This coming Saturday the U.S. Navy will be commissioning its first Littoral Combat Ship, USS Freedom (LCS-1), in a ceremony at Veterans Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Freedom is the first of ‘a new family of ships for the US Navy’.  The U.S. Department of Defense tells us in a press release:

A fast, agile, and high-technology surface combatant, Freedom will be a platform for launch and recovery of manned and unmanned vehicles. Its modular design will support interchangeable mission packages, allowing the ship to be reconfigured for antisubmarine warfare, mine warfare, or surface warfare missions on an as-needed basis. The LCS will be able to swap out mission packages pierside in a matter of days, adapting as the tactical situation demands. These ships will also feature advanced networking capability to share tactical information with other Navy aircraft, ships, submarines and joint units.

Freedom is an innovative combatant designed to operate quickly in shallow water environments to counter challenging threats in coastal regions, specifically mines, submarines and fast surface craft. The LCS is capable of speeds in excess of 40 knots and can operate in water less than 20 feet deep.

Freedom will be manned by one of two rotational crews, Blue and Gold, similar to the rotational crews assigned to Trident submarines. The crews will be augmented by one of three mission package crews during focused mission assignments. The Blue Crew commanding officer is Cmdr. Donald Gabrielson, a native of Hibbing, Minn. The Gold Crew commanding officer is Cmdr. Michael Doran, a native of Harrisonville, Mo.   Freedom will be homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif., as part of the Pacific Fleet.

Freedom, designed by Lockhead Martin, is one of two LCS ships being produced.  The other, USS Independence (LCS 2), was designed by by General Dynamics in competition with with the USS Freedom.  That ship is a trimaran design that is capable of over 40 knots.  Independence is said to be commissioned sometime in early 2009.

Now let’s take a look at some video…

Freedom (LCS 1) Sea Trials

Click here to view the embedded video.

Freedom (LCS 1) High Speed Trials

Click here to view the embedded video.

Additional Information:

A Mobile Offshore Base (MOB), in theory, is a number of independently propelled semisubmersible modules that can be easily deployed to areas in need of military assistance. It’s primary functions would be providing a landing platform for fixed and rotary wing aircraft and stowage and transport of military cargo and personnel.  The size of the base would be virtually unlimited since each module is completely self-sustaining with personnel housing, equipment maintenance functions, cargo space, and logistical support.  An full MOB platform could range from a single module to a number of them.  GlobalSecurity.org tells us about the assembly:

Each module consists of a box-type deck supported by multiple columns on two parallel pontoons. When transiting between operational sites, the module is deballasted and travels with the pontoons on the surface much like a catamaran. When on site, the module is ballasted down so that the pontoons are submerged below the surface wave zone, thereby minimizing the wave-induced dynamic motions. The decks, which store rolling stock and dry cargo, are all located above the wave crests. The columns provide structural support and hydrostatic stability against overturning.

Well, seems like a good idea, but is it a realistic and cost effective solution?

To answer these tough questions, a program was set up in 2000 by the Office of Naval Research that would test the technological feasibility and estimate the cost of such large structures.

The program was able to determine that existing shipyards in the U.S. did have the capabilities to produce MOB’s up to 2 kilometer’s long and cost of such bases would be about $1.5B for a single module, with the entire 2k platform ranging from $5B to $8B.

In 2001, it was finally concluded that while it was technically possible to develop 2 Kilometer long MOB’s, it was not a cost effective solution.  Alternatives such as nuclear-powered aircraft carriers were favored.

Looking into the future, given cost-reducing technological advancements, we’ll just have to see if the concept of a Mobile Offshore Base will ever be put into production.

Read the full article from Global Security HERE

Maritime Reporter has a featured article in their upcoming edition titled “Blogging New Technology” that describes how the US Navy is harnessing the power of ‘Web 2.0′ to improve communication throughout the fleet. They write:

So why does the CIO blog?  “In short, our Nation’s security depends on it,” Carey said.  By embracing and recruiting this generation, the CIO sees it as a way for them to chart new and innovative paths. Carey, who blogs a few times a month, stated the intention of his blog early on:  “to open up a straightforward and public dialogue with DON personnel, and specifically the brave Sailors and Marines who are out on the front lines protecting this country, so that I can fully understand what their IT needs are.”

Beyond the CIO’s blog, the IT Resource is multi-faceted with its presentation of information, further justifying the Navy’s embrace of Web 2.0 technology.  Described as an ongoing conversation about initiatives in the Navy, personnel issues and current events, the CIO’s website also offers several Podcasts.  As with his blog, Carey views Podcasts as another important communication tool for the Navy.  “What I hope to accomplish by the use of podcasts is to get information out to those who need it anywhere and anytime. It is a wonderful technology that allows us to deliver messages to Internet users that affect them in the Department of the Navy,” Carey said in his July 27 Podcast.  The Navy’s official website also features a variety of podcasts, videos (vidcasts) and RSS feeds, which can be accessed here.

While gCaptain isn’t mentioned, our friends at Sea Fever, CRD Salamander and the Unofficial Coast Guard Blog are. The looming question is that while blogs are being embraced at the organizational and command level (some, like Adm Thad Allen, even have Facebook profiles!) what challenges are being faced by rank and file members of these organizations?  As these questions are being answered for uniformed personel civilians bloggers in working in similar fields might have an even more difficult time online.  This past march the USCG fired a contractor who had been critical of many of the policies and actions taken by the Coast Guard including the investigation into an incident in which his son died. Merchant Mariners are suffering a similar fate. Just last week fellow maritime blogger Dan Gerous was given the choice of continuing his blog or packing his sea bags. You can read his story HERE.

What are your thoughts on blogging at sea?

Popular Science brings us Future Navy Ships – Littoral Combat Ship. They write:

This is a small, fast ship (capable of 45 knots) for sub-hunting, mine-clearing, and fighting small boats near coastlines—the littoral region. Each LCS would be equipped with one of three distinct mission modules: a set of plug-and-play ship sensors, missiles, small boats, unmanned underwater vehicles and specially equipped helicopters, for mine warfare, anti-submarine warfare or surface combat. The base configuration would include antimissile batteries and a medium-caliber gun. The ships could clear mines and chase subs away from an area before the rest of the fleet arrived.

Also included in the article are three other ships designed for future combat. You can view the full article with photos HERE.