Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 2:15:56-2:19:18

Attractive hull lines do not settle the LCS design debate

A disputed ranking of ugly ships leads to a distinction between the LCS's attractive appearance and the design priorities behind its high speed.

Littoral Combat ShipNaval ProcurementShip Design
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Question

What are the five ugliest ships, and why is Hoche not first?

Short answer

Fleet declines to rank them because he finds attractive features in almost every warship. The LCS illustrates how attractive lines can coexist with objections to a ship's concept and operating requirements.

Notes

Fleet declines to name five ugly ships because he can find attractive features in almost any warship, including French pre-dreadnoughts. The published list offered in response meets strong disagreement, so no shared ranking emerges. The LCS prompts a distinction between attractive hull lines and objections to a ship's concept or operational value. Its appearance wins approval here, while the requirement for roughly 40 knots draws criticism as a design priority.