Posted: 8/5/2008 6:30:09 PM EDT
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LCS-1 did "sea trials" on the Great Lakes last week. Here's a link to a video of her high speed run. I'm told that she will go faster in salt water because the water is more dense and her propulsion system will be more efficient. www.lmlcsteam.com/video/LCSSeaTrialsHighSpeed-small.wmv |
guns are no longer as important as they once were. And the gun on it is plenty capable for it's intended use. Hey dport, can y'alls RHI's keep up with the ship 
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Depends on the RHIB. 
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For the speed, I'm not sure whether it's classified or not. Probably is. Wikipedia says 45 knots on the sidebar to the right. I assume that figure at least is public domain but I think it's a design number, not actual test speed. As noted, ships will go faster in salt water versus fresh by a very noticable margin. It's not a matter of engine efficiency but of density and buoyancy. Salt water is more dense and thus a ship rides higher in the ocean than it will on the Lakes. Since there's less "wetted area" on the hull, there's less drag. |
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According to Wiki, one "Rolling Airframe Missile" rack above the hangar for defense, and the gun can be pulled and replaced with a second missile array depending on the mission. But that's just for defense, the LCS isn't designed to be a destroyer or cruiser. Its way too small, its more like a WW2 corvette or an overgrown PT boat. Should be a decent way to deploy/extract SF operators and their toys in a big hurry when "over the horizon" assets like Ospreys and helicopters aren't an option. |
From what I gather from globalsecurity.com, modules can be placed above the hanger in front of the RAM, including modules with VLS tubes for anti-ship missiles, etc. |
Pretty much. Remember the missiles are not conventional Navy missiles with a conventional Navy VLS. It will use NLOS-LS, aka Netfires. |