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Originally Posted by mweber24
I project that the LCS will be the biggest failure in the 21st century, so many things wrong with this ship, it could fill a book.
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It's looking that way isn't it. I wonder if the US Navy will wake up one day and realize what a sham the whole LCS program is.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mweber24
The OHP class is a GREAT design for its mission and cost, especially by Flight IV when it had Mk92 Mod 6 and LAMPS III with TACTASS.
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The type has seemed to have acquitted itself very well in its years of service, despite what everyone says. I thought it was a very capable vessel due to the multi-mission capability it brought to the Frigate designation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by mweber24
The removal of the Mk13 was an example of a Navy cutting cost for the promise of great things in the future.
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Very true, and what happens if the LCS program get delayed or canceled altogether (which seems somewhat likely) and the remaining OHP's are force to serve up to and beyond the 30-year service life. Would have been nice to at least retain the offensive/defensive capabilities they originally went to sea with. They are the first gun-only surface vessels the US Navy has operated in some time.
It's hard to imagine the US Navy stripping it's ship's like that. What if a OHP gets hit with a missile, how will the Navy explain the decision to degrade the combat capability of the Frigates after it has cost lives?
It's remarkable to look at the different ways you can go with a design. The US Navy has emasculated it's OHP, while the Aussie's have given theirs a significant upgrade. With a new Mk 41 VLS and other upgrades, these are by far the most advanced versions of the OHP in the world. I would say they could compete with the best Frigate designs out there currently, albeit not including super-Frigates such as the de Bazan.