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'Stealth' warships to test China's nerve

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  • 'Stealth' warships to test China's nerve

    Below is a recent news article on supposed deployment of USS Freedom (LCS-1) and USS Independence (LCS-2) to South China Sea. Last I heard, USS Independence was headed for St Petersburg Florida for labor day, on its way to San Diego California via the Panama Canal (see other artile further below). I don't know where USS Freedom is.

    Anyway, there is no shortage of error in the details in these to add to your reading amusement...



    'Stealth' warships to test China's nerve
    Michael Sheridan - The Australian August 22, 2011 12:00AM

    THE US is deploying a new generation of high-speed stealth warships to the disputed waters of the South China Sea, in a move that is bound to raise tensions with Beijing.

    The vessels, which cost $US440 million ($422m) each, will be deployed in the shipping lanes between Hong Kong and Singapore, where four nations are at odds with China over who owns vast areas of ocean rich in oil and gas.

    The ships are designed to fight in shallow waters. They carry three helicopters and special forces units with armoured vehicles that can roll off a ramp into action, while fast gunboats can be launched from the stern.

    The latest version, built by General Dynamics, is an aluminium-hulled trimaran, the USS Independence. Launched last year, it is protected by Mk 110 57mm guns made by BAE Systems, plus missiles for air, land and underwater targets.

    The warships' sleek silhouettes reflect their stealth technology, while the stable trimaran design suits the South China Sea, which is swept by typhoons every summer.

    Experts say the ships are superior to any known Chinese vessel in their ability to combine anti-submarine, minesweeping, surveillance, reconnaissance and troop deployment missions.

    However, they are expensive and controversial.

    US legislators have complained about their cost, and some military analysts claim they could be vulnerable to Chinese anti-ship missiles. Nonetheless, they are seen as a potent symbol of US might.







    St. Pete Port to Host U.S. Naval Warship

    The USS Independence docks here on Labor Day Weekend and will be open for public viewing.

    By Lee Diekemper - August 12, 2011

    Port of St. Petersburg has hosted some world-famous private vessels, such as Tatoosh, the $162 million beauty owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen .

    But it has not welcomed many superstar military vessels – until now.

    Come Labor Day Weekend, the USS Independence (LCS-2) will dock in the Port of St. Petersburg for a weekend. It will be the first naval military vessel to dock at the Port of St. Petersburg, said U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young (R-Indian Shores), who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense.

    While in St. Petersburg Labor Day Weekend, the ship will be open for public inspection. The crew will also be guests when the Tampa Bay Rays host the Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers that weekend.

    All it took was a high-level invitation from Young, after he learned the ship would be leaving action in the Persian Gulf, returning to its home port of San Diego.

    "When I learned it was heading in this direction, I thought, 'Why not?'" Young said in having St. Petersburg host the ship's crew for a weekend.

    The USS Independence will be heading eventually to the Panama Canal to return to San Diego. Young admitted the Navy does not publish a military ship's itinerary coming from a combat region.

    "We've never had a major Navy ship here because our channels are just too shallow," Young said. "This ship operates in very shallow water confines. So I talked to the Chief of Naval Operations [Adm. Gary Roughead] and he thought, 'Hey, this will work out.' "

    The vessel is known as a small assault transport.

    Per the ship's official Facebook page, the USS Independence (LCS-2) is "a fast, agile, mission-focused ship that demonstrates the latest in naval warfighting technology. The ship is specifically designed to defeat 'anti-access' threats in shallow, coastal water regions, including fast surface craft, quiet diesel submarines and mines."

    The ship also has a "interchangeable modular design" which changes depending on the mission. It is a 419-foot long aluminum trimaran that can travel in excess of 45 knots. It carries a crew of 40 sailors.

    The original USS Independence, an aircraft carrier, was decommisioned in 1998.

    Young said at a news conference at the Port of St. Petersburg, which was also attended by St. Petersburg mayor Bill Foster, that the vessel can travel up to 60 knots which is roughly 69 miles per hour.

    Young also noted that the USS Independence normally patrols straits in the Persian Gulf, much like the Florida Straits between Cuba and the Florida Keys.

    The ship was christened Jan. 6, 2010 in Mobile, Ala., though it has some local roots. Many of the instruments on board, including its missile defense system, were designed by Raytheon in St. Petersburg.


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  • #2
    Where as they are a new generation of Littorial ships IMO, the writer of the first article posted should lay off the caffine. Do we know where she is and what she is doing? No. We dont. But theorizing her current mission wherever she may be is to antagonize the Chinese is just plain out stupid particularly after the US VP was just there. Unless he knows, which I'm pretty sure he dont have that level of clearence or "sources" then how can he justify writing such an article. Typical Idiot.


    The second article I'm happy to see. Nice to see that the crew can get some enjoyment after their current mission abroad and welcomed home with the great American past time.:)
    Last edited by Dreadnought; 25 Aug 11,, 03:07.
    Fortitude.....The strength to persist...The courage to endure.

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    • #3
      LCS in the South China Sea? In a few years time, no doubt. I seem to remember Robert Gates talking about having LCS operate out of Singapore at some point. Might be a good fit too. But thats not going to be for some time.

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      • #4
        talking about where and what US (or any nations) warships are and what they are doing is well, classified.. remember "loose lips sink ships"..

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