US NAVY'S LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP IS NOT LIVING UP TO ALL OF THE HYPE, THE

Sea Classics, Nov 2009 by Bonner, Kit

All major Navies follow Naval problems and challenges with new types of ships or designs meant to counter any new threat. In the instance of the littoral combat ship (LCS), the US Navy has attempted to build a warship prototype that can fight in shallow waters - near an enemy coastline. The process puts me in mind of the battle to design and build a light cruiser between 1916 and 1925. Specifically, the Omana-class.

The Omaha was at first a destroyer leader at 7500-tons with a main battery often 6-in guns. Eventually, the ship was too light and thus required a stronger mast. Next it was top heavy, and had become just ahull crammed with overheated machinery to drive it at 35 kts. The original plans had long been forgotten as new threats presented themselves, and by World War II, the nine ships of this class were almost worthless. Ultimately they were all consigned to the backwaters of combat during the war, quickly broken up at war's end.

The same could happen to the Littoral Combat Ship which now represents a consortium of every planner's ideas as well as most senior Naval officers. The result has been a horrendous cost overrun and ships that are obviously unsuitable for the role for which they are intended. The costs of construction have been double the estimate, and the delivery time has been nearly a year late. The original plan was to build 55 of the LCSs; however, the Navy is re-thinking its position.

The basic concept is to have a high-speed shallow-draft ship that can swap out various mission packages for tasks that are selected for a particular battle area. This may also be wishful thinking, as combat at sea is fluid (no pun intended), and does not conform to its planners. What sound like a great idea may not be workable in the real world of combat at sea.

Currently, the are two Littoral Combat Ships - the USS Freedom (LCS-1) and USS Independence (LCS-2). The Freedom has completed its sea trials and has passed, yet the Independence has experienced some technical difficulties with its engine.

It is unknown as to whether 55 LCS type vessels will now be built, yet LCS-3 (Fort Worth) and LCS-4 (Coronado) have been approved.

The fate of the LCS is based on two major factors - improvements in current prototypes in terms of cost and reliability. Secondly, the Oliver Hazard Perry frigates are nearly worn out, and the US Navy desperately needs a replacement. An improved LCS class could fill this void.