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A report has revealed that some of the US Navy's military power is in critical condition, with ships and equipment in alarming condition.
As United States Armed Forces are widely recognized as the strongest and most prepared in the world, boasting cutting-edge technology. However, recent reports reveal a worrying vulnerability: the amphibious fleet of the US Navy, essential for landing and rapid response operations, is in very poor condition.
A recent report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) highlighted the precarious situation of US Navy Amphibious Fleet.
Composed of 32 amphibious assault ships (LHD/LHA), landing ships (LSD) and amphibious transport docks (LPD), the fleet faces problems that compromise its function of transporting marines, aircraft and other vehicles in operations global.
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According to the report, half of these ships are in “bad conditions”, casting doubt on its ability to fulfill its planned useful life.
The crisis is not limited to the state of the ships. The Navy is also struggling to maintain the minimum required by law of 31 vessels by the 2030s.
The impact of these deficiencies goes far beyond the material: it compromises the training and readiness of Marines, in addition to hampering operations in strategic areas, such as the Pacific.
Maintenance and planning issues in the US Navy
The problems highlighted by the GAO are diverse and affect the entire fleet. Among them, the following stand out:
- Chronic maintenance delays: About 71% of maintenance periods from 2010 to 2021 were extended, resulting in nearly 29 years of lost training.
- Lack of supervision: Contractors performed poor quality work, such as on the USS Essex (LHD-2), where welds had to be redone, causing delays and additional costs.
- Spare parts in short supply: Ships like the USS Wasp (LHD-1), with 35 years of service, suffer from the unavailability of components for steam propulsion systems.
- Inadequate planning: Attempts to retire ships early were made without Congressional approval, worsening the situation of ships kept in operation.
Recent incidents
Two incidents in 2023 illustrate the practical effects of fleet problems:
- Boxer ARG: The group, comprised of USS Boxer (LHD-4), USS Somerset (LPD-25) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49), faced maintenance delays and deployment difficulties. USS Boxer, for example, suffered a problem with its starboard rudder and had to return to San Diego after just a few days of deployment.
- USS America ARG: This group was unable to operate as a complete unit due to the unavailability of the three required ships, compromising training exercises and naval presence in critical areas.
The fleet also lost an additional amphibious assault ship, the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6), destroyed in a harbor fire in 2020. The inadequate response to the fire exposes gaps in crisis management.
The impact of Force Design 2030
The Marine Corps' Force Design 2030 proposes a shift in doctrine, with a greater focus on smaller, distributed units and a reduced emphasis on large-scale landings.
Despite this view, competing interests, including congressional demands, kept amphibious ships a priority.
The future of these vessels, however, remains in doubt, especially considering their high cost and maintenance challenges.
Rising costs and difficulties in modernization
The Navy plans life extensions to maintain the 31-ship fleet, but this entails costs of up to US$ 1 billion per vessel.
Furthermore, new ships are not immune to problems. The USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28), with less than three years of service, it faces design flaws and high maintenance costs.
Problems like these show that fleet modernization will be a long and expensive process.
Additionally, chronic delays in maintenance periods resulted in additional costs of US$400 million between 2020 and 2022, further compromising the budget.
Reactions and paths to follow
Marine Corps and Navy leaders recognize the gravity of the situation and are working to mitigate the challenges.
The admiral Lisa Franchetti said the services are committed to overcoming maintenance issues without compromising training. She also highlighted the acquisition of new amphibians as a priority.
Two Navy reviews beginning in 2023 seek to understand issues affecting fleet readiness, but progress has been limited.
Meanwhile, the GAO emphasizes that having 31 amphibious ships does not mean all of them are operational. Many have been out of service for years, compromising training and deployment capabilities.
Some analysts question the need for such a large amphibious fleet, especially in combat scenarios against peers like China.
Advanced defense systems would make large-scale landings in the Pacific more difficult. Despite this, the vessels still play a critical role in other missions, such as evacuating noncombatants and supporting low-intensity conflicts.
The GAO report revealed the depth of the challenges facing the U.S. Navy's amphibious assault fleet.
Addressing these issues requires a coordinated effort between the Navy, Marine Corps, Congress and the Pentagon. While some progress has been made, the path to restoring fleet readiness is long and fraught with obstacles.
The question remains whether the Navy can overcome these difficulties in time to ensure the safety and efficiency of its amphibious operations in an increasingly volatile world.
More than half of the US aircraft carriers are over thirty years old and there are people ridiculing the Chinese navy.