The shiny new littoral combat ship Jackson is getting blown up over the next few weeks.

The Independence-variant LCS, with its crew aboard, is undergoing full-ship shock trials — a survivability test where tons of live explosives are set off near the ship to see how the hull handles the tensions and shock from a nearby mine explosion, one of the gravest dangers to a ship's survivalhandles the stress. And, yes, it usually breaks things on the ship. But figuring out what breaks and how to make the ship class better at withstanding shocks is the whole point.

Jackson, the third in the class of trimarans propelled by water jets at speeds past 40 knots, is slated for two more shock trials over the next few weeks. The Freedom-variant LCS Milwaukee has its date with underwater high-explosives later this year and is expected to wrap up in December.

Each class of warship must undergo these shock trials to assess the ship's ability to handle a nearby explosion. The crew braces for the drill, while engineers are aboard to measure the impact on the ship's systems. Each blast, typically 10,000 pounds or more of explosives, gets closer to the ship.

080816-N-6031Q-213 ATLANTIC OCEAN (Aug. 16, 2008) A 10,000-pound underwater explosion rocks the amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) during a shock test off the Florida coast. The test is part of Navy trials for the San Antonio-class ship, which was commissioned last December. U.S. Navy photo (Released)

Ten-thousand pounds of high explosives rocks the amphibious transport dock Mesa Verde during its 2008 shock trials.

Photo Credit: Navy

About David B. Larter

David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.

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