Navy spends tens of millions of dollars on old ships that may never sail again

THE U-S NAVY IS UNDER SCRUTINY AFTER A 2023 REPORT BY GOVERNMENT WATCHDOG FOUND THAT THE MILITARY BRANCH IS SPENDING HUNDREDS-OF-MILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS REPAIRING WARSHIPS THAT ARE SPENDING LESS TIME AT SEA.

ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REPORT… FROM 2011 TO 2020 OPERATING AND SUPPORT COSTS ACROSS 10 SHIP-CLASSES STUDIED… INCREASED BY 2.5 **BILLION DOLLARS… WHICH INCLUDES A 1.2 **BILLION DOLLAR BUMP IN MAINTENANCE COSTS.

FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS THE USS VICKSBURG HAS BEEN SITTING IN A NORFOLK-VIRGINIA SHIPYARD AS THE NAVY HAS SPENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MODERNIZE THE 5-HUNDRED AND 67-FOOT MISSILE CRUISER.

NOW IT IS UNCLEAR WHETHER THE USS VICKSBURG WILL EVER RETURN TO SEA… AS IT IS ONE OF ELEVEN VESSELS THE NAVY IS ASKING CONGRESS FOR PERMISSION TO RETIRE.. 

EACH YEAR THE NAVY GIVES A LIST OF SHIPS IT SEEKS TO RETIRE TO CONGRESS…. AND THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE VICKSBURG HAS BEEN ON IT…

BUT CONGRESS DOES NOT MAKE IT EASY FOR THE NAVY TO RETIRE OLD SHIPS… REPAIR WORK MEANS JOBS AT SHIPYARDS IN THEIR DISTRICTS AND CONGRESS WANTS THE NAVY TO KEEP A HIGH-NUMBER OF SHIPS IN ITS FLEET REGARDLESS OF CONDITION.. AT LEAST IN PART IN AN EFFORT TO DETER CHINA…

THE VICKSBURG WHICH FIRST LAUNCHED IN 19-91 IS MORE THAN 30-YEARS-OLD… AND DESPITE ITS BID TO RETIRE IT.. THE NAVY HAS ALREADY SPENT AT LEAST 1-HUNDRED AND 75-MILLION DOLLARS AND AWARDED 5-HUNDRED-MILLION DOLLARS IN CONTRACTS IN ITS MISSION TO UPDATE THE 20TH CENTURY MISSILE CRUISER.

AS THE NAVY CONTINUES TO STRUGGLE UPDATING SHIPS AND SPENDING MILLIONS TO MODERNIZE ITS FLEET.. CHINA HOPES TO GAIN NAVAL SUPERIORITY IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC. 

ACCORDING TO THE CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS.. ADMIRAL MICHAEL GILDAY… IN ORDER TO MEET PRESIDENT BIDEN’S NATIONAL DEFENSE STRATEGY THE NAVY NEEDS A FLEET OF MORE THAN 5-HUNDRED SHIPS.

AS OF APRIL 20-23 THE NAVY HAS 2-HUNDRED AND NINETY-SIX SHIPS IN ITS FLEET.