Why the US Navy's New McClung Class LSM Is a Slow Moving Target

The U.S. Navy's/Marines newest amphibious ship, the McClung-class Medium Landing Ship (LSM), is being hailed as a revolution for Force Design 2030. But is it actually a capable warship, or just a 14-knot freighter disguised as a strategic asset? In this deep-dive analysis, we strip away the Pentagon marketing to examine the troubled evolution of the LSM program—from the promising Light Amphibious Warship (LAW) concept to the licensed Dutch Damen LST-100 cargo hull being built in an Italian-owned Wisconsin shipyard. We break down the speed paradox, the "stealth freighter" fallacy, and the uncomfortable truth that this program exists primarily to save Fincantieri Marinette Marine after the catastrophic cancellation of the Constellation-class frigate. Is the McClung-class a necessary tool for Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations, or a slow-moving target practice drone for Chinese hypersonic missiles? Watch to the end for the final verdict.