Been coming across a couple of articles which seem to show Freedom class being more popular (amongst America's civil population at least) but the Independence class being far less problem prone.. What are peoples opinions on them?? Personally I prefer the Independence class designed and built by Austal (Sick of every one saying it's General Dynamics, they only came up with the outfitting).. I tend to get the impression from those i chat with from America that because it's Australian designed that it is inferior to the American designed Freedom class..
Where did you see these articles? I haven't seen much in the general press; it would be good if the average American took an interest in these things. Hopefully it's more than just advocating whichever one is built in their town or state (that the Congress' job ). I imagine some people are skeptical of the radical trimaran design. I must admit I'm of the "just.....build....a ship" school, but the Independence has potential advantages in payload capacity, have to see how she works out in practice. I also think LCS is a silly name. The Pentagon bureaucracy has a compulsion to present every new acquisition as revolutionary; it's not enough to just say our new frigate or patrol craft is better than the old ones. L is usually the designation for amphibious ships; LCS was used in WWII for heavily armed gunboats based on the LCI. Probably the best designation would be PF, previously used for frigate-sized ships and consistent with earlier littoral combat craft like the PC, PG, or PT.
In the general press there isn't much in the way of military equipment mentioned, Usually you have to go to web sites or books/magazines dedicated to the military field. I wouldnt so much say the trimaran design is radical, Might be a first for a ship capable of combat to use it but it's nothing new. We have been building them for a while here down under becoming the world leader's in both aluminum ships and trimaran ships. The Independence class is actually based off an already operating trimaran also built by Austal. The thing I like about the Independence is it has lot's of room for future improvements where as the Freedom class is very crampt.. The Independence is actually so large and roomy that instead of standard ladder's you would find on a naval vessel it has stairs leading you down to the mission bay. Hopefully the Independence doesn't meet the chopping block, Seems to be the superior vessel and would be a shame to see it cut off for the benefit of short term savings when in the long term it has a lower cost to field and upkeep.
