Black smoke means ....

LCS still isn't ready for prime time?

OK, I'll bite; why? In port? A tribute of old whalers that used to hang around HI? A nod to Native American History Fortnight orsomesuch? Someone wistfully remembering bunker?  "Oops, should have done that before we entered port."

Is that how we are going to announce we have arrived in Pacific ports? "Hey, the Americans are here, I see their smoke signal." All that modern engineering and we wind up looking like a tramp steamer running plastic dog shi'ite out of Hong Kong?

I also have a question for all my SWO-daddies out there; if LCS is going to be showing the flag in all these ports throughout the Pacific ... is she going to need the assistance of three harbor tugs to get to the pier? Are we sure there are three harbor tugs available in Bamalamadingdong, Indonesia when we pull in?  Again - a "modern" ship of 3,000 tons with more joysticks than a 12-yr old president of the science club? 

C7F budget for this? Planning assumption? Risk mitigation to stop the kids from denting dad's Buick on the way to the prom? Do we need a YP to deploy with the crew so they can practice seamanship?

“This ship is probably the most automated ship in the Navy today, even though it’s only 3,000 tons,” said Lemmo. “We have over 8,000 points on the ship that get monitored” by computer systems that report on the systems’ status. Everything from fire alarms and flooding alarms, to oil pressure and temperatures can be displayed on monitors throughout the ship. By contrast, an Arleigh Burke DDG-51 class destroyer has 2,500 remote monitoring points.

“Everything can be controlled from the bridge, and you can drive the ship from elsewhere in the ship,” said Lemmo. On either side of the bridge, there are “bridge wings” that extend out. A condensed ship control station on each wing allows a sailor to drive the ship during docking.

A lot of good that is doing. Sounds more like we are driving the ship to the place where the tugs can take it "to docking."

The water jets provide better steering ability than a standard screw-and-rudder configuration.

Someone help me out here. I have some first hand reports from Old Salts in Pearl - and they are not impressed.

OK, everyone needs a few tugs, I know.

Yes, yes, yes - I know; stopping kicking it. Still.

As we are intent on bringing dozens of these platforms in to the Fleet, I guess one day we will have white smoke ... but until then ... black smoke it is.

"Oh Sal," you say, "That isn't fair. Even modern ships have to be careful in such a tight space." 

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