He’s talking about for counter drone work.Not a bad idea but the negative is you would have to let the "bad guys" get pretty close to your before you engage. Something doesn't go quite right and you will get hit because there won't time to do anything else.
Range difference isn’t that great. See my above links.The trade-off being that that 76mm would have more range and likely a higher probability per kill per individual projectile. But the same general rule probably applies if you go to an even bigger gun like 127mm. But of course the larger the gun system the more weight and volume required.
And I guess there is the question if a gun-based CIWS in a smaller caliber is still desirable as a last line of defense.
Ballistically that was a high performer and had a lot of the basic right. But it was seen as something of a dead-end in the missile age and it was a maintenance nightmare, so they just gave up on it rather than trying to fix it. OTO Melera stuck with 76mm starting with the 1950s variants all the way up to today's models and I imagine they are pretty much as good as a modern version of the 3"/70 would be.
I do think it would be worthwhile to dust off the work done on the 60mm ETC type gun the US Navy toyed with back in the 1990s for a bit. It might not be suitable for adding to existing classes of warships but the future DDG(X) and whatever else could be made with provisions for it.
As for the FFG-62, the whole thing just makes me shake my head. I don't know who is trying to shift blame to who at the moment, but I can't help but feel the Navy is far more responsible for the ridiculously long schedule and likely cost increases than FMM is.
While I was partially joking , there is something to be said for a gun mount that can produce a wartime rate of fire of 240 rounds per minute.Why?
Do you have a source for that 240 RPM, because navweaps says 90-100 RPM…While I was partially joking , there is something to be said for a gun mount that can produce a wartime rate of fire of 240 rounds per minute.
I knew a guy who been a Gunnery artificer aboard Canadian Frigates in the early 70s.there was a wartime setting and a peacetime rate of fire.
I suspect that the 3"/70 mount would be more then handy to have in the Red Sea.
Also on another website there was a posting by Peter Parkinson who served aboard one of the Tigers in the early to mid 60's.
I'd hate to be on the receiving end of all that VT fused HE from one or more of those mounts .
The claim was per mount, not per barrel, and there are two barrels per mounting, on top of which the UK version demonstrated 120rpm during development.Do you have a source for that 240 RPM, because navweaps says 90-100 RPM…
So per barrel is 180-200 RPM not 240 like you claimed.The claim was per mount, not per barrel, and there are two barrels per mounting, on top of which the UK version demonstrated 120rpm during development.
It would really help if you checked who posted what, and did some easy googling. If you check the Navweaps entry on the RN/RCN 3"/70, you'd see that 1) the 3"/70 demonstrated 120 rpm/barrel and 2) it was used in peacetime with frangible pins (aluminium vs steel) in the feedtrain, which were to be replaced in wartime. So peacetime RPM figures don't necessarily applySo per barrel is 180-200 RPM not 240 like you claimed.
During development? So not during actual service, drills/exercises in the real world?
Any newspaper headline that ends in a question mark can safely be answered with "NO".![]()
Can Unmanned MUSVs and NOMARS Replace the Troubled FFG-62 Frigate Program? - Naval News
With a price tag approaching $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion dollars each for the USS Constellation (FFG-62) frigate, Naval News asked RAND and CSIS if the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) and the DARPA No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) can replace the troubled FFG-62 frigate program.www.navalnews.com
![]()
Can Unmanned MUSVs and NOMARS Replace the Troubled FFG-62 Frigate Program? - Naval News
With a price tag approaching $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion dollars each for the USS Constellation (FFG-62) frigate, Naval News asked RAND and CSIS if the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) and the DARPA No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) can replace the troubled FFG-62 frigate program.www.navalnews.com
![]()
Can Unmanned MUSVs and NOMARS Replace the Troubled FFG-62 Frigate Program? - Naval News
With a price tag approaching $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion dollars each for the USS Constellation (FFG-62) frigate, Naval News asked RAND and CSIS if the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) and the DARPA No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) can replace the troubled FFG-62 frigate program.www.navalnews.com
Well sensors can be part of the payload, but clearthey would be drastically inferior. It’s a click bait piece, not a real proposition.
It probably is a real proposition in a devil advact type of way.Let's hope it's not a real proposition.
Hey, man, that's seriously insulting.Congress, no matter who in charge, are window licking idiots at the best of time they need examples with pretty pictures they get dumber...
It probably is a real proposition in a devil advact type of way.
Basically thing to point at and show why the fuck its a bad idea.
Congress, no matter who in charge, are window licking idiots at the best of time they need examples with pretty pictures they get dumber...
FFX honked up, Columbia Class now behind schedule, and friggin rust bucket looking ships now. In regards to the rusty ships, I think new and improved haze gray paint comes from California, is tofu and lemon grass based with just a touch of dip shit avocado oil for the catalyst. But in CA, catalyst means exactly what they assume, a list of cats. When I was in the USN (1980s), CVN-65 and our other ships were maintained always.
Agree with these points!Tbh, I think Columbia is far more egregious due to its strategic importance. While for the Connie I personally just accepted that it'll be a shitty journey to the first ship and hope (for the US and for the sake of cool ships) that they'll introduce improvements and streamline the process with the subsequent vessels.
It's not like Constellation entering service a year or two sooner or later actually changes the overarching issues with US shipbuilding and the strategic shift it was meant to address.
It's the moment where I'd say "I hope they'll learn from their mistakes for the next program", but being the pessimistic bitch that I am, I know full well that the next program (DDGX?) will probably be just another cluster fuck. Something in US shipbuilding, the Navy and DoD has gone fundamentally wrong. It cannot be that after the cold war ended everyone suddenly forgot how to be competent, I refuse to accept that.
We used to know how to do this. I agree, the Columbia class is very important and all are important. I don't like being pessimistic either but we have to get our act together soon.Tbh, I think Columbia is far more egregious due to its strategic importance. While for the Connie I personally just accepted that it'll be a shitty journey to the first ship and hope (for the US and for the sake of cool ships) that they'll introduce improvements and streamline the process with the subsequent vessels.
It's not like Constellation entering service a year or two sooner or later actually changes the overarching issues with US shipbuilding and the strategic shift it was meant to address.
It's the moment where I'd say "I hope they'll learn from their mistakes for the next program", but being the pessimistic bitch that I am, I know full well that the next program (DDGX?) will probably be just another cluster fuck. Something in US shipbuilding, the Navy and DoD has gone fundamentally wrong. It cannot be that after the cold war ended everyone suddenly forgot how to be competent, I refuse to accept that.
What do you think NAVSEA did wrong with the Constellation program?It's the moment where I'd say "I hope they'll learn from their mistakes for the next program", but being the pessimistic bitch that I am, I know full well that the next program (DDGX?) will probably be just another cluster fuck.
It is quite literally that. Look at how many Cold War yards closed during the 1980s. Todd LA, Todd Seattle, Fall River, Avondale, all the Bethlehem Steel yards, etc. The few that did survive laid off career employees, and saw mass retirements in the past 40 yearly. We are quite literally trying to rebuild an industry from scratch.Something in US shipbuilding, the Navy and DoD has gone fundamentally wrong. It cannot be that after the cold war ended everyone suddenly forgot how to be competent, I refuse to accept that.
It doesn’t change much on the admin side, but it’s quite likely that it reduces destroyer OPTEMPO giving their machinery and crews much needed breaks, and lowering maintenance requirements for destroyers.Tbh, I think Columbia is far more egregious due to its strategic importance. While for the Connie I personally just accepted that it'll be a shitty journey to the first ship and hope (for the US and for the sake of cool ships) that they'll introduce improvements and streamline the process with the subsequent vessels.
It's not like Constellation entering service a year or two sooner or later actually changes the overarching issues with US shipbuilding and the strategic shift it was meant to address.
It's the moment where I'd say "I hope they'll learn from their mistakes for the next program", but being the pessimistic bitch that I am, I know full well that the next program (DDGX?) will probably be just another cluster fuck. Something in US shipbuilding, the Navy and DoD has gone fundamentally wrong. It cannot be that after the cold war ended everyone suddenly forgot how to be competent, I refuse to accept that.
I’ve said it for a while now, I wouldn’t be surprised if this program got cancelled.June 5 - Testifying before the HASC seapower and projection committee Acting assistant secretary of the Navy for R & D and acquisition Brett Seidle "Pressed on progress updates for the long-delayed lead ship of the new Constellation class of frigates, Seidle had some good news: following a surge of designers to the shipyard in Marinette, Wisc., over the last 12 to 18 months, ship design is now 83 percent complete, with a “functional … stable design” expected by this summer."
Would note after Contract award in April 30, 2020, five years later the design is still only 83% complete. Sub Brief said in his video 8:20 that Congress would fund no money for Constellation if the design not finalized by May?
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgkX7Txgeak&t=1662s
I've got a feeling I saw '83% complete' stated somewhere several months ago. If they're aiming for completion 'this summer' (so no later than the end of September), I'd rather have hoped to see some movement by now.June 5 - Testifying before the HASC seapower and projection committee Acting assistant secretary of the Navy for R & D and acquisition Brett Seidle "Pressed on progress updates for the long-delayed lead ship of the new Constellation class of frigates, Seidle had some good news: following a surge of designers to the shipyard in Marinette, Wisc., over the last 12 to 18 months, ship design is now 83 percent complete, with a “functional … stable design” expected by this summer."
I’ve said it for a while now, I wouldn’t be surprised if this program got cancelled.
The class is not what I think the USN needs, but in general we just need more hulls so cancellation would really not be a good thing.
For direct conflict in the Pacific? Absolutely.The Connies seem infinitely more useful than the LCS tbh
This recent CAVASHIPS podcast spoke very positively of the LCS and that the USN behind closed doors is today very happy with the capability.For direct conflict in the Pacific? Absolutely.
For showing the flag, narco hunting, MCM, and anti-piracy patrols? Absolutely not.
Even in a war with China, LCSs will see significant use, just not in the 1st Island Chain. They'll be picking up the slack in Europe, the Middle East, and hunting the Maritime Militia.
For direct conflict in the Pacific? Absolutely.
For showing the flag, narco hunting, MCM, and anti-piracy patrols? Absolutely not.
Even in a war with China, LCSs will see significant use, just not in the 1st Island Chain. They'll be picking up the slack in Europe, the Middle East, and hunting the Maritime Militia.
That is a serious debate.patrols, stopping drug trafficking, would a genuine Corvette not be the ideal choice for that?
No editor ever liked the taste of a story without peeing in it first.Navy wanted a bespoke, custom-built, commercial-off-the-shelf, design...
It does need that, but that only describes the Connies in the most stretched way.Why wouldn't the USN need a smaller surface combatant that can free up the DDGs for tasks they're genuinely needed for?
The Connies seem infinitely more useful than the LCS tbh
The problem is that an LCS cannot operate more or less by itself in the Red Sea while the Houthis are throwing their temper tantrum. Or if the Iranian Navy or IRGC gets froggy in the Persian Gulf.The Constellation class is not a frigate is a slightly smaller burke. We don’t need a class of ships that costs over a billion dollars per hull. We need ships that are well under a billion dollars per hull.
[...]
What? Where in the world did you get that? I view all potential conflicts as near our own capabilities until proven otherwise whether it’s Iran, China, or Russia. Always have.I think @johnpjones1775 has a particularly underrated view of PLAN capabilities.
But in any case, I think we can all agree that what matters most is hulls in the water as soon as possible.
I never said LCS could. MMSC however could. So could HHI’s patrol frigate.The problem is that an LCS cannot operate more or less by itself in the Red Sea while the Houthis are throwing their temper tantrum. Or if the Iranian Navy or IRGC gets froggy in the Persian Gulf.
An LCS cannot provide AA protection to other ships. Hell, it can barely provide AA protection to itself!
So you need something with 32x+ Mk41 cells plus a radar and FCS able to drive them. Call it 6 cells of VL-ASROCs, probably 6 cells of ESSM for 24x missiles, then the remainder for SM2s and maybe SM6s as the typical load. Shifting to more ESSMs if they're going to be spending more time in a place like the Red Sea.
Bluntly, SPY6 and Aegis is the current "cost of playing the game"
So it gets up to 32x ESSMs (and I'd actually expect ~4 cells of VL-ASROC with 16x ESSMs). Now it can protect itself, but nothing else.I never said LCS could. MMSC however could. So could HHI’s patrol frigate.
Hell if LCS ever gets the VLS upgrades for 8 VLS in its topside mission modules, it will be able to.
Yes, Connies are under-gunned. Under-missiled, rather. The modern threat environment has gone up to the point that an FFG needs 48-64x VLS cells, all packing SAMs, to do the job.Bottom line FIII Burke is $2.5b Connie’s are around $1.5-1.7b and have 1/3 the magazine capacity. If we cannot buy in bulk I’d rather have deeper magazines. For every $3b available to build surface ships we can still buy only 1 (maybe 2 if lucky)Connie, or 1 burke. So in that case I’d rather have more missiles in the fleet.
And then you're giving away ELINT data as to what's in any given group of ships... Which is the primary combat reason the USN wants everything on SPY6.SPY-6 is only the cost of playing the game if you’re too stupid to figure out how to play cheaper. A cheaper option would be AEW fixed wing drone that can provide targeting data to any shooter in a broad area. 1 drone could cover many cheaper ships.