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At the beginning of 1988, the Navy sailed into waters made perilous by increasingly constrained budgets and newly evolving threats. When Secretary of Defense Frank C. Carlucci III presented his amended fiscal year 1989 budget to Congress in February 1988, the revised Navy topline had fallen to $96.4 billion from the original request of $108.7 billion—a decline in real growth of 6.8%, the worst of the services’ figures.
It also was a time when a U. S. president and a Soviet party secretary had shaken hands over a major arms control agreement. The fiscal year 1989 defense budget came to Capitol Hill hard on the heels of hearings on the Intermediate- range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. Pundits began to speak of a “post-INF era,” as NATO nations and other allies grappled with addressing national security issues that will persist in spite of the treaty. Together, the Scylla of budget constraints and the Charybdis of subtle, but dynamic, threats compelled the Navy to make course adjustments in strategy and force structure.
When Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Carlisle Trost presented the amended fiscal year 1989 Navy budget to Congress in March 1988, he told lawmakers that long-term zero or negative growth would force the Navy to reconsider its forward strategy or find another. Other dialogue and developments during 1988 are producing a rapidly evolving service view of'naval warfare into the next century.
“We’ve got to use our technology both in a war-fighting and military-geopolitical sense; we’ve got to use it to put the right kinds of weapons together to support a strategy; and we’ve got to be able to do it in a way that we can afford,” said retired Vice Admiral Joseph Metcalf III, former Deputy CNO for Surface Warfare, at the U. S. Naval Institute’s July 1988 “Future U. S. Naval Power” seminar in San Diego.
In large measure, the Navy thinking that emerged last year greatly benefited from the lessons learned during the successful 16-month Persian Gulf convoy operation. For the first time since the Vietnam era, the service experienced a sustained tempo of conflict and near
conflict operations that in practice—not theory—graphically demonstrated how naval warfare has changed. (These operations are detailed in feature articles in this issue.)
The Navy is now forcefully arguing that the world is no longer as it was in 1947, when it was characterized by a bipolar confrontation between two superpowers, and the only meaningful threat to U. S. naval forces was a Soviet one. Today the world is increasingly interdependent, multipolar, and militarized. While the Soviet Union will remain its most formidable potential adversary well into the future, the U. S. Navy now views Third World regional conflicts as more likely contingencies, for which it must also be highly prepared.
Other defense officials have noted that recent Moscow rhetoric has shifted emphasis from “supporting wars of national liberation” to “exploiting intercapitalist contradictions.” “What appears to be in store for the United States in the future is a more flexible, more subtle foreign policy aimed at creating divisions among us, our traditional allies and the principal Third World nations.” The purchase of submarine propeller milling equipment from Japan and the sale of a Charlie-I- class nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine to India are clear examples of how this shift in Soviet policy can complicate the Navy’s calculations.
Now and into the next century, Third World challenges to U. S. naval forces are no longer “primitive.” They require responses that combine arms for antiship missile defense, antisubmarine warfare, and antisurface warfare (ASUW). In the Persian Gulf, the U. S. task force faced threats that included mines, land- and sea-based cruise missiles, high-performance aircraft, high-speed naval surface combatants, special operation forces, and sophisticated intelligence and sensors.
As always, naval aviation will continue to be key to the Navy’s ability to project power. Of growing importance will be the use of the aviation community for challenges in this hemisphere. For example, as a result of congressional mandate, the Navy will more routinely apply ocean and air surveillance assets for drug interdiction.
While the need for long-range powC projection has never been more acute, th<- United States is finding that its overseas access is decreasing. The Navy continues to remind lawmakers that since 1947 the number of countries hosting U. S. na'J bases has declined 60%, from 95 to 3»- (Although the United States had abm" 2,000 overseas military bases in 1947.1 now has only 759.) As such, the Na'J will rely increasingly on maritime prep0" sitioning squadrons for pre-staging mat1- rials that can remain mobile and untM U. S. control.
Despite this evaluation of the interna tional situation and its associated threats- the Navy, by all accounts, has accept that it will not achieve a 600-ship f°rce structure in the next few years. However- the service stands firm on the need t0 have 15 carrier battle groups (CVBGsi- four battleship battle groups, and the at tendant forces to support them. The Na'- says that this requirement remains a ‘ n tional policy imperative.” To meet mn damental security obligations in PeaCft
time, four CVBGs will continue
of
deploy in forward areas, the nearest which is 3,500 miles from the Unite States. Three CVBGs must be ready
the
surge operations within 48 hours; 1 remainder will maintain normal trainin-"
and maintenance cycles. .
The Navy is acknowledging the real' ’ of its force levels, however. “Throug out future SLEP [service life extens'0 program] and CV [carrier] nuclear 'L fueling/overhaul periods, we will c°n^ tinue to compensate for our shortfall i CVs by reducing our CV commitment1 the Mediterranean or by easing the Inm Ocean requirement and scheduling bat' ship battle group deployments as g3!1
fillers.”
id
How the Navy is revising strategy al^j
force structure in a time of constrain1-'
budgets and a dynamic world is dire1
etiy
y/e
related to changes in naval warfare have moved from short-range enga- ments, often controlled with strictly vlj’I| ual sensors, to weapon engagement51 excess of 1,200 miles from our ba'1 forces, with electronic means provid"1:
the only evidence of action. It is from
th's
perspective that we maintain and sl’aj\ our Navy of the future.” Key technolw
►
Inti
initiatives in research and development that the service wants protected are pro- Sfams for low observable (stealth) tech- n°logy, information management, beam Capons, electric-drive propulsion, and Sophisticated munitions.
The Office of the CNO released a re- P°rt of the Ship Operational Characterises Study (SOCS) in April 1988. The p CS group, which included unrestricted lne officers from Washington headquarters staffs and from the staffs of the fleet Commanders-in-chiefs and surface force Commanders, worked on the study for rt)0re than a year. In promulgating the reP°rt, the CNO stated that he “subscribed to all [its] recommendations.” ctive Navy programs are already pursu- jng some of the characteristics and oppor- unities recommended in the study.
The focus of the report was the opera- °nal characteristics of a 21st century surface combatant. Recommendations s° apply to other ships such as a large- ^aPacity missile carrier and ships of the laphibious, combat logistics, and mine fees. The report did not propose to de- ,!ne any hull form, but rather identified °Perational characteristics that would e suitable with any of the hull forms ■n which we have become familiar.” .e objective of the SOCS is to maxi- n 1Ze the ship’s capability to put “ord- nce on target,” the phrase so closely ^sociated with Admiral Metcalf’s “Rev- ti°n at Sea.” According to the report,
"The 21st century combatant will e capable of both independent and battle Force operations. The ability to operate independently requires a stout Self-defense capability in every mis- Sl°n area UP, OUT and DOWN and an offensive capability in at least one niaior mission area. To operate effec- hyely with and contribute to a Battle orce requires speed consistent with hat of a CV, the ability to contribute 0 the protection of the carrier and Combat logistics ships and system CaPability with the other ships and air- Cfaft in the force.”
Th
'Uin 6 rePort outlined, among others, 12 "‘w mtlVe operational characteristics as t ^fighting drivers”: areas°Perative engagement in all mission
i 2'ie8rated machinery systems hurp>rV'Vability and the ability to “fight
sio^^hded readiness assessment, mis- ► CoP|anning’ and training
V •,.<>n<lition-based maintenance
V c°o;pedo self-defense
inf,w °Cation of ship control and combat Nation center
► Access control and security
► Alternative use of volume
► Smooth topsides
► New information management
► Organic aviation and other offboard vehicles
The report defined cooperative engagement as “an integrated and coordinated combat data and action system at the battle force level. The concept must be applicable UP. OUT and DOWN and not limited to AAW [antiair warfare].” Each ship must be able to “see” the entire battle as if it had every sensor and weapon in the battle force on board. It would have all data relating to detection, classification, and targeting, and the capability to control weapons fired from other platforms, a feature called “forward pass” in AAW. Longer range weapons for AAW and ASW are required to expand this capability beyond ASUW and strike warfare, without which battle force geometry would constrain such use. Ship design should permit the last-ditch launch of weapons by the battle force commander. “The 21st century surface combatant should be designed not to go out of action with full magazines if its weapons are needed by the force,” said the SOCS report.
The SOCS also recommended an integrated decoy and deception capability at the battle force level, coordinated to avoid one platform decoying an incoming weapon into another friendly platform. An automated “combat maneuvering” system would minimize detection and damage, while permitting selected, automated initiation of “anticipatory” damage control action in the threatened section of the ship while the weapon is still incoming.
A second key characteristic is the integration of propulsion and machinery systems. “This characteristic, Integrated Machinery,” said the SOCS, “is the only one in which we are recommending a
Termed by the Navy “the best bargain around,” the carrier SLEP returned the Independence (CV-62) to the fleet in 1988 with another 15-year lease on life, and began work on the Kitty Hawk (CV-63), above.
specific solution to the operational characteristics we prescribe.” It added, “The change to a new machinery system is so fundamental to building the future surface combatant and to its performance that the propulsion, auxiliaries and electrical generation systems decisions will affect every other aspect of the 21 st century ship. We should commit to a new propulsion system now.”
Integration will reduce ship signatures, particularly acoustic, infrared, and “propulsion constituent of wake,” and provide adequate power reserves for future directed-energy weapon systems. The SOCS said, “Increased reliability of electric power, in fact assured electric power, will be essential to support the information and computing demands of the 21st century combatant.” The system recommended is an integrated, electric drive machinery. “Electric drive inte-
proc
grated with propulsion-derived ship ser- Vlce power generation will result in Weight reduction and improved fuel efficiency. The adoption of intercooled, regenerative gas turbines can contribute to ’’’'Proved fuel efficiency and reduced in- rared signatures associated with exhaust Missions.”
Stealth, although an important devel- °ping technology, should not be oversold as a concept applicable to ships. Accord- lng to the SOCS, “Seeking to make ships jnvisible, that is to remove all observab- es> would not be the best allocation of resources. Preventing classification and argeting of our ships is always appropriate> more likely achievable, and should ® °Ur objective.” Instead, ship design mould rely on technology that will imProve decoy and deception techniques. Stealth considerations would apply to e recommendation for smooth topsides. cmoving stacks and funnels and putting Pausting combustion gases through the 11 would reduce radar cross-section, as offu stowage of aircraft and other
board vehicles, such as those carrying rPedo destruction devices. Flush and closed stowage has the additional ad- vantaj
and
'ge of the ability to load, maintain,
The
repair during inclement weather.
its
ship
after "hth It
report said the Navy must improve
.combatants’ ability to “fight hurt.” A must be able to continue to fight one hit by an antiship cruise missile ( a nominal one-metric-ton warhead. sile'USt surv've two antiship cruise mis- e hits or one under the keel, which tj Ust he strengthened. In calling for “an- s Tatory damage control,” the SOCS tjj |,’hat fiber-optic cables embedded in dat and used as a sensor system for tu a transmission could measure struc- Ernb Stress hy deflections in the cable. „ medded sensors would also provide sp( ndlt’on based maintenance” to reins , ',° ^adure as opposed to “open and . Peet approaches of preventive main- nance Th > '
’ion C-StUdy says ’hat despite the atten- tiis f1Ven t0 defending against cruise the 'es’ "defense against torpedoes is JjQn'yfahness that needs the most atten-
bv ^cording to some estimates, a hit 1 one ■
°f the Soviets’ largest diameter actP-es could “put a CV out of °n- “The change of emphasis in
toi
irPedo: :ti(
3V
Cruise
V’et ASUW attack tactics—from i\ot ’ missiles to torpedoes—although
Pect ^aammeed, should not be unex- s'ninl cau*i°ns that it is insufficient attac|^ lo decoy the torpedo: During an \vater ’ many torpedoes will be in the threat’ 3nd decoyed torpedoes remain a q(, and must he destroyed.
er recommendations included the
colocation of ship control with the combat information center below decks and improved security of the ship’s information systems. The study recommends the “ship as a home” concept for alternative use of interior volume. One step beyond the paperless ship concept, says the SOCS, would be a “cashless ship.”
In a similar way, the aviation community has responded both to evolving threats and developments in naval warfare. In congressional testimony last year, Vice Admiral Robert F. Dunn, Assistant CNO for Air Warfare, noted among his goals that naval aviation must be ready to respond to crisis, particularly today when faced with a higher probability of small conflicts, and where deterrence requires that U. S. forces prevent those conflicts from getting larger. “We must capitalize on what naval aviation does best while integrating the strengths of sister services and allies. We intend to increasingly employ standoff weapons and electronic systems as force multipliers. Naval aviation must continue to consolidate the number of different aircraft and weapon types to save manpower and support costs through commonality and modular design.” With regard to joint tactical integration, Admiral Dunn highlighted the successful operations in the Persian Gulf that demonstrated the excellent capabilities of the Army MH-6 special operations helicopters and Air Force airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft and tankers.
Through the year, the Navy found itself before Congress defending the goal of 15 CVBGs. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) attempted to lead a bid to retire the Coral Sea (CV-43) and Midway (CV- 41) early. Part of the logic behind this supposed budget-saving effort derived from a case made by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) in a November 1987 report about alleged shortfalls in the Navy’s combat aircraft. The CBO projected that with tight budgets ahead the Navy could not correct the shortfall.
The issue was critical and used by some lawmakers to question the point of a 15-carrier Navy if the service did not have enough planes to go around, particularly attack aircraft. In any case, as a result of the budget negotiations within the Pentagon, the Navy was forced to decommission its 14th carrier air wing (CVW-10) based at Naval Air Station Miramar, California. CVW-10 was in fact a reserve wing that had been activated for only a year-and-a-half. The stand-down coincided with a dip in the carrier deployment cycle. The Navy looked ahead to see that nuclear carrier refuelings, normal overhauls, and the
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more weapons than any other submarin® to date, in any country.” With a larg.^ diameter torpedo tube, the Seawolf w be able to exploit advances in future tor pedo technology and in submarine launched unmanned underwater vehic
velm
othC
combat system (fire control and so
inar
of F“r cal'
Any further improvements would req a larger hull, another reason why
uii*
th«
Navy
Naval aviation felt the budget crunch in 1988: One carrier air wing retired and the transition to the new strike- oriented air wings associated with the Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), above, slowed.
SLEP will put more than the average number of carriers in long-term maintenance, reducing normal carrier deployments by one. The retirement of CVW-10 enabled the Navy essentially to reduce its aircraft requirements by 126 carrier- based aircraft that could be redistributed elsewhere in the force structure. However, the overall aircraft force will age slightly from the fiscal year 1988 average of 13.2 years to a projected 14.7 years in fiscal year 1994. Carrier-based aircraft will age about one year. In addition, the Navy will slow the transition to the “Teddy Roosevelt” air wings (refers to new air wings on board the new carrier Theodore Roosevelt [CVN-71]) to only three in the five-year defense plan. The shortfall is particularly troublesome with regard to attack aircraft; nevertheless, it is being managed by continuing crossdecking, using pipeline and training assets, and deploying two or three Marine Corps A-6 squadrons.
Budget constraints and pressure from the Senate Armed Services Committee contributed to making clear to the Navy that it had to refine its plans for naval aviation, where it was going, and how it would get there. In February 1988, 12 senior Navy and Marine Corps aviators, representing a cross-section of aviation communities, gathered in Washington as the Project February study group. Their brief was to identify the aviation mission through the year 2010 and recommend the composition of future air wings, in view also of budget and manpower constraints.
The group began with several assumptions, notably that while the global threat will remain a Soviet one, naval aviation must plan for more regional contingencies in the Third World. As for force levels, Project February assumed 15 deployable carriers with 15 carrier air wings (13 active and two reserve), four Marine Corps air wings (three active/one reserve), and 37 maritime patrol squadrons (24 active/13 reserve). Project February also assumed that the Navy would continue with the supercarrier and the slow transition to nuclear propulsion.
The group concluded that the Navy should reduce the types of aircraft in its inventory and develop in each type a multimission capability. Moreover, it emphasized the growing importance of joint/allied operations and the application of space to naval warfare. As to weapons and systems, it noted that requirements are increasing for a night operations capability and active sensors for ASW. Information management is assuming a frontline role, and common electronic warfare systems can no longer be regarded as an afterthought in design. The group also noted the importance of the guiding cruise missiles launched by other aircraft. It said that in terms of procurement the CVBG and the CVW must be viewed as a unit and not as an amalgamation of “discreet platforms,” which permits one platform to retire and be automatically replaced.
Project February recommended that the Navy move to four types of multimission aircraft that, with another four, it designates as “musts.” The CVW first must have the A-12 (the new name for the advanced tactical aircraft) to replace the A-6. Second, the group identified the requirement for an all-weather plane, costing about $30 million per unit and called the advanced strike fighter (ASF), to replace the F-14 and F/A-18. (The ASF may be a Navy-designed aircraft rather than the Air Force-led advanced technology fighter [ATF] that Congress mandated as a joint program. The ATF is under development by a Northrop/ McDonnell Douglas team and a Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics team; a competitive flyoff is scheduled in 1990. A decision to acquire an ASF based on an F-14 upgrade could save Grumman as an airframe producer for the Navy. The venerable A-6, another Grumman program, was terminated in 1988.) The third aircraft recommended by Project February is the advanced support plane (ASP) 10 replace the S-3, C-2, KA-6, and possibly the EA-6 if the A-12 cannot. The fourth in the group’s “four for eight” is the SH- 60B/F Seahawk helicopter with a dipp*n? sonar.
In addition, the study says the Navy must have: the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to replace the CH-46; an advanced tactical battle management aircraft (ATBM) to replace the E-2C an maybe the S-3; the long-range advance antisubmarine-warfare-capable aircrat (LRAACA) to replace the P-3; and a Hght experimental helicopter (HLX) to replace the H-l.
Congress approved $1.7 billion t°r procurement and research and develop ment for the first Seawolf (SSN-21)-da** attack submarine. The Navy signed tn contract with the Electric Boat Divisio11 of General Dynamics in January 19™- Vice Admiral Daniel L. Cooper, Ass>s tant CNO for Undersea Warfare, said tha the Seawolf will be “undoubtedly me quietest ship in the world." Most impreS sive, according to Admiral Cooper, is tn Seawolf s firepower—“at least
(UUV) and automated underwater cles (AUV) systems for ASW or missions. .
Last August the Navy commission®
the San Juan (SSN-751), the first of111 so-called “Improved-688s.” By the en of 1989, the service will have 42 Angeles (SSN-688)-class attack submarines. Four Los Angeles-c\ass submarm ' were commissioned in 1988, and the s®c ond “Improved-688,” the Posad?1’ (SSN-752), was commissioned in Feb ary 1989. The two “lmproved-688s the first in the class with the under-* capability. They also have the BS
suite) and bow planes instead water planes. “It is the best ship we ^ build right now,” Admiral Cooper sa|U
Navy must go to the SSN-21. The . will have 96 attack submarines by thc .-j of 1989: 42 Los Angeles (SSN-688), a
After 16 successful pad launchings of the new Trident II (D-5) submarine- launched ballistic missile, the D-5 has begun submerged tests with the Tennessee (SSBN-734), commissioned the ninth Ohio (SSBN-726)-class “boomer” in December and the first to carry the D-5.
Sturgeon (SSN-637), nine Permit (SSN- 594), and three diesels.
In December the Navy commissioned its ninth Ohio (SSBN-726)-class fleet ballistic-missile submarine, the Tennessee (SSBN-734). The Tennessee is the first submarine to carry the new Trident II (D-5) missile and is now operating from Kings Bay, Georgia. The first submarine-launched test shots of the D-5 will begin this spring. In two years of D-5 testing, 18 pad shots from Cape Canaveral, Florida, resulted in 16 complete successes and two that were only partially successful, owing to minor failures that now have been corrected.
The Trident II program has won praise from the General Accounting Office (GAO) and Les Aspin (D-WI), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, for meeting its schedule and performance goals. “It’s a sound, well-managed program,” Aspin said.
Admiral Cooper said that the Trident is a “major success story” that ranks alongside the legendary Polaris program.
Nine years ago the Navy’s Office of Strategic Systems Programs planned for the D-5 to be available for the Ohio when she completes her first overhaul in 1992. Sometime in 1983, Admiral Cooper said, the decision was made to put the D-5 on the ninth Trident hull, the Tennessee. “So in fact, we accelerated the D-5 program by about four to five years.”
By the end of 1989, the SSBN fleet will comprise 24 Poseidon missile submarines (of which 12 will carry the C-3 Poseidon and the other 12 the C-4 Trident I), eight Trident missile subs with the C-4, and two Trident boats with the D-5.
Since November 1960, when the George Washington, the first SSBN (converted to SSN in 1981), went on her first patrol, U. S. ballistic-missile submarines have conducted more than 2,600 strategic deterrent patrols and never fired a missile in anger. Navy submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) provide the strategic “triad” (bombers, intercontinental ballistic missiles, and SSBNs) with about 50% of the warheads for strategic deterrence for about 25-27% of the portion of the defense budget that goes to strategic programs. At a time when Congress is looking closely at where the cuts might fall in strategic programs, the Navy is fortunate to have completed its strategic modernization. Originally, the rationale for the triad was based on the notion that land-based missiles were the most accurate, bombers were recallable, and sub
marines were the most survivable. the D-5, said Admiral Cooper, the N;iV-' has a missile “as accurate as any”; ® communications links to the SSBNs ;1|X “99.9%” fail-safe; and those subs ^ still “the primary survivable leg of tn‘ triad.” »
Other miscellaneous highlights in 1“ included:
► Signal aviation programs: The Na'; commenced testing of the T-45TS tra*1* ing system, that includes both the T-4?; Goshawk aircraft (McDonnell Dougl^ British Aerospace) and ground-contr automatic training modules, simulat0*5'
and computer-aided instructional sysi
-4J'1!
that will replace the T-2C and TA-— ., the Naval Training Command. The in**1*
operational capability (IOC) date *s
1990. In June, the service began test!11-' the SH-60F Seahawk derivative wi**1 ,
dipping sonar. The SH-60F will rep
the SH-3 carrier air wings; IOC is in
juiy
1989. The Navy also decided to pu*
th®
the
P-3C Update-IV modernization into LRAACA, thereby maintaining condn ity with Lockheed in the ASW airera
► Lowest aviation accident rate e'
Navy and Marine Corps aircraft f involved in only 2.16 accidents P 100,000 flight hours during 1988. ‘ „ 1988 rate improved upon the previoU5
1 1
lowest rate, established in 1987—
$
accidents per 100,000 hours. The rate years ago was 51 accidents per 100. hours. Admiral Dunn attributed the s
Cess to the recent levels of funding, ^hich have allowed for sufficient flying ■tours and spares, and quality recruitment.
^ Aviation readiness: In 1988 the Navy enJoyed its highest ever readiness rates in lerms of full-mission-capable aircraft and aircraft carriers. This readiness translated ■o success in the air and surface actions against Iranian naval targets in the Per- s,an Gulf last April and in the heroic res- off the coast of Florida of 67 sailors tr°m the USS Bonefish (SS-582) by Heli- ^°Pter Squadron 7.
Friendly fire: An inexperienced F-14 a,r crew shot down a U. S. Air National uard RF-4C Phantom, both crew mem- ers °f which were rescued, during exer- llj'Cs >n the Mediterranean in April 1988. ue Tomcat pilot reported a diving, un- arked aircraft, received the order to °°t, and fired two armed Sidewinders, e second hitting the F-4. The Navy said t ctl orders are common in exercises and at Pilots know not to shoot. The pilot craf *at6r restr'cted frorn flying Navy air-
^ Flack Sea bumping: The USS York- oh’„ (CQ-48) and USS Caron (DD-970), atie^1Pting in February 1988 to conduct , innocent passage” through part of t^‘ iilack Sea claimed by the Soviets as j. lr territorial seas, were bumped by °Vlet naval combatants. Contrary to in-
■erna*'
ir>no.
ational law, Soviet legislation allows in i'Cent Passage in only five areas, not
>Caiding the Black Sea.
y Medical focus: 1988 may become hi0Wn as the year the problems with th ^ medicine received the attention deserve, culminating with the U. S. in W* Institute s February 1989 seminar te ashington. More evidence of the in- NaSlty of this focus is the fact that the thiTv institute’s Distinguished Author of ’ear award went to a Navy doctor,
> P'ain Arthur M. Smith.
01 retention and the bonus: Faced atio '°ni=er deployments, increased oper- Cruit'a ternPos> and high-pressure re- tj0ri u*8 from the airlines, the naval avia- pjj c°nimunity is still struggling with
tiin retent'on- in 1988 congressional tes- l9°ny- Admiral Dunn noted that in 'ots ’ vv*len the airlines hired 1,330 pi- 42c/ tle Navy’s pilot retention rate was 9 qq„ in 1987, they hired more than 35% .|,an(i Navy retention dropped to
good news, however, was that
WXj. I1CW.1, HUVYtVU, w 11 It*l
pac,gress passed the $12,000 bonus Jan. Ui=e last year that took effect on ’ V n„Uary 1989.
y^JT<rf('Ce a,,d sub retention: The fiscal fare ~~ retention rates for surface war-
rttari°fficers was 30%’ and 29% for sub' ners. The latter got a 35% pay in-
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With no trace of the port damage from the May 1987 Iraqi Exocet missile hit, the Stark (FFG-31) left Ingalls’ repair yard on 28 August 1988 to rejoin the fleet. On the Ingalls quay were: the Aegis cruisers Princeton (CG-59), commissioned 11 February 1989, and Chancellorsville (CG-62), launched 15 July 1988; and the amphibious assault ship Wasp (LHD-1), delivered in March 1989.
refugees adrift in the South China Sea
led
the whole issue was for the Navy.”
fense News. Previously, Mr. Morton was cobf ,, sional editor of Armed Forces Journal. He rccei“
crease on 1 January 1988, and both surface and submarine nuclear officers got an incentive pay increase that took effect on 22 December 1987. For signing three-, four-, or five-year contracts after completing their initial obligation, the nukes’ yearly bonus increased from $9,000 to $10,000.
► First woman screens for at-sea command: Lieutenant Commander Deborah S. Gernes, U. S. Naval Reserve,
screened for surface command in December 1988. Already selected for promotion to commander, Commander Gernes was the executive officer of the destroyer tender Cape Cod (AD-43) at the time she was screened. In 1987, she was one of the first two women officers selected as an at-sea XO. Five women serve as XOs in at-sea billets. Commander Gernes was commissioned in 1974 through Officers Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island.
► ASW reorganization: In December, the Navy decided to restrict the “ASW Czar” to coordinating policy making only at the advanced research level under the Naval Sea Systems Command (Nav- Sea OP-098). The CNO had launched the “ASW Czar” Task Force in 1987 with the idea that both NavSea and the Naval Air Systems Command would transfer their management of ASW programs to an office in the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. The December reorganization, thus, is proving controversial because by subordinating the “ASW Czar” to the Navy’s research and development chief, it further restricts the czar’s coordination and prioritization of major ASW programs that are farther along or in production and in need of funding.
► Frigates retired and leased: The Secretary of Defense instructed the Navy in
1988 to retire in fiscal years 1988 and
1989 ten Garcia (FF-1040)-class and six Brooke (FFG-l)-class frigates “due to fiscal constraints.” In January 1989, the Navy announced that eight frigates would be leased to Pakistan for five years. Six Atlantic Fleet frigates have been turned over: the Garcia (FF-1040), Brumby (FF- 1044), Koelsch (FF-1049), Talbot (FFG- 4), Richard L. Page (FFG-5), and Julius
A. Furer (FFG-6). From the Paci^ Fleet, Pakistan received the Brooke a” O’ Callahan (FF-1051). Four other ates are proposed for lease to Brazil: the Albert David (FF-1050), Bradley 1041), Sample (FF-1048), and Davidso" (FF-1045). The remaining four may g°t0 the Naval Reserve.
► Dubuque’s CO Courtmartialed: ^ incident last June involving Vietnam^
to the court-martial of a Navy captain dereliction of duty. The commander the amphibious transport Dubuque (LP^J 8) was found guilty of the charge for fal ing to give adequate assistance to w® “boat people.” He provided them vV1 , food, water, and directions to the ncatf) land, but did not take them aboard. Dubuque was en route to the Pers'3 Gulf. The ship’s commander was giWn letter of reprimand—the mildest punis ^ ment. However, the captain said he 'vl( appeal the conviction. Unhappy a^° _ alleged irregularities in the legal proCfl dure that led to his court-martial, he sa' “politically tnesS-
John F. Morton is editor of DefenseForum. a wee^j publication distributed from Washington by faC J ilc. He also conceived, developed, and is marked - daily radio program series, “The Washington fense Briefing,” produced in association with
B.A. and an M.A. in international affairs frotf George Washington University.
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