Skip to main content

What's the difference between a cruiser, a destroyer, a frigate, and a littoral combat ship?

By
This is meant to be a general overview of each of these ships and their capabilities, not looking at specific information such as size and armament (which can easily be found online, if you want specific facts about each ship). 


Littoral Combat Ship (LCS): One of the newest types of ships, made up of the Freedom and Independence Classes with only 3 ships in service. LCS's are very small, versatile ships that were created with the aim of extending the Navy's capabilities closer to the shore. LCS's are made to operate in shallower water than most USN platforms and have different modules that can be swapped in and out depending on the mission requirements. 


Cruiser (CG): Cruisers are now becoming less and less relevant, with only 22 left in the Ticonderoga-Class. Their main focus is to provide the Navy with a multi-functional guided missile platform (launching weapons systems such as the Tomahawk and other missiles via the ship's vertical launching system (VLS)) that can engage surface and air targets, as well as conduct anti submarine missions (SSW, surface ship warfare; AAW, anti-aircraft warfare; and ASW, anti-submarine warfare). 




Destroyer (DDG): One of the most central and important roles in the surface navy. The Navy currently has 62 destroyers in the Arleigh Burke Class, with plans for a new Zumwalt Class. Slightly smaller than cruisers, they can conduct a variety of missions, including ASW (anti-submarine warfare), AAW (anti-aircraft warfare) ASUW (anti-surface warfare) and are meant to be a multi-role surface platform with the capability to protect a strike group or naval force of any impending threats or targets. 

Frigate (FFG): There are only 22 frigates left in the Oliver Hazard Perry Class, with these ships intended to be replaced by the new LCS's. Frigates were designed mainly as a cost effective and relatively inexpensive escort platform that could protect merchants convoys, supply ships, as well as expeditionary and amphibious forces. They are smaller than destroyers and do not have the same degree of missile-launching capability. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pirates have tried to invade a ship, look what happened!

By
Pirates have tried to invade a ship, look what happened! A small band of Somali pirates attempt to seize an unidentified ship during a raid. Bad idea. The ship turns out to be a U.S. Naval vessel. Watch what happens. Piracy in international waters is down in recent years, as governments and private shipping have gotten wise to the tactics of the raiders of the high seas. Pirates are finding increased patrols, harder targets, and tougher reprisals ( like this ), which has resulted in far fewer hijackings, according to statistics from the International Chamber of Commerce. This is a good thing, of course. But it also means we're going to see far fewer of these highly entertaining videos. Watch what happens when these tough guys see that they are not raiding a helpless commercial vessel but one owned and operated by the U.S. Navy. It's what you call a classic "oh sh*t" moment. Enjoy :
2 comments
Read more

9 TIPS How to Prep Your Boat Ready for Spring Commissioning

By
By   Ericka Watson De-Winterize Your Boat Spring Boat Prep to Get Your Boat Ready for Spring Commissioning Get ready for the spring commissioning of your boat by following these simple tips to de-winterize it after a long, hard winter. If you did winterize your boat, you saved yourself some spring boat prep time and possible headaches now, which means the road between your boat and the water is shorter! Although it is always best to winterize a boat before putting it into storage, if you didn't, don't worry. You can perform those tasks now for the spring commissioning. Here's how: 1.  Have Your Manufacturer's Manual Handy If you have a copy, great. If you don't, it would be a good idea to get one. You'll need it to replace fluids and parts properly. Never take apart anything without consulting the manual first. 2.  De-winterizing Your Engine The engine is the heart of the boat, and since it will most like take the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Who the hells filming this!?

By
Been there, done that in a 2100 ton, 300 ft. destroyer, the USS Van Valkenburgh, DD-656, in 1952. As I tell the story, the Captain asked me, "How do we turn around in this sea? We have to come about (turn around) to get out of this typhoon." I told him, "Simple. As you ride up the 60-foot wave, put the starboard screw on all-back-full, and the port screw on all-ahead-full. Just as you reach the crest of the wave, put 'er on hard right rudder! Don't forget to put the helm amidships and both screws on full ahead when you start down the other side of the wave.  Then when the ship starts accelerating down into the trough, slow the screws down to about half power." He did that, we came smartly around 180 degrees, plowed into the wave now in front of us, steadied, and rode back out of the storm." I asked the Captain to give full credit to the helmsman and the two engine-room mates on the port and starboard throttles. He asked me how I knew...
Post a Comment
Read more