Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner! :p

The real issue is why all the strings?

Why would it be so important for the US to ensure that the Indians can’t use such a ship in combat… as mentioned it is hardly an AEGIS cruiser.

I think the obvious answer must be that they don’t want India to use it against Pakistan. In fact I think if India and China ever came to blows (unlikely as that might be) that the US might say on the quiet that they could use it for that conflict, but a conflict between India and Pakistan it would be the deal with strings followed to the letter or else.

The irony is that as mentioned this will be used as a learning exercise so the Indians will have a better idea of how to design and use future designs in this ship category. As such the purchase might not be used directly against Pakistan but it will lead to the creation of vessels and tactics that may be used in the event of war… with whomever.

Could be any of several reasons, including:
1. Because US doesn’t want to p off Pakistan, which it need in the ‘war against terrorism
2. Because it is a way to keep the price of the vessel low
3. to sell the deal at home: I’m sure this is cheaper for USN than other methods of disposal of old ships
4. because America has to slowly establish closer relations with India, which for a long time was a ‘non-aligned’ country, which happened to get a lot of its weaponry from the Soviet Union. Once more trust is established, other deals become feasible (i.e. test case)

I you ask me, those strings are a wax nose.

Is it Friesland/Holland class DD??

One of these yes. But … which? :diablo:

Nope, not a ship of the Callenburgh class.

But Dutch all right (hint)

You always have to keep in mind which beancounter is saying what.

The Government Accountability (formerly ‘Accounting’) Office (GAO) is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress. It is located in the Legislative branch of the United States Government.

Its counterpart in the Executive branch is OMB. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is a Cabinet-level office, and is the largest office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States (EOP). It is an important conduit by which the White House oversees the activities of federal agencies. OMB is tasked with giving expert advice to senior White House officials on a range of topics relating to federal policy, management, legislative, regulatory, and budgetary issues.

Then you have the bureacrats in question – i.e. DoD – which have their own agenda. Non-military components that are relevant in this context include the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) This, the largest of the agencies within the DoD, provides supplies to the military services and supports their acquisition of weapons and other materiel. It falls under the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics .
Then there is the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), who is the Chief Financial Officer of the United States Department of Defense and oversees Department of Defense financial management activities, including a budget of over $400 billion. In this role, this under-sec is supported among others by the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)

I’m sure each of the stakeholders mentioned above will paint a different picture, in accordance with their place, role and boss/clientele in the federal government. LMCO will off course have its own take on things as well. Go figure 😉

Launch of Isaac Sweers? Or one of sisterships?

Nope, not a ship of the Callenburgh class.

This might be a nice one too: what would today’s Flower class be like?
Four basic dimensions/areas to consider.
– hull
– propulsion
– armaments
– sensors