Absolutely Awesome! Thanks CT for the info!
Hey all. We've been talking about the LCS a bit more especially in light of CDR Salamander's recent article (he has another one up on USNI Blog).
One of the issues that I had was how are they going to move these modules around. CT got me the answer and now you do too.
Its the MOBICON SYSTEM.
Go here to get the details on it.
Very interesting. If. IF the Navy is able to standardize this in a big way, meaning fleet wide then we might be seeing a mini revolution in logistics. I'm still not sold on the LCS as a war fighter or humanitarian vessel but it might become a test bed for future capabilities.
And maybe that's where its real value lies.
Hi Sol, definately my kind of thinking
ReplyDeleteHave a look at these
http://www.hetek-haacon.com/container-movements/casters-castors-wheels-p.htm
http://www.toutenkamion.com/the-roulhop.html
http://www.tandemloc.com/0_mobilizing/M_AC49000A-XPA.asp
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98_I7uEZTxY
http://www.airfloat.com/index.php
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ampBqnBgTjE
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2011/08/a-ship-that-is-not-a-frigate-%E2%80%93-part-3-design-discussion/
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2011/08/a-ship-that-is-not-a-frigate-%E2%80%93-part-4-modules-and-payloads/
Sorry to hit you with a load of links by the way!
Here is a video of LCS-2 and at the 2min mark you can see the module handler in action aboard the ship.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gdlcs.com/media-center/videos/lcs-2
straddle carriers have been around the shipping industry for decades. The problem with moving TEU boxes aka ISO freight containers around inside any ship is height and weight. There are many such vehicles in use some on sealift ships already.
ReplyDeleteBoth LCS have overhead lift systems but they can't position to many places in the mission bays. The straddle carriers can move any item, that will FIT inside them, around to the edges etc. So their is a design choice.
The problem comes when anything larger than ISO boxes is to be loaded and lifted inside ee.g. larger warboats.
So... one shoe does not fit all applications.
Spudman I forgot to mention, one has to have a large under-deck height for either a overhead lift system or straddle carrier. And one has to either strengthen the overhead or that deck to support straddle carriers.
ReplyDeleteSo a design choice, I think the LCS-2 has a better solution and mission bay arrangement, but that will remain to be tested~
but the parameters are now established and should be established on a standard iso container.
ReplyDeletewhy you would have issues with it fitting within those constraints is beyond me. additionally the issue about them having connections was solved long ago by the vid that Spudman produced.
i wonder if the LCS isn't facing the F-35 problem. its good but needs work.
Just another point in LCS-2's favor :)
ReplyDeleteyeah if they can keep it from rusting...or whatever the problem with the hull is.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA multi-part fix for the "galvanic corrosion" is already in place. Isolation patches are in place on LCS-2 to allow it to continue operation safely, LCS-4 is being fitted with a "Cathodic Protection System (CPS)" before being turned over to the Navy and LCS-6 (and on) will have the CPS installed from the very start.
ReplyDeleteNobody can accuse me of being a dyed-in-the-wool LM fanboy :)
On a good note, the Griffin is confirmed to be TEMPORARY :)
"The Navy has replaced the cancelled Non-Line-of-Sight Launch System which had a proposed range of 21 nautical miles with the Griffin missile, which according to officials, will initially have a range of 3 miles. The Navy will not incorporate a surface-to-surface missile that can meet the module’s requirements until after 2017 following a full and open competition."
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL33741.pdf
Spudman I am NOT againsy using TEU boxes at all. Last ship project I worked on had 820 TEU capacity. I have installed habitability modules the size of TWU boxes on ships. Mission modules and reefer vans have specific utility connections which affect where they can be spotted. For instance, the JHSV has only six "powered spots".
ReplyDeleteAll I am only saying that using a lift system or straddle carrier impacts the size and strength of ANY misssion bay or cargo deck in which they are used.