LCS: The Ongoing Triumph of Will Over Right

I'd like to review a little timeline for you, because the drum needs to be beaten on a regular basis.

LCS-1 was in service in Sept. 2008. Go ahead and comp her the time for first in class. That was five year and nine months ago. We now have commissioned up to LCS-4. That is four ships in that time frame from two yards.

There's your shot. Here's your chaser via Chris Cavas:

It’s the biggest naval exercise in the world, and it happens only every other year. This summer, nearly 50 ships from at least 16 navies will gather at Pearl Harbor for the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises, hosted by the US Navy.

Ships from as far away as India, France and even Norway will participate, and the highlight is expected to be the first-ever participation of a Chinese naval squadron.

Nearly every kind of US warship will take part. But notably absent — again — will be the newest type of US warship, the littoral combat ship.

In fact, although this will be the third RIMPAC since the type entered service in late 2008, an LCS has appeared only once in the exercises, even though all littoral combat ships are based in not-too-far-away San Diego.
...
“All four LCS ships are conducting testing, trials and mission package certifications, which preclude their participation in the Hawaii portion of RIMPAC 2014,” he said May 2 in response to questions. “The aforementioned activities can be delayed, but that would delay testing, trials and mission package certifications, which remain the Navy’s priority.”

“Integrating LCSs into the fleet is the first priority, and there are more LCSs of both variants being built, commissioned and sent to new homeports at an increasing rate,” Curry said.

“There is a comprehensive program to ensure each platform successfully completes the long list of requirements. Delays in any phase of that program complicates the process for follow-on ships.”

Perspective.

The OLIVER HAZARD PERRY Class Frigate, the ship that in many respects LCS is replacing, was first commissioned in DEC of 1977, USS OLIVER HAZARD PERRY (FFG-7). Five years and nine months later, working through two shipyards, we had commissioned up to USS DOYLE (FFG-39).

Yes kids, 32 ships later. Three of the 32 were built for Australia. By that point, the ships had already racked up many real world deployments, performing all their Primary Mission Areas - with all their weapons systems installed and working.

32 vs. 4.
Deployable vs. Whatever.
Warfighter vs. Excusemonger

So, there you go LCS-Mafia types; defend the record of this China-doll, sub-optimized, exquisite, over-hyped, under-performing, little crappy ship. I'm all ears.