THE NAVY PLANS TO RETIRE THE FIRST FOUR LITTORAL COMBAT SHIPS:

[rangerrebew]

February 11, 2020

THE NAVY PLANS TO RETIRE THE FIRST FOUR LITTORAL COMBAT SHIPS:

“…the oldest of the vessels was commissioned just 12 years ago, the youngest a mere six years ago.” Why retire relatively new ships? Too many “troublesome” problems. Here’s StrategyPage’s take from 2019, a “Leadership” post entitled “It Seemed Like A Good Idea At The Time.”

    The U.S. Navy is trying to salvage what it can from its ambitious but poorly implemented “Littoral Combat Ship” (LCS) program…From the beginning, there were two different LCS designs and some of both were built and put into service. Problems were encountered and that was expected. The much smaller crew required some changes in how a crew ran a ship and how many sailors and civilians were required back on land to support a LCS at sea. It was found that the interchangeable mission modules take far longer (2-3 days instead of 2-3 hours) to replace. The LCS has still not seen combat and the Navy wants the first violent encounter to be successful, or at least not disastrous. It is expected that there will be surprises, which is about all that can be guaranteed at this point.

https://pjmedia.com/instapundit/the-navy-plans-to-retire-the-first-four-littoral-combat-ships-the-oldest-of-the-vessels-was-com/

[Cyber Liberty]

What's an "interchangeable mission module?"

[thackney]

What's an "interchangeable mission module?"

LITTORAL COMBAT SHIPS - MISSION MODULES
https://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=2100&tid=406&ct=2

...Each MP provides unique warfighting capabilities for one of three focused mission areas.

- Mine Countermeasure (MCM) detection and neutralization of mine threats.
- Surface Warfare (SUW) maritime security and prosecution of small boat threats.
- Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) detect, classify, localize and prosecute enemy submarines.

These unique capabilities will be supported by the LCS Mission Package Support Facilities (MPSF), located in Naval Base Ventura County, California. Due to the LCS seaframe�s flexibility to rapidly switch mission capabilities, the MPSF plays the integral role of primary provider for all seaframe-embarked mission packages. The MPSF will address afloat maintenance issues and provide technical support for the Mission Module Sailors. The MPSF will also have a virtual presence via distance support to provide �round-the-clock� services for all deployed LCS mission modules and will ensure LCS�s ability to reconfigure mission packages according to operational demand. An east coast MPSF is in the planning stages with a location at Naval Station, Mayport, Florida.

Mission systems fit inside standard 10-foot or 20-foot International Organization for Standardization (ISO) support containers (SCs), or on ISO compliant flat racks and transport containers. Using ISO SCs simplifies shipping, storage, availability of correct handling equipment, and container movement from shore to ship and ship to shore. MP reconfiguration will occur in homeport or overseas, using pre-positioned MPs or MPs that have been transported into theater by air, land or sea and staged near the LCS operating area....

[Cyber Liberty]

@thackney Thanks!