USN outlines plan to shake up LCS crewing, basing, operational rotas

摘要

The US Navy (USN) is to radically overhaul Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) crewing, readiness and operational employment based on the recommendations of a 60-day review commissioned earlier this year by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson and Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, Sean Stackley. Announcing the results of the review on 8 September, the navy said it would "implement several key changes to the projected 28-ship LCS Flight 0/0+ class over the next five years that will simplify crewing, stabilise testing and increase overseas deployment presence availability". It also confirmed that a further 12 LCS-derived frigates (FFs) -planned as the next programme increment - will adopt the same manning, training, maintenance and operating concepts espoused in the review.