We’ve been hearing rumblings about the U.S. Navy’s triple-hulled ships, but here’s one that was launched last month, the U.S.S Independence. Built by General Dynamics, it’s called a “littoral combat ship” (LCS), and the trimaran can move huge weapons around faster than any ship in the Navy. Ironic that with all that high tech built in, the ship reminds us of the Merrimac ironclad from Civil War days. Littoral means close to shore, and that’s where these fleet-hulled babies will operate, tailor-made for launching helicopters and armored vehicles, sweeping mines and firing all manner of torpedoes, missiles and machine guns. These ships were designed to be relatively inexpensive — this one’s a bargain at $208 million — and the navy plans to build 55 of them. This trimaran is the first of the new fire-breathing breed, ready to scoot out of dry dock at a rumored 60 knots. It's like a speedy and heavily-armed aircraft carrier for helicopters. http://dvice.com/archives/2008/05/navy_launches_u.php
that is bad ***. It's stuff like that produced by great companies like GD with insane budgets allowed by our government that keeps us at the forefront of military technology in the world. Stuff like that gets me excited in the pants.
FYI: It does indeed look like an old-timer, but does anybody have any guesses of the functionality of this particular shape? HINT: No Perpendicular angles
Not a bad guess, and to some extent that actually is true. Of course with modern warfare and Prox-fuzed weapons (That is proximity) the initial contact of a warhead actually detonates the weapon. Of course "Some" of the energy will be deflected--Second hint btw
Well not quite, but I always loved the word "Rhombus" But by definition a Rhombus is a 4 sided polygon with equal sides. A sideways square if you will
Low radar signature. Which would be pretty useful if its being used close to shore in water where its bigger brothers cant hang out. Plus if it had a large sig you could hit it with shore based missiles.
Lol it looked awkward so I just took a shot at the shape. Too bad I didn't get the functionality of it correct. Lol.
Very true in everything you said brother My company was in direct competitive bid on this and other ships a few years back. The thought is an entire fleet of ships with little or no signature. Not only close to land, but even out to sea it is a HUGE plus. Heat signatures are also very much taken into consideration
Not so sure it is that stealthy... the bridge alone will cause enough of a Electromagnetic field to give you a hit. Of course..after firing it's gun..it would reveal itself as well. Gotta be a problem for sonar..and very primitive inshore radar.
Depends very much on what type of gun you are talking about. One of the weapons of choice is the up and coming TTL Tomahawk missile..which will actually be launched via Torpedo tube. After surfacing a fair distance from the ship, there will be NO evidence. Nothing can be done with the Bridge. It is what it is. I guarentee it is MUCH more stealthy than those of past decades
go check out Janes Fighting Ships from the library, or; http://jfs.janes.com/public/jfs/index.shtml you can get an online subscription
Thanks bro. I will have to check that out after I hopefully finish the book "Maravich" (life of Pistol Pete). For some reason, History really interests me. Some parts are dull but overall, its interesting. By far the most interesting class to take.
Janes is not a history book.. it is the most up to date info on all the worlds Navies. Where are you at Alen.. what part of Florida?
Oh I read the description and I thought it said that it was about all of the machineries invented. I am located in Orlando.
I didn't even think of the heat signatures..... I was just thinking that operating that close to shore with little support being stealthy would have a lot of added value because there could be all kinds of primitive or advanced stuff on land that you wouldn't necessarily know about until they lit it up. Lot easier to hide anti ship stuff on land then in the middle of the sea. I mean heck, if it wasn't moving fast (like while unloading or recovering/launching choppers) you could engage it with cold war era projectile stuff couldn't you? Assuming you could see it on radar. Whoever crews those things are going to need some large you know whats.
And that is pretty sweet about the Tomahawk torpedo launch, I didnt know that. I assume they are giving them to subs as well? That would be huge.... Though I wonder how hard it would be to launch a strike of say 10 that way from a sub?
It does look a little stealthy but it wont be invisible.They will be filled with countermeasure electronics that will give the impression that the ship is somewhere else than it actually is.A missile would have a hard time finding it. Also I imagine the return will be much smaller than a nornal ship so it could look like a gunboat or a smaller ship. Larger warships vessels have become largely ineffective so a shift to a larger quantity of smaller ships is probably a good tactic
I am a moron. I was thinking Tomahawks were launched from the tubes but they are vertically mounted behind the tower aren't they? I wonder how hard it would be to modify those missile tubes for the new tomahawk? Thinking they were launched from the torpedo tubes was making me wonder how feasable it would be to launch and reload in time to fire 10 or so and have them all pop out of the water close enough together to minimize visibility.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7MgeI6HIrg EDIT: For whatever reason, have to hit the link to watch the "Fireworks"