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Independence-class littoral combat ship

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For the class of aircraft carrier, see Independence-class aircraft carrier.
USS Independence alongside at Naval Air Station Key West, in March 2009.
Class overview
BuildersAustal USA
OperatorsUnited States United States Navy
Cost$704 million First Ship[1] Future Ships $360 million
Planned12
Building2
Completed2
Active1 with 1 being fitted out
General characteristics
TypeLittoral combat ship
Displacement2,307 metric tons light, 3,104 metric tons full, 797 metric tons deadweight[3]
Length127.4 m (418 ft)[3]
Beam31.6 m (104 ft)[3]
Draft14 ft (4.27 m)[3]
Propulsion2× MTU Friedrichshafen 20V 8000 Series diesel engines, 2x General Electric LM2500 gas turbines,[4] 2x American VULKAN light weight multiple-section carbon fiber propulsion shaftlines, 2x LJ160E and 2x LJ150E Wärtsilä waterjets,[5] retractable bow-mounted azimuth thruster, 4× diesel generators
Speed44 knots (51 mph; 81 km/h)[9]
Range4,300 nm at 18 knots[2]
Capacity210 metric tons (206 long tons, 231 short tons)
Complement40 core crew (8 officers, 32 enlisted) plus up to 35 mission crew
Sensors and
processing systems
Electronic warfare
& decoys
Armament
Aircraft carried

The Independence-class is a class of littoral combat ships built for the United States Navy.

The hull design evolved from a project at Austal to design a 40 knot cruise ship. That hull design evolved into the high-speed trimaran ferry HSC Benchijigua Express and the Independence class was then proposed by General Dynamics and Austal as a contender for Navy plans to build a fleet of small, multipurpose warships to operate in the littoral zone. Two ships were approved, to compete with Lockheed Martin's Template:Sclass- design for a construction contract of up to 55 vessels.

As of 2010, the lead ship is active, while a second ship, Coronado, is due to be commissioned. Despite initial plans to only accept one of the Independence and Freedom classes, the Navy has requested that Congress order ten additional ships of each class, for a total 12 ships per class. In February 2012, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announced that the fifth Independence-class littoral combat ship will be named USS Gabrielle Giffords, and the sixth USS Omaha.[10][11] In April 2013, the name Manchester was assigned to LCS-14,[12] while in June 2013, the name Tulsa was assigned to LCS-16.[13]

Planning and construction

USS Independence (LCS-2) under construction, 2007.

Planning for a class of small, multipurpose warships to operate in the littoral zone began in the early 2000s. In July 2003, a proposal by General Dynamics (partnering with Austal USA, the American subsidiary of Australian shipbuilder Austal) was approved by the Navy, with a contract for two vessels.[14] These would then be compared to two ships built by Lockheed Martin to determine which design would be taken up by the Navy for a production run of up to 55 ships.

The first ship, USS Independence was laid down at the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, on 19 January 2006. The planned second ship was cancelled in November 2007, but reordered in May 2009, and laid down in December of that year as USS Coronado, shortly before Independence was launched.[15][16]

The development and construction of Independence as of June 2009 was running at 220% over-budget. The total projected cost for the ship is $704 million. The Navy had originally projected the cost at $220 million.[1] Independence began builder's trials in July 2009, three days behind schedule because of maintenance issues.[17] A leak in the port gas turbine saw the order of trials altered, but builder's and acceptance trials were completed by November.[18][19] and although her first INSURV inspection revealed 2,080 deficiencies, these were rectified in time for the ship to be handed over to the Navy in mid-December, and commissioned in mid-January 2010.[16][20]

Navy leaders said that the fixed price competition offered the Austal design an equal shot, in spite of its excess size, cost and limited service.[21]

After much inconsistency on how testing and orders were to proceed, in November 2010, the Navy asked that Congress approve ten of both the Independence and Freedom classes.[22][23][24]

Design

The Independence-class design began life at Austal as a platform for a high-speed cruise ship. The principal requirements of that project were speed, stability and passenger comfort, and Austal's team determined that the trimaran hull form offered significant passenger comfort and stability advantages over both a catamaran and a monohull. The high-speed cruise ship project evolved into Austal's commercial high-speed trimaran ferry HSC Benchijigua Express. The ships are 127.4 m (418 ft) long, with a beam of 31.6 m (104 ft), and a draft of 13 ft (3.96 m).[3] Their displacement is rated at 2,176 tons light, 2,784 tons full, and 608 tons deadweight.[3]

The standard ship's company is 40, although this can increase depending on the ship's role with mission-specific personnel. The habitability area with bunks is located under the bridge. The helm is controlled by joysticks instead of traditional steering wheels.[25]

Although the trimaran hull increases the total surface area, it is still able to reach sustainable speeds of about 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph), with a range of 10,000 nautical miles (19,000 km; 12,000 mi).[citation needed] Austal claims that the design will use a third less fuel than the competing Freedom class, but the Congressional Budget Office found that fuel would account for 18 percent or less of the total lifetime cost of Freedom.[26]

The lack of bridge wings on the Independence class has been noted as the top problem in the entire LCS program to the extent that these will need to be retrofitted onto existing ships.[27]

The lightweight aluminum construction of the Independence-class ships makes them more vulnerable to damage than the Freedom-class ships.[28]

Loading a SEARAM missile launcher
Stern view

Modular mission capability

The Independence class carries a default armament for self-defense, and command and control. However, unlike traditional fighting ships with fixed armament such as guns and missiles, tailored mission modules can be configured for one mission package at a time. Modules may consist of manned aircraft, unmanned vehicles, off-board sensors, or mission-manning detachments.

The interior volume and payload is greater than some destroyers and is sufficient to serve as a high-speed transport and maneuver platform. The mission bay is 15,200 square feet (1,410 m2), and takes up most of the deck below the hangar and flight deck. With 11,000 cubic metres (390,000 cu ft) of payload volume, it was designed with enough payload and volume to carry out one mission with a separate mission module in reserve, allowing the ship to do multiple missions without having to be refitted.

One Mobicon Flexible Container Handling System is carried on each ship in order to move mission containers.[29][30]

In addition to cargo or container-sized mission modules, the bay can carry four lanes of multiple Strykers, armored Humvees, and their associated troops. An elevator allows air transport of packages the size of a 20-foot-long (6.1 m) shipping container that can be moved into the mission bay while at sea. A side access ramp allows for vehicle roll-on/roll-off loading to a dock and allows the ship to transport the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle.[31]

Armament and sensors

The Raytheon SeaRAM missile defense system is installed on the hangar roof. The SeaRAM combines the sensors of the Phalanx 1B close-in weapon system with an 11-missile launcher for the RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile, creating an autonomous system.[32]

The Independence-class ships also have an integrated LOS Mast, Sea Giraffe 3D Radar and SeaStar Safire FLIR. Northrop Grumman has demonstrated sensor fusion of on and off-board systems in the Integrated Combat Management System (ICMS) used on the LCS.[33] The vessels have an Interior Communications Center that can be curtained off from the rest of bridge instead of the heavily protected Combat Information Center found on Navy warships.[34]

Side and forward surfaces are angled for reduced radar profile. The Template:Sclass2- is designed for operations from Independence-class ships.[35]

The flight deck, 1,030 m2 (11,100 sq ft), can support the operation of two SH-60 Seahawk helicopters, multiple unmanned aerial vehicles, or one CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter. H-60 series helicopters provide airlift, rescue, anti-submarine, radar picket and anti-ship capabilities with torpedoes and missiles. DARPA's Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) program aims to build a Medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (MALE UAV) that can operate from LCS-2 and can carry a payload of 600 pounds (270 kg) out to an operational radius of 600–900 nautical miles (1,100–1,700 km).[36] First flight of a TERN demonstrator is expected in 2017.[37] The trimaran hull will allow flight operations up to sea state 5.[38] Austal USA vice president Craig Hooper has responded to critics of the class's light armament by suggesting that the ships employ long range drones instead.[39]

Control system

The control system for this class is provided by General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems through an open architecture computing infrastructure (OPEN CI),[40] while Lockheed provides their own control system for their variant of the LCS.[41] OPEN CI includes the information technology (IT) infrastructure for the combat and seaframe control systems. This IT infrastructure also includes the primary operator interface for the control and monitoring of mission module operations.[42]

The General Dynamics OPEN CI is also used on the Template:Sclass-, also built by Austal.[43]

Corrosion management

After the lead ship of the class suffered from aggressive disintegration at the molecular level, Austal has made changes to the remaining ships in the class. Coronado will have "new anti-corrosion surface treatments", and Jackson will have "an array of tested corrosion-management tools and processes".[44]

Derivative designs

Austal has proposed a much smaller and slower trimaran, called the 'Multi Role Vessel' (MRV 80). Though it is only half the size of their LCS design, it would still be useful for border protection and counter piracy operations.[45]

Ships

One Independence-class LCS has been commissioned. A second has been launched. Two more are under construction, and four others have been named.

On March 5, 2013, the Navy awarded contract options to fund construction of LCS-14 and LCS-16, the fifth and sixth ships in its 10-ship block buy. [46]

An additional four Independence-class ships are planned.

USS Independence appears in the Disney Pixar film Cars 2 film and also in the Discovery Channel documentary Inside: A 21st Century Warship which also featured USS Freedom (LCS-1)

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Ewing, Philip, "LCS 2 delays trials after engine issue", Military Times, June 29, 2009.
  2. ^ In high-stakes LCS competition, disagreement on how to rank the best deal
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Independence". Naval Vessel Register. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  4. ^ "GE and U.S. Navy Celebrate 40th Operating Anniversary of LM2500 Gas Turbine" (Press release). GE Aviation. 2009-10-27.
  5. ^ USS Independence LCS-2 - GE LM2500 Gas Turbines
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) High-Speed Surface Ship". www.naval-technology.com. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
  7. ^ Navy Axes Griffin Missile In Favor of Longbow Hellfire for LCS - News.USNI.org, 9 April 2014
  8. ^ GDLCS Media Center
  9. ^ Navy's newest warships top out at more than 50 mph
  10. ^ "Navy Names Littoral Combat Ship Gabrielle Giffords". www.navy.mil. Retrieved 10 Feb 2012.
  11. ^ "Introducing... The USS Omaha," WOWT, February 15, 2012.
  12. ^ "Secretary of the Navy Names Multiple Ships". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 7 Jun 2013.
  13. ^ "SecNav Names Multiple Ships". www.navy.mil. Retrieved 7 Jun 2013.
  14. ^ "General Dynamics Bath Iron Works Team Wins Preliminary Design Award for U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship". General Dynamics press release, 17 July 2003.
  15. ^ "U.S.Navy Press Release No. 1269-07" (Press release). 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
  16. ^ a b General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship Team Delivers Independence (LCS 2) and Lays Keel for Coronado (LCS 4)
  17. ^ Ewing, Philip, "LCS 2 begins sea trials after 3-day delay", Military Times, July 3, 2009.
  18. ^ Turbine-seal leak means more tests for LCS 2
  19. ^ Cava, Christopher P., "Trials successful for 2nd LCS hull", Military Times, November 21, 2009.
  20. ^ Navy News Service, "[1]", Navy.mil, January 16, 2010.
  21. ^ Navy says the field is level for teams competing for LCS contract
  22. ^ Sessions, Jeff "Sessions comments today regarding the Navy's proposal to purchase additional Littoral Combat Ship" Office of Jeff Sessions, 3 November 2010
  23. ^ "US Navy said to buy LCS warships from both bidders" Reuters 3 November 2010
  24. ^ Cavas, Christopher P. "Navy asks Congress to buy both LCS designs" NavyTimes, 4 November 2010
  25. ^ Cavas, Christopher P., "LCS 2 features large hangar, bigger berths", Military Times, January 11, 2010.
  26. ^ Navy not using fuel cost data in LCS competition
  27. ^ "Redeeming Freedom -- Changes for the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship."
  28. ^ "Ships Leaking $37 Billion Reflect Eisenhower’s Warning."
  29. ^ "US Navy snaps up Aussie straddle carrier." SupplyChain Review, 25 November 2010
  30. ^ "Mobicon Flexible Container Handling System." Mobicon Systems, 2009
  31. ^ General Dynamics Littoral Combat Ship brochure
  32. ^ "Raytheon Delivers SeaRAM to USS Independence". Reuters. 18 March 2008.
  33. ^ Northrop Grumman-Led Team Demonstrates Means to Effectively Enhance Littoral Warfighting Capabilities
  34. ^ LCS 2: ‘It’ll blow your mind’
  35. ^ Sobie, Brendan (August 24, 2010). "AUVSI: Making a splash". Flightglobal. Reed Business Information. Retrieved 2012-04-20.
  36. ^ "DARPA's New TERN Program Aims for Eyes in the Sky from the Sea". DARPA. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  37. ^ "Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node (TERN) Program Solicitation Number: DARPA-BAA-13-28". 26 March 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2013.
  38. ^ USS Independence LCS 2 - General Info
  39. ^ Cox, Matthew (8 April 2013). "LCS Maker Responds to Ship's Firepower Critics". Military.com. Military Advantage. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
  40. ^ General Dynamics to Deliver Open Architecture-based Combat Systems for 10 Littoral Combat Ships
  41. ^ Murtaugh, Dan. "Austal taps General Dynamics for LCS combat systems ." Press-Register, 3 January 2010.
  42. ^ General Dynamics Successfully Integrates Littoral Combat Ship Mission Package Computing Environment, General Dynamics Press Release, March 18, 2008
  43. ^ "The Power of Open Architecture."
  44. ^ Axe, David. "Plenty of Blame to Go Around for ‘Disappearing’ Warship." Wired, 5 July 2011.
  45. ^ "Multi Role Vessel MRV80" (PDF). Austal. 2010. Retrieved 2013-01-17.
  46. ^ "US Navy funds Austal LCS Team to build two more ships". March 5, 2013.
  47. ^ "U.S. Navy to Commission Independence class Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS 4)". April 3, 2014.
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