Anchors Aweigh! Why It's Time For The United States Navy To Shape Up

Artist's conception of a stealth aircraft carrier

I have prattled on in the past about whether we even need an Air Force any more. I happen to think not, but the Navy is another matter. It's mission has changed with the times and if anything is more important than ever, but it has not adapted. Consequentially, it is long past time for the most hidebound of armed services to get with the 21st century program.

This was painfully obvious in the April siege involving an American container ship captain held by Somali pirates, which came to a successful end when Navy Seal snipers positioned on the fantail of a destroyer took out three of the hostage takers and a fourth was taken into custody. This is exactly the kind of asymmetrical warfare that is the stock in trade of 21st century terrorists and other troublemakers, but was the USS Bainbridge (photo, left) the appropriate ship for the job and can the Navy do that job consistently and successfully?

As Fester noted at Newshoggers, the Somali pirate incident was:

"basically the equivalent of having a SWAT van riding the beat with 10 cops in full body armor and equipped with sub-machine guns playing cards until they chase after a pick-pocket. The appropriate use of resources in that analogy would be the beat cop should be the guy chasing after the pick-pocket while calling for potential assistance from SWAT."

Trouble is, the leaner destroyers more suitable for the job have been retired as the Navy grapples with having to perform several tasks that are sometimes at odds with each other because of the ship size and level of firepower needed. The result is that:

"The US has made a decision that an expeditionary navy that can assert sea control in most areas is in support of vital national interests. I agree with that concept although I will quibble with execution and procurement. From this assumption of interests, the procurement strategy will produce large and expensive ships that are over-gunned for most non-expeditionary warfare needs."

Indeed. Thomas Ricks, the nonpareil military writer, puts it this way:

"If the global commons (sea, air, space, cyberspace) really is gonna be contested, why does anyone think conventional aircraft carriers and short-legged fighter aircraft are the answer? I think it is time to commission the UCAV carrier the USS Obama, whose hull and aircraft would both be stealthy. With perhaps a crew of fewer than 500 sailors. (Most controllers of aircraft could fly them from Virginia.)"

While it doesn't strike me as plausible that a stealth carrier -- if built -- will be named for a sitting president, let alone Obama, there are signs that his administration is serious about shaking up the Navy.

The Quadrennial Defense Review is the likely jumping off point.