Last Freedom-class LCS damaged during its launch ceremony

[SomeOtherGuy]

A fitting tribute to a cursed class of ships.

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...ch-navy-admits

Using a side-launch process, the sled-mounted Cleveland is then pulled into the Menominee River by the tugboat William C. Gaynor, attached to it with a bow line. On entering the water, the LCS immediately strikes the tugboat, which was very obviously in much closer proximity to the warship than it should have been at this point.

I'm betting the entire class is sold off, mothballed or even scrapped by 2030. Decent concept, F-- execution.

The Independence class LCS seems to be slightly better. D- for those maybe. Upgrade to a "B" if they turn them into fast tactical transports with self-defense capabilities, which would seem a natural fit for their size, deck layout and ferry background.

The Fincanteri yard will be making actual useful warships (the new frigate class) very soon.

[Vgex2]

Wouldn’t be surprised if it was on purpose, as an excuse to get rid of it. Good riddance. It was always just a payout to the builders, anyway. Just another way to fleece the taxpayer.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

The only chance it ever had of sinking another boat…

If you are looking for something to carry a flag and take the first hit to start a war, they were perfection. To actually survive and be useful? You’d have to increase their firepower by what 4x to 5x? I’ve been to carbine classes that could put more lead down range.

[Sam]

Looked to me that it was just a little kiss on the tug boat. If a huge ass ship can't handle a little fender bender with a tug boat then you got a lot of problem.

The article in that link (and others that I've read) made it seem like when the LCS flopped back and forth seemed like some kind of catastrophic event. If anybody watch youtube videos of side way ship launches, they all rocked side to side violently before they settle up right.

[chuckman]

Apropos...

[joedirt199]

That'll buff out

[SomeOtherGuy]

Looked to me that it was just a little kiss on the tug boat. If a huge ass ship can't handle a little fender bender with a tug boat then you got a lot of problem.

The article in that link (and others that I've read) made it seem like when the LCS flopped back and forth seemed like some kind of catastrophic event. If anybody watch youtube videos of side way ship launches, they all rocked side to side violently before they settle up right.

Other than the collision the launch looked pretty normal.

I haven't seen specific damage reports, but wouldn't be surprised if it's a minor dent, not severe.

Mostly I think it's fitting given just how poorly the class, and this specific version, have performed. Also, neither a sailor nor superstitious, but wonder if this would be viewed as a "bad omen" by some sailors.

[SomeOtherGuy]

If you are looking for something to carry a flag and take the first hit to start a war, they were perfection. To actually survive and be useful? You’d have to increase their firepower by what 4x to 5x? I’ve been to carbine classes that could put more lead down range.

When and IF they work, their speeds are seriously impressive. About the fastest I've heard of for a ship that size - basically frigate size.

But the full power system doesn't work that much, and without both parts of it, their 12kt speed struggles to keep up with container ships.

I'm not sure how tactically relevant ultra high speed is for a ship that size anyway. It's not going to outrun a missile. I think it was a half-baked idea from the era when dominating tiny little third-world countries was our major task, since Russia was out of it and China was not yet into it back in the 90's.

Oh yeah, it would help to actually have some weapon systems greater than what the coast guard fields.

[SomeOtherGuy]

Looks like the Navy wants to offer six of them up for sale in the next two years:

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zon...l-combat-ships

[Diamondback]

When and IF they work, their speeds are seriously impressive. About the fastest I've heard of for a ship that size - basically frigate size.

But the full power system doesn't work that much, and without both parts of it, their 12kt speed struggles to keep up with container ships.

I'm not sure how tactically relevant ultra high speed is for a ship that size anyway. It's not going to outrun a missile. I think it was a half-baked idea from the era when dominating tiny little third-world countries was our major task, since Russia was out of it and China was not yet into it back in the 90's.

Oh yeah, it would help to actually have some weapon systems greater than what the coast guard fields.

Well, the original concept was to have interchangeable weapons modules you could bolt to the deck like shipping containers, changing the cargo as needed to fit the mission just by craning modules back and forth from a supply-ship. The ships got built but the modules to make them useful were among the first things cut... you'd get a stronger broadside by having the crew line the rail, drop trou and piss over the side than you would any technology onboard.