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A repair bill of an estimated $23 million and months out of action. That’s the cost to U.S. taxpayers and the Navy after the four-year-old littoral combat ship USS Forth Worth tried to operate its propulsion system without enough oil in January.
The Navy announced Wednesday that the $360 million vessel would make a six-week-long journey this summer from Singapore, where it has been tied up since the incident, to San Diego for repairs to its combining gears, the hardware that transfers power from the ship’s diesel and gas turbine engines to its water-jet propulsion system.
“The casualty occurred due to an apparent failure to follow procedures during an operational test of the port and starboard main propulsion diesel engines,” said the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, in a statement issued earlier this year.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Keith DeVinney/Released
The USS Independence (LCS 2), left, and USS Coronado (LCS 4) steam in the Pacific Ocean. The two are of the Independence variant LCS. Ships of this variant are 416.8 feet in length with a beam of 103.7 feet and a displacement of 3,100 metric tons.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy
The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii in 2010.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conor Minto/Released
The USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) conducts patrols in international waters of the South China Sea near the Spratly Islands as the Chinese guided-missile frigate Yancheng follows. The Fort Worth is a Freedom variant LCS. Ships of this variant are 387.6 feet in length with a beam of 57.7 feet and a displacement of 3,400 metric tons. Click through the gallery to see more of the LCS classes.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
MCC Sam Shavers/U.S. Navy
Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus speaks in Gulfport, Mississippi, at the christening ceremony for the USS Jackson in December 2015.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
From Lockheed Martin
The future USS Little Rock (LCS-9) was christened and launched into the Menominee River in Marinette, Wisconsin, on July 18, 2015. The Little Rock is a Freedom variant littoral combat ship.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Conor Minto
Chief Gunner's Mate Nicholas Bokan, assigned to Surface Warfare Mission Package, Detachment 1, embarked aboard the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), rigs a caving ladder on the flight deck during a visit, board, search, and seizure training drill.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S.Navy Photo
The littoral combat ship USS Independence (LCS 2) conducts maneuvers with the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercise 2014.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Antonio P. Turretto Ramos
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class Adam Garnett, from Anchorage, Alaska, signals an AH-1 Cobra helicopter from Marine Air Group (MAG) 24 during deck landing qualification training aboard the USS Fort Worth (LCS 3). The LCSs are designed to support air operations by both helicopters and helicopter drones.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tim D. Godbee
A rigid-hull inflatable boat prepares to enter the littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) during training off the coast of Southern California.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Antonio P. Turretto Ramos
Sailors assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 35 prepare an MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned aircraft system for flight operations aboard the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3).
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Katarzyna Kobiljak
Sailors assigned to Surface Warfare Detachment Four of the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) Crew 102 prepare to board a naval training vessel.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Antonio P. Turretto Ramos
Chief Fire Controlman Beth Simpson-Fuchs moves 57 mm rounds aboard the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) while in port at Changi Naval Base Singapore. The 57mm gun is part of the LCS's core ship weapons.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Antonio Turretto
Gunner's Mate 2nd Class Andrew Thomasy and Fire Controlman 1st Class Waylon Clement, assigned to Surface Warfare Detachment 3, load high-explosive incendiary tracer rounds into the ammunition feeder-can of a 30mm weapons system aboard the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3). The 30mm guns are part of the LCS surface warfare package.
Photos: Meet the littoral combat ship
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Zachary D. Bell
A Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile is launched from the littoral combat ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) during missile testing operations off the coast of Southern California in September 2014. The missile scored a direct hit on a mobile ship target.
