Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mission Packages: Determining the Best Mix
Abstract
The threat of a large fleet engagement in the open ocean is currently over-shadowed by the asymmetric challenges presented by state and non-state actors using the littorals for illicit purposes. Unlike traditional multimission combatants, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a focused mission platform significantly less capable of handling simultaneous missions, whether they are planned or not. However, when deploying LCS as a squadron, a Combatant Commander may select to equip multiple LCS platforms with a mix of focused mission packages to ensure operational success across the broad range of challenges associated with littoral warfare. Through the use of simulation, design of experiments, and data analysis, this thesis simulated 41,195 littoral operations to determine how many LCSs should constitute an employed squadron, what the composition of a squadron should be, and how sensors and weapon systems can contribute to the effectiveness of an employed squadron. The results indicate that a squadron size of 6-10 LCSs would produce the best results, and that a compositional rule of thumb of 5 LCSs for the primary threat and 2 LCSs for the secondary threat should apply to each warfare area. The number of casualties suffered in each warfare area reinforces the danger associated with littoral combat and serves as a reminder that close engagement, while necessary, carries a cost.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA479783
Entities
People
- Benjamin P. Abbott
Organizations
- Naval Postgraduate School