Dreams Into Lightning 2

Fleet Size

Here's a post at Information Dissemination from last week (and therefore refreshingly free of post-debate polemics) on the subject of fleet size. Main thrust is: Yes, it's true that killing power per ship has increased enormously, so one 2012 ship != one 1912 ship. But a large part of a navy's job is deterrence (i.e. convincing adversaries of the folly of conflict and the certainty of our response), and for that you need lots of ships.

In short, a thoughtful piece that makes no mention of horses or bayonets.

China's Three Seas

Belmont Club on Chinese naval strategy.

Minesweepers to Persian Gulf

Information Dissemination:

Today [March 15], mentioned in passing in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee - without a word or question on the topic from any supposedly well informed Senators - Chief of Naval Operations Jonathan Greenert told the Senate committee that the US Navy is going to deploy 4 minesweepers to the Persian Gulf (which will double the number of US Navy Minesweepers in the Persian Gulf) and also send additional mine hunting helicopters to the region. This comes following news earlier this year that the US Navy is working on the USS Ponce to deploy to the Persian Gulf to be a full time Mine Warfare Command Ship. ...

Wired:

In the next few months, the Navy will double its minesweeper craft stationed in Bahrain, near Iran, from four to eight. Those ships will be crucial if Iran takes the drastic step of mining the Strait of Hormuz, one of the global energy supply’s most crucial waterways. Four more MH-53 “Sea Stallion” helicopters, another minesweeping tool, are also getting ready for Bahrain, to give the U.S. Fifth Fleet early warning for any strait mining.

Then the Navy will prepare to get closer to Iranian shores. Much closer. It’s got five close-action patrol boats in the Gulf right now. Once the Coast Guard returns three that the Navy loaned out, the Navy will have five other patrol craft in the United States. All those boats are getting retrofitted. With Gatling guns. And missiles. ...