MAJOR-B wrote:
The Navy has brought back the USS PONCE from the scrap heap and re-named her as the USS PONCE AFSB (1)-15 as a mine warfare and support "mother" ship.
Her role is mostly mine counter measures, support and command and control.. They upgraded her electronic's along with making it better for the crew.
So here is my design questions for a future project in 1/350.
Base ship would be LPD-17 HUll which is a design that the navy has in current operations which would allow standardization of parts and training of crew.
What changes would you do.
1. Keep the twin Mast arrangements or reduce to one ?
2. Keep the same weapons and electronics, or add additional systems such as small VLS for ESSM Quad packs?
3. Millenium or phalanx?
Thanks
Major-B
My $0.02:
Using an LPD-17 hull would be a good basis for an MCM mothership. Other options would be to to modify a commercial hull like the Maersk B class (30+ knots depending on load) which could be bought for ~350 million new.
Assuming you want to go with LPD-17 as a base hull:
1. Reduce the electronics suite to the bare minimum to save on the stupendous cost of $1.7 billion dollars per hull. Most of the C4ISR is oriented towards a MEU and is not needed for a dedicated MCM tender.
2. To keep on budget, you will not have much to work with with through deck weapons like a 5" gun or VLS. "Bolt on" weapons like RAM, Mk38, and possibly a millennium gun are very much possible.
3. Millennium gun all the way!
Remember that to be a good tender, you will have to add many systems: if possible, hangers for (4) H-53 MCM helicopters, substantial storage tanks for JP-5 and DFM to support aircraft, MCM drones, minesweepers, and of course repair and maintenance facilities. To handle the plethora of unmanned systems that the Navy is considering, you will certainly need to add two modern commercial cranes (active-heave compensated knuckle boom cranes) in the 60-ton range as the well deck will not handle all launch recovery needs, and at any rate the ship needs to be able to on and off-load 40' ISO containers without pier support in austere locations (a failing of LCS). Finally, you might consider modifications to the side loading ramp as this has been an issue on LPD-17.
These are non trivial modifications, but as long as you confine changes to the superstructure as much as possible, and limit hull mechanical changes to the fuel tanks, crane supports and side ramp (or ramps), you should be fine. Finally, a navalized Hellfire or Brimstone missile launcher would be good.
[quote="MAJOR-B"]The Navy has brought back the USS PONCE from the scrap heap and re-named her as the USS PONCE AFSB (1)-15 as a mine warfare and support "mother" ship.
Her role is mostly mine counter measures, support and command and control.. They upgraded her electronic's along with making it better for the crew.
So here is my design questions for a future project in 1/350.
Base ship would be LPD-17 HUll which is a design that the navy has in current operations which would allow standardization of parts and training of crew.
What changes would you do.
1. Keep the twin Mast arrangements or reduce to one ?
2. Keep the same weapons and electronics, or add additional systems such as small VLS for ESSM Quad packs?
3. Millenium or phalanx?
Thanks
Major-B :thumbs_up_1:[/quote]
My $0.02:
Using an LPD-17 hull would be a good basis for an MCM mothership. Other options would be to to modify a commercial hull like the Maersk B class (30+ knots depending on load) which could be bought for ~350 million new.
Assuming you want to go with LPD-17 as a base hull:
1. Reduce the electronics suite to the bare minimum to save on the stupendous cost of $1.7 billion dollars per hull. Most of the C4ISR is oriented towards a MEU and is not needed for a dedicated MCM tender.
2. To keep on budget, you will not have much to work with with through deck weapons like a 5" gun or VLS. "Bolt on" weapons like RAM, Mk38, and possibly a millennium gun are very much possible.
3. Millennium gun all the way!
Remember that to be a good tender, you will have to add many systems: if possible, hangers for (4) H-53 MCM helicopters, substantial storage tanks for JP-5 and DFM to support aircraft, MCM drones, minesweepers, and of course repair and maintenance facilities. To handle the plethora of unmanned systems that the Navy is considering, you will certainly need to add two modern commercial cranes (active-heave compensated knuckle boom cranes) in the 60-ton range as the well deck will not handle all launch recovery needs, and at any rate the ship needs to be able to on and off-load 40' ISO containers without pier support in austere locations (a failing of LCS). Finally, you might consider modifications to the side loading ramp as this has been an issue on LPD-17.
These are non trivial modifications, but as long as you confine changes to the superstructure as much as possible, and limit hull mechanical changes to the fuel tanks, crane supports and side ramp (or ramps), you should be fine. Finally, a navalized Hellfire or Brimstone missile launcher would be good.
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