Engine/Power problems for Freedom (LCS-1)

Problems for the LCS-1 USS Freedom continue. While enroute to her first Asia deployment, she briefly lost power for about 12 minutes. It's not the first time she's lost power, and officials say it may have been caused by water getting into the exhaust, causing a pressure difference and shutting down the generator.

Questions are being raised about the engines in use on the Freedom class. About 2010, she lost a starboard diesel, and had to have it replaced with an engine from LCS-3, USS Fort Worth. The engine from Freedom was overhauled and was due to be installed on Fort Worth. Just before she left on this deployment however, the replacement engine burned out, and had to be replaced with the engine that was overhauled for Fort Worth. It's unclear if it's the specific type of engine in use, or if there's another problem going on with them.

The first-of-class Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-1), the USS Freedom, briefly lost and then regained power March 16 while en route to its first Asian deployment to Singapore, confirms Vice Adm. Richard Hunt, the director of Navy staff and the head of the special LCS Council of service admirals.

The power loss may have been due to water getting into the exhaust system of one of the ship’s diesel engine generators, possibly creating a pressure difference, Hunt says. “It is my understanding that within 10-12 minutes it was back,” he says. Hunt leads the council assembled by the Navy to make the Freedom’s deployment — and the overall LCS program — a success.

Addressing historical power outages on the Freedom, Navy officials previously have said that such incidents are not that uncommon with naval vessels. However, Hunt says, with time and experience, such incidents should happen less often. “It will become more reliable,” he says.

However, he adds, “Diesels are really reliable — they shouldn’t go up and down.”

Source

I have two good buddies involved in this ship. One was a electrical contractor who did lots of work on it when it was in Marinette Wi, the other an active duty electrician stationed on board during commissioning. Its had so many issues both are convinced its cursed.

reply to post by swimmer15


I had a previous thread that went into some of the problems the ship has had. It's insane that a ship with that many issues is sailing the open oceans. My favorite was the fact that you could stick your hand through the sealed aft well door, where the seal was. This ship should never have been commissioned with the problems the design had from the start, and continues to have.

I agree it shouldn't have been commissioned. I was kind of dumbfounded that it wasn't scrapped on the budget issues alone, I don't remember off hand but if my memory serves correct, it more than doubled before the keel was even laid. My buddy said the big fire it had in WI was electrical due to design flaw that everyone new about with the way the cable way was routed. They told of lots of design issues like sounding tubes right smack dab in the middle of the deck at the foot of ladder ways that they were trying to work around or change while operating. Thats only one example but IMO should highlight just sloppy they were in designing it. One of the biggest gripes they had was they noticed lots of design issues right from the start, like the cable way issue but were not allowed to correct them in Marinette or make changes to the plans. It was to be built to plan even though many issues became apparent early.

The engine is not some special case one off 40 metric tones and about 15 ft lon

www.fairbanksmorse.com...

reply to post by spyder550


Pretty sure those Fairbanks are used as part as propulsion system not as power generators (well i mean not ships power), the entire propulsion system on the LCS is indeed one off, there is no other ship like it in the fleet.

reply to post by swimmer15


They've had water get in the exhaust of the generators, and the engines both. She was without power a lot longer than 12 minutes last time, and was in the middle of a mission at the time. Thank god she's completely incapable of any kind of real mission where she's being shot at.

That's the other thing that absolutely astounds me. She's supposed to be a Littoral COMBAT Ship, and she doesn't even have a sonar system capable of detecting a torpedo launch installed. No weapons, the hull can be penetrated by a measly 7.62mm.... I've seen some impressive boondoggles, but this one blows the mind.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by swimmer15

 

They've had water get in the exhaust of the generators, and the engines both. She was without power a lot longer than 12 minutes last time, and was in the middle of a mission at the time. Thank god she's completely incapable of any kind of real mission where she's being shot at.

That's the other thing that absolutely astounds me. She's supposed to be a Littoral COMBAT Ship, and she doesn't even have a sonar system capable of detecting a torpedo launch installed. No weapons, the hull can be penetrated by a measly 7.62mm.... I've seen some impressive boondoggles, but this one blows the mind.

I think the idea behind the sonar was the ships speed and that the ship would never deploy without helos, the SH-60B is a pretty impressive sub hunter. The ships mission changed significantly over the time of development. At first it was going to replace frigates and cruisers, then as coastal operations due to its speed..as I was getting out in 08, I think i remember hearing congress was going to scrap it because the pentagon couldn't define a legitimate application for it.

reply to post by swimmer15


Agreed, the SH-60 (MH-60 now IIRC) is a great platform. The problem becomes if someone hits them when the -60 isn't flying, or what happens even if the 60 detects the launch. The LCS has no way of knowing where the shot is coming from, or where it is, or anything else. It needs to at least have sonar installed, so they can hear the torpedo that's going to kill them coming.

And about the fire, I know that it was reported that it was an accident from welding but take note of the estimated cost of repair. lol a steel ship during build phase? This happens all the time, I believe my buddies that it was electrical and the cost is because they had to re-route part or all (I don't remember) of the cable way down the other side of the ship. Mis-reporting is easy to understand and believe when you know all the other issues this project ship has had from its very beginning.


www.navytimes.com...

reply to post by Zaphod58


Well sonar is only really effective when hunting and the SH60 is a solid sub hunter. there are counter measures like degaussing for instance for torpedoes. Im not going to name them all, I'm sure you understand but intercepting torpedoes is not the only, nor is it necessarily the most effective defense against a torpedo. Truthfully all I know of the ship says its pretty cool, its speed and maneuverability coupled with the VLS system and other things makes it pretty awesome. I think thats why so many believed in it really..but it was rushed and because so it has many design flaws.

I pray the same don't happen to the DDX.

reply to post by swimmer15


That's the problem though. If you're cruising along, for example on the way to Singapore, in nice peaceful waters, without countermeasures active, or only limited countermeasures active, and someone pops off a torpedo, your first warning is when it goes boom.

Originally posted by Zaphod58
reply to post by swimmer15

 

That's the problem though. If you're cruising along, for example on the way to Singapore, in nice peaceful waters, without countermeasures active, or only limited countermeasures active, and someone pops off a torpedo, your first warning is when it goes boom.

I'm not sure what is public knowledge and not on sonar so I'm not going to say anything on that. But that situation is very similar to the USS Cole and any ship is subjectable to that type of cowardly attack in friendly ports or waters. That's where we rely on other ships in the battle group and our host governments.

Not saying I really agree with it, but it is what it is.

reply to post by swimmer15


Except I don't think Freedom has any escorts, nor will she in a littoral situation. I see so much disaster in this design, and not much redemption.

I agree there. Carrier group will likely object to having it and it will be of limited use, likely counter drug ops or coastal patrol on our shores.

reply to post by swimmer15


She was doing drug ops when she lost power the first time. Yet another absurdity. Billions spent on a ship that's going to end up having to stay home because she's next to useless anywhere else.

reply to post by Zaphod58


Whats sad is the fact that they have more on order.

reply to post by swimmer15


I'm all for the LCS-2. Independence hasn't had nearly the problems Freedom has had. It's had problems, yes, but not to the extent that you can stick your hand through a door seal, on what's supposed to be a watertight door.

reply to post by Zaphod58


I just cant see how congress let it slide, and ordered more, given its insane cost, design flaws and lack of a defined purpose. Given its capabilities, there is little this ship can do that a DDG can't and much that it can't.

I guess when you have bottomless pockets and answer to no one, there is no need to base things on proven technologies or platforms.

reply to post by swimmer15


You haven't seen the testimony lately by the Air Force and the Navy both. They both have been caught just flat out lying to Congress, the Air Force about the F-22 and the F-35, and the Navy about LCS. Lies that have repeatedly been proven to be just absolutely blatant and obvious, just to make sure they get to keep their shiny new toys.