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But to get those low, low prices, the ships will be built to commercial, rather than military, structural standards — meaning they’re lighter and less blast- and fire-resistant. Indeed, the Navy does not plan to subject the LCS to traditional blast-testing, “due to the damage that would be sustained by the ship,” the Congressional Research Service points out.

The LCS also optimizes speed over weaponry. Lockheed’s version has what Operations Officer Tony Hyde, from USS Freedom (the first Lockheed prototype), described as “the largest marine gas turbines in the world — essentially the engines of a 777 jetliner.”

The turbines’ 100,000 horsepower can propel the LCS at up to 50 knots, compared to 30 for most warships. But that high speed “will eat through a fuel supply in half a day,” the USNI critic scoffs.

Former Freedom commanding officer Don Gabrielson said in 2008 that high speed could help the LCS respond better to pirate attacks and assaults by small boats, such as those used by Iran. But an extra 20 knots aren’t likely to make much difference if someone’s shooting supersonic anti-ship missiles at you, whereas extra armor plating just might.

The afflicted vessel is USS Independence, the second in the sailing branch’s fleet of fast, reconfigurable Littoral Combat Ships. Eventually, these ships are supposed to be the workhorses” of tomorrow’s Navy.

As Bloomberg reported, the Navy has discovered “aggressive” corrosion around Independence‘s engines. The problem is so bad that the barely year-old ship will have to be laid up in a San Diego drydock so workers can replace whole chunks of her hull.

Lots of things — major weapons, for one — have been left off the LCS in order to keep the price down. The list of deleted items includes something called a “Cathodic Protection System,” which is designed to prevent electrolysis

Civilian scientists know it as “electrolysis.” It’s what occurs when “two dissimilar metals, after being in electrical contact with one another, corrode at different rates,” Austal explained in a statement.

“That suggests to me the metal is completely gone, not rusted,” naval analyst Raymond Pritchett wrote of Independence‘s problem.

Independence‘s corrosion is concentrated in her water jets — shipboard versions of airplane engines — where steel “impeller housings” come in contact with the surrounding aluminum structure. Electrical charges possibly originating in the ship’s combat systems apparently sparked the electrolysis.

RoyGBiv wrote:Not sure why they don't add attack helicopters for fighting pirates? Clear some deck space or build a platform off the stern.
I don't know squadoosh about Naval tactics, but, I know a Cobra or Viper armed with Hellfires can outrun a pirate yacht by a wide margin.

RoyGBiv wrote:Not sure why they don't add attack helicopters for fighting pirates? Clear some deck space or build a platform off the stern.
I don't know squadoosh about Naval tactics, but, I know a Cobra or Viper armed with Hellfires can outrun a pirate yacht by a wide margin.

VMI77 wrote:I don't think the current administration really wants to fight pirates. We have all the ability to fight pirates we need. Do pirates attack Navy vessels or do they go after merchant vessels they can hold for ransom? Where's the pirate treasure in attacking naval vessels? We could stop pirates from attacking any ship we didn't want attacked by putting a squad of well armed Marines on board.

Quote corrected, sorry for the confusion/misrepresentation RoyGBiv

chandler583 wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:I don't think the current administration really wants to fight pirates. We have all the ability to fight pirates we need. Do pirates attack Navy vessels or do they go after merchant vessels they can hold for ransom? Where's the pirate treasure in attacking naval vessels? We could stop pirates from attacking any ship we didn't want attacked by putting a squad of well armed Marines on board.
That's providing these merchant vessels, which are often owned by non-American companies allow that to happen. I am no expert, but I think that may raise an issue with the international definition of "Merchant Vessel".

chandler583 wrote:

NOT From RoyGBiv wrote:I don't think the current administration really wants to fight pirates. We have all the ability to fight pirates we need. Do pirates attack Navy vessels or do they go after merchant vessels they can hold for ransom? Where's the pirate treasure in attacking naval vessels? We could stop pirates from attacking any ship we didn't want attacked by putting a squad of well armed Marines on board.

That's providing these merchant vessels, which are often owned by non-American companies allow that to happen. I am no expert, but I think that may raise an issue with the international definition of "Merchant Vessel".

VMI77 wrote:

RoyGBiv wrote:Not sure why they don't add attack helicopters for fighting pirates? Clear some deck space or build a platform off the stern.
I don't know squadoosh about Naval tactics, but, I know a Cobra or Viper armed with Hellfires can outrun a pirate yacht by a wide margin.

I don't think the current administration really wants to fight pirates. We have all the ability to fight pirates we need. Do pirates attack Navy vessels or do they go after merchant vessels they can hold for ransom? Where's the pirate treasure in attacking naval vessels? We could stop pirates from attacking any ship we didn't want attacked by putting a squad of well armed Marines on board.