USS Freedom : The coolest thing you'll see today

[fatty]

Originally Posted by August

A large, rather useless, but hugely expensive target is what my sources tell me...

Something we agree on An excellent idea on paper, and a void in the fleet structure that needs filling. The modularity concept is a good one as well, and one that has been pioneered in similar application to some success by the Danes. But I am told that the LCS classes were simply overengineered; like Molon said, they attempted to throw in everything but the kitchen sink, and the designs were constantly being altered during the build phase. The product is a coastal patrol ship that is almost as long as a FFG-7 and in fact two metres wider!

[August]

Originally Posted by fatty

Something we agree on An excellent idea on paper, and a void in the fleet structure that needs filling. The modularity concept is a good one as well, and one that has been pioneered in similar application to some success by the Danes. But I am told that the LCS classes were simply overengineered; like Molon said, they attempted to throw in everything but the kitchen sink, and the designs were constantly being altered during the build phase. The product is a coastal patrol ship that is almost as long as a FFG-7 and in fact two metres wider!

Not to mention highly vulnerable to land based artillery and missiles. An anti-tank platoon would put that thing in a world of hurt. Too big, not fast enough.

[Molon Labe]

I'm at a loss to understand how a ship supposedly designed to fight in the littorals can have practically zero air/missile defense capability. Coastal areas are kind of known for being in range of land based aircraft (Stark) and coastal missile batteries (Hanit). I think the lack of ESSM on this thing is just inexcusable.

[fatty]

Originally Posted by Molon Labe

I'm at a loss to understand how a ship supposedly designed to fight in the littorals can have practically zero air/missile defense capability. Coastal areas are kind of known for being in range of land based aircraft (Stark) and coastal missile batteries (Hanit). I think the lack of ESSM on this thing is just inexcusable.

Yup. As a matter of fact a commander once told me that the 'reach' of the littorals - that is to say, how far water can be from the shore for it to be considered littoral - is in part defined by the reach of shore-based weapons. Through the Age of Sail the narrow effective range of cannons in forts meant the littoral was defined in terms of hundreds of metres. By the World Wars coastal artillery extended that to thousands of metres. Now, the littorals are essentially defined by shore-based missiles and aircraft. It is foolish to ignore them.

[Orion2012]

http://www.navy.mil/view_photos_top.asp

The third link from the top has some pics taken onboard the Freedom with SECNAV.

[kurtz]

Sorry to go off topic but Molon Labe's Sig

[Rockin Robbins]

Originally Posted by kurtz

Sorry to go off topic but Molon Labe's Sig

Ditto! The most awesome aspect of an already impressive thread.

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by kurtz

Sorry to go off topic but Molon Labe's Sig

Thanks. Coincidentally enough, I think I may have pulled it off Information Dissemination a few weeks ago (the blog was plugged earlier in this thread). If not there, it was Small Wars Journal.