USS Freedom : The coolest thing you'll see today

[fatty]

Originally Posted by swifty

I worked and this project at Lockheed. RHIBs are launched/recovered from the stern hatch. the Remote Mine Hunting Vehicle and Sea Talon Vehicle are launched from the STB AFT hatch.

Ah, okay, I stand corrected. Thank you It's the LCS-2 Independence that has the side door access to a RO/RO cargo deck. They're supposed to be able to stick a couple of Strykers and Humvees in there.

[AntEater]

To me, both LCSs always seem like a civilian high speed ferry with a small gun and a RAM launcher.
The modular stuff sounds fine, but most of the systems are not yet ready. I doubt all of the planned packages will be completed.
NETFIRE (sounds like one of those dotcom bubble companies) is still a project, for example.
Something I never understood about the USN is its casual approach to mine warfare.
I have no doubt the minehunting crews of the USN are as expert as the rest of NATO, but it seems to me they hardly get the support they need.
Especially now that minehunting is basically to be done as a side job with destroyers and LCSs, this doesn't seems to me like an increase in capabilities.
I mean if you ran an LCS as a full time minehunter, it would be a great platform, but also a bit oversized.
Sometimes I think the "sleek fast grey hulls" navy simply doesn't have time for such an inglorious, time-consuming thinking man's game as mine warfare.
Also, what do they need the Ro/Ro capabilities for?
I mean you can hardly expect the future enemy to be so nice to open a port where the LCS can dock and unload its Strykers. They can't do anything amphibious, so the land warfare docking space seems a bit wasted to me.
All in all, if the thing works and is affordable, it is a great platform, but I don't think it is out of the woods yet.

Btw, with such glorious names, how do they want to name the rest of the 50 LCSs?
After basic democratic rights?
Anyway, since the Bush administration is on the way out and reading the "assault weapons ban" thread, I don't think there will be a
USS Fifth Ammendment
:rotfl::rotfl:

[August]

Originally Posted by AntEater

Sometimes I think the "sleek fast grey hulls" navy simply doesn't have time for such an inglorious, time-consuming thinking man's game as mine warfare

That reminds me a lot of the arguments over the continued use of the A-10 Warthog. Not sexy enough for your average jet jocky who prefers a much faster and sleeker bird, even if they are less suited for the mud moving role and have a much shorter time on target.

[Etienne]

We caught up with the Freedom at the end of the day - Because she'd tied up for the week-end at the Québec city cruise terminal. That is an awesome dock to go to - bar accross the street, five minutes from the old town and fifteen minutes from the big party bars.

Oh, there's history and stuff, too.

Here she is, with Chateau Frontenac in the background.



The colors came out a bit weird - the light was bad and there was a lot of humidity. I think I over corrected.

[Molon Labe]

Originally Posted by AntEater

Also, what do they need the Ro/Ro capabilities for?
I mean you can hardly expect the future enemy to be so nice to open a port where the LCS can dock and unload its Strykers. They can't do anything amphibious, so the land warfare docking space seems a bit wasted to me.

I thought the doors were for deploying UUVs and USVs. Maybe smaller manned craft as well. It's sort of a mini-mothership.