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Post by macnz on Jan 19, 2015 12:07:24 GMT 12
Mid December the pentagon announced their choice of design for their Small Surface Combatant (SSC) - modified versions of the existing Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). Read this Article for details of modifications: www.defensenews.com/story/defense-news/blog/intercepts/2014/12/18/ship-navy-lcs/20589451/In January it was announced these modified LCS will also be designated Frigates - given their augmented capabilities. The original 32 LCSs will eventually be upgraded and re-designated Frigates also. Article: www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/ships/2015/01/15/lcs-navy-frigate/21801559/By endowing LCSs as Frigates, the traditional Frigate classification is now a blend of vessels in the USN line of battle. Having declared the modfied LCS as the future SSC blueprint, traditionalists question the pentagon's belief that the incumbent Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate is adequately replaced by the new SSC profile as opposed to a more traditional vessel design like the Huntington Ingalls Industries Legend-Class Security Cutter.
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Post by macnz on Jan 19, 2015 16:44:56 GMT 12
Addendum: The Surface Combatant Force Requirement Study does not define any need for a single mission ship such as the frigate and there are no frigates planned in the Navy's five-year shipbuilding plan. The lead ship of the class, USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG 7), and the following ships have been decommissioned: FFG 8 through 16, 19-34, 36-40, 42, 43, 45-47, 49, 52, 54 and 57. The rest will be decommissioned by 2019. Source: www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1300&ct=4This confirms the USN has indeed redefined what constitutes a Frigate. Here's a further article about their plans... Read article here: breakingdefense.com/2015/01/whats-in-a-name-making-the-lcs-frigate-reality/
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Post by macnz on Jan 19, 2015 22:26:22 GMT 12
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