PASCAGOULA, Miss., July 13 (UPI) -- The prototype of a U.S. Navy amphibious ship that's two years late and $400 million over budget logged 15,000 deficiencies in sea trials.
Under construction in Pascagoula, Miss., the San Antonio, a helicopter and troop transport scheduled for delivery to the Navy this year, "is an incomplete ship," the Navy's Board of Inspection and Survey wrote after the trials.
It is the first of 12 such ships on order from Northrop Grumman's Ingalls shipyard, and will be stationed in Norfolk, Va., the Virginian-Pilot said Wednesday.
The 8-page report said the ship is plagued with bad wiring, inadequate ventilation and corrosion problems, and cited ladders that were improperly constructed or missing handrails, unventilated spaces housing toxic chemicals and a crash-prone engineering control system.
Cost overruns have put the ship's cost at $1.85 billion. The 684-foot ship weighs nearly 25,000 tons and will have a crew of 360, and be able to carry 700 Marines and their new MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft.
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Wonderful. Just wonderful.
Though that "15,000 flaws" is a bit misleading. I think a burned out lightbulb is considered a flaw.
Still a really shytty deal for the Navy though. Thank you Litton-Ingalls!
Among the community of nations, Pakistan today stands out on one hand as a petty thug brandishing a dangerous weapon, and at other times as a concubine, sleeping with anyone willing to pay for her expensive tastes. ~ Tarek Fatah
How much does this all detract from its fighting capabilities. I know different eras, but in WWII, the Prince of Wales went after the Bismarck with workmen still on board. If there is nothingrong with the ships fighting capabilities, well than the rest can be fixed.Originally Posted by TopHatter
"Any relations in a social order will endure if there is infused into them some of that spirit of human sympathy, which qualifies life for immortality." ~ George William Russell
You'll recall that HMS Prince of Wales accomplished not a lot, thanks to her incomplete status.
(In addition, her crew had not had time to work her up and get used to the ship and themselves)
Considering some of the flaws noted, I would say it would be a very bad idea to deploy that ship unless....well, we had another Bismarck-type situation requiring everything that can float and fight.
For one thing, it's really bad on a crew's morale if their spanking new ship turns out to be a lemon. Not exactly something that inspires a team spirit.
Look what happened to the Kennedy.
All of this is kind of a sideshow to the real problem: What else is wrong with that ship and what does it say about Litton-Ingalls and the rest of the class? Let's remember that the LPD-17 class contract is huge. Whoever got this contract was going to be fat on work for a loooong time. Considering the state of the American shipbuilding industry, you'd think they'd want to turn out a quality product.
I don't know the whole story but I do recall a buddy of mine who worked at Long Beach Naval Shipyard and he had nothing good to say about Litton Ingalls.
I'm wondering what Litton has to say about all of this....
Among the community of nations, Pakistan today stands out on one hand as a petty thug brandishing a dangerous weapon, and at other times as a concubine, sleeping with anyone willing to pay for her expensive tastes. ~ Tarek Fatah
Well POW did manage to get a penertration, and KGV and Rodney only managed a few despite being at point blank range.
I know that crew comfort counts a lot, however if a ships essential fightin g systems are wqorking than the problem is a lot less of a cause to worry about. In case of the Kennedy what was it, malfunctioning elevators, catapults that were unreliable, boilers that would not light. That is a hammer blow.
"Any relations in a social order will endure if there is infused into them some of that spirit of human sympathy, which qualifies life for immortality." ~ George William Russell
Oh I don't mean to take anything away from PoW's crew or accomplishments.
From what I gathered about Kennedy, her material defects combined with low morale caused a lot of other crew upkeep to go by the wayside.
Like I said though, what else is wrong with that ship?
I wouldnt mind getting my grubby paws on that report.
I also wonder what kind of condition that ship would be in if it had been built at Bath Iron Works or Newport News.
Among the community of nations, Pakistan today stands out on one hand as a petty thug brandishing a dangerous weapon, and at other times as a concubine, sleeping with anyone willing to pay for her expensive tastes. ~ Tarek Fatah
Newport News is owned by Northrop Grumman as well, they merged in 1999.
Avondale
"We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be, detested in France."
-Sir Arthur Wellesley
True enough, but whoever's name is emblazened on the cranes, Litton Ingalls is still Litton Ingalls and Newport News is still Newport News.
When was the last time you heard about a CVN on sea trials that had 15,000 defects to the degree of USS San Antonio? Probably not recently.
Knowing corporate America in general and the defense industry in particular, I would say it'll take years for Northrop Grumman's ownership to make any difference. If it does. (just my humble opinion of course)
Among the community of nations, Pakistan today stands out on one hand as a petty thug brandishing a dangerous weapon, and at other times as a concubine, sleeping with anyone willing to pay for her expensive tastes. ~ Tarek Fatah
Thank the union workers.
Another fine example of "looking for that union label for quality"
I suspect the culprit was as the build fell behind pressure increased to speed things up, when this happens things get sloppy. Also much of the work is contracted out to other firms anyway, trying to blame everything on just one part of the workforce is foolish.
"We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be, detested in France."
-Sir Arthur Wellesley
I just read a book on the NR1 recently - I couldnt believe the absurdity of the Union rules for its workers - abolutely ignorant. Nothing has done more to drive business out of my state than the unions. Dont get me wrong unions serve a purpose but can be just a corrupt and ignorant as the managment their supposed to protect their members from - and just as often.
Just like how the union that represents most of New York's custodial workers won't allow the people who clean it's headquarters to unionize. If union's are so great for everyone why deny them?
"We always have been, we are, and I hope that we always shall be, detested in France."
-Sir Arthur Wellesley
Unions are for the most part full of spit, and counterproductive.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
15,000 flaws.. Amazing.
Speaking for myself, I had a union card in my wallet before I had a driver's license.(Yes, I did get my driver's license at 16 years oldUnions are for the most part full of spit, and counterproductive.
But hey, that's just my opinion.
Unions used to serve a great purpose in this country. That time has pretty much passed since the unions themselves are now the problem.
Then again, Bath and Newport News are also union are they not?
Among the community of nations, Pakistan today stands out on one hand as a petty thug brandishing a dangerous weapon, and at other times as a concubine, sleeping with anyone willing to pay for her expensive tastes. ~ Tarek Fatah
I used to have a union card with Aerospace Machinists and Workers. However after being passed up for several "rate" jobs for someone that couldnt even show up for work not to mention in a constant drugged out state (not perscription) and as well a theif. I asked the shop steward who at that time just happened to be smoking lsd in the parking lot during lunch with this person and I figured after that.. my future is in your hands? I pay my dues for guys like you to play favorites while taking my money and paying me the minimum ...screw that I'm out times have changed but in alot of ways they're thinking has not. That is not to say that they're arent alot of good hard working honest people working for them. I certainly would not want to fight they're fight in the future to come with some of the leadership they have.
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