“ Our current industrial base would need DECADES to be able to take the current force from 11 to 16, and so instead of addressing the industrial base deficiencies, we kvetch about how expensive carriers are and we wish away their importance in the face of opponents judged ten feet tall.
We need 450 manned ships including 16 carriers and 75 attack submarines to get to the baseline Navy we need to address the world as it is. An additional 100-150 unmanned ships will act as force multipliers. Our Navy and political leaders know this, but they look around at the workforce and the capacity of our shipbuilding industry and they shrug their shoulders and they say it cannot be done. This is true.”
Ok so maybe this is a bad idea, but what if we tried buying some ships from other countries in order to very quickly get up to 16 carriers wnd 450 ships? In general I know it is important to maintain our capacity (and build up our capacity) to build the Navy we need at home, but if we need a much bigger fleet right now, could buying ships from allies be a short term solution?
Fair point. Naturally I think we need to have a separate but related effort to increase recruiting here in America.
What about some of the smaller ships or the unmanned? Would it make sense for the US shipyards to focus on submarines and carriers? Of course, I recognize that if the funding existed there would be more small shipyards in the US. If Congress tripled the funding for the frigates and we got a second shipyard churning them out that would be a step in the right direction. Still, I’m just trying to think outside the box for a short term solution. I’d like to see the fleet grow to 450 ships within my lifetime.
Right when we say something less than 450 ships we then need to find a balance and of course a strategy. If 15 carriers was 600 ships than 450 ships would balance out to 11-12 carriers. We need to look at past fleet mixes and strategies. I doubt carrier heavy will get the nod.
Thank you for still being 'On Watch" with your advocacy for American Seapower. I was shocked to see so many big decks in the water (on USNI Fleet Tracker). Unfortunately this means a future dearth. As you pointed out, not sustainable.
Beyond your strateegery :) discussion, the Veterans Day message is spot on. I am in awe of those that serve and your message was uplifting and positive and we need more of .. #selfless leader
If we did a build strategy with carriers and did a block buy of 3 every 8 years, launching every 32 months we could have 10 active carriers and at some point stop RCOH, maybe ramp a carrier or 2 down early with some fuel left to be in reserve status awhile. Resume RCOH down the road. They already took a positive step in this direction by setting Enterprise and Doris Miller to be in the dock at the same time. This is why they extended the dock in the first place. Now they just need a second, equally large gantry crane.
I feel similarly that the benefits of my service outweigh anything I contributed. The discussion of threats to our security and economic interests reminded me of a recent conversation on The Big Sort by Bill Bishop ( WHY THE CLUSTERING OF LIKE-MINDED AMERICA IS TEARING US APART). My friend and I were wondering if the 50 states will remain as one country. Secession is probably extremely unlikely, but we wondered how a fractured U.S. would deter China and Russia. He suggested the new groupings of states would have to form/join a NATO-like group. ( who gets the nukes?)
Would some predictions on what would happen if Trump is re-elected increase the likelihood of a break up?
My son lives near Fairbanks, AK and complains about how the Anchorage area dominates state politics. This scenario is everywhere, but even if you, for example, allowed parts of Oregon to join Idaho, where does it end? The Boise region then separates and aligns with western Washington state?
I don't know if there was a day when people simply accepted political results -- perhaps grumbling all the way, but accepting -- that seems to have gone by the wayside.
I, too, blanche when thanked for my service, thinking, the pleasure was mine, while thinking actual combat veterans are the only ones truly deserving.
National Geo channel reran the USS Ford piece Saturday evening, which I'd never seen. Working in support at the PEO, your comments were particularly well chosen and still relevant.
0% loans for the Defense Industrial Base. Use of light carriers and diesel-electric subs as forward assets. More land-based Naval Air. Just a few suggestions to get numbers and effectiveness up.
Eight carriers at sea and a vacancy at the top of the chain is a major crisis IMHO.
The reset will hurt. Pray for peace.
“ Our current industrial base would need DECADES to be able to take the current force from 11 to 16, and so instead of addressing the industrial base deficiencies, we kvetch about how expensive carriers are and we wish away their importance in the face of opponents judged ten feet tall.
We need 450 manned ships including 16 carriers and 75 attack submarines to get to the baseline Navy we need to address the world as it is. An additional 100-150 unmanned ships will act as force multipliers. Our Navy and political leaders know this, but they look around at the workforce and the capacity of our shipbuilding industry and they shrug their shoulders and they say it cannot be done. This is true.”
Ok so maybe this is a bad idea, but what if we tried buying some ships from other countries in order to very quickly get up to 16 carriers wnd 450 ships? In general I know it is important to maintain our capacity (and build up our capacity) to build the Navy we need at home, but if we need a much bigger fleet right now, could buying ships from allies be a short term solution?
And the planes and crews? Many allies with CVN experience? Even CVA?
Fair point. Naturally I think we need to have a separate but related effort to increase recruiting here in America.
What about some of the smaller ships or the unmanned? Would it make sense for the US shipyards to focus on submarines and carriers? Of course, I recognize that if the funding existed there would be more small shipyards in the US. If Congress tripled the funding for the frigates and we got a second shipyard churning them out that would be a step in the right direction. Still, I’m just trying to think outside the box for a short term solution. I’d like to see the fleet grow to 450 ships within my lifetime.
Right when we say something less than 450 ships we then need to find a balance and of course a strategy. If 15 carriers was 600 ships than 450 ships would balance out to 11-12 carriers. We need to look at past fleet mixes and strategies. I doubt carrier heavy will get the nod.
I love and echo your veteran's day sentiments.
The number continues to be 600. I gladly served with many of those you mentioned thank you for your continued service to our Navy.
Thank you for still being 'On Watch" with your advocacy for American Seapower. I was shocked to see so many big decks in the water (on USNI Fleet Tracker). Unfortunately this means a future dearth. As you pointed out, not sustainable.
Beyond your strateegery :) discussion, the Veterans Day message is spot on. I am in awe of those that serve and your message was uplifting and positive and we need more of .. #selfless leader
Thank you, Bill. I hope all is well.
If we did a build strategy with carriers and did a block buy of 3 every 8 years, launching every 32 months we could have 10 active carriers and at some point stop RCOH, maybe ramp a carrier or 2 down early with some fuel left to be in reserve status awhile. Resume RCOH down the road. They already took a positive step in this direction by setting Enterprise and Doris Miller to be in the dock at the same time. This is why they extended the dock in the first place. Now they just need a second, equally large gantry crane.
We need to get the rudder over--and keep it over.
I feel similarly that the benefits of my service outweigh anything I contributed. The discussion of threats to our security and economic interests reminded me of a recent conversation on The Big Sort by Bill Bishop ( WHY THE CLUSTERING OF LIKE-MINDED AMERICA IS TEARING US APART). My friend and I were wondering if the 50 states will remain as one country. Secession is probably extremely unlikely, but we wondered how a fractured U.S. would deter China and Russia. He suggested the new groupings of states would have to form/join a NATO-like group. ( who gets the nukes?)
Would some predictions on what would happen if Trump is re-elected increase the likelihood of a break up?
My son lives near Fairbanks, AK and complains about how the Anchorage area dominates state politics. This scenario is everywhere, but even if you, for example, allowed parts of Oregon to join Idaho, where does it end? The Boise region then separates and aligns with western Washington state?
I don't know if there was a day when people simply accepted political results -- perhaps grumbling all the way, but accepting -- that seems to have gone by the wayside.
Another wonderful piece. Thank you, Bryan. 🫡
Thank you, Shipmate.
I, too, blanche when thanked for my service, thinking, the pleasure was mine, while thinking actual combat veterans are the only ones truly deserving.
National Geo channel reran the USS Ford piece Saturday evening, which I'd never seen. Working in support at the PEO, your comments were particularly well chosen and still relevant.
One day my Dad (then around 90) called and said he'd just been flipping through channels and saw that show--there I was! He'd never seen it.
0% loans for the Defense Industrial Base. Use of light carriers and diesel-electric subs as forward assets. More land-based Naval Air. Just a few suggestions to get numbers and effectiveness up.