Pasquines’ Post

Article I, US Constitition speaks to the necessity to “provide and maintain a Navy.” Naval fleets (along with commercial) connect us to the rest of the world and ensures global commons are open for commerce. We can be present and project power anywhere on the globe while never depending on or infringing on sovereignty. The Constitution goes on to say Congress can raise an Army - suggesting at the time it was not intended to be a permanent standing entity. We need serious reconsideration of how we’ve organized for national security and how we will mobilize for war. We will always need a large, diverse and capable fleet which requires increased ship building, port/yard capacity, mariner career pathways…and if required at the expense of other defense sectors.

It is not just more ships but the right mix of ships balanced against required capabilities. The cost-capability curve needs to be flattened while we steadily increase the total production capacity of the country.

This article is a rebuttal of an earlier piece that sought to debunk the US Navy’s case for a larger fleet. I recommend NZ readers note that as the size of the navies of the large break democracies has shrunk, lawlessness and adventurism by authoritarian states has increased. Naval fleet renewal is but one of the many challenges facing our country. Our naval capability ambitions must be realistic, but not just in relation to cost. Our country must live in the world as it is, not as some might wish it to be. We need combat capability to protect the seaborne commerce on which we depend for our existence, to deter authoritarian adventurism, and to project and support our land and special forces. We need enough ships to be able to be where we need to be with the capability to do what we need to do. Short of an economic miracle, the only affordable way to do this is with a fleet based on modularity.

This thoughtful analysis by Jerry Hendrix and former Senator Jim Talent, two individuals who have each devoted their careers to National Security, emphasizes the urgent requirement to expand our industrial infrastructure, particularly devoted to submarine maintenance. Yes, more Navy NOW.

This article is a rebuttal of an earlier piece that sought to debunk the US Navy’s case for a larger fleet. I recommend NZ readers note that as the size of the navies of the liberal democracies has shrunk, lawlessness and adventurism by authoritarian states has increased. Naval fleet renewal is but one of the many challenges facing our country. Our naval capability ambitions must be realistic, but not just in relation to cost. Our country must live in the world as it is, not as some might wish it to be. We need combat capability to protect the seaborne commerce on which we depend for our existence, to deter authoritarian adventurism, and to project and support our land and special forces. We need enough ships to be able to be where we need to be with the capability to do what we need to do. Short of an economic miracle, the only affordable way to do this is with a fleet based on modularity.

How do you prepare a 1900+ ton vessel for repairs? Check out the time-lapse to see the installation of USS Constitution‘s keel blocks and haul blocks in Dry Dock 1, Charlestown Navy Yard. The build-out of the blocks supported Constitution‘s keel and lower hull during a two-and-a-half-year restoration.

Interesting statistic: the amount spent on sea lane protection as a % of Gross National Income (GNI). [I’m not sure if this is a specific category of naval spending and if it includes coast guard spending, but, either way, the difference is obvious.] https://lnkd.in/echPWaES

US Navy's decision, the execution of the operation, as well as examining the broader international reactions and potential diplomatic fallout. By analyzing the impact and consequences of the US Navy's action, this article aims to shed light read more: https://lnkd.in/dS2Bj8kR

Should the US Navy Protect All Commerce? What's Going on With Shipping? Feb. 5, 2024 In this episode, Sal Mercogliano - maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner - discussed a recent article by Lori Ann LaRocco on the role of the military in the defense of shipping in the Red Sea. #supplychain #redsea #houthi #shipping #Navy #commerce https://lnkd.in/eSREpDUw

As the window for people to claim they were harmed by contaminated water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune closes on Aug. 10, the unique, massive injury case against the U.S. government remains almost wholly unresolved, with the path forward still unclear. More than 385,000 administrative claims have been filed with the U.S. Navy by people claiming they were harmed by the water at the Jacksonville, North Carolina, military facility, which the government has admitted was tainted with toxic chemicals for more than 30 years beginning in the 1950s. The deadline stops people from bringing more claims. While that number of claims may contain duplicate filings, the Camp Lejeune situation is still likely to be one of the largest personal injury cases of all time, coming close to the number of claims over 3M’s military ear plugs, which has included more than 390,000 cases. Subscribe to The Daily Docket: https://reut.rs/4dsTnQ