Sustaining American Maritime Influence
Author
Harvey, John
Hughes, Wayne P. Jr.
Kline, Jeffrey
Schwartz, Zachary
Date
2013-09Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Along with several others, the authors believe the nation needs to emphasize a maritime strategy at a
time when budgetary limitations threaten to severely curtail the national-defense posture. Former Chief of Naval
Operations Admiral Gary Roughead has argued that naval-force numbers must be sustained even if groundforce
numbers are reduced. A similar appraisal of the advantages of small combatants applies in other regions
of the world. Inexpensive missile ships are suitable for joint operations with South Korea in the Yellow Sea
where the large, multipurpose warships have not ventured. In the Persian Gulf's very constrained battle space
amidst a proliferation of precision weapons a squadron or two of missile corvettes would be as advantageous
tactically as a CVN, or SSNs, or DDGs. The Navy and the nation should accept that the short-term budget
challenge and its effects on the Fleet are likely to be a long-term constraint. The expanding littoral battle space
and shrinking budget together demand the realignment of US Navy forces.