[otheloComRole]

I wouldn't want to serve on her.

Why not?

[feedcomnet]

Why not?

With only a 40 man crew? You're talking 24hrs on/off for duty sections while inport in San Diego/Norfolk wherever.

I've also seen photos of LCS-1(which is a different class but same crew size) performing an UNREP with 28 Goddamn sailors out there pulling the hose across.

If the USN doesn't want sailors doing unspeakable things to detailers to avoid being sent to an LCS, they are going to have to increase the crew size.

[opergolon]

I wouldn't mind serving on it. But I am curious about how rough that ship is in heavy seas.

I imagine the crew size is thought out well ahead of time. I'm sure everything is automated not requiring "watches".

[qCGfQR9T]

I wouldn't mind serving on it. But I am curious about how rough that ship is in heavy seas.

I imagine the crew size is thought out well ahead of time. I'm sure everything is automated not requiring "watches".

Yeah, but in port you still need to man force protection watches, which is what I'm concerned about.

I know you only worked on birdfarms with a zillion people on it, but small boys are different stories.

Asher, in fact the LCS concept is that it operates as a mothership for unmanned vehicles.

[29clepayJainync]

According to Wikipedia:
Because of the risk of fire on the all aluminum ship, smoking is not permitted on board. Not very comforting for a warship, which you would expect to be shot at if it ever tries to perform its primary function...

[cajonnmu]

no smoking

This isn't the only aluminum ship. Cruisers and frigates are aluminum above the main deck. And they allow smoking.

I mean seriously. WTF. Did they just pull this reason out of their ass? Smoking is normally only permissible on the sponson or fantail (depending on the ship). It's not like crews are lighting up inside (though some engineering types did smoke in the engine/fire rooms- shhh don't tell anyone).

[dietpillxanaxaxx]

No, it's so stealthy that the fire would come from enemy guns if anyone lit up on board and gave their position away.

[topbonuscasino]

To get out of harm's way.(I'm serious)

That is actually a very valid point.

It's suppose to be a cheap(ish) way of providing sea control assets for the USN. The idea being that it swaps out "modules" and a "mission crew" for whatever the mission is at hand. If it's suppose to do ASW stuff, it goes into port and loads a ASW module and mission crew. If it's suppose to to anti-surface stuff, it loads that instead.

Really, the driving factor I think is that the USN decided we don't need $2bil Destroyers w/350+crew chasing pirates around. Something like these ? :

http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/fly/
http://www.navalhistory.dk/English/T...%282004%29.htm

I admit they are a bit slower, but it seems that they can hit a bit harder.

[vodaPlaps]

I've been very vagely following this in blogs. Sea is not my natural field.

I was under the impression the LCS is anything but cheap, and also anything but littoral.

[ArrichMer]

The LCS-1 was in Charleston a month ago and I got a good look at her. Basically she is a gold plated POS. I am sure she can do the mission she is supposed to, the problem is that we could do that mission with a ship half the cost that is half as complex and with half the maintenance requirements.

For the crew thing, don't worry that won't last for long. The DDGs were supposed to have a crew of 150 and after all the wishful thinking and denial wore off they were properly crewed at 230. There are simply things that can not be automated. As Lonestar mentioned UNREPs are one, but it gets even more mundane than that. Who is cleaning the damn thing? With a crew of 40 what happens when five crew members get the flu? On top of that, this thing is pretty much on pertetual port and starboard watches, which for you land locked types means 12 on/12 off for months at a time. And if you just happened to have had to perform something like transiting the Suez/SOH/BAM/etc., performed an UNREP, done a sea and anchor detail or pretty much a dozen other evolutions that happen at least once a day you are talking about 24 hour days for most of the crew. Its ridiculous.

As for the concept, the idea is that these ships can operate inshore but still under the defensive weapon and sensor umbrella of DDGs and CGs. Remember that the anti-air umbrella for an Aegis vessel is 200nm+. You wouldn't put these where there is particularly potent air threat anyway. The speed is required for dealing with small boat and corvette type vessels (and yes, they can outmanuever a torpedoe easily at those speeds). Unfortunetly the draft is deeper than required.

I also can't understand the "LCS" name. The thing is a damn corvette/frigate, call it that you idiots. Why every manufacturer/Admiral/politician thinks we need to reinvent the nomenclature system so their idea gets a better marketing angle is beyond me. It has one buyer, and its bought.

[Cydayshosse]

As for the concept, the idea is that these ships can operate inshore but still under the defensive weapon and sensor umbrella of DDGs and CGs. Remember that the anti-air umbrella for an Aegis vessel is 200nm+.

Let's just pretend I made my usual unfunny nanometer joke this time.

[DrunkMans]

The alternative was me actually making the joke.

[Vitoethiche]

CarrotTop *KuciJoke;

:angrypointer:

[indartwm]

Pointers are explicit objects which get passed into a function and reflect an actual implementation detail. Call-by-reference is a language feature that can be implemented in many ways by a compiler.

[Iphone]

By the way, I have no idea what you said in your second post.

[Quick$bux]

It is like, but distinct.

There are languages that include both call-by-reference and explicit pointers, notably C++. The distinction is fairly important in that case (and the source of many bugs).

[Hrennilasi]

[Extipletape]

I don't know VBA, but I expect not very long, as it's designed for idiots.

Java would take you a few hours if you know C++ or understand the general idea of object-oriented programming.

[JorgiOLusinio]

How will its group operate? I imagine it has to have several smaller ships (some amphibs too) for engaging small and fast hostile vehicles and boarding them.

It has what, 1 helicopter? am I correct?

LCS-1 can operate one Helo at a time, LCS-2 can operate one helo or two firescouts at a time. Both classes, IIRC, also have boarding ramps for unmanned surface and subsurface vehicles, and have to capacity to be bases for two H-60 types of helicopters...just like Flight II DDGs and CGs.

Since the vessels can go at 40kts, they should be able to overtake most smaller vessels(Pirates aren't exactly operating Miami Vice cigarette boats) and if not, well, you still have a helo on hand for that.

[TouccuraLar]

How long will it take me to learn VBA (specifically for Excel)? I've seen a lot of places request that and Java (in addition to C++). But I'm not ****ing learning Java.

It's taking me an infinite amount of time to learn VBA because I refuse to do it.

As for Java, that's huge in the finserv world. Worth learning.