I can imagine this for the US Marine Corps. I think I already have in older Navy ship writings. As I think about these things I do add content from day to day. So check back to see additions and maybe corrections.
Please do forgive words and phrases like "spare wire". I know things are much more involved than that. The point is engineering every possible addition into these LAW's. For future expandability.
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Just Notes.
I noticed that the commandant of the US Marine Corp. wants the LAW to be a warship. I agree to focus on the hull and then adapt the hull for what is suited for the mission.
This ship must have 8,000 square feet of storage space. It must travel at 14-22 knots for 3,500 nautical miles. The speed should be closer to 22 knots.
The length should be closer to 400 feet. The width far wider than what has been typically made. The reasons shall be explained. Maybe a catamaran design with standard truly reliable off the shelf engines which is common in the US Navy.
I like the artist rendering of figure 1 by Megan Eckstein. Except for the windows along the side. This must be covered up or removed. This is because of the emergence of RF Based DEW's. This is a tradition which needs to end.
The new ships of every class must be engineered so that all servicing shall be done within the confines of the ship and no one should be outside. The tradition to be on the outside of the ship needs to end.
On both sides of the ship. There should be a ramp as well as proper tie downs of additional weapons that are either tracked , trailered or wheeled vehicles which can be utilized to each of their own full functionality. By securing weaponized vehicles to the sides of the ship inside their own channels. You now have weapons at the ready. The hard part is to network and integrate all of the weapons into the whole network of the Navy. Which also includes all telemetry data for use to send off missiles or bullets more efficiently than with their each own stand alone RADAR and sensor packages. The RADAR and sensor data should also be added to the whole Naval network. If this has not been done then it should be done very soon. No you know why the ship needs to be wider in order to offset the added weight on the sides of the ship. Then when you have landed on some beach. All of the gear and supplies which are in the 8000 sq. foot area can be offloaded and then the weapons which are tied down in their own channels can then be off loaded. Or either one first.
Think about this on each side of the ship a HIMARS, Centurion C-RAM, M1, You get the idea. The point is what ever is in that channel on each side of the ship has to be able to shoot at something in the most widest arc possible. While designing the inner wall to have the most protection for the inside of the ship as possible. While also not causing the ship to be top heavy in rough seas.
Near the front of the bow of the ship and on the sides install MK 57 VLS Missile cells. Installing the MK57 VLS Cells would cost a lot of money. But, engineer them into the design and then when you find some extra MK57 laying arounds with spare wires. Add them.
There is your warship. You have the empty hull. You fill it with the off the shelf tech you want and it is more than wide enough. You can make it mission specific.
The top helicopter landing area is upgraded for F35 use.
Below deck. There will be ample room for new larger engines and added generators. For those up and coming new weapons systems.
The central RADAR communications mast should be of ample size to add more technology and other gear. Even though they may not be budgeted. If a destroyer or some other ship has no use of a particular tech gadget and if it fits then install it. This ship will be wide enough for extra gadgets. Engineer routing and added cooling into the hull even though none of it will be present at the onset.
Include space for the capability of launching a swarm of drones of various sizes and capabilities. Again, these things wont actually be incorporated into the ship until the monies are allotted. But, the space and ability to power, comms and cool will be in place.
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China make lack the sophistication that Russia has in regards to networking and integration of everything. But, China will be shooting every available missiles and bullet at all of your ships. To the point that when your weapons have been exhausted. The Chinese will decide to either sink your ships or capture them. The Chinese will capture many when they figure out that they can exhaust your weapons stores and cause you to become a helpless warship. So you may think what I write is excessive. I right with the mindset of not losing and saving lives while killing as many of the enemy as possible. In which China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, Turkey and maybe India are enemies. The Turkey and India are future possibilities of possible human decision. Turkey will most likely turncoat and you already know this. Please read my other Naval ship classes writings. My writing style should not be judged. It is the ideas I put forth which matter.
Every class of ship building must incorporate the maximum number of missile cells onto each new modern class of war ship. The idea of networking and integration must also be built into the systems of every ship. To a degree more advanced than it is today. Real time data sharing incorporated. I see these things in your gray world. I see a commander of some type launching missiles on another ship from a command ship and the crew who launched the missiles didn't do anything. I think. This will save missiles and use the best choice missile on a select ship. Instead of several ships firing on a single drone with 4 missiles and 10,000 rounds of ammunition. You cannot do this. You will lose against China. Efficient use of missiles is paramount.
But, the best military advice is to communicate with every marine, soldier and sailor to stop buying any products made in China. China is using their profits given to them buy us to build every aspect of their war machine. It is we who are paying for the missiles, bullets and bombs which will or may eventually used against us. Then ask every marine, soldier and sailor to communicate this to their own civilian friends and family members. Oops. I forgot airmen and spacemen. Spacemen? Oh Yea, Mr. Spacemen, I heard that Russia now owns or has had claimed ownership of Venus. I hope you spacemen types are ready for China to own Mars and the moon or any other celestial body they look upon. Because, China does not care about international law or any other space related agreements.
In the beginning This will most likely look like a big empty ship with lots of space available. But, when you commanders need one of these ships to do a thing. The future capability has already been engineered into the hull. But, if you use the cheapest 200 foot hull and you send it to a full armed Chinese Island. They won't make it to shore. All warships must have their compliment of missiles and capabilities which can add to the fight and not have to be under the protective umbrella. Yes, they will be under your protective umbrella but they will not be either helpless or defenseless.
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Added on 25 Sept 2020: Careful consideration should be taken with all classes of US Navy ships. They should all be weaponized and be adapted for nuclear power from Small Modular Nuclear Reactors(SMR) which are becoming available. Hopefully they will be able to be orientated more than one way. Hopefully they can be laid horizontal with degrees of movement in a variety of directions and still be able to function.
The idea of diesel electric submarines may just die out due to the advancement of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors.
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Today's vision: I have been thinking about SMR's for some time and I have written about nuclear power at every military base/post with the USA. I just did not know about SMR's. Every military base/post being able to sell their power to the grid. I think I even wrote about how each military base/post was able to expand there power systems. Then every military base/post would have the needed power to operate very high powered RADAR equipment as well as have defensive missiles at the ready.
These new generations of small modular nuclear reactors as positioned on every ship. With consideration of easy removal and new installations of the small modular nuclear power plant. I can see the placement close to the keel and proper centered on the keel. I can see a re-engineering of the Keel to adapt the weight more evenly.
The next law should have this consideration of adding a small modular nuclear reactor. Then this ones ship would be able to produce up to 80 MWe. If these can be transported inside of an American big rig 40 ton truck. Then they can be engineered into a new generation of ships. One of the things that need to be done is to engineer the added displacement into each smaller classes of ships. Then you run the ships for 1-3 years and then replace the SMR's.
I also saw in another vision three SMR's all very close to the Keel and in the "V" orientation. I did not see anything else. So now you have a ship with about 120,000 pounds of nuclear power added to the size of the ship. But, the ship will also have 240MWe of power available.
With this kind of available power. You now have the option of adding both RF and other commonly known DEW's. Then be able to add secured marine ready THAAD's or Patriot's or both on board your new LAW ship. Along with a couple of Centurions CIWS. (Deleted CommentX2).
If your going to create these LAW's to contend with the built up military islands of the Chinese or should I say naval pickets. The Chinese knows what you have in regards to missiles, planes and bullets. The Chinese knows all they have to do is saturate your defenses and then go in for the kill or the capture. I have had visions of American aircraft carriers being captured with blood being drained from the ships. The Chinese will use ten thousand men to board one air craft carrier in order to take them and they will when you run out of bullets. I did see the Chines use an energy like weapon to knock out all power from the carrier and then go in for the capture. I wrote this down in some older blogs.
If you do add nuclear power to the new generation of LAW's. Then they can remain on the beach giving needed power for the newly established beach head and/or offload a trailered mobile SMR.
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PDF Coffee time. Fix your reading chair.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R46374.pdf
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2020/09/21/us-marines-wants-to-move-fast-on-a-light-amphibious-warship-but-what-is-it/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vehicles_of_the_United_States_Marine_Corps
https://news.usni.org/2020/02/20/navy-researching-new-class-of-medium-amphibious-ship-new-logistics-ships
https://x-energy.com/reactors/xe-100
https://youtu.be/mNlggLdWUng
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Added on 28 Sept 2020: I still like the image as written about above.
I wanted to stress the amount of exterior automated weapons on the every new warship. While still being able to maintain a 10 foot draft. All weapons firing from the ship as unload begins. Thus, saving lives and taking a beach head. Being able to launch various kinds of drones. While launching missiles from their own VLS system.
I also want to further explain the remote operated automated weapons systems. I still want to stress that all sailors should remain inside of the ship. But, I also know warfare is a dangerous business. Sometimes or often men must man the guns. This should also be the case. All remote operated guns should also have a manual function. Just in case or when the sensor and RADAR functions are disabled. Then somebody has to go and shoot those guns.
I speak of keeping bodies inside of the warships because of the advent of RF DEW's. This is still very classified but it is or will be a weapon system you will see in the future. Whether it be from 200 miles away or over the horizon from 1500 miles away. Maybe, even from ship to ship. You may be able to see defensive measures in the new construction of enemy warships. With odd materials added. When you see odd materials added to enemy warships. They are beginning to protect themselves from the use of RF DEW's. Think about how a microwave oven protects the user. Except way more complicated.
New software and hardware upgrades to these remote operated guns need to be done. Especially when using these guns in rough seas on smaller warships.
All new warships must be wider. Yes, I understand the limitations of the Panama Canal. Still, new warships must be wider. This is to offer more displacement and stability for the addition of new remote operated gun systems and on larger ships arrays of RF DEW's. In which when the RF DEW's are added to ships. You cannot have humans outside. It is just like standing in front of a RADAR emitter. How long does it take to cook popcorn in the range of a Phased Array Panel? Then think about the gray material inside of your noggin as well as your other essential parts.
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