USS Independence, LCS 2...WOW! MUST SEE
I have no idea how GenDynamics is doing, but this first ship looks absolutley wicked! Its tri-maran hull combined with the capabilities and look of a warship makes it something out of this world!
USS Independence, LCS 2
My surface ship buddy Tim passed on these photos of the second class of littoral combat ship (LCS 2), named Independence, and built by General Dynamics/Bath iron Works in their Mobile, Alabama shipyards.
The other ships built thus far for the LCS program have been by Lockheed Martin and have had their fair share of problems, having had two of their follow-on LCS programs cancelled for cost overruns.
http://instapinch.com/?p=1085
USS FREEDOM
LCS 1 First of class
USS Independence
LCS 2 Totally redesigned hull ,much higher speed
and maneuverability .Built for high speed insertion
of special forces into hostile waters and and quick
removal . These ships are relatively cheap coastal
and river patrol craft designed to replace high speed
P.T. type boats with some armour and protection
LCS class ships
Keel Laid: June 2, 2005
Launched: September 23, 2006
Commissioned: September 2008
Builder: Marinette Marine, Marinette, WI.
Propulsion system: Combined two diesel power
plants supplying ships electricial power and two
Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine engine
each generating 36 megawatts (36,000 KW)
or about(47,00hp)of electricial power driving
steerable,independant water jet propulsion
systemsSpeed: 50+ knots "add about 20 kts"Length, overall: 378 feet
Beam: 42 feet
Draft: 13 feet
Displacement: approx. 3000 tons Speed: 50+ knots Crew: 15 core crew members, 75 with detachments
Aviation: two MH-60R/S or one MH-60R/S and VTUAV's
Armament:
- 1 MK 31 Mod 0 RAM Launcher
- 1 MK 110 Mod 0 57mm Gun system
- 3 MK 26 Mod 17 .50 Cal Machine guns
The Littoral Combat Ship is the first design of the U.S. Navy's next-generation surface combatants. Intended as a relatively small surface vessel for operations in the littoral region (close to shore), the LCS is smaller than the Navy's guided missile frigates, and has been compared to the corvette of international usage. However, the LCS adds the capabilities of a small assault transport with a flight deck and hangar large enough to base two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, the capability to recover and launch small boats from a stern ramp, and enough cargo volume and payload to deliver a small assault force with armored vehicles to a roll-on/roll-off port facility. Although the LCS design offers air defense and surface-to-surface capabilities comparable to destroyers with 57 mm guns, torpedo and missile launchers, the concept emphasizes speed, flexible mission module space and a shallow draft.