Hardly any other US Navy concept has made as many negative headlines in recent decades as the Littoral Combat Ships (LCS). With the foreseeable end of the procurement programme, now is the time to come to terms with the disaster.
The transverse launch of the USS Cleveland on 15 April 2023, during which the ship rammed a tugboat and was slightly damaged, is emblematic of the state of the US Navy's LCS programme. What was supposed to be a cutting-edge concept to prepare the Navy for challenges in coastal waters turned into a maritime nightmare shortly after the first ships entered service.
While 55 LCSs with an active service life of 25 years were originally planned, the navy quickly reduced the procurement programme to 52 and later to 32 units due to ever new problems. In the meantime, individual LCSs have been decommissioned after just a few years, with the USS Sioux City only spending five years in active fleet service. According to the latest plans, the Navy is now to
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