Monday, July 22, 2013

Another 'Problem' Hits The U.S. Navy's Littoral Program

Freedom gets underway from Changi Naval Base, Singapore, on July 19. The ship suffered a temporary propulsion loss the next day while at sea and returned to port for repairs. (MC1 Jay C. Pugh / Navy)

U.S. Warship Returns To Singapore After Generator Problems At Sea -- Reuters

(Reuters) - The USS Freedom, one of the U.S. Navy's new coastal warships, returned to port in Singapore on July 20 after suffering electrical problems at sea as it was preparing for a bilateral naval exercise with Singapore, a Navy spokesman said.

The ship, built by Lockheed Martin Corp, may be able to return to sea for the at-sea portion of the exercise if repairs are done quickly, said Lieutenant Commander Clay Doss.

It is the latest in a series of problems faced by the new warship on its first major overseas deployment. Freedom left San Diego on March 1 and arrived on April 18 in Singapore, where it is due to participate in a Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise with the Singaporean Navy this week.

The latest incident occurred just days before a July 25 hearing by the House Armed Services Committee about the Navy's new class of Littoral Combat Ships, including Freedom, a steel monohull design, and a second model built by Austal, based on an aluminum trimaran design.

Read more ....

Update #1: LCS Freedom suffers propulsion loss at sea -- Navy Times
Update #2: Troubled LCS program takes another hit during Singapore exercise -- Stars and Stripes

My Comment:  Considering how expensive it is to build these ships .... they better solve "these hits" quickly.

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