Lawmaker pushes for common Navy, CG hull

[unhappycamper]

Freedom was the Navy's first Littoral Combat Ship.


Lawmaker pushes for common Navy, CG hull
By Zachary M. Peterson - Staff writer
Posted : Thursday Dec 13, 2007 18:53:13 EST

The answer to delays and cost overruns in the Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship program could be solved by the Coast Guard, a key lawmaker told the maritime service chiefs during a hearing Thursday.

Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Miss., told Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen that the two services should look to pursue a “common hull” for both LCS and the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter program.

“We can’t afford to keep repeating mistakes,” Taylor said of acquisition and developmental problems both services have had with key shipbuilding initiatives.

Allen said he plans to meet with Roughead in January to discuss myriad issues, and a common hull could be on the agenda. However, both service chiefs noted their ships use different concepts of operations and that developing a single hull could present requirement challenges. The Navy has already canceled two LCS sea frames this year due to cost. The first 418-foot long national security cutter, the Bertholf, just completed its first set of builder’s trials and the second ship is scheduled to launch early next year. Eight ships are planned.

The questioning came as lawmakers with the House Armed Services Committee pressed the two admirals — along with Marine Commandant Gen. James Conway — on why the new maritime strategy does not include a direct force structure outline and a focus on China.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2007/12/navy_maritimestrategy_071213w/



uhc comment: Previous threads on this POS -->

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=6159
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=6429
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=6796

[Eagle_Eye]

1. "We can’t afford to keep repeating mistakes,” Taylor said

I say 'We've been there and done that'.

Once upon a time there was a Secretary of Defense named Robert McNamara who directed the Air Force and the Navy to have a common air platform called the TFX. It was designed by a committee, built by the low bid contractor, and has proven itself to be a worthless POS.

How much money would we like to waste this time?