Posted on 05/17/2008 3:42:33 AM PDT by Reaganesque
May 15, 2008 With naval battles on the high seas now virtually extinct for the U.S. armed forces, the navy's role has become more one of infantry invasion and airstrike support - and with this new role comes a need for vessels more suited to littoral (just offshore) operations. The initial order was placed back in 2005, and the first delivery, the U.S.S. Independence, has just been launched, a speedy trimaran with helicopter decks, a stealthy radar profile and a healthy array of arms. It's configurable to suit a wide array of littoral combat missions, including minesweeping, anti-submarine and surface combat support - and now that we've seen it in the flesh, it wouldn't look the least bit out of place soaring over the credits of a Star Wars movie.
The U.S.S. Independence is the first of a projected fleet of between 50 and 100 littoral combat ships (LCSs) the US Navy will be adding to their fleet over the coming years. Built on a well-proven Australian-designed trimaran platform from Austal, the LCS is fast, stealthy and well suited to a range of offshore combat support missions.
The rear deck is suitable for two Seahawk helicopters, and can also support Harrier jump-jets if necessary. Onboard weaponry includes a 57mm Bofors gun, four .50 caliber guns, chaff, missile and torpedo decoy launchers, an 11-missile SeaRAM launcher, 8 Harpoon surface-to-surface missiles, mine detection and towed array sonar units, and a vertical launching system for ASROC-style surface missiles or Evolved Sea Sparrow type missile defenses.
The U.S.S. Inedpendence was built and delivered by General Dynamics, as part of a four-ship evaluation plan. Two were to be built by General Dynamics, two by Lockheed Martin, and the designs were to be evaluated to determine the superior design. Sadly, cost blowouts by both General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin have seen the remaining three evaluation ships cancelled and the Navy is putting together a new bidding program to have the remaining three evaluation ships contracted and built.
Interesting. And shows me I’m quite old. When I served, the USS Independence was an aircraft carrier.
Is there a C class ship?
It sure has a big flight deck!
May God always bless this ship and her crew!
Big and multi-purpose flight deck. Down underside, this ship appears to have four water jet ports. Very useful in real shallow waters...
I have no idea.
Yes, it’s called the USS HRC.
Why wouldn’t a ship designed for close to shore work need a lot more guns. After all, land battles seem to rely on big tank guns and howiters etc. It seems the Navy has dropped cannons from almost all its designs.
Wasn’t this tried with aircraft back in the 60’s 70’s when it was thought dogfighting would only be fought with missles?
Using water jets, it’s going to need pretty reliable intake filters that don’t need crewmembers to be constantly clearing them of mud, seaweed, and trash - I take it they’ve got it figured out?
“Cool looking ship”
I disagree. It ain’t pretty, BUT, It does not have to be pretty.
Stealth has taken all the prettyness out of both ships and airplanes. Look at the B-2 bomber Vs. the B-1.
The B-1 looks like it is doing 250 MPH while parked and the B-2 looks like it is still in the packing crate.
The F-117 Vs. the F-16. The F-117 proves that a piano can fly if given enough power, while the F-16 is the perfect meld of man and machine.
A stealthy ship is a strange looking bird, but I am willing to bet that it will be above and beyond anything produced by any other country in the world.
I seem to remember Australia loaning us one of their littoral ships for evaluation a few years ago. I wonder if this ship came out of that experiment.
.....Bob
OK, I need to ask a stupid question. What is “littoral”? I’m not familiar with the term.
“Very useful in real shallow waters...”
Once!!!!!!!!
A concern of mine too. This ship seem under gunned for shore support of infantry. IMO shore support should require either a gun of at least 5" caliber or a very large missile (cruise or short range ballistic) load out, this ship seems to have neither.
But aren’t they all Literal Combat Ships ?
One Phalanx defensive weapon per side, if one fails is that side unprotected? Whats plan B?
Shallow water, generally near shore, less than 300 ft. deep.
Littoral = http://www.blurtit.com/q470662.html
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