The US Navy, Where Does It Go

The US Navy has had and continues to have a unique role in US international presence. On the one hand it has the function of protecting the ocean borders of the United States, apart from the policing actions of the Coast Guard. Second, it has the duty to ensure that US interests are protected abroad, from threats, from attacks, and the like. For example if an enemy fleet of whatever type were to attempt to breach the borders of the United States by sea then the Navy has the duty to protect those borders. Also if U.S. ships, persons, or even business were under threat on foreign seas or lands then the Navy has the prime duty to send defense to protect those interests. That is assuming they are allowed to. 

Thus two decades ago the 6^th Fleet roamed the Med and if a Libyan attack had occurred then the fleet could launch jet attack aircraft in minutes and helicopter relief ships in less than two hours. Now we have most likely a few tugs in the Med, thus the Libyan disaster. Naples is at best a port of repair, and the Med is open to all comers.

The Admirals of the type of King, Nimitz, and Spruance seem no longer to exist, those there are politically tuned and thus avoid conflict and in my opinion confuse the mission.

Let us examine the current fleet. There are 287 Deployable Battle Force Ships. Amongst that there are only six Aircraft Carriers composed of the following: [1]

             

USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - 6th Fleet

USS Nimitz (CVN 68) - Pacific Ocean

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) - 5th Fleet

USS George Washington (CVN 73) - South China Sea

USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - 5th Fleet

USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) - Atlantic Ocean

Also there are only 6 Amphibious Assault Ships comprised of the following:

             

USS Peleliu (LHA 5) - port visit Phuket, TH

USS Wasp (LHD 1) - Atlantic Ocean

USS Bataan (LHD 5) - Atlantic Ocean

USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) - port visit Sepangar, MY

USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) - 5th Fleet

USS Makin Island (LHD 8) - Atlantic Ocean

The typical Carrier Group is composed of 6-10 ships:

1.      1 Carrier: The carrier provides a wide range of options to the U.S. government from simply showing the flag to attacks on airborne, afloat and ashore targets. Because carriers operate in international waters, its aircraft do not need to secure landing rights on foreign soil. These ships also engage in sustained operations in support of other forces.

2.      1 Guided missile cruiser multi-mission surface combatant. Equipped with Tomahawks for long-range strike capability.

3.      2 Guided missile destroyers multi-mission surface combatants, used primarily for anti-air warfare (AAW)

4.      1 Attack submarine in a direct support role seeking out and destroying hostile surface ships and submarines

5.      1 Combined ammunition, oiler, and supply ship provides logistic support enabling the Navy's forward presence; on station, ready to respond

Now a ship is at sea for 4 months at a time. That means that despite the fact that we have 6 Carrier groups we have only 2 at any one time deployed under full condition. Thus given the current strength of the Navy we have a truly weak presence. Thus, there most likely no way to react to Libya.

What should a naval strategy be? That is an oft debated question. Do we still need a stealthy nuclear attack fleet? Would we use it and against whom. Should the littoral fleet be expanded? Are we concerned about in close warfare, and how complex should the littoral fleet be? One of the typical Naval and DOD problems is that they take a simple ship concept such as the littoral craft and turn it into a multi-billion dollar affair. Why not keep them at say the old Fletcher class destroyers, sleek, light, and mobile. That is a swarming attack and defense force. I have written extensively about this in the past and rapid deployment and mobility at low costs are essential.

Reconnaissance can now be accomplished by various means and methods from drones to the NRO fleet of satellites. C³I should be well developed. The Navy should have an expansive mission with plans for flexible roles in many theatres. China has one rebuilt nuclear carrier, not that they cannot build a half dozen, but deploying them would take time. Russia has reduced its presence. The nature of the enemy has changed. It is pirates in the Indian, and frankly concerns about the shores of the homeland.

Thus frankly the dismissive comments by the current president are not only to be concerned about but frankly they should be terrifying. One should remember that on 9-11 we had only 2 unarmed Massachusetts National Guard jets available for New York City. There were more Czech jest available for Prague! The prior administration had gutted national defense assuming a new century of peace and when it comes to protecting ourselves we had not one bullet.

Now the threat is magnitudes higher and the planning and execution must meet the challenge. We need Admirals who can articulate a plan, reasons for why they need what. We must not retreat into the slumber of the 1930s, with not even the fuels to set the few ships asail.

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[1] http://www.navy.mil/navydata/nav_legacy.asp?id=146