The Evolution of the Arsenal Ship.

[GDS_Starfury]

for their weapon loadout they are waaay to expensive.

LCS-1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Freedom_(LCS-1)

the LCS-2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Independence_(LCS-2)

those are not fleet escort ships in any way shape or form.  they are however exactly what their designated as. 

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

So you are saying they are too light on weapons but this 3rd design corrects it?

Why not just have a modified freighter if you want an 'arsenal'. It would be a cheap delivery truck to get the ordinance in then leave. Send another. A panamax freighter is $60m with 4m/year operation cost.

http://www.sbeydo.com/maritime/Tech_memo/TM%20Vessel%20Size%20vs%20Cost_FINAL.pdf

[GDS_Starfury]

yaaa.... NO.  once you add in the weapons and sensors the cost goes waaay up.  nor are those ships designed to fight and take hits.
this design doesnt correct anything about the LCS nor should it.  theyre different ships for different jobs.

[Longdan]

But there is a crunch.  At this price how many ships can you have?  The money has to come from somewhere and they keep telling
us there is no more money.  So many dollars go on fixed and increasing personnel costs.  I really want you guys to have the biggest
and best of the right things.  Procurement seems to be a loony bin run by the loonies.

[GDS_Starfury]

the price in the article was $1.7 billion.  not bad considering its size and about the same as a Burke class destroyer.  Im not to concerned over the budget question because even if the Navy said yes today we wouldnt have these ships for at least 15 to 20 years.  theres also the fact that at some point our current LPDs and LPHs are going to be retired and will need replacement.

[Longdan]

Maybe if the construction is outsourced to China by WalMart the price will come down and do something about that annoying fraction of the debt/deficit.

[GDS_Starfury]

that isnt all that expensive for a ship that size.  please stop trying to be a smartass in every thread.  if you cant contribute to some discussions just please stfu.

[GDS_Starfury]

as to affordability we have 62 active Burkes that cost $1.8 billion each.  the 22 Ticonderoga crusiers in service cost about $1 billion back in the early 90's.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Here is the VLS on a Tico. 2 batteries.


Here are the holds of a container ship.


But you cant do that. It doesnt look fashionably navy.

You already have. Here is the converted cargo ship you use for military vehicles.


So I ask for the xth time why not save the money and have a missile ferry if that is what you want as a missile capability?

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

You can call the first one USS Ownage of the FYSU class.

[GDS_Starfury]

personally I would rather have a lot of smaller ships.  I always liked the idea of 6 to 10 Sea Shadow type ships with missiles linked to a central data net.  but thats another concept for a different use.  your example of a Navy ro-ro ship wont work either because once you stick missiles, guns and sensors on it the price skyrockets again.  neither converted cargo ships or container ships have dedicated low observable hulls either.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

Dont need sensors, its just a missile ferry.

You have other ships for other tasks.