Q&A · 28:02-28:22

LCS was not a convincing nuclear-carrier escort

A modern escort question tests whether the Littoral Combat Ship could accompany a nuclear carrier group.

Escort Warfare Fleet Carriers Littoral Combat Ship US Navy

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Question

Could the Littoral Combat Ship escort a nuclear-powered carrier?

Short answer

Not convincingly; full-speed operations and weak defensive capability both count against it.

Notes

LCS could not reliably keep up with a carrier at full speed. Even where speed looked adequate on paper, the ship lacked enough defensive capability for the escort role.