Delete comment from: Elements Of Power
My pick is the LCS2 Class:
1.Longer range
2.Better flight deck
3.Better stability for flight & gun ops
4.Larger Module deck
5.More space for mk41 VL tubes if needed
My options to up-gun it to my min standard:
1.Replace the 50 cals with a stabilized mk51 MAWS that can be upgraded to a M230 is needed.
http://www.dtic.mil/ndia/2010armament/TuesdayLandmarkAStevenCannon.pdf
2. Remove the POS mk44 Bushmaster (way too slow and takes up too much room) and put Millennium Guns on either side of the SeaRAM launcher. These will act in the secondary cannon & CIWS role.
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_35mm-1000_Millennium.htm
3. In place of the mk44, put a popup armored Hellfire launcher (4 or 6 cell). Each Hellfire can be replaced with 4 DAGRs as needed. Laser designators can be put on the mk51 mounts (from #1) or standalone units can be used for guidance.
Armored Hellfires:
http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/SpudmanWP/Misc/attachment-3.jpg
Hellfire & DAGR Combo:
http://i619.photobucket.com/albums/tt271/SpudmanWP/Misc/ORD_DAGR_Mounted_w_Hellfires_Concep-1.jpg
4. In the forward mission bay (ex NETFIRES bay), put Spike NLOS (should hold 2 dozen or so).. Nuff said
http://www.rafael.co.il/marketing/SIP_STORAGE/FILES/6/1026.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXw9SqnXqZQ
This should provide a nice & lethal layered defense and decent offense out to ~25km with very little developmental risk due to mostly mature systems. If you want oomph farther than that, put armored NSM or Harpoon launcher forward of the bridge ala the "International Variant"
May 23, 2012, 12:18:09 AM
Posted to Why Suddenly I Find Myself Writing So Much About the LCS