The US Navy's New Pirate Catcher
Here are some recent photos of the LCS-2 (to be named the USS Independence). Here she is at sea trials running at only HALF-power at 43 knots! NOTE the absence of a bow wave.
Also turns tightly too. Allegedly this turn was also done at 43 knots... and from the look of the small bow wave, she's still in the turn. Note the absence of any sign of her 'heeling over' even at that speed.
And then there's the massive helo deck big enough for a CH-53. Last time I talked with the SURFPAC guys years ago, THIS was the LCS they wanted because of the size of the flight deck and the huge storage capacity under it.
Note that there is very little spreading wake. In fact, it does not look like a wake at all, just foamy water from the water jets. Somehow, at 43 knots, you'd think there'd be more of a wake.
She's aerodynamically designed and kind of strange-looking. Is this beginning of a new design in ships?
Here's some more pics of the US Navy's new pirate catchers!
WOW! A couple of these should be able to clean up the pirates off the coasts of Africa ..
This is the USS Independence (LCS-2). It is a triple hulled, weapon-laden monster.
Here she is under construction...
There have been rumors about the US Navy's speedy new triple-hulled ships, but now they're for real. The USS Independence was built by General Dynamics. It's called a "littoral combat ship" (LCS), and the tri-maran can move its weapons around faster than any other ship in the Navy. (Ironic that with all that high tech, the ship reminds me of the Merrimac ironclad from Civil War days).
'Littoral' means close-to-shore, and that's where these very ships will operate. They're tailor-made for launching helicopters and lightly-armoured vehicles, sweeping mines and firing all manner of torpedoes, missiles and machine guns. These ships are also relatively inexpensive. This one is a bargain at $208 million, and the Navy plans to build 55 of them.
This trimaran is the first of a new fire breathing breed, ready to scoot out of dry dock at a rumored 60 knots top speed... It's like a speedy and heavily armed aircraft carrier for helicopters.
Pirates Beware!
The US Navy's New Pirate Catcher
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