(Non-existent) Stealth destroyers, (broken) littoral combat ships headed to Pacific

Stars and Stripes ^ | 7/29/14 | Robson

[pabianice]

Stealth destroyers, littoral combat ships headed to Pacific, Mabus says

With $3.3 billion Zumwalt, Navy trying for smallest blip on radar

Sometime next year, the USS Zumwalt will begin testing the Tomahawk missiles, GPS-guided munitions and "total ship" computing systems that will make the $3.3 billion vessel the most advanced destroyer in Navy history.

Scope of Navy's LCS program uncertain, despite no clear replacement

The lighter, faster surface fleet of the future may get heavier than Navy leaders have planned, as high-ranking skeptics at the Pentagon try to convince lawmakers that the service is relying too much on a new coastal warfare ship.

Hagel orders cut to LCS plans; reduced operations for carriers

The Navy will not contract for any more than 32 littoral combat ships, 20 less than the Navy planned for, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said Wednesday in Washington. Stars and Stripes coverage of the Pacific pivot YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The Navy will send new stealth destroyers, littoral combat ships and an amphibious ready group to the Pacific, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus said Monday, reiterating the U.S. commitment to its military “pivot” to the region.

“The rebalance to the Pacific is real,” Mabus told sailors gathered at Yokosuka’s Fleet Theater for an all-hands call.

[al baby]

Wait no carrier battle groups? Well We had a good run 240 years or so well just thankful im getting old

[tanknetter]

We’ll still have CSGs. Just not as many as we need (9 plus 1 or maybe 10 plus one) and we won’t deploy them as often.

The LCS was a good concept: you don’t need a Burke Class Aegis Destroyer for many missions (like providing a stable deck for SEALs to cap Somali pirates with sniper rifles) and if you’re going to build a ship for littoral ops it’s good to have it multimission capable (so replace the dedicated mine hunters and some of the ASW frigates).

But like a lot of government projects it got overloaded with requirements, became gold-plated and is nowhere near cost effective for the missions it’s most likely to conduct (anti piracy and other ops in low threat areas)

[ExNewsExSpook]

I’m not disputing your points...DDG-1000 should have been used in the same manner as the Seawolf attack sub; as a limited production technology testbed. We built three of the class, and a lot of the lessons learned/perfected on Seawolf have been integrated into the Virginia-class, making them a much better boat, at a lower per-unit cost.

Same thing for LCS..I’d stop production now, unless the Naval Special Warfare community can show a compelling reason they need more for a SEAL platform. Take whatever “positives” there are from the design, and start working on a new generation gunboat or light amphibious craft—or better yet, a more stealthy frigate that can perform many of the LCS roles and defend itself against a variety of threats. And some of the technology from DDG-1000 could be integrated in that platform as well.

[ro_dreaming]

So, perhaps instead of going with “blue” and “gold” crew deployment schedules, so the ships stay on-station longer, go with blue & gold and have everyone hot rack, allowing for a larger crew deployment, but not on station as long for unrep’ing and refit/repair in port.

[TalonDJ]

You did not say ‘mission ready’. You said built. Huge different.

Lots of engines have teething problems. Pick your favorite plane/boat/tank/etc and its engine probably needed some tweaks early on.

So do lots of things. That is why welding exists.

To spec? What part of the spec? Specs are easy to change. I do that for a living.

Yes clearly we are all doomed and no one can see it but you.

Folks like you were whining that the M4 Sherman was not good enough long after it won the war. There is no pleasing some people.

[TalonDJ]

Agree on both counts. They both were useful testbeds and experiments. Some things you can mock up and decide if they are worthwhile and others you need to build and use operationally before the data is in. The reality is that you can’t usually build the better cheaper model until you have tried the fancy expensive one.

I get tired of people whining and crying about EVERY DAMN weapon system we have tried to procure in the last 25 years. Really? They all suck? Really? Well lets just hand the country to the chicoms now. /sarc

Useless chicken-littles.