The biggest problem for the Navy (as well as the rest of our Armed Forces) is the Obamanation’s restrictive Rules of Engagement tie our guys’ hands behind their backs. Just as Hillary and Barry did at Benghazi, the humiliation of the US military continues. This seizure of two riverine boats by the Iranians (and their subsequent release) is just another coffin hail by our feckless traitor-in-chief.
In so far as the Navy's construction goes, their ship choices have to leave one scratching one’s head. They keep building these huge, gray, multi-role monsters, that suffer from bloated budgets and late deliveries, that drive up costs still further. The USN doesn't need very few, big, expensive, ships; it needs less expensive, capable, numerous small ships to free up the huge “battleships” we now call DDGs, CGs, CVNs, LPDs, LHDs, and LHAs. We have eliminated our frigates with no replacement and don't have enough of the smaller combatants for the littorals. We could select a good foreign design and build it here, but NavSea will not listen to that (NIH is well-entrenched at NavSea).
The Navy has a lot of problems; its ship mix is but one of them and largely a self-inflicted wound. The ROE are set by the WH and they are the biggest impediment our warfighters have to live by and with. One thing certain, we must get rid of BHO and not elect HRC.
MasterGunner01:
"The USN doesn't need very few, big, expensive, ships; it needs less expensive, capable, numerous small ships to free up the huge “battleships” we now call DDGs, CGs, CVNs, LPDs, LHDs, and LHAs.
We have eliminated our frigates with no replacement and don't have enough of the smaller combatants for the littorals." Sir, with all due respect...
Any ship is a target, so the question is, can it defend itself?
If not, then it doesn't belong in the US Navy, period.
US Navy ships go anywhere & everywhere in the world, with no guarantees as to who, what or when they may be attacked.
If they are attacked unexpectedly (and there is no other kind of attack), they have to be capable.
Is there no role then for Little Crappy Ships?
Sure there is, just so long as they are under the strong protection of some Large Heavy-*ssed & Deadly Destructive Gun ships.
Otherwise, small ships are just targets with no real value added, seems to me.
