Letter to the editor: U.S. needs a 12th aircraft carrier
· The Washington TimesOPINION:
Our 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers are stretched very thin around the world. They are in shipyards undergoing repairs, maintenance, overhauls and upgrades; in transit; and in port after prolonged deployments.
We must undertake a major revival of our shipyards to handle the construction and repair of our aircraft carriers.
The crews on the ships are enduring physical and mental strain from prolonged deployments, which could affect morale and readiness. My guess is that the retention rate on our carriers is low due to these conditions.
It has been known within U.S. Navy circles that we need more than 11 carrier strike groups to meet our commitments. There are estimates that 12 to 15 carriers are needed to adequately address our needs.
One possible fix is delaying the retirement of older carriers when we bring on new carriers, starting with the USS John F. Kennedy, due to join the fleet in March 2027.
The USS Nimitz and carriers due for retirement in the future would continue in service for a while to provide the 12th carrier.
The upkeep for postponing carrier retirements could be costly, but it pales in comparison to $13 billion for a new carrier. The question is, can old carriers remain in service beyond their estimated useful life and fulfill missions without endangering the crew?
Adding a 12th carrier would provide much better worldwide coverage and improve the morale and retention rate of our Navy personnel.
Advertisement Advertisement
DONALD MOSKOWITZ
Londonderry, New Hampshire