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Why has the USN deactivated so many ASW assets P-3 Squadrons and closed NAS such as Brunswick in Me? Once you lose these squadrons and their crews you lose valuable training and equipment.

Why has the USN deactivated so many ASW assets P-3 Squadrons and closed NAS such as Brunswick in Me? Once you lose these squadrons and their crews you lose valuable training and equipment.

Because there's no chance that the USN is going to fight a blue-water war with Russia in the North Atlantic. It makes much more sense to restructure assets to fight the conflicts that are likely to occur for the next 20-40 years.

Those conflicts are more than likely to be in the littorals of 3rd-world nations (including Iran). Where better capabilities in more limited numbers (such as the P-8A Poseidon that will replace the aged P-3 fleet, but on well less than a 1-1 basis) will be more than adequate.

The one potential major blue-water conflict nation is, of course, China. Engaging militarily with China requires a layered strategy based on carrier-based airpower and submarines. P-3s (and to a lesser extent P-8s) would play a negligible role, given range limitations and vulnerability.

Pretty soon NAS Whidbey will be without P-3s as well and it appears the P-8 won’t be going there either. USN has put ASW back high on their priority list after years of neglect. It’ll take time to get back to the proficiency levels of the early 80’s if they ever do.