We’ve heard a lot about the F-35 aircraft being a boondoggle. Apparently, the U.S. Navy has a boondoggle of its own called the littoral combat ship.

It has been plagued by problems since its conception in 2001. Uncharitably dubbed the “little crappy ship” by its detractors, the program has faced cost overruns, delays, mechanical failures, and questions over the platforms’ survivability in high-intensity combat. Each of the 23 commissioned littoral combat ships cost around $500 million to build, with astronomical operating costs adding to the program’s hefty price tag. 

War on the Rocks

Knowing nothing about naval or littoral combat, building a bunch of small ships like this does seem like a better idea than a few multi-billion dollar aircraft carriers and battleships which can be taken out by missiles and mines. A half a billion dollars for one “crappy little ship” seems a bit steep though.