scorecardStep aboard the USS Coronado, part of the troubled LCS class that the US Navy recently admitted was a massive failure
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  4. Step aboard the USS Coronado, part of the troubled LCS class that the US Navy recently admitted was a massive failure

Step aboard the USS Coronado, part of the troubled LCS class that the US Navy recently admitted was a massive failure

There are two variants of LCS — Independence and Freedom — and the Coronado is an Independence-class ship.

Step aboard the USS Coronado, part of the troubled LCS class that the US Navy recently admitted was a massive failure

Independence variants are 421.5 feet long.

Independence variants are 421.5 feet long.

Source: US Navy

126.3 feet high.

126.3 feet high.

Source: US Navy

And have a beam of 103.7 feet.

And have a beam of 103.7 feet.

Source: US Navy

The Independence variants have trimarian hulls, which means there's a main hull and two smaller hulls on the sides, which you can see below.

The Independence variants have trimarian hulls, which means there

But the hulls are also aluminum hulls and rather thin, and the hull of the USS Montgomery, seen below, even cracked in 2016.

But the hulls are also aluminum hulls and rather thin, and the hull of the USS Montgomery, seen below, even cracked in 2016.

The Independence variant's trimarian design also means that the ships have to enter drydock for repairs, which will slow their availability.

Here's a shot of the Coronado's helicopter flight deck.

Here

And another from the deck itself.

And another from the deck itself.

Here's a shot from the deck looking into the hangar bay.

Here

And a shot from the hangar bay onto the flight deck.

And a shot from the hangar bay onto the flight deck.

And another from the helicopter control tower.

And another from the helicopter control tower.

LCS are configured to carry MH-60R/S Sea Hawk helicopters and tactical UAVs.

LCS are configured to carry MH-60R/S Sea Hawk helicopters and tactical UAVs.

But they lack major armaments.

But they lack major armaments.

They have a Harpoon anti-ship missile system on the bow.

They have a Harpoon anti-ship missile system on the bow.

A Mark 110 57mm gun.

A Mark 110 57mm gun.

50-calibre machine guns on the port and starboard walkways and on the stern underneath the flight deck.

50-calibre machine guns on the port and starboard walkways and on the stern underneath the flight deck.

And a SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense system, which is on the roof of the hangar.

And a SeaRAM anti-ship missile defense system, which is on the roof of the hangar.

It also has an ALEX Decoy System — but that's it.

It also has an ALEX Decoy System — but that

Here's a shot of the bridge.

Here

And another from a different angle.

And another from a different angle.

This is the firing authorization panel in the bridge.

This is the firing authorization panel in the bridge.

The LCS runs on a water jet propulsion with combined diesel and gas turbine engines.

The LCS runs on a water jet propulsion with combined diesel and gas turbine engines.

In August 2016, one of the Coronado's flexible shafts failed, forcing it to return to San Diego from Hawaii.

But that's not the only kind of engine casualty LCS vessels have had, which you can read more about here.

Source: US Navy

LCS have cost the US billions and billions of dollars over the last 16 years, but have largely been a failure. At least their crews seem to have had fun at times though.

LCS have cost the US billions and billions of dollars over the last 16 years, but have largely been a failure. At least their crews seem to have had fun at times though.
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