Navy Gets Budget Bump But Fleet Would Shrink Under Biden Request

[nitpicker]

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2022/03/navy-gets-budget-bump-fleet-would-shrink-under-biden-request/363720/

Navy Gets Budget Bump But Fleet Would Shrink Under Biden Request

Bradley Peniston

How do you build a bigger fleet? In 2023, U.S. Navy leaders say, part of the answer will be getting rid of two dozen ships–out of nearly 300–that are consuming funds better spent elsewhere.
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In their spending proposal, Navy leaders are asking to decommission 24 ships, “16 of which somewhat early,” Rear Adm. John Gumbleton, the service’s deputy assistant secretary for budget, told reporters on Monday.
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In the meantime, the proposed cut-list includes nine Freedom-class littoral combat ships (down from a reported 10), five Ticonderoga-class cruisers (the Navy had hoped to retire seven), two Los Angeles-class submarines, four landing dock ships, two oilers, and two expeditionary transfer docks (both less than a decade old).
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Meredith Berger, who has been performing the duties of Navy undersecretary since August, told reporters that “it’s a difficult decision” to retire these ships but that “there are real costs” to keeping them around. The Freedom-class LCS ships are consuming $50 million a year, she said. Their anti-submarine mission will be taken up by the Constellation-class frigates, the fourth of which will be ordered this year, Gumbleton said.
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