Since the inception of the LCS concept, the US Navy has planned to replace its mine warfare ships with the LCS mine warfare package. So, this is not really "new." The first production LCS commissioned in 2015. That's just more than a decade ago. The LCS MCM package reached IOC in 2022. So, this has been in the works and anticipated for a long time.

The Navy chose to execute it early this year. It had multiple MCM packages up and running, and fitted out three and sent them to Bahrain. I recall reading articles a couple of years ago saying we were preparing facilities in Bahrain to accomodate the LCS. Between having enough available packages, and the port fscilities now ready, the "plan was executed."

I also recall reading an article several years back on the old Avenger class MCMs based in Japan which elaborated on how they were so old and worn out that they spent most of their time in port, and the article wondered when we were finally going to replace them. We have not designed nor built any new ones, since the plan has always been the LCS MCM package. So, either way, our MCM abilities have been pretty poor for a long time. On the one hand is the troubled LCS module, on the other are ships so worn out as to be nearly useless.

I don't know exactly who made the choice to "finally" execute the switch from the Avengers to the LCS early this year, but I suspect it was "routine," in that it was a planned event that had taken literally years to prepare, and all the pieces had finally come into place. I would also add that I doubt that anyone involved had foreknowledge of a coming war to the region. That would be a "different department." That two of the three Bahrain based ships are now in Maylasia would actually further underscore this. Probably was planned earlier. Now looks as stupid as it is, but this is what happens when compartmentalization occurs, and classified plans are not shared. The initial Russian invasion of Ukraine failed because it was so secret that sealed orders were received the day before by the units who were to execute it. Preparation time was nearly zero, and the maps they received with those sealed orders were outdated to boot. This is "not unique." This is a hazard of military operations.

The choice to replace the Avenger vessels was very likely "routine." Even to send the LCS off on a junket to Maylasia at this particular moment could also be "routine." What that reflects on the running of the overall operation is telling. They did escape any attacks on their facilities this way, so it might have been better planned than it looks. How fast they return to the gulf region (or if they return) would be interesting.