Let's start with the good news. The Navy is preparing the first monohull designed LCS 1 (littoral combat ship) USS Freedom (in contrast to the trimaran design LCS 2 USS Independence) for its first deployment. This is welcome news since it has been just over four years since the Freedom was commissioned.  Of course the discovery of cracks in the hull and superstructure and a shaft seal leak during sea trials in 2011 (requiring six weeks in dry dock) didn't help matters, but, and more good news, these problems have been fixed.

Now, for those of you new to the LCS drama, what we are looking at

The Hartford Connecticut Police Department recently received quite a surprise when during a gun buy back program a woman walked into the station with a World War II era Sturmgewehr 44; widely recognized as the world's first assault rifle. Heavy and awkward by today's standards, nevertheless when introduced the Sturmgewehr quickly became a prized possession capable of laying down tremendous firepower at standard combat ranges.

Manufactured in Nazi Germany during World War II only around 400,000 of these assault rifles were produced, and far fewer survive today.