Comments on: Huge LCS Restructure To Lower Prices

By: Joseph T. Whitley

Joseph T. Whitley — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:07:47 +0000

As for my knowledge the Navy reintroduced the importance of Naval Hospital Ships The USNS Mercy, which was an artist’s concept during the Reagan/Lehman Administration of the 1980’s to perpetuate the prevention of conventional war factions and prevention thereof. The Mercy, The Sanctuary both sister ships and the unmarked the USNS Sanctuary that was used for the Sealift Command was/is there to assist neigboring nations to take preventive measures of war. So where do we go from here?

By: Jack Mehoff

Jack Mehoff — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:02:01 +0000

Scrap the over priced “little crappy ships” and buy Visby Class Corvettes.

I cannot believe the sheer stupidity of “mission modules”. In this day and age, you fight with what you’ve brought with you. You won’t have the luxury of running back to port to get the right mission module.

By: Steve Dixon

Steve Dixon — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:55:49 +0000

Seriously. Can someone explain the actual role of these things to an ignorant ex-sailor?

By: Steve Dixon

Steve Dixon — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 07:52:03 +0000

I’ve tried to read as much as I can about these LCS’s but I’ll be blowed if I can see them as anything other than OVER-SIZED, OVER-COMPLICATED, OVER-PRICED Patrol Boats. 57mm gun = weak JOKE (just for a start).
Have a look at the French (god save us) Gowind series of ships .…. smaller, more versatile, cheaper, better armed.
The only big plus the LCS’s seem to have is speed.
I don’t understand their role — a 57mm gun (no matter how advanced/good it is) is all-but useless for NGS and they don’t appear to have ANY offensive armament worth mentioning.
US$450Million Grey Elephants??? REALLY expensive Mine Sweepers (earplugs anyone?)???
I’m quite willing to change my mind IF someone can just “Please Explain”.

By: Byron Skinner

Byron Skinner — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:44:05 +0000

Good Morning Folks,

The LCS (Little Crappy Ships to some in the Navy) in reality are the successor to the Perry Class Firgate. They will be lethal make no doubt about that.

Their utility in the current fight against Pyracy is marginal but the LCS will give good service in the multiple mission roles they will be assigned to the “Green” and “Blue” water operations.

The problem here is that the Navy asked for a $200 million ship and industry has delivered a $450 million ship. Sec. Gates has been clear on several occasions that the price has to come down.

This is not an idle threat on Sec. Gates part, ships with similar or better specification can be bought from foreign shipbuilders at or close to the USN’s $200 million price point.

The problem here is not the production cost of American shipyards, the Gulf shipyards are currently making high quality ships in the 3K ton classes and smaller for other countries at prices that at and even below the prices the USN wants.

The clear implication here is that American ship yards are price gouging the United States Government and are providing inferior products.

Adm. Thadd Allen of the USCG saw this problem a few years ago, scrapped the half hearted unseaworthy efforts of of the in place procurement system, canceled all current and future CG ship contracts and did a most radical thing, made ship design and specification a in house activity of the USCG. This radical old approach is coming close to producing positive results and cost savings. I hope the USN is taking notes.

ALLONS,
Byron Skinner

By: JWN

JWN — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:13:01 +0000

“Does this ships have missiles, Patriot, ICBMs, land to surface missiels on it?”

Not that I’ve heard — a 57mm autocannon, and *maybe* some Stingers and an ASW helo, but nothing else notable.

I liked the cat-hulled design, and it would have made a great littoral ship, but it looked a bit light in the dishing out department.

Heck, I’d even take a modernized German Bremerhaven class boat over what they’re trying to float. Over designed, under gunned.…

By: roland

roland — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 09:45:18 +0000

Nowadays most ships from our conterparts (Russia, Chinese and others) have ships and boats with missiles on it. Does this ships have missiles, Patriot, ICBMs, land to surface missiels on it?

By: TB

TB — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:41:39 +0000

Congressional reaction was a bit grumpy. Sen. Richard Shelby, (R-Ala.) said he was “disappointed” by the restructuring and hoped that the General Dynamics team wins next year. The Austal shipyard in his state, with which GD is teamed, is located in his state.

AKA: Congressman was disappointed his bribery scheme might not pay off. Glad that someone from the other side of the country is a little higher up the food chain on this.

By: pennst98

pennst98 — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:04:29 +0000

It’s about time they went this way. Considering these are generally cost plus contracts the government has been paying for the same services twice. Twice the facilities and overhead and twice the “plus” (profit)to get the same ship.

I wonder if they could work out a work share restructure, where they produce at both yards but award the loser a subcontract to build the other’s design. That would have the benefit of maintaining capacity/jobs, unfortunately I don’t see that saving enough money to be approved.