US NAVY/Reuters
Bill Sweetman, Daily Beast: The Navy Just Sank Its High-Speed Future
The ship was supposed to zoom over the ocean top, 50 percent faster than its competitors. Then things changed.
The future of the Navy was supposed to be speedy, thanks to its new Littoral Combat Ships. The Navy has built two versions of the LCS, a conventional-looking single-hull ship from Lockheed Martin and a trimaran—a ship with a slender hull and two outriggers—developed by General Dynamics. Tiny by U.S. warship standards, at 3,000-plus tons, the LCS is distinguished by its 45-knot-plus top speed—50 percent faster than most warships. But now the Navy wants to rebrand the LCS as a frigate—that is to say, a real warship, capable of fighting in any circumstances alongside the rest of the fleet or performing long oceanic patrols, with revamped armament and mission equipment. The future version may sacrifice the original ships’ speed, according to Vice Admiral Thomas Rowden, commander of naval surface forces.
WNU Editor: Years ago one of my favorite blogs was New Wars. He has not updated his blog for years, but when he was active he was warning (6 to 7 years ago) that the LCS program was a lemon that was going to be "re-invented" in the future .... and in turn he was condemned and criticized by everyone in any official capacity. Sighhhh .... Mike you are not around anymore .... but you have now been proven "officially" right.
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