Navy's Newest Ship - "Pirate Fighter"
Discussion
Needing only 15 feet of draft while being 417 feet long and capable of 50 knots, this could be a pirate fighter. This made it onto an "Ugliest Ships" webpage. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Independence_(LCS...
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=h...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Independence_(LCS...
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=h...
It's main gun system is a piece of work:
http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/l_and_a...
IIRC, programmable fuses. Proximity, delayed det or contact. Saw a show on Discovery on the gun. Nasty.
I would say if they used this off the African coast, picking up pirate survivors wouldn't be an issue.
http://www.baesystems.com/ProductsServices/l_and_a...
IIRC, programmable fuses. Proximity, delayed det or contact. Saw a show on Discovery on the gun. Nasty.
I would say if they used this off the African coast, picking up pirate survivors wouldn't be an issue.
baesystems sales blurb said:
"Littoral Combat"
Anyone else imagining some very funny mispronunciations in very serious Naval arms procurement meetings?"So what scenarios do you envisage this weapon to be deployed in Admiral?"
"Well, largely clittor...LITTORAL combat er... settings [cough]"
Famous Graham said:
Ah...the Stealth Ship.
Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
The Sea Shadow- entered service in 1985.Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
Currently the US Navy are trying to give it away, but they've had no offers as they inist that the recipient also take the Hughes Mining Barge (which is a large dry dock ship used as a "garage" to hide it from satellites.)
In the Times yesterday, the Navy said they could no longer afford to keep a Frigete in the Caribbean.
For hurricane/druggie duty they will be sending a refueling/task ship which is a much better use of resources. A unit of Marines, a couple of fast RIBs, medical facilities and a few choppers, thats all they need.
As for pirates, just machine-gun the beggers.
I used to have to stand pirate-watch each night, fore or aft, with a M16 and a flaregun around the Malacca Straits; nothings new there in 25 years.
For hurricane/druggie duty they will be sending a refueling/task ship which is a much better use of resources. A unit of Marines, a couple of fast RIBs, medical facilities and a few choppers, thats all they need.
As for pirates, just machine-gun the beggers.
I used to have to stand pirate-watch each night, fore or aft, with a M16 and a flaregun around the Malacca Straits; nothings new there in 25 years.
captainzep said:
baesystems sales blurb said:
"Littoral Combat"
Anyone else imagining some very funny mispronunciations in very serious Naval arms procurement meetings?"So what scenarios do you envisage this weapon to be deployed in Admiral?"
"Well, largely clittor...LITTORAL combat er... settings [cough]"
Previoulsy the largest Trimaran was British, the RV Triton
The original LCS class are even shallower draft but not quite as quick http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Freedom_%28LCS-1%...
Edited by RizzoTheRat on Sunday 24th January 11:17
Twincharged said:
Famous Graham said:
Ah...the Stealth Ship.
Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
The Sea Shadow- entered service in 1985.Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
Currently the US Navy are trying to give it away, but they've had no offers as they inist that the recipient also take the Hughes Mining Barge (which is a large dry dock ship used as a "garage" to hide it from satellites.)
Twincharged said:
Famous Graham said:
Ah...the Stealth Ship.
Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
The Sea Shadow- entered service in 1985.Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
Currently the US Navy are trying to give it away, but they've had no offers as they inist that the recipient also take the Hughes Mining Barge (which is a large dry dock ship used as a "garage" to hide it from satellites.)
Hmmmmm, PH Group buy, then add Somalia to the PH tours list (RPGs and AKs included)?
Famous Graham said:
Ah...the Stealth Ship.
Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
My "point"? I just think it is rather interesting in a "cool new toy" sort of way. What is the point on PH when someone posts another "what car for 2k" thread for that matter. Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
To answer you question, the point is a design that allows a ship that large to travel in very shallow water is interesting and new IMO. "Stealth" was never mentioned. Although pirate fighting was not in mind during design, it could do that job.Edited by Jimbeaux on Sunday 24th January 14:53
FourWheelDrift said:
Twincharged said:
Famous Graham said:
Ah...the Stealth Ship.
Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
The Sea Shadow- entered service in 1985.Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
Currently the US Navy are trying to give it away, but they've had no offers as they inist that the recipient also take the Hughes Mining Barge (which is a large dry dock ship used as a "garage" to hide it from satellites.)
Jimbeaux said:
FourWheelDrift said:
Twincharged said:
Famous Graham said:
Ah...the Stealth Ship.
Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
The Sea Shadow- entered service in 1985.Only a few years behind the Stealth Fighter. And the Stealth Bomber.
What was your point again?
Currently the US Navy are trying to give it away, but they've had no offers as they inist that the recipient also take the Hughes Mining Barge (which is a large dry dock ship used as a "garage" to hide it from satellites.)
It is not hardware that is lacking in pirate-fighting, it is political will. There be plenty of shallow draft vessels available, there be hovercraft and rigid raiders. There be midget subs and zodiacs launched from larger subs. All that be needed to shiver the pirate's timbers be the word from the poiliticos.
Ayahuasca said:
It is not hardware that is lacking in pirate-fighting, it is political will. There be plenty of shallow draft vessels available, there be hovercraft and rigid raiders. There be midget subs and zodiacs launched from larger subs. All that be needed to shiver the pirate's timbers be the word from the poiliticos.
completely taken the wind from my sails with this commentjust exactly what I wanted to say
still
there USED TO BE A NAVY...
standing by whilst pirates attacked that yacht, disgusting.
Simpo Two said:
It's quite amazing how we fanny about impotently when they could be squashed like insects. Hitler would have fixed it in a few days with 1940s technology - it could easily be done even with WW1 technology...
Would not our ancestors be baffled at why we have not yet dealt with this?Jimbeaux said:
Simpo Two said:
It's quite amazing how we fanny about impotently when they could be squashed like insects. Hitler would have fixed it in a few days with 1940s technology - it could easily be done even with WW1 technology...
Would not our ancestors be baffled at why we have not yet dealt with this?I would bet a small sum of money that there is a SBS/SAS team ready and waiting with a plan that has been rehearsed time and again and is just awaiting the 'go' signal.
It is a balancing act for Winky
Do nothing and see the hostages killed = election nightmare
Do nothing and hostages not killed = OK for now so bide time
Act and hostages killed = well, we tried...risky electorally, so don't do it yet
Act and hostages rescued = Smiles and medals all round and Winky gets re-elected!
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