The U.S. Navy Built Two Versions of the Littoral Combat Ship. Both Were a Mess.

The U.S. Navy Built Two Versions of the Littoral Combat Ship. Both Were a Mess.

Key Points and Summary – The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program is presented as a deeply flawed naval experiment. The decision to build two competing designs, the Freedom and Independence classes, resulted in unique, show-stopping problems for each. The Freedom-class was plagued by chronic transmission failures, while the aluminum Independence-class suffered from corrosion and hull cracks. Top of USS Cooperstown Littoral Combat Ship. Taken by Na…