{"id":19828,"date":"2022-05-10T17:10:58","date_gmt":"2022-05-10T17:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/05\/10\/the-littoral-combat-ships-latest-problem-class-wide-structural-defects-leading-to-hull-cracks\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T18:55:48","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T18:55:48","slug":"the-littoral-combat-ships-latest-problem-class-wide-structural-defects-leading-to-hull-cracks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2022\/05\/10\/the-littoral-combat-ships-latest-problem-class-wide-structural-defects-leading-to-hull-cracks\/","title":{"rendered":"The littoral combat ship\u2019s latest problem: Class-wide structural defects leading to hull cracks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Half of the Navy\u2019s littoral combat ship fleet is suffering from structural defects that have led to hull cracks on several vessels, limiting the speed and sea states in which some ships can operate, according to internal records obtained by Navy Times and confirmed by sea service officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Navy has not previously disclosed the cracks in the Independence-class version of the LCS or the class-wide repercussions of the defects, nor has it identified which ships suffer from the issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But documents obtained by Navy Times warn that cracks can grow if the ships transits faster than 15 knots in seas with maximum wave heights of about eight feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The troubling revelations come as the Navy continues to grapple with a class-wide transmission issue in the Freedom-class variant of the LCS, and sea service leaders seek to decommission all of those ships, years ahead of the expected end of their service lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Naval Sea Systems Command spokesman Alan Baribeau said in a statement that the service first identified \u201ccracks in higher-stress areas of the structure\u201d on Independence-class ships in late 2019, when the problem became apparent on Coronado, the second ship of the class, which was commissioned in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Such cracks have since been discovered on six of those LCS variants, according to Baribeau, nearly half of the 13-ship Independence class fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/05\/10\/cannibalized-parts-systems-that-sailors-cant-fix-lcs-maintenance-woes-could-get-worse-watchdog-warns\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LCS-stock.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Cannibalized parts, systems that sailors can\u2019t fix: LCS maintenance woes could get worse, watchdog warns<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">A Government Accountability Office report raises questions about the Navy&#039;s LCS maintenance strategy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Baribeau said the issue \u201cdoes not pose a risk to the safety of Sailors on board the ships.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAnalysis of the bow structure with the combined vertical and lateral loads did not identify any hot spots below the waterline, and this specific detail does not occur below the waterline,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The shipbuilder, Austal USA, has incorporated a \u201crevised configuration\u201d to hulls still under construction or warrantee, while the Navy is \u2014 or will be \u2014 fixing the affected in-service ships, according to Baribeau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cModification consists of replacing deck plate and shell plate with thicker material, among other actions,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Baribeau did not specify the nature of those \u201cother actions,\u201d and said an overall cost for fixing all the ships was not available, as \u201cthe U.S. Navy\u2019s mitigation plans are being developed as part of each ship\u2019s maintenance and modernization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Austal USA referred questions for this report back to the Navy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those plate replacement efforts are significant, according to Bradley Martin, a retired surface warfare officer who spent two-thirds of his 30-year career at sea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTaking out deck plate and shell plate can\u2019t be done outside a big availability and, if nothing else, it will add to the ship\u2019s weight, which will likely slow it down,\u201d said Martin, now director of Rand\u2019s National Security Supply Chain Institute. \u201cThis really looks like a huge, bad deal for this ship class.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/12\/16\/the-us-navy-is-investigating-a-potential-lcs-class-wide-design-flaw\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/little_rock.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US Navy investigates potential LCS class-wide design flaw<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The U.S. Navy is nearing a conclusion that it has a big problem on its hands.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Baribeau did not answer specific questions about crack size or their location on the Independence-class ships, only saying in an email that \u201ccrack size and visibility do not impede the ability of Independence-class ships from meeting operational requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While NAVSEA contends that the crack issue does not hinder the ability of such ships \u201cto get underway and execute missions,\u201d the documents obtained by Navy Times show the problem is limiting how fast ships with afflicted hulls can go and the sea states in which they can operate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Omaha, a $440 million LCS commissioned in 2018 \u2014 which has since been turned into a training vessel \u2014 is one of the ships suffering such cracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to a temporary standing order, or TSO, issued by Omaha\u2019s command on July 8, 2021, and obtained by Navy Times, the ship was operating under \u201cspeed and sea state restrictions\u201d in order to \u201climit crack propagation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The order prohibited Omaha from traveling faster than 15 knots \u2014 17 mph \u2014 in \u201csea state 4,\u201d a level entailing a maximum wave height of 8.2 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"911\" height=\"685\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oma-tso.png.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40739\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oma-tso.png.png 911w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oma-tso.png.png?resize=300,226 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oma-tso.png.png?resize=768,577 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A temporary standing order issued by the command of the littoral combat ship Omaha imposes restrictions on speed and operating in rough seas in order to limit the spread of structural cracks. (Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That order also prohibits the ship from operating in any higher sea state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In other words, the risk of structural cracks means that a ship envisioned as a speedy fleet asset is now limited in speed or rough waters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked whether the entire Independence fleet is under speed and sea state restrictions due to the crack risk, NAVSEA\u2019s Baribeau wrote that \u201call Independence variant ships have been inspected and are able to meet their operational requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked whether the six ships suffering from hull cracks are operating with those cracks, Baribeau again responded that \u201call Independence variant ships have been inspected and are able to meet their operational requirements.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The four-to-eight foot wave range of sea state 4 is \u201cfairly common,\u201d according to Martin, who reviewed the records for Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBeing unable to go at speed in sea state 4 is a pretty significant limitation,\u201d he said. \u201cFifteen knots is a transit speed, a very normal transit speed, less than half of LCS\u2019s supposed maximum speed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While NAVSEA states that the crack issue is not hindering operational requirements, a 2021 investigation into Omaha\u2019s command notes that the ship \u201chas more restrictive seakeeping limits due to cracks in her aluminum hull and superstructure,\u201d and that those limitations played a role in hindering a transit from San Diego to Everett, Washington, in November.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2022\/04\/19\/how-an-executive-officers-misconduct-and-a-commander-who-failed-to-correct-him-got-them-both-fired\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"184\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/mont-co-xo.png.png?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">How an executive officer\u2019s misconduct \u2014 and a commander who failed to correct him \u2014 got them both fired<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Cmdr. Richard Zamberlan, the commander, and Cmdr. Philip Lundberg, the executive officer, were both relieved of command of a littoral combat ship in December.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe original scheduled departure date was in October 2021, and the departure date was modified several times due to the schedule availability of the maintenance yard and ultimately weather and sea conditions in the Pacific Ocean that exceeded OMA seakeeping limits,\u201d the investigation states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investigators later wrote that \u201cit is beyond the scope of the investigation to determine whether it would have ultimately been possible for OMA to complete the transit within the limitations specified by the OMA Temporary Standing Order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"711\" height=\"161\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oma-cracks-ci.png.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40743\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oma-cracks-ci.png.png 711w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/oma-cracks-ci.png.png?resize=300,68 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 711px) 100vw, 711px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The littoral combats ship Omaha has been hobbled by hull cracks that have impacted its speed and ability to operate in certain sea states, according to an investigation into the ship&#8217;s command obtained by Navy Times. (Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Omaha\u2019s temporary order includes a February 2020 NAVSEA advisory noting that the entire Independence class \u201chave under-designed structural defects\u201d at ship frames 36 and 45.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Frames are attached perpendicularly to the keel, which runs the length of the ship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Baribeau did not answer questions regarding the location of frames 36 and 45, though ship frame numbering begins at the bow and increases aft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/static.militarytimes.com\/assets\/pdfs\/1651867928.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">THE USS OMAHA\u2019S TSO AND NAVSEA ADVISORY<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That 2020 alert notes that it applies to the even-numbered Independence-class littoral combat ships, including the pre-commissioned LCS 30, 32 and 34, in addition to the active duty LCS-2 to LCS-26.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"899\" height=\"671\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/navsea-advis-1.png.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40747\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/navsea-advis-1.png.png 899w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/navsea-advis-1.png.png?resize=300,224 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/navsea-advis-1.png.png?resize=768,573 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 899px) 100vw, 899px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A Naval Sea Systems Command alert from February 2020 warns of structural cracking in Independence-class littoral combat ships. (Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LCS-2, Independence, was later decommissioned in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another section of the NAVSEA document states that the office recommends Independence-class ships stay below the 15-knot speed and out of sea states more severe than level four \u201cto limit further crack growth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf a ship encounters seas above sea state 4, ships force will visually inspect the markings for indications of crack growth beyond 6 inches, alert the local technical authority of any change and provide \u2026 underway environmental and ship speed data to facilitate analysis of conditions causing crack propagation,\u201d the document states.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2021\/08\/03\/navy-will-incur-some-cost-in-replacing-freedom-variant-lcs-combining-gears\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6105354.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Navy will incur some cost in replacing Freedom-variant LCS combining gears<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Though the Navy argues the flawed combining gear is a &quot;latent defect&quot; in Lockheed Martin&#039;s design, the best-case scenario for the Navy still involves paying some of the cost of replacing the system on all Freedom-variant littoral combat ships.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One task in the NAVSEA alert calls for regional maintenance centers to inspect the 01 level at port and starboard for cracks, where \u201cthe shell plate vertical flat bar meets the deck between frames 35-36 and 45-46.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cClearly mark and date the ends of any cracks so ships force can monitor for crack growth,\u201d the alert prescribes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After reviewing the TSO and an attached NAVSEA alert for Navy Times, Martin said the records don\u2019t suggest anything catastrophic will occur if an Independence-class LCS steams through rough seas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut it does say if you\u2019re going to operate at this speed or sea state, you\u2019re going to have to go into port, mark all the cracks and report it to NAVSEA,\u201d he said. \u201cThat could amount to a significant operational limitation. It\u2019s saying you can\u2019t operate in rough weather.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin said a ship class being told to avoid operating in sea state five is \u201cextremely unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem unusual to say \u2018divert around it if you can,\u2019\u201d he said. \u201cBut it does seem like simply stating, \u2018No, you can\u2019t do it,\u2019 is a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Omaha\u2019s TSO regarding hull cracks expired Jan. 8, but the TSO also states it will remain in effect \u201cuntil Ship\u2019s Design Manager institutes a Class Advisory that includes how to address cracking in the 01 level and all repairs are complete.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The TSO obtained by Navy Times shows Omaha\u2019s crew was tasked with marking and dating the hull cracks and conducting \u201cdaily inspections while underway to check for crack growth, or after ship enters (sea state 4) or above.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf crack growth of 6 or more inches is discovered while underway, reduce speed and notify NAVSEA,\u201d the order continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If needed, Omaha was allowed to increase its speed to 18 knots during underway replenishments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But when such evolutions were finished, the crew was ordered to immediately reduce speed to less than 15 knots \u201cand inspect cracking to ensure cracks have not grown by 6 inches or more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cracks in the side shell could be covered with \u201cRTV,\u201d an industrial sealant, \u201cassuming no impact to ability to check for possible crack growth,\u201d the TSO states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">LCS was pitched earlier this century as a fast and agile ship, but it has since struggled to find a mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ships\u2019 modular mission packages have failed to materialize, and the odd-numbered Freedom-class LCS fleet is plagued by a combining gear issue affecting ship propulsion.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2022\/03\/28\/us-navy-wants-to-cut-nine-lcss-eliminate-their-anti-submarine-mission\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/6722729.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US Navy wants to cut nine LCSs, eliminate their anti-submarine mission<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The U.S. Navy wants to decommission nine of its Freedom-variant littoral combat ships and eliminate the anti-submarine warfare mission for the ships, citing a tradeoff between the cost of the ships and equipment versus the warfighting capability they\u2019d actually deliver.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the Independence and Freedom LCS versions were built with high speed in mind, both classes now appear to be afflicted with problems striking at the heart of that nimbleness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cA ship that is supposed to be able to go at a high transit speed \u2014 based on what I\u2019m seeing here \u2014 it can\u2019t in a moderate sea state, and it\u2019s not supposed to be underway at all in what\u2019s defined as a rough sea state,\u201d Martin said. \u201cThat means it\u2019s going to be limited in terms of where it can be employed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As LCS\u2019s combat vulnerability to China or another conventional military force has become apparent, the Navy has at times used LCS for drug interdiction missions in the Western Hemisphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the structural crack issue suggests that the Independence class might not even be up to that diminished type of mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou get eight-foot seas in the Caribbean or Eastern Pacific,\u201d Martin said. \u201cIf the drug interdiction mission required them to go at intercept speeds, they couldn\u2019t do that and comply with this order.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The fact that both LCS classes have serious problems is \u201cstriking,\u201d said Jan van Tol, a retired surface warfare officer and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, who also reviewed the documents for Navy Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIn LCS-1 \u2026 it\u2019s the combining gear problem,\u201d he said. \u201cIn LCS-2 it appears to be a structural design problem. If this is the case, then assuming the fixes could be relatively expensive and apply to the entire classes, this raises the difficult question for the Navy whether class fixes are worth the expense and opportunity cost.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The troubling revelations about the Independence-class littoral combat ships come as the Navy continues to grapple with a class-wide transmission issue in the Freedom-class 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