The Philippines: When renting a relic makes sense:

March 8, 2011

With the impending release of a Hamilton-class high-endurance cutter to the Philippines, the U.S. is doing what it can to help provide the Philippines something–anything–that it can use to show the flag in the increasingly tough waters of the South China Sea. But does the gifting of the Hamilton Class mean that the U.S. is [...]

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Meet the “Greenest” Ship in the Navy: The Westpac Express

March 3, 2011

For almost ten years, the Marine Corps–the Third Marine Expeditionary Force–and the Military Sealift Command have leased the Austal-built Westpac Express, a 331-foot long aluminum high-speed ferry.  But with the emergence of the “Green Fleet” concept, and with the Navy and Marine Corps eager to highlight “green” initiatives, this puny vessel (a gas-guzzler in itself, [...]

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Are LPD-17s Modern-Day Mitschers?

March 1, 2011

It is always easy to point at the latest shipbuilding “disaster” and claim that it is the “greatest” fiasco ever.  It’s true that smaller-scale shipbuilding SNAFUS are a fact of life.  But these days, to some observers, mistakes are a distinguishing characteristic of naval shipbuilding. The big “disaster” of my era is the LPD-17.  But [...]

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Well decks be damned! The next Amphibious Combat Vehicle must deploy off a JHSV:

March 1, 2011

So the Navy has issued an RFI for a new Amphibious Combat Vehicle (Solicitation Number M6785411IO213).  I’ve written about the EFV before (here and here), and, though I liked the EFV,  I am glad to see that we are taking another look at the whole “amphibious tractor” concept. Regarding the RFI, there really is nothing [...]

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In Press: Talking LPD-17′s rehab in the Virginian-Pilot

February 28, 2011

Until last year, one of the most annoying things about being a long-standing LPD-17 critic was the constant push-back from pro-LPD-17 partisans (my criticism began here and, oh, here).  There is no denying that the LPD-17, as planned, is a capable and exciting platform.  The only problem, which the Virginian-Pilot’s Navy scribe Corinne Reilly details [...]

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USNI Mission: Don’t fix what ain’t broke

February 28, 2011

I have been traveling, so I am a bit late to the party.  But I do not like the proposed USNI mission statement change, nor do I appreciate the attempt to ram this change through via a proxy vote without wider discussion.  A century-old mission statement–that did USNI good service–deserves at least a year of [...]

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Welcome to you, new NAMRU: NAMRU-6 grows up!

February 15, 2011

In a quiet, little-reported move, Navy Times tells us that NAMRU-6 is now a full-fledged command: A small medical research department the Navy established in Peru three decades ago to study tropical and infectious diseases such as malaria became a full-fledged command Feb. 10. Naval Medical Research Department – Lima got a new name – [...]

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In Press: Talking Navy aviation and UAVs in the San Diego Union-Tribune

February 14, 2011

On the eve of the Centennial of Naval Aviation, the San Diego’s Union-Tribune’s awesome national security reporter, Jen Steele, filed a piece on how UAVs would transform the Navy.  I was quoted in the story and you can read the entire piece here. Certainly, UAVs are going to have a big role–and make a big [...]

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How can the Navy win a flyover…during a budget crisis?

February 12, 2011

Over the next year, the Navy is gonna learn that a depression makes a bad time to party. Today, as the U.S. Navy prepares to kick-off the ceremony-laden, flyby bedecked Centennial of Naval Aviation with a massive flyby in San Diego, the nation’s “Austerity-First” budget-trimmers are sharpening their pencils, ready pillory the Navy for each [...]

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The U.S. Coast Guard Commandant calls for leadership, strategic direction and resources

February 10, 2011

Admiral Bob Papp just gave the USCG’s State of the Coast Guard address, and warned that the Post-post 9/11 Coast Guard will be setting priorities and limits: We need to change our focus. We need to train to proficiency — and retain proficiency. In order to achieve proficiency in our most needed activities and capabilities, [...]

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