Compass Points - More Ships Now
Getting more Marines on more oceans now.
Compass Points - More Ships Now
Getting more Marines on more oceans now.
May 13, 2026
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The US Navy is working on new ways to get more ships on the seas. As the Navy works through new ideas and new methods, there is a way to get more US Marines forward deployed around the globe by using ships that already exist.
First, news outlet, Breaking Defense, is reporting, “Navy pushes Congress to back constructing auxiliary ships overseas.”
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WASHINGTON — The Navy wants Congress to sign off on building a small number of auxiliary ships and parts of combatant vessels overseas to “supplement” domestic production, according to the service’s recently released Fiscal Year 2027 Shipbuilding Plan.
Despite this request, building and maintaining ships in the US remains “central” to President Donald Trump’s shipbuilding vision and is the priority, the 30-year shipbuilding plan said.
“In parallel to that domestic expansion, however, we are also pursuing options to grow the fleet now,” according to the plan. “To achieve this vision, the Navy is requesting targeted legislative changes, specifically offering a proposal for the FY27 NDAA to authorize the construction of up to two auxiliary ships and the flexibility for fabrication of some combatant modules overseas.”
As a result, the plan says the Navy is proposing that US prime contractors are given greater flexibility to subcontract work with foreign partners to craft “non-sensitive modules” like hull structures in allied overseas yards for surface-combatant ships. This approach would allow the US to continue with its designs for ships like destroyers, while also capitalizing on the advanced manufacturing capabilities from allied facilities.
-- Breaking Defense
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In addition to using allies to help build ships, the US Navy is also finding new uses for ships already constructed. TWZ is reporting, “Navy’s Unwanted Sea Base Ship Will Test At-Sea Rearming Of Warships.”
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Rearming U.S. Navy warships at sea might be a new mission for its pair of Montford Point class expeditionary transfer dock ships, which it acquired between 2013 and 2014. Four years ago, the service had tried to inactivate these floating logistics nodes, which are unlike anything else in its inventory today, but was blocked by Congress. At that time, TWZ noted that this was a curious decision, given the relatively young age of the ships and their adaptability to supporting new concepts of operations.
-- TMZ
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If the US Navy is serious about rapidly getting more ships on more seas, the Navy should take a hard look, not only at the ESBs, but also the EPFs, the fleet of Expeditionary Fast Transports that could immediately get more Marines on patrol in more regions of the globe.
The Military Sealift Command outlines the Expeditionary Fast Transport.
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The Expeditionary Fast Transports, T-EPFs, are high-speed, shallow draft ships capable of intra-theater personnel and cargo lift for the armed services.
Each T-EPF has a reconfigurable 20,000 square-foot mission bay that can quickly adapt to provide high-speed, agile lift capability to deliver operationally ready units to small, austere ports and flexibly support a wide range of missions including humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, theater security cooperation, maritime domain awareness and noncombatant evacuations. The design features a flight deck capable of landing a CH-53 helicopter, a stern ramp for vehicle access to the mission deck, and seating for 312 passengers. Able to reach speeds of more than 35 knots, they enable the rapid transit and deployment of conventional and special forces, equipment and supplies in support of maneuver and sustainment operations.
-- Military Sealift Command
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There are more than a dozen Expeditionary Fast Transports already constructed and ready for use today. A pair of the ships could be assigned to each regional Combatant Commander and remain home-ported in each region. Marine Special Purpose MAGTFs could fly in to keep the ships always forward deployed 24/7/365. When any crisis erupts, the regional Combatant Commanders would have their own Marines always available in their region to rapid crisis response.
Where are these Expeditionary Fast Transports that could be put to use today? They are rusting away at Military Sealift Command. It is time for the US Marines to stop focusing on putting Marine sensor and missile units on islands off the coast of China, and focus instead on getting more Marine MAGTFs continuously forward deployed in every region of the world.
Compass Points salutes the US Navy for making better use of our allies, and better use of the Expeditionary Sea Bases. Now is the time to knock the rust off the existing fleet of Expeditionary Fast Transports and supply the regional Combatant Commanders with their own Special Purpose Marine MAGTF always on patrol in their region.
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Breaking Defense - 05/12/2026
Navy pushes Congress to back constructing auxiliary ships overseas
By Diana Stancy
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TWZ - 05/05/2026
Navy’s Unwanted Sea Base Ship Will Test At-Sea Rearming Of Warships
At-sea reloading demonstrated by USNS Montford Point could be key in a future fight in the Pacific and give these ships a new lease on life.
By Joseph Trevithick
https://www.twz.com/sea/navys-unwanted-sea-base-ship-will-test-at-sea-rearming-of-destroyer
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Compass Points - DAX MAGTF - Part 2
Keep the promise to be there.
August 12, 2023
marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com/p/compass-points-dax-magtf-part-2
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The idea to purchase foreign ships either complete on in some specific stage of development is not new. The divestiture of ships over the last 55 years has been nothing short of criminal.
A 30 year plan is obscene. “ Over the bleached and jumbled bones of destroyed civilizations are written the pathetic words: too late, too late.” I cannot recall the author. We simply do not have 30 years. The OODA loop applies.
In other news:
The 12 May 2026 House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing on the Navy and Marine Corps budget offered a clear picture of where things actually stand on Force Design.
Rather than criticism or retreat, the hearing showed continued alignment between the Marine Corps, Congress, Combatant Commanders, and the Administration.
Key takeaways:
• Full Budget Alignment: Gen. Smith reported that the Marine Corps submitted no Unfunded Priority List items, stating plainly that if the submitted budget is approved, the Corps’ requirements are addressed. That is a remarkable statement from a Service Chief and a strong indicator of institutional alignment and support.
• Force Design Capabilities Are Advancing: Gen. Smith highlighted the Corps’ drone task force (led by Col. Scotty Cuomo) rapidly fielding low-cost, 3D-printable systems informed by real-world lessons. On NMESIS and ROGUE Fires, he noted the software and autonomous capability are “rock solid” — the limiting factor now is missile depth, not concept viability.
• Balance, Not Trade-off: The hearing repeatedly reinforced that the Corps is restoring amphibious readiness and ARG/MEU presence while modernizing for the pacing threat. Acting SECNAV Hung Cao and multiple members highlighted ongoing SOUTHCOM operations and global crisis response requirements alongside distributed maritime capabilities.
• Institutional Credibility: Members from both parties highlighted the Marine Corps’ three consecutive clean audits — unmatched in the Department — as evidence of responsible stewardship while pursuing modernization and transformation.
This was not the hearing of a Corps in retreat or abandoning Force Design. It was the hearing of a Service refining, resourcing, and operationalizing its modernization path while sustaining its traditional role as the Nation’s expeditionary force-in-readiness.
The direction remains clear: both crisis response and high-end warfighting capability — integrated, balanced, and resourced. Congress and the Administration continue to support that approach.
Full hearing:
https://appropriations.house.gov/schedule/hearings/budget-hearing-united-states-navy-and-marine-corps