[ArrichMer]

The LCS-1 was in Charleston a month ago and I got a good look at her. Basically she is a gold plated POS. I am sure she can do the mission she is supposed to, the problem is that we could do that mission with a ship half the cost that is half as complex and with half the maintenance requirements.

For the crew thing, don't worry that won't last for long. The DDGs were supposed to have a crew of 150 and after all the wishful thinking and denial wore off they were properly crewed at 230. There are simply things that can not be automated. As Lonestar mentioned UNREPs are one, but it gets even more mundane than that. Who is cleaning the damn thing? With a crew of 40 what happens when five crew members get the flu? On top of that, this thing is pretty much on pertetual port and starboard watches, which for you land locked types means 12 on/12 off for months at a time. And if you just happened to have had to perform something like transiting the Suez/SOH/BAM/etc., performed an UNREP, done a sea and anchor detail or pretty much a dozen other evolutions that happen at least once a day you are talking about 24 hour days for most of the crew. Its ridiculous.

As for the concept, the idea is that these ships can operate inshore but still under the defensive weapon and sensor umbrella of DDGs and CGs. Remember that the anti-air umbrella for an Aegis vessel is 200nm+. You wouldn't put these where there is particularly potent air threat anyway. The speed is required for dealing with small boat and corvette type vessels (and yes, they can outmanuever a torpedoe easily at those speeds). Unfortunetly the draft is deeper than required.

I also can't understand the "LCS" name. The thing is a damn corvette/frigate, call it that you idiots. Why every manufacturer/Admiral/politician thinks we need to reinvent the nomenclature system so their idea gets a better marketing angle is beyond me. It has one buyer, and its bought.