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Big Bills Sink Ships
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November 10, 2007: Despite being the largest and
most powerful navy in the world, the U.S. Navy wants to increase its size by 11
percent, to a force of 313 ships. These would include a force of 66 nuclear
subs, consisting of 14 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), 4 cruise missile
submarines (SSGNs), and 48 attack submarines (SSNs). New subs cost over $2
billion each. Twelve aircraft carriers would be protected by 88 cruisers and
destroyers. New carriers cost over $5 billion each and new destroyers cost over
a billion bucks each. A force of 55 Littoral Combat Ships (LCSs) would provide
muscle along the coast, as well as mine sweeping capability. The LCS was
supposed to cheap, but costs have now escalated to over $300 million each. The
Marines would have 31 amphibious ships, and a dozen new amphibious and
sealift-type ships for pre-positioned equipment. New amphibious ships are
costing over a billion dollars each. The biggest obstacle to this expansion is
the rapidly escalating cost of new ships. This is not a new problem, but one
that became acute a century ago, when the first "modern" warship (the
battleship) was developed and built in large quantities. At the time, these
ships were, after adjusting for inflation and economic conditions, as expensive
as nuclear aircraft carriers are today. Because of the cost issues, and the
shift of attention (and money) to the army, the navy may have to shrink, rather
than expand.
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