LCS struggles to fend swarm boats

Littoral Combat Ships have struggled in at-sea drills to fend against swarms by smaller attacking vessels, expending large quantities of ammunition, and firing disruptions, according to a report to Congress from the Defense Department’s chief weapons tester. Those swarm-boats were eventually beaten back by USS Coronado (LCS 4) in three mock combat scenarios last summer to test guns and targeting equipment. In two exercises, attackers penetrated Coronado’s “keep out” zone, Michael Gilmore’s annual report concluded. The report adds to vulnerability and reliability questions about LCS. LCS is built in two variants at Austal USA of Mobile, Ala., and Marienette (Wis.) Marine. Core mission functions of Freedom LCS, and mission package operations are “unreliable,” Gilmore wrote. Data collection of the Independence-class built at Austal USA is incomplete, but many of its systems “have significant reliability problems,” Gilmore wrote. (Bloomberg News 01/29/16)