GC-built LCS Survives Shock Test

The Gulf Coast-built Littoral Combat Ship USS Jackson (LCS 6) has undergone the Navy’s first Full Scale Shock Trials (FSST) since 2008, and withstood the 10,000-pound explosion June 10 better than expected, sources said, although evaluations will continue. The FSST took place of Florida’s Atlantic coast. About 260 instruments were placed throughout LCS 6 to measure various aspects of the blast, which strikes above and below the waterline. After the test, the Jackson returned to the Mayport (Fla.) Naval Station where engineers downloaded data, examined the ship and made necessary repairs, a Navy spokesperson said. The next test is scheduled to be about June 22. A third and final test is planned for July 8. Each test will use the same 10,000-pound explosives charge, but the ship will be moved progressively closer to the explosion. The first test explosion was about 100 yards from the ship. (Source: Defense News 06/17/16) With two different LCS designs in production, there will be two series of shock trials. USS Jackson represents the Independence class and was built at Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., while the USS Milwaukee will test the Freedom variant.