Should Congress Ditch the Littoral Combat Ship?

[rebewranger]

June 25, 2022 

Should Congress Ditch the Littoral Combat Ship?

Congressional debates about the future of the LCS are roiling the House Armed Services Committee.

by Caleb Larson 

The future of the U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ships (LCS)—two classes of swift, flexible, multi-mission ships—is unclear, with some in Congress pressing the U.S. Navy to retire the vessels from service as soon as possible.

 On Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) approved an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2023 policy bill that would earmark millions in funding to save five out of the nine Littoral Combat Ships the U.S. Navy wants to retire. Still, consensus on the future of the ships is not unanimous.

Rep. Jackie Speier, a Democrat from California, illustrated her thoughts on the Littoral Combat Ships.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/should-congress-ditch-littoral-combat-ship-203199

[GtHawk]

  It's congress so they will double down on stupid.

[PeteS in CA]

A money pit designed to divert $$ from ships useful in projecting power.

[Smokin Joe]

I believe there are better ideas for projecting power into relatively shallow draft areas. I have pointed out before how the Elko PT boats of WWII were effective platforms, with torpedoes, depth charges, antiaircraft guns, and capable of operating in areas with their shallow draft (5 ft.).

A modernized equivalent could be a potent force.