In theory, the LCS platform is meant to be used hard–handed off to new crews quickly, and then sent on deployment after deployment–but, in practice, well, um…not so much:
The Freedom has been at San Diego since finishing up her maiden deployment April 23. A number of minor problems cropped up during her cruise, including, according to Naval Surface Forces, minor leaks “in both the port and starboard splitter gear lube oil coolers.”
Additionally, “cracks and minor structural damage was discovered in one of the centerline fuel tanks,” the Navy said.
Stand by for a barrage of “it’s first-in-class” arguments and “first ships are hard” excuses. Certainly, it’s normal for problems to emerge a shakedown cruise. New fancy stuff is getting put on the vessel. That’s all to be expected.
But the Navy may be underestimating just how critical robustness and reliability actually will be in the overall “valuation” of the two LCS platforms. If operated according to theory, the LCS will be operating on a far tighter timetable than virtually all the Navy’s other major combat vessels.
To make the LCS equation work, those vessels cannot waste a lot of time on extended shipyard tours. They’ve gotta be reliable and amenable to quick, easy maintenance.
If we plan to run these ships, then the ships must be built to run.
Are they?
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A couple of weeks pier side at the Naval station is hardly an “extended shipyard tour.”
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