Posted on 03/23/2005 7:27:31 AM PST by Stand Watch Listen
ARLINGTON, Va. — Navy officials plan to decommission the last two conventionally powered aircraft carriers left in the fleet, but they are leaving the door open to bring one back if needed to assuage Japanese political concerns.
Navy Secretary Gordon England told reporters Monday the 38-year-old USS John F. Kennedy will be decommissioned next year but will remain ready to be recalled to active duty if necessary.
“We’re going to mothball the Kennedy,” England said, but he added, “if you need the Kennedy to go to Japan we can always make the Kennedy available.”
Still, he insisted, “the Kennedy is the best carrier to take out because of her physical condition, her limited life.”
At issue is Japanese reluctance to host nuclear-powered warships. Nearly 60 years after allied warplanes dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki to end World War II, the question of anything nuclear remains politically charged in Japan.
That’s why the Kennedy’s sister ship, the conventionally powered USS Kitty Hawk, is currently homeported in Yokosuka, just south of Tokyo.
The Navy’s only forward-based carrier, the Kitty Hawk is tasked with standing by for flare-ups on the Korean peninsula and in the Taiwan Strait, as well as pulling periodic duty in the Persian Gulf. The presence of a permanently based carrier in Japan has long been one of the cornerstones of U.S. security policy in the region.
And basing the carrier somewhere else does not appear to be an option, at least at this point, England said. “As far as I know, nobody has considered not having a carrier in Japan,” he said. “We plan to have a carrier in Japan. I believe we want a carrier there, I believe the Japanese want a carrier there.”
But with the Kitty Hawk slated for decommissioning in 2008, it remains unclear exactly which carrier the Navy hopes to put there. Navy officials say that plan hasn’t been worked out yet.
The fact remains, however, that with both Kennedy and Kitty Hawk gone, the only options for replacement will have a nuclear reactor.
“The Navy would like to put a nuclear-powered carrier in Japan,” said Bob Work, once an adviser to former Navy Secretary Richard Danzig and now senior analyst for the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Analysis, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank. “If you have an all-nuclear carrier force by 2008, you’ve got a much better chance of the Japanese government being able to sell that. But it’s all very controversial, obviously, so having a backup in case that falls through makes sense.”
Already girding for that debate, 300,000 Japanese recently signed a petition urging the Yokosuka mayor and the central government to block the basing of any nuclear-powered warship in Japan.
Meanwhile, it looks like the Navy will have a fight of its own on its hands to cut the Kennedy from its rolls.
Commissioned in 1968, “Big John” — as the Kennedy is known by its crew — is one of the oldest of the Navy’s 12-carrier fleet. Defending the decision to jettison the big deck and downsize to 11 carriers, England told lawmakers last week the Navy would save $300 million a year in overhaul and maintenance costs.
Already, however, lawmakers in both the House and the Senate are pushing legislation that would block the move by requiring the Navy to maintain 12 operational carriers.
Ask Taiwan if they'd like to home port a US Nuclear Aircraft Carrier and it's support ships.
I second that motion, and think the idea is hilarious - although the Chi-Coms wouldn't think it too funny.
In consideration of the feelings of the PRC I modify my proposal.
Offer Taiwan two CVN groups instead of only one.
You can bet Mainland China wouldnt like that.
Isn't it true that the Kennedy was never given a SLEP? I wonder if there would be any benefits to doing one now?
Who cares..Its good for the Taiwanese...and the ChiComs and their Marxists fiends (Liberals/RINOs) can 'piss in their pants' till hell freezes over.
Not a SLEP. It was a cut-price Comprehensive Overall
Half the money = lasts half as long. Who knew?
I have spent months onboard the USS JFK as the ship's anesthesiologist...the last time was in 1998. Prior to becoming a Doctor, I was a surface warfare officer on more than my share of ships, mostly FFs and DDGs.
The Kennedy was, to put it mildly, showing her age...I do not think she has much sea-going life left in her.
...the last time was in 1998
How did you find FR? WiFi on the bird farm?
5.56mm
You forgot the sarcasm tag...LOL.
When I was on there, they had a hard time keeping the heads operational. I would go out for 2-3 months at a time, and spent time on USS Roosevelt and USS Lincoln too (what a world of difference!).
I have always been interested in computers and the internet and conservative causes. I do not remember how I found FR, but I think I'm one of the 'original 1000' LOL...I've been here a LONG time and have been amazed at it's growth.
I can honestly say I'm the smarter (and more informed) because of it...you cannot find the level of discourse offered here at many other places... best wishes.
I found FR via Drudge. There were the flame wars, and clinton's White House basement, so it took me 6 months before I dared sign up.
...and have been amazed at it's growth.
Me too. After watching the March for Justice, shortly followed by my first FReep, and then the 2000 election (and FReeping day and night in S. FL), I knew this board was something big.
Jim Rob's tiny baby grew up to be an 800 lbs gorilla.
Have a great evening.
5.56mm
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