The word of the stand down and the ongoing retraining for the engineering departments comes ahead of a soon-to-be-revealed LCS review that promises fundamental changes on how both classes are manned, equipped and operated, USNI News understands.
Advertisement
After four combined engineering casualties within the previous year, the commander, Naval Surface Forces (NAVSURFOR), “ordered an engineering stand down for every [Littoral Combat Ship] crew to review procedures and standards for their engineering departments”, the Navy said in a statement issued late Monday.
The Navy announced Monday the stand down was completed August 31, and each sailor involved in engineering onboard the ships must now be retrained. In addition to retraining personnel, the Navy is also conducting an investigation into possible engine design issues on ships built by the Mobile-based Austal and those built by Lockheed Martin in Wisconsin.
The training will take place over the next month and will allow commanders to review existing training programs to determine what changes must be made to secure a successful future for the ships.
This announcement comes after an engineering casualty on the USS Freedom and flexible coupling assembly casualty on the USS Coronado, which are the most recent of four engineering casualties that have happened with LCS in the past year.
They will develop a knowledge test and specialized training for LCS engineers, to be deployed to them by October 5. One of the ship’s main propulsion diesel engines died July 11 due to a leak in the seawater pump mechanical seal causing a contamination in the engine lube oil system, according to the Navy.
Upon its return to Pearl Harbor Sept. 4, the Coronado was met by a group of maintenance experts sent by Rowden to inspect the ship, officials said.
“From there, more adjustments may be made to the engineering training pipeline”, the Navy said.
“I am fully committed to ensuring that our ships and the Sailors who man them have the proper tools and training they need to safely and effectively operate these ships”, Rowden said.
Advertisement
Despite the comments from the former Navy officer, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has contended in the past that his branch requires as many as 52 Littoral ships, 12 more than Secretary of Defense Ash Carter said was necessary.
