Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)

[TruBlu]

http://www.gdlcs.com/

I never heard of this before today and this thing is the coolest ship I've ever seen! It's basically an aircraft carrier for choppers. It's a three hull design and fast ass hell from what I can gather; it's meant to operate just off the coastline of combat zones where helo's can launch and return by way of sea. The armament is pretty standard for something like this I suppose, a 58mm cannon on the bow, and two .50 machine guns on the starboard and ports sides at the aft. It's also got a missile holding area, but I can't really tell where the launch pods are (starboard side mid-lower hull?). Thought this was really cool and would share it. If anyone knows a thing about it, I'd like to know a bit more.

Who says the Navy isn't cool lol?

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

That's only one of the Littoral Combat Ships.

There are two classes. That one, and another.

TruBlu, it took you long enough to figure out that the Navy was cool.

[PhoenixCadet]

There are two classes. That one, and another.

I don't know why, but that comment struck me as a bit funny. :p

The one shown on their website (the trimaran design) is LCS-2 - the USS Independance. The other variant, already produced (and homeported here in San Diego) is LCS-1, the USS Freedom. The Freedom looks more like a conventional Navy vessel compared to the trimaran design.

USS Freedom (LCS-1) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Freedom_(LCS-1))

Awesome ships.

-PC

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

I don't know why, but that comment struck me as a bit funny. :p

The one shown on their website (the trimaran design) is LCS-2 - the USS Independance. The other variant, already produced (and homeported here in San Diego) is LCS-1, the USS Freedom. The Freedom looks more like a conventional Navy vessel compared to the trimaran design.

USS Freedom (LCS-1) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Freedom_(LCS-1))

Awesome ships.

-PC

Lol.

Yeah, the Independence and Freedom Class vessels.

The Navy of the future will confuse the frak out of me though... so... many... classes...

[SlightlyCatholic]

The Navy of the future will confuse the frak out of me though... so... many... classes...

The Navy of the future is going toward a smaller crew size and more automation. An interesting fact about the LCS is that only three personnel are needed on the bridge at any one time because of the level of automation currently available on the vessel. Other vessels need four or five times that number, depending on what's going on. Another interesting result of a smaller crew on the LCS is a slight culture shift. On a normal vessel, you wouldn't ever see an officer handling lines. On the LCS, however, the small crew size dictates that everybody knows and does everything. The XO is a linehandler just like SN Drifty on the Foc'sle. Of course there are still "officer" and "enlisted" skill subsets that arent interchangeable, but the culture is a bit different.

Another interesting note is that there's been talk of, in the distant or not so distant future, phasing out direct piloting of naval strike/fighter aircraft in favor of UAV flying. UAVs are already used in Carrier Strike Groups to collect intelligence and it wouldn't be that far of a leap to put a computer in the pilot's seat. After all, you're not risking a life when a UAV is controlled by a joystick four decks below the weatherdeck. No need to send a SAR crew and rescue swimmer if the thing goes in the drink, and you don't need to get SEALs in if the thing gets shot out of the sky. It would also save a massive amount of space on the deck of a carrier.

The Navy of tomorow is increasingly gravitating towards a philosophy of doing more with less and keeping the most people out of harm's way in the process. It'll be interesting to see where that takes us in the 21st century.

[wukong]

Why do you need people aboard?

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

The Navy of the future is going toward a smaller crew size and more automation. An interesting fact about the LCS is that only three personnel are needed on the bridge at any one time because of the level of automation currently available on the vessel. Other vessels need four or five times that number, depending on what's going on. Another interesting result of a smaller crew on the LCS is a slight culture shift. On a normal vessel, you wouldn't ever see an officer handling lines. On the LCS, however, the small crew size dictates that everybody knows and does everything. The XO is a linehandler just like SN Drifty on the Foc'sle. Of course there are still "officer" and "enlisted" skill subsets that arent interchangeable, but the culture is a bit different.

Another interesting note is that there's been talk of, in the distant or not so distant future, phasing out direct piloting of naval strike/fighter aircraft in favor of UAV flying. UAVs are already used in Carrier Strike Groups to collect intelligence and it wouldn't be that far of a leap to put a computer in the pilot's seat. After all, you're not risking a life when a UAV is controlled by a joystick four decks below the weatherdeck. No need to send a SAR crew and rescue swimmer if the thing goes in the drink, and you don't need to get SEALs in if the thing gets shot out of the sky. It would also save a massive amount of space on the deck of a carrier.

The Navy of tomorow is increasingly gravitating towards a philosophy of doing more with less and keeping the most people out of harm's way in the process. It'll be interesting to see where that takes us in the 21st century.

UAVs can't replace the pilot in the cockpit... unless you make the EDI, but we all know how that turned out.

[C/ZOOMIE]

UAVs can't replace the pilot in the cockpit... unless you make the EDI, but we all know how that turned out.

Yeah, Jamie Foxx dies, WTF! >.<

[SlightlyCatholic]

UAVs can't replace the pilot in the cockpit... unless you make the EDI, but we all know how that turned out.

Ahh yes...Stealth.

Why can't the UAV replace the pilot? Why put a person in harm's way when you could have them drive a remote control airplane with ordinance or a camera?

Might be a good idea for a new thread...

[Buffa1oso1di3r]

Ahh yes...Stealth.

Why can't the UAV replace the pilot? Why put a person in harm's way when you could have them drive a remote control airplane with ordinance or a camera?

Might be a good idea for a new thread...

Lag (delay), and a slew of other issues. ;)

[Startingover]

yeah, no matter the craft there needs to be some level of on the hands wheeling at some point. Especially for larger craft where you really need to feel it to know whats happening.

The real thing is that these ships are the future of the navy. and really they hav emore firepower in one ship... to match other countries entire Navies.

We are.. bad.... to the bone...

:afgarrison::army::navyoff: