USCG's newest cutters = lemons

[XShipRider]

<http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,124694,00.html?ESRC=coastguard.nl>

Ouch.

Looks like the former steward of this program got his star too early. Oh, that's right, he retired.

The Commandant's position is pretty much that these are great ships destined to do great things. What else can he say?

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/reserve/msg06/alcoast/coast601_06.htm

[Hellfish]

Someday a military program is going to arrive on time, to spec, and on budget.

Hopefully that day arrives before I die.

[2Sheds_Jackson]

"When this model is in place, we see colossal failures," said Lynch, a former ironworker and shipyard employee. "The government has contracted out oversight of contractors to contractors."

Yikes. Seems the government is always 10 years behind private industry in figuring these things out. The sales process goes like this;

"I will sell you a boat."
"Great, I'll take it. But how will we keep it on schedule?"
"Well, we can also manage the project"
"Great, I'll take that too! That was easy."
"Thanks - we try to be easy to work with. I'm your advocate, just keep handing me money."

[Trouble]

Yikes. Seems the government is always 10 years behind private industry in figuring these things out. The sales process goes like this;

"I will sell you a boat."
"Great, I'll take it. But how will we keep it on schedule?"
"Well, we can also manage the project"
"Great, I'll take that too! That was easy."
"Thanks - we try to be easy to work with. I'm your advocate, just keep handing me money."

Is more true than most folks know. All a case of inadequate Government oversight, open ended project request made to the contractor and the contractor trying to slip stuff into the program that is not part of the requirements asked for, but will allow for development of capabilities that open up future sales to other agencies and friendly governments.

[Ordie]

Meanwhile the Mexican Navy is producing similar vessels at a fraction of the costs using commercial standards.

[John Crighton]

Meanwhile the Mexican Navy is producing similar vessels at a fraction of the costs using commercial standards.

Yes, but cost means nothing as they are used to run drugs or protect the drug runners.

[Hellfish]

Yes, but cost means nothing as they are used to run drugs or protect the drug runners.

Nice little zing on the Mexicans there. Blanket statements like that go a long way to fixing the problems of this world. Thank you for your contribution.

[Little J]

Dont know why Lockheed doesn't just sell them a stripped-out version of their LCS (or is it coz' thats late/over buget too)?

[exarmyguard]

What did they think they would gain by lengthening an existing ship a few extra feet?

[Ordie]

A good transition vessel would have been a stripped down version of the USS Perry Class FFG.

[John Crighton]

Nice little zing on the Mexicans there. Blanket statements like that go a long way to fixing the problems of this world. Thank you for your contribution.

**** Mexico, in case you didn't get the point. Also, it isn't my job to fix the problems with the world in case ya' hadn't noticed.

Besides, show me my statement has no truth....oh wait, you can't, never mind.

[Hellfish]

Good thing you can comment on the world, then. God forbid you should actually do something about it.

[phoilme]

Happens a lot in the private world too. Doctors taking out an appendix and billing the insurance company for appendix transplant or the like. You get it. Contractors for repairs do the same. Don't break down in Turkey.