AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS

Sea Power, Jan 2007

The LCS seaframe will be outfitted with reconfigurable payloads, called Mission Packages, that can be changed out quickly. Mission Packages consist of smaller Mission Modules as well as sensors, manned and unmanned vehicles. Mission Packages will be supported by special detachments that will deploy manned and unmanned vehicles and sensors to counter mine, undersea and surface threats. LCS will also perform self-defense, high-speed transit, maritime interdiction operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and antiterrorism/force protection missions, as well as support special operations forces and homeland defense, as required.

In 2004, the Navy contracted two industry teams, one led by Lockheed Martin and the other by General Dynamics, to develop final system designs for a fast, agile and networked surface combatant seaframe.

The keel was laid for LCS 1, Freedom, in June 2005. Freedom was launched in September 2006 and will be delivered to the Navy by the Lockheed Martin team in June 2007. The keel was laid for LCS 2, Independence, in January 2006; delivery by General Dynamics is planned for fiscal year 2008.

Freedom Class

DISPLACEMENT: .........approx. 3,100 metric tons

LENGTH:...................... 115.3 meters

BEAM: ..........................17.5 meters

SPEED:.........................40 knots

POWER PLANT: ...........2 gas turbines, 2 diesel engines

AIRCRAFT:...................1 MH-60R/S helicopter, 3 MQ-8 vertical take-off unmanned aerial vehicles (VTUAVs) with a mission package installed

ARMAMENT: ................1 Mk110 57mm gun, 1 RAM launcher

COMPLEMENT: ............40 core crew; berthing for 75

BUILDERS:...................Lockheed Martin industry team: Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, WiS. ; Bollinger Shipyard, Lockport, La.

Homeport

LCS 1 Freedom ...............(under construction) San Diego, Calif, (future)

LCS 3 (Unnamed)............................................San Diego, Calif, (future)

Independence Class

DISPLACEMENT .........approx. 3,000 metric tons

LENGTH:...................... 127 meters

BEAM: ..........................30.4 meters

SPEED:.........................40 knots

POWER PLANT: ...........2 gas turbines, 2 diesel engines

AIRCRAFT:...................1 MH-6OR/S helicopter, 3 MQ-SVTUAVs with a mission package installed

ARMAMENT: ................1 Mk110 57mm gun, 1 SeaRAM launcher

COMPLEMENT: ............40 core crew; berthing for 75

BUILDERS:...................General Dynamics Bath Iron Works team; Austal USA, Mobile, Ala.

Homeport

LCS 2 Independence .......(under construction) San Diego, Calif, (future)

LCS 4 ( Unnamed) ..............................................................(authorized)

AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIPS (LHA, LHD)

BRIEFING: The Tarawa-class LHAs and Wasp-class LHDs provide the Marine Corps with a means of ship-to-shore movement by helicopter in addition to movement by landing craft. LHAs and LHDs - which have extensive storage capacity and can accommodate Landing Craft Utility (LCU) and Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) boats - have participated in major humanitarian-assistance, occupation and combat operations in which the United States has been involved. They served as launching platforms for Marine Corps expeditionary forces to Afghanistan in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001-2002 and to Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. During the latter operation, two LHDs served as "Harrier carriers," each launching an air group of AV-8B attack aircraft against targets inside Iraq.