Compass Points - Ship Solution?
The US needs to expand the fleet
Compass Points - Ship Solution?
The US needs to expand the fleet
March 17, 2025
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It has been said many times, the United States needs to increase the number of Navy ships on the world's oceans. Perhaps the solution to getting more Navy ships in the water may be found from a simple US Navy supply ship, USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE-8).
The case for a larger Navy is compelling. The US faces threats around the globe.
For example, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has promised to continue the ongoing "unrelenting" air campaign against the Houthis in Yemen until the Houthis stop threatening ships.
Around the world in Australia, a Chinese naval flotilla circumnavigated Australia recently, even conducting live fire exercises off the Australian coast. Australia was forced to divert air traffic to avoid the danger.
At the same time, China's acquisition of port facilities throughout Africa has reached dangerous levels.
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China’s growing network of ports in Africa could serve as a precursor to the creation of more military bases, according to a new report by a Pentagon-affiliated think tank. Chinese firms, many of which are state-owned, are now either active stakeholders or present at 231 ports there, making the continent Beijing’s largest maritime hub in the world, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies said in a report Monday. Years of Chinese economic investment in Africa could be paving the way for a more robust military presence by Beijing, the report said.
-- Stars & Stripes
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Looking at the dangers facing the US around the world, authors Jonah Bock and Cameron Hendrix have written an article for The National Interest, "Why President Trump Should Commit To A 390-Ship Navy"
In addition, some members of Congress are looking to pass a "New Bill Would Create Commission To Study Maritime Industrial Base."
Unfortunately, the number of articles calling for a larger fleet are almost as large as the fleet. And endless Congressional commissions have studied the maritime industrial base. More articles and more commissions by themselves will not increase the number of ships in the fleet. The problems with US shipyards have been studied repeatedly. Many efforts are already underway to upgrade US shipyards. In the short term, however, the problems remain. There are simply too few US shipyards and too few skilled US shipyard workers.
What can be done to get more Navy ships on the water quickly?
The USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE-8) may have found a solution.
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USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE-8) pulled into the South Korean shipyard last summer shortly after Hanwha Ocean gained a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MRSA) certification from the Navy, which validated the company’s ability to tackle MRO projects on American vessels.
-- USNI News
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The successful overhaul of the USNS Wally Schirra is South Korea’s first maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) service of an American naval vessel.
It will take many new initiatives and funding to rapidly increase the US Navy, but part of the solution must be to make much greater use of shipyards and shipyard workers among US allies, particular allies in the Pacific. Congress can provide new legislation to allow much greater use of MRO contracts overseas and also allow emergency authorization for overseas ship construction. Overseas shipyards could construct the hull and more, then leave the most classified systems to be installed in the US.
There are tremendous opportunities among US allies in the Pacific.
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According to MSC Far East, this is the first time an American vessel of this size has conducted a regular overhaul in South Korea. The maintenance period saw Hanwha Ocean shipyard workers tackle 300 work items that covered hull corrosion and the replacement of Wally Schirra’s rudder.
MSC highlighted Hanhwa Ocean’s ability to reverse engineer certain components when schematics were not available, citing the shipbuilder’s “resilient supply chains, advanced automations and skilled workforce.”
“Maintenance in theater reduces downtime and costs, while enhancing operational readiness. This is a landmark achievement to be celebrated as a symbol of our strengthened partnership and ironclad commitment to the ROK-U.S. alliance,” said Koprowski in the release.
. . . Hanwha Ocean bought out Philly Shipyard in a $100 million deal last July and promised “big time” investments. In South Korea, the company manages both commercial customers and submarines for the Republic of Korea Navy. Seoul’s shipbuilding capabilities, specifically through Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries, are second only to China in global rankings. American policymakers have eyed South Korean shipbuilding amid Washington’s efforts to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding.
The MRO effort also comes amid the service’s maintenance initiatives across Indo-Pacific shipbuilders. India’s Mazgaon Dock Shipbuilders, Ltd and Larsen & Toubro Ltd gained their MRSA certifications in the summer of 2023. In the Philippines, American officials have eyed local facilities at Subic Bay for MRO. Hanwha Ocean competitor Hyundai Heavy Industries – owners of the world’s largest shipyard in Ulsan – inked their MRSA last July. Japanese yards have also been eyed for similar agreements.
-- USNI News
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The US faces global threats from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and others. To provide the global deterrence necessary to prevent war, the US needs a larger fleet. Expanding the fleet means getting more blue water surface ships, more submarines, and more amphibious ships out of shipyards and back on patrol.
Getting more ships on patrol is particularly important for the Marine Corps. While Congress has put into law a requirement for 31 amphibious ships, by some estimates, construction and maintenance delays mean there are only 10 amphibious ships available for operations today.
The Navy & Marine Corps Amphibious Ready Group and Marine Expeditionary Unit (ARG-MEU) with logistical support from pre-positioning ships is a crucial part of the US global deterrence. By using the shipyards of US allies in the Pacific to rapidly renovate Navy amphibious ships, more Marines could be on more ships responding to more crises around the globe.
The USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE-8) is only a single Navy logistics ship, but by using the shipyard of a US ally in the Pacific, USNS Wally Schirra is off the sidelines and back on the seas. In the same way, the Navy and Marine Corps need to use the shipyards of US allies in the Pacific to get more amphibious ships and more Marines back on worldwide patrol.
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Stars & Stripes - 03/13/2025
U.S. Should Be Wary Of Potential For Greater Chinese Military Use Of Africa Ports, Report Argues
By John Vandiver
https://www.stripes.com/theaters/africa/2025-03-13/africom-africa-china-bases-17126444.html
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The Straits Times - 03/02/2025
Chinese warships circle Australia, stoking an anxious nation’s worst fears
By Jonathan Pearlman
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USNI News - 03/13/2025
Navy Supply Ship Completes First Large-Scale Maintenance at South Korean Shipyard
By Aaron-Matthew Lariosa
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The National Interest - 03/13/2025
Why President Trump Should Commit To A 390-Ship Navy
By Jonah Bock and Cameron Hendrix
https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/president-trump-should-commit-to-a-390-ship-navy
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Inside Defense - 03/13/2025
New Bill Would Create Commission To Study Maritime Industrial Base
By Abby Shepherd
https://insidedefense.com/daily-news/new-bill-would-create-commission-study-maritime-industrial-base
Amidst all the chaos of FD2030, the good news is that we know what needs to be done to fix the problem. We’ve a magnificent lineup of senior retirees to lead our recovery effort - let ‘em roll. What I do hope we’re doing is bringing MCU & its curriculum in line with educating for our future establishment. That element, outside the “inside the Beltway” fight - may be the most important. Offered as Food For Thought.
What is sad, is that as a maritime nation, we have let this occur. Just as the decimating of the Marine Corps was self-inflicted, the loss of our shipbuilding capabilities is self-inflicted. We need more oversight on building and maintenance of our ships.