Surface Forces

$3.6B Marine Corps Wish List Again Asks for Stalled Amphibious Warship

Shipbuilder welding on the bow section of a future San Antonio-class amphibious warship at Ingalls Shipbuilding on Aug. 4, 2022. USNI News Photo

For the second year in a row, the Marine Corps is asking Congress for an amphibious warship the Navy doesn’t plan to buy.

At the top of the Marines’ Fiscal Year 2024 unfunded priorities list is $1.7 billion for LPD-33, a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock that the Navy did not include in its five-year budget outlook released last week. While the...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/22/3-6b-marine-corps-wish-list-again-asks-for-stalled-amphibious-warship

DDG(X) $122M Land-Based Test Site Opens in Philadelphia

Notional Navy DDG(X) hull design. PEO Ships Image

Program Executive Officer Ships opened the land-based test facility for its next-generation guided-missile destroyer propulsion system in Philadelphia, the Navy announced this week.

The site at the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Philadelphia Division will host a $122 million full-scale complete integrated propulsion system for the DDG(X), according to a budget summary of the site reviewed by USNI News.

As part of the Fiscal Year 2020 and 2022...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/22/ddgx-122m-land-based-test-site-opens-in-philadelphia

Research Ship that Found Famous WWII Wrecks Damaged in Scotland Dry Dock, Several Injured

R/V Petrel on its side in a Scotland dry dock on March 22, 2023. Photo Via Twitter

A Navy research vessel tipped over while in dry dock in Edinburgh Wednesday, according to local reports.

R/V Petrel appeared to tip about 45 degrees while in dry dock in the Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, according to the newspaper The Independent. The paper reported 21 people were taken to the hospital with injuries with another 12 treated at the dock and released.

Petrel dislodged from the dry dock a Scotland...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/22/research-ship-that-found-famous-wwii-wrecks-damaged-in-scotland-dry-dock-several-injured

Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 4: Logistics

The following is the latest edition of the U.S. Marine Corps doctrinal publication, MCDP 4: Logistics.

From the forward

This doctrinal publication focuses on logistics. It describes the theory and philosophy of military logistics as practiced by the United States Marine Corps. It provides Marines a conceptual framework for understanding how logistics is an essential aspect of every military operation. The Marine Corps’ view of logistics is based on our common understanding of the nature of war,...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/22/marine-corps-doctrinal-publication-4-logistics

OSD Comptroller Says U.S. Shipyards Can’t Build 3 Destroyers a Year

Arleigh Burke destroyers Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125), Lenah H. Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG-123) and the Legend-class cutter Calhoun (WMSL-759) at Ingalls Shipbuilding on Aug. 4, 2022. USNI News Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Navy is keeping a two-ship-per-year cadence for its destroyer line because that’s a realistic goal for industry to work toward, according to the Pentagon’s top budget officer.

Despite Congress’ push for the Navy to start buying three Arleigh Burke-class Flight III destroyers per year,...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/21/osd-comptroller-says-u-s-shipyards-cant-build-3-destroyers-a-year

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: March 20, 2023

USNI News Graphic

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of March 20, 2023, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Ships Underway

Total Battle Force DeployedUnderway
296
(USS 238, USNS 58)		107
(USS 72, USNS 35)		 80
(52 Deployed, 28 Local)

Ships Deployed by Fleet

2nd Fleet3rd...

Congress Notified of Potential $895M Tomahawk Sale to Australia

A tomahawk cruise missile launches from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG-86) for a live-fire exercise during Valiant Shield 2018 on Sept. 18, 2018. US Navy Photo

The State Department authorized the potential sale of Tomahawk missiles to Australia, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced today.

The deal is for as many as 20 Block IV Tomahawks and 200 Block V Tomahawks for $895 million.

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/16/congress-notified-of-potential-895m-tomahawk-sale-to-australia

Fiscal Year 2024 Department of the Navy Budget Materials

The following are the Department of the Navy Fiscal Year 2024 budget summary materials released this week.

From the report

America is a maritime nation. American naval primacy is essential to meeting the challenges we face today. The seas are the lifeblood of our economy, our national security, and our way of life. With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea, the Department of the Navy safeguards the world’s economy from hostile nations and organizations that threaten international...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/16/fiscal-year-2024-department-of-the-navy-budget-materials

Navy and Marine Corps Debate Amphibious Ship Costs as Clash Over LPD-17 Flight II Line Continues

The future USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) departed Huntington Ingalls Shipyard to conduct Acceptance Trials in the Gulf of Mexico. US Navy Photo

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Navy halted its pursuit of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock line because of the program’s growing costs and delays in the shipyard, the service’s top officer said Wednesday.
The pause to reassess the LPD-17 Flight II line started a year ago at the direction of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Chief of Naval...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/15/navy-and-marine-corps-debate-amphibious-ship-costs-as-clash-over-lpd-17-flight-ii-line-continues

Makin Island, America ARGs Wrap Up Exercises with Thai, Japanese Forces

A Republic of Korea Marine provides security as part of an amphibious assault during Exercise Cobra Gold 23 in Chonburi province, Kingdom of Thailand on March 3, 2023. U.S. Marine Corps Photo

The Makin Island and America amphibious ready groups wrapped up their participation in exercises in Thailand and Japan this week. 

The Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) – which includes amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD-8), amphibious transport docks USS John P. Murtha (LPD-26) and USS Anc...

https://news.usni.org/2023/03/15/makin-island-america-args-wrap-up-exercises-with-thai-japanese-forces

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