did, because if I had stayed on another year or so, I would have died when turret 2 exploded. Fate is a funny thing.

I’m glad the Iowa is at least finally being turned into a museum. It beats rusting away in a harbor or being scrapped.

[TXnMA]

Those cracks are in the Lockheed LCS-1, which has a fairly conventional hullform. What is the status of the General Dynamics LCS, which is much more radical in form?

[mosesdapoet]

Thanks for the work ...It seems we leared nothing since the Sheffield and a number of other incidents at 367 mil$ ea and unseawothy for the open sea a complete waste .
Under who’s administration when they were ordered and who’s when commissioned ?

[Trod Upon]

Seagoing Sheridans.