First Independence variant LCS arrives in Singapore for rotational deployment with Harpoon missile f

[Zarvan]

USS Coronado (LCS 4) being moored alongside the deep-water pier in Singapore's Changi Naval Base on 16 October. The four Harpoon Block 1C anti-ship missile canisters are clearly visible immediately forward of the ship's bridge. Source: IHS/Kelvin Wong


The US Navy's (USN's) Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) arrived at Singapore's Changi Naval Base on 16 October to commence its maiden deployment to the Asia Pacific, bringing on board a range of new capabilities to enhance USN operations in the region.

The occasion also marked the inaugural deployment of the 3,188 tonne Independence-class variant of the LCS programme - which features an aluminium-hulled, trimaran design - to the region. The USN previously operated the steel monohull Freedom-variant ships USS Freedom (LCS 1) and USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) prior to Coronado 's arrival in Singapore.

Coronado is the first LCS platform to deploy with an over-the-horizon anti-ship capability. This takes the form of a four-cell launcher containing the Boeing RGM-84D Harpoon Block 1C missile, which enables the ship to engage surface targets at a range of about 120 n miles.

The missile system's installation follows the inaugural launch of a Harpoon Block 1C missile from the ship on 19 July during the live-fire phase of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. The trial demonstrated that the ship could withstand the physical stresses of a launch without damage to its hull or shipboard systems.

"A new capability that the ship brings is the Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles just installed this year, which demonstrates the modularity that is inherent in this design," Rear Adm Don Gabrielson, commander of Logistics Group Western Pacific (COMLOG WESTPAC) and Combined Task Force (CTF) 73. "When nature of the [mission] changes we can respond by including new kinds of systems on board the ship."

Coronado is also equipped with a BAE Systems 57 mm Mk 110 main gun as well as a 11-cell Raytheon RIM-116B SeaRAM missile-defence system. The ship is presently outfitted with the LCS surface warfare (SuW) mission package, which comprises two 11 m rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIB) and two 30 mm Mk 46 Mod 2 gun weapon systems, along with 19 embarked personnel from Surface Warfare Mission Package Detachment 2.

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[C130]

I want the NSM on the LCS

 

[Penguin]

2*2 harpoon, so 4*4 no problem.