Freedom completes Rough Water Trials
The US Navy has reported that that the Littoral Combat Ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) completed its Rough Water Trials (RWT) in late March, also known as Seakeeping and Structural Loads Trials.
During the RWT, the ship collected data at seat states five and six off the Oregon coast for 11 days. The ship was steered in an octagonal route at speeds ranging from dead stop to flank speed, and performance data at all speeds and orientations was captured.
The data was used to measure the ship structure’s stress, torsion and strain levels. It will be further analysed over the next few months to compare its performance with the modelled performance. Initial test results, according to the navy, are positive. The auxiliaries and machinery plant performed well.
During the tests, the crew members were also equipped with accelerometers and other sensors to evaluate human factors due to ship motions.
Once validated, the navy will be provided the conditions under which the USS Freedom and other variant ships can be operated.
The Freedom class ships are being built by an industry team led by Lockheed Martin, while the Independence variant is being built by a team led by General Dynamics, Bath Iron Works and Austal. A total of 12 ships are currently under construction.
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment]()
Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment
Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.
-
![South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest]()
South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest
Washington’s search for a foreign-built frigate could hand South Korea, Japan and Turkey a larger prize than a double-hull order: a foothold inside the US shipbuilding industrial base.
-
![Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand]()
Russia’s uncrewed boat portfolio hints at future naval demand
Ukrainian intelligence has catalogued more than 20 Russian uncrewed surface vessels, revealing a portfolio weighted towards mine warfare and logistics, with implications for Western naval investment.
-
![Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones]()
Ukraine’s new long-range 12m autonomous vessel can deploy other drones
Ukraine’s UForce unveiled the MV11 uncrewed surface vessel, designed to launch and support other naval drones at sea, fuelling debate over the future of autonomous maritime task groups.
-
![German Navy’s Israeli missile test points to deepening defence-industrial ties]()
German Navy’s Israeli missile test points to deepening defence-industrial ties
The test-firing of an Israel Aerospace Industries LORA ballistic missile from a German vessel highlights the Bundeswehr’s focus on speed to capability as it trials Israel’s operationally proven technology.
