PEARL HARBOR (Aug. 31, 2011) Sailors and Marines render honors as the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) passes the USS Arizona Memorial while entering Pearl Harbor for a port visit. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin B. Gray/Released) — US Navy
Dave Majumdar, National Interest: U.S. Navy's Dangerous Carrier Shortage in the Pacific
The U.S. Navy is facing a looming shortage of aircraft carriers in the Western Pacific and the Middle East this year. That could mean the contested waters around China, as well as the war against the ISIS terrorist group in Syria and Iraq, could be short-changed—going without an aircraft carrier for months.
“There is no easy way to take a ten-carrier force and operate it like you have sixteen,” retired Adm. John Harvey told Navy Times. “At some point the wheels will come off the cart.”
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WNU Editor: There was a time when a U.S. President .... when being briefed on an international crisis .... would always have a carrier group not far away. Those days are gone now .... and will be for years. And while retired Adm. John Harvey is probably right in his analysis that the U.S. needs 16 aircraft carriers to be effective in covering the world's hotspots and mission responsibilities.... in today's environment of budget cuts coupled with being involved in numerous global conflicts .... I doubt that such a procurement of ships and material will ever happen in my lifetime (if ever).
2 comments:
Carriers require a lot of maintenance, as well as regular time in port. Currently one US carrier (of ten) is asea. So they are pretty worthless, considering the expense and productivity.
WNU Editor,
The "peak" of the US Carrier fleet was in the late 60's, with 26 on the roster, but that's actually a false number, because it includes WWII Escort Carriers, and WWII medium carriers, due to the air operations of the Vietnam War.
When the obsolete WWII Carriers ran out of upgrades and were retired, the Carrier fleet quickly dropped to 16, and by the early 90's was down to 12.
The US Navy's "Carrier" problem is self inflicted, as the Ford Class is years behind schedule, massively over budget and loaded with "bleeding edge" technologies that don't work. In addition, the costs of the Carriers has caused the Navy to slash the Small Ships Fleet, by retiring the Perry Class frigates, ( The Hardest Working Ships in the Fleet), with out replacement.
In addition, the illegal Wars of Choice with their constant deployment and active ops has ground down and worn out not just the fleets, but their air wings as well.
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