The LCS life

[unhappycamper]

The LCS life
By Philip Ewing - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Nov 15, 2008 13:58:40 EST

ABOARD THE LITTORAL COMBAT SHIP FREEDOM — This ship’s skipper, Cmdr. Don Gabrielson, has heard from all the skeptics and critics.

The littoral combat ship can’t work, they say. It’s a surface warship with few built-in capabilities. It’s a 3,000-ton vessel shared by two crews of just 40 sailors each. It’s a 377-foot ship built to cruise at 40 knots.

“People who say ‘they can’t do it’ need to come here and a take a look at this crew,” Gabrielson said. “Because they’re doing it right now. We have completely rewritten how surface ships are operated.”

Everything about the Freedom is a major departure for the surface Navy, from the novel combined diesel-and-gas power plant below decks to the thin, light aluminum superstructure. And everything about the way its “hybrid” crew members work, live and manage their careers is a galaxy away from standard operating procedure in the surface force.

The most-junior sailors are two second class petty officers; everyone has had at least one previous sea tour; everyone has at least one warfare qualification; and each sailor has duties he could never attempt on a frigate, destroyer or cruiser.


Rest of article about this $600,000,000 wonder: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/11/navy_lcsculture_111508/%2e