Posted on Sep 1, 2016
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Less than 2 days after the US Navy revealed a third mechanical breakdown, in a year, of one of its $360 million littoral combat ships, the service has announced a fourth. The USS Coronado was on its way back to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, after suffering an "engineering casualty," a Navy statement said. It is expected to reveal more about what happened after an inspection. Is this "Disaster by Design?"
Posted in these groups: 54331860 CG-ENG12: Naval Engineering
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The V-22 Osprey, UH-60 Blackhawk, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, M16 rifle...do you know what these things all have in common? These are all examples of early, repeated failures of new systems that evolved into major combat systems that are employed by the US military today. These systems started off with major cost over runs and are blamed for serious loss of life through catastrophic failures during testing or early fielding due to accidents or unreliability. These faults were eventually fixed and have become staples of American military power.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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Right on. Exactly what I said above and in a similar comment about the F-35
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COL Lee Flemming
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Edited 8 y ago
SCPO (Join to see) I know you are probably looking for an educated answer, but just wanted to say that this issue no longer seems to be isolated and quite frankly is dangerous. Recall!!!
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I'd hate to be on the staff of the COMLCSRON ONE right about now!!!
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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Not going to repeat my comment from a similar post concerning the F-35, so lets just say this is all the same issue. You don't create cutting edge technological weapons systems without problems, period. Dare anyone to come up with any major weapon system that has not had problems and modifications during its first ten years or so of operations.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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LCDR (Join to see) - Had totally forgotten V-22, talk about an aircraft that had issues, but as you said, a mainstay today.
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LCDR Vice President
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To answer your final question, The wheel
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LCDR Vice President
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Could you imagine being the first guy to fire a ballista? I bet he did not live a long life.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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LCDR (Join to see) - Wonder if the guy who cranked it back also fired it or if they had a crew? Either way, glad it wasn't me. Also bet the first wheel had issues
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In the last several months, the fourth of six Navy Littoral Combat ships has suffered mission-ending power plant issues. Are more possible?
SCPO Frank Carson
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Nothing works perfectly, that's why we gave Senior Chiefs!
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Right Arm!!!
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LCDR Vice President
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SCPO Frank Carson
SCPO Frank Carson
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Gave should be Have
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LCDR Vice President
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Good point Chiefs are what keep the Navy Afloat
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SGT Jerrold Pesz
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It would appear that these ships are simply very expensive junk. It is bad enough that there has long been questions about their ability to survive in a combat situation but now it seems that they can't stay operational long enough to get to a combat zone.
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SN Greg Wright
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They need to scrap this program entirely, and focus on updating the Ohio's. These LCS's can do a little of everything, and nothing well. Never mind their engineering problems.
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I do think they have a future, but this "engineering casualty" thing is just incomprehensible how widespread it is. The CNO is NOT a happy camper right now.
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LCDR (Join to see) - Freedom Class, yes. Now, the brand new ZUMWALT has suffered an "engineering casualty," too!!!
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Yes, the Zumwalt has been plagued since day one. That is why we are buying so many more Burkes. It is so hard in the modern procurement system to get a weapon system delivered on time with any type of quality. Same issue with the Ford, F-35, etc....
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1px xxx
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Yup, the JSF is grounded for cooling system insulation flaws. But major seawater leaks are really scary. I had my number 6 pumproom flooded solid once due to operator error, and a gun mag flooding on another ship due to a yardbird cutting the wire on a tagged out valve. I am glad I'm not dealing with these crappy jobs right now...
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LCDR (Join to see) - The Coronado is also Indy class, and she broke down too...
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The Navy just ordered a stand-down of ALL LCS class ships, because they are so unreliable...
I think the decision to have two designs was particularly bad, because that means twice the development costs and much more than that on repairs and parts, along with more vulnerability.

I really hope they don't build any more of the stealth version, and concentrate on fixing up the conventional hulled ships...
SFC George Smith
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I thought it was 4 AFU's... the contractors need to be held responsible and made to Fix the problems out of their Pockets... and If they refuse ... Freeze and Seize all their assets ...
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1px xxx
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The contractors NEVER carry the load for design and engineering flaws - the Military ALWAYS does...
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LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow - Commander Rabbah...I'm sure you didn't mean to misspeak. I know you meant to say the U.S. TAXPAYER always does!!!
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1px xxx
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SCPO (Join to see) - Senior- in the end you are correct that the taxpayer ALWAYS takes up you know where....
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