We have discussed, before, the tendency of Congress to keep appropriating money to build more of a system than the service wants or needs, for “jobs” (JC profits). According to this article, the USCG “National Security Cutter” program was supposed to build 8 ships. Work has been under way on #11.
The Wiki article talks about extensive cost and schedule overruns on the program, along with poor design and construction. Of course, Lockheed had it’s fingers in it, supplying substandard comm equipment.
So, now, there has been some sort of financial settlement, to cancel cutter #11, while some of the equipment made for it, is transferred to the CG, for use as spare parts for the other cutters.
That brings me to this tidbit, well down in the article:
Earlier this year, U.S. Coast Guard acting commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday said that the National Security Cutter has faced spare parts problems.
“When a National Security Cutter pulls into port, we do a controlled parts exchange, which is a fancy term for cannibalizing our readiness. No ship gets underway without stripping another for parts,” he said in April. “You can only cannibalize your readiness and eat your own readiness for so long in that downward death spiral and that’s where we’re at.”
Steve