The Navy wants to decommission its fleet of Whidbey Island-class amphibious dock landing ships, but the Marine Corps apparently isn’t so keen on the idea.
Defense News reported that the Marines believe the ships are essential to their expeditionary mission. The Navy says the ships are in serious need of repairs, and it would be more cost-effective to spend the money on newer technologies.
Defense News reported that only 45 percent of its amphibious ships are deployable – considerably short of its 80-percent readiness goal. The ships were built in the 1980s and 1990s, with 40-year planned life cycles. The Navy is asking in its fiscal year 2023 budget to decommission the Germantown, Gunston Hall, Tortuga and Ashland. Defense News has learned that the service would like to decommission four more in 2023 – the Rushmore, Harpers Ferry, Carter Hall and Pearl Harbor.
The Marine Corps is basing its resistance on the goals the service set forth in its Force Design 2030 plan, Defense News reported. The story also stated that the Marines may be seeking a compromise, and lawmakers on Capitol Hill may be resistant to the Navy’s plan.
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