Pentagon Plan For Amphibious Warships Would Violate Law, Hobble Crisis Response (From Forbes)

The Pentagon’s fiscal 2024 budget request calls for termination of one class of amphibious vessels and stretching out of another, while nonetheless retiring three aged amphibs. The end result is that the size of the amphibious fleet would fall to three-quarters of what the Marine Corps says is its minimum requirement for lift–24 vessels versus 31. Congress has passed a law requiring the operational amphib fleet not fall below 31 large warships, and has directed that the Commandant of the Marine Corps take the lead in defining amphibious force structure and requirements. That is not what is happening, and the Pentagon’s plan is thus in violation of the law–not to mention common sense. I have written a commentary for Forbes.com here.