OPINION: Dear Navy, build ships

A report that the Navy is re-evaluating its 355-ship goal in the wake of the new national security strategy is a good sign. Those who think the number should be lower are all wet. Ideally, the Navy will revise that number upward. The U.S. Navy, at present, is arguably the most powerful navy in the world: 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers with four squadrons of multi-role fighters and support craft; major surface combatants – lots of cruisers and destroyers; and nuke subs that rule the under-sea. One major problem: The capability to be two places at the same time. The Navy has 288 ships in service. Thirty years ago, the Navy had 592 ships-vessels, 15 carriers, and a training carrier [USS Lexington (AVT-16) based out of Pensacola, Fla.]. Ten years later the numbers began to dwindle. The decline has been bipartisan. Former Presidents Clinton and Obama did a lot of slashing; George W. Bush did little to reverse the trend although he was in a global War of Terror, but did develop the under-armored Littoral Combat Ship classes. Then, there was the missed opportunity to license production of Spain’s Alvaro de Bazan-class guided missile frigates to replace Perry-class ships. There’s hope: The Navy’s FFG(X) program offers a chance to start addressing those shortfalls. The Bazan design is one of five competing for the contract, along with both contractors of both classes of LCS (includes Austal USA of Mobile, Ala.). In addition, a version of the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter (HII-Pascagoula, Miss.) is in the mix. Buying all four designs would help alleviate the shortfall. The Navy has suffered decades of cuts, leading to a dwindling force structure. It can be reversed, but ships take a time to build. The Navy can get out of hole, but must start to build now. (Source: Washington Examiner OPINION by Harold Hutchinson, contributing writer 02/12/19)