Q&A · 1:25:39-1:25:52

A practical speed ceiling for the Littoral Combat Ship

Keeping the LCS requirement in the mid-30-knot range would have avoided some of the extreme hull-form and machinery compromises imposed above that speed.

Littoral Combat Ship Naval Procurement Ship Design Warship Propulsion

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Question

What would have been the highest sensible speed requirement for the LCS classes?

Short answer

About the mid-30-knot range, because pushing higher begins to drive disproportionate hull-form and propulsion compromises.

Notes

The proposed sensible ceiling is around the mid-30-knot range. Going faster imposes excessive hull-form and propulsion compromises in this assessment. The figure is a design judgment, without a detailed calculation for either LCS hull.