Our current aircraft carrier force includes 11 big-deck flat tops, as mandated by Congress. The president’s pivot away from Europe and towards Asia and the Middle East envisions principally an air-sea dominance strategy, in which the carriers are Navy’s principal strike platforms.
So why is Navy quietly pushing to reduce the carrier footprint below that required by the law?
Conventional wisdom says the requirement to cut $488 billion from the Pentagon within 10 years will not necessitate banishing a single carrier because the president’s military strategy focuses on two carrier-dependent regions: Asia, where China is building a robust navy, and the Persian Gulf, where Iran threatens to block international oil shipping.
As Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta prepares to introduce the strategy’s first budget next month, the Navy has been in a furious fight behind the scenes to protect only 10 carriers, sources familiar with the issue told The Washington Times.
The sources say that, while the fiscal 2013 budget may well continue 11 carriers, the Navy will be down to 10 or even nine carriers within in the next five years.
A carrier typically transports about 80 aircraft and leads a battle group comprising 7,500 sailors, a guided- missile cruiser, two guided-missile destroyers, an attack submarine and a supply ship. Eliminating one carrier battle group would save billions of dollars.
It’s all about the money: Navy is reading between the lines, and realizes that while the strategy may be changing, the politics have not. We’ve seen this movie before: Develop a new national security strategy, then underfund it.
Nothing changes.
Maybe we can sell a couple of carriers to the Chinese. It’s not like they contribute health care services to everyone the population, like Obamacare.
Obama wants one carrier to permanently host NCAA basketball games. The Navy will have to justify the rest.
“then underfund it”
To paraphrase Sgt Reese: “Thats all they do!”
You people are just SO cynical! *I* on the other hand..
Lex, when was the last time a Naval Aviator was CNO? Or a theater commander? Naval Aviation has become the Warrior part of the Navy – and like most Warriors, welcome only in wartime.
Before Tailhook ’91…..
Of course, I remember Adm Hayward gave a speech at the Boat School during a Forrestal Lecture to which he said of the USSR, (I’ll paraphase) “I am tired of hearing about the “threat” maybe we should build a large Navy and we should be the threat.”
After Carter left, Reagan did just that!
Jay Johnson 1996 – 2000
Now making a measly $13,000,000 a year at GD. Some revolving door.
And after becoming a proven CEO at Dominion Power. Not my definition of a “revolving door”. But YMMV.
Less than one year as CEO, and you are right, my milage does vary due to my cynicism.
… Conveniently ignoring his five years as CEO of Dominion Delivery. You’re entitled to your cynicism, but you are going to have to look elsewhere for a “revolving door” example. No publicly traded company – even a defense one – is going to bring in a retired flag as CEO in hopes his presence will somehow get them more business. Too much shareholder value at stake for any board to ever go for that.
Which is more important- keeping welfare checks flowing or CVs at sea?
Those controlling the spending have their view of what the welfare check cashing voters want and don’t give a rat’s patooty about any of that “national security” stuff– unless it is built in their district/state.
That sort of Congresscritter must be thrown out of office to save our country. But, don’t count on the welfare check cashers to do the job.
True, that. The military are not dependable voters for this regime.
I recall a while ago the Navy wanted to go to 10 just so they could retire Enterprise early and not have to do the costly yard period just to get one more deployment out of her.
Here are the carriers as the current administration likes them:
a few are up in Bremerton, one is in Philadelphia, two are in Narrragansett Bay just north of Newport.
And at the rate we are going, the above will have some fresh company.
And to think that at one time, we had over 150 carriers, counting CVBs, CVs, CVLs, and CVEs, and two paddlewheel carriers on Lake Michigan.
Our Chancellor was in CHina last week and seems to have done a nice deal to try and secure a financial services management contract. Perhaps our two new carriers, awaiting completion, are also being offered for sale. Wouldn’t put it past them. Latest UK defence cuts to be announced later today.
Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers | Royal-Navy.SupaPrice.co.uk
Royal Navy Aircraft Carriers On Sale While Supplies Last – Why Pay More?
royal-navy.supaprice.co.uk
same all over NATO. Most countries can’t meet their treaty obligations when it comes to forces committed to NATO because they simply lack those forces and have for over a decade.
E.g. the Dutch are by treaty required to supply 10 MPAs, we have none, 100 jet fighters, we have 75 (including trainers, aircraft in long term maintenance, and those deployed on UN operations in Afghanistan and Yugoslavia among others), 200 or so MBTs, we have a few dozen left, 100+ pieces of self propelled artillery, we have none (they were all sold to Norway, just when they were about to be delivered to replace the towed artillery that was being scrapped because we were getting self propelled. We now have only mortars left afaik), 2 squadrons of minehunters, we only have half a squadron operational out of 1 squadron total, etc. etc. etc.
It’s the same for all the other countries except maybe a few odd ones like Ireland that have no obligations and never had armed forces to speak of.
You have to understand Obama’s world view, and the US role in that world view. Obama sees a bi-polar world, made up of haves and have nots. He sees a US hegemon, which has had a large role in inflicting US (and therefore European) interests on the have nots. His purpose is to reset the meter — to make it harder for the US to do that in the future. Therefore, his lasting legacy, is to reduce the combat power of the US, and reduce the ability of the hegemon to advance national interests even after he leaves office.
….And what of our destroyers?
The Royal Navy is proud of its new fleet of Type 45 destroyers.
Having initially named the first two ships HMS Daring and HMS Dauntless, the Naming Committee has, after intensive pressure from Brussels, renamed them HMS Cautious and HMS Prudence.
The next five ships are to be named HMS Empathy, HMS Circumspect, HMS Nervous, HMS Timorous and HMS Apologist.
Costing £850 million each, they meet the needs of the 21st century and comply with the very latest employment, equality, health & safety and human rights laws.
The new user-friendly crow’s nest comes equipped with wheelchair access. Live ammunition has been replaced with paintballs to reduce the risk of anyone getting hurt and to cut down on the number of compensation claims. Stress counsellors and lawyers will be on duty 24hrs a day and each ship will have its on-board industrial tribunal.
The crew will be 50/50% men and women, and balanced in accordance with the latest Home Office directives on race, gender, sexuality and disability. Sailors will only have to work a maximum of 37hrs per week in line with Brussels Health & Safety rules, even in wartime! All the vessels will come equipped with a maternity ward and nursery, situated on the same deck as the Gay Disco.
Tobacco will be banned throughout the ship, but cannabis will be allowed in the wardroom and messes. The Royal Navy is eager to shed its traditional reputation for; “Rum, sodomy and the lash”; so out has gone the occasional rum ration which is to be replaced by sparkling water.
Although sodomy remains, it has now been extended to include all ratings under 18. The lash will still be available but only on request. Condoms can be obtained from the Bosun in a variety of flavours, except Capstan Full Strength.
Saluting officers has been abolished because it is deemed elitist and is to be replaced by the more informal, “Hello Sailor”. All information on notices boards will be printed in 37 different languages and Braille. Crew members will now no longer be required to ask permission to grow beards or moustaches – this applies equally to women crew members.
The MoD is working on a new “non-specific” flag because the White Ensign is considered to be offensive to minorities. The Union Flag had already been discarded.
The newly re-named HMS Cautious is due to be commissioned soon in a ceremony conducted by Captain Hook from the Finsbury Park Mosque who will break a petrol bomb over the hull. She will gently slide into the water as the Royal Marines Band plays “In the Navy” by the Village People. Her first deployment will be to escort boat loads of illegal immigrants across the channel to ports on England ‘s south coast.
The Prime Minister said, “While these ships reflect the very latest in modern thinking, they are also capable of being up-graded to comply with any new legislation coming out of Brussels .” His final words were, “Britannia waives the rules.”
Laughing and crying simultaneously does make such a mess on the monitor.