Proceedings - December 2024 Vol. 150/12/1,462

2024 Comes to a Close at a Pivotal Point

December 2024

This issue highlights a number of people priorities and the value of human relationships.

CEO Notes

December 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, I have completed a year as CEO and Publisher at the Naval Institute.

A reader suggests refitting and recommissioning the former Peleliu (LHA-5), shown here just a few months before her decommissioning in 2015, as an amphibious command ship to host U.S. Africa Command’s presence around the African continent.

Comment & Discussion

December 2024

Readers respond to articles on the 2026 U.S.-China Scenario, prize law, and more.

Marine Insurance

Joe Greco

December 2024

Marine insurance quietly underpins the complex web of global supply chains, yet its role as an essential component of the global economy often goes unnoticed.

Marine Corps Brigadier General Trevor Hall and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Major General Hajime Kitajima tour bilateral field training during Iron Fist 24. Flag and general officer relationships will be critical in a future fight, and exercises provide opportunities to discuss conceptions of the mission, capability overlap, and how each partner will employ its forces.

Partnering Will Determine the First Days of Conflict in the Western Pacific

By Major Benjamin Van Horrick, U.S. Marine Corps

December 2024

Partnerships will be integral to how the naval services will engage in a conflict in the western Pacific.

It Wasn’t Me: Deepfake Threats to National Security

By Lieutenants Sophia Costes and Justin Barnard, U.S. Navy

December 2024

Fabricating a convincing photo of someone doing something they did not do used to be complicated—but not anymore.

Sailors from the Republic of Korea Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force tour the USS Benfold (DDG-65) during a trilateral antisubmarine warfare exercise. Closer cooperation between Japan and South Korea would benefit both countries’ national security.

A Warming Korea–Japan Relationship Is Necessary

By Lieutenant Jeong Soo Kim, U.S. Navy Reserve

December 2024

There is an unspoken understanding that, if push came to shove, these forces—and those of the United States—would stand shoulder to shoulder and go into harm’s way for each other.

The USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) conducts a live fire exercise in the Red Sea. The Navy can benefit from the experiences of sailors who have experienced combat in the Red Sea in 2023 and 2024.

The U.S. Navy Must Preserve and Use the Lessons from Red Sea Combat

By Chief Petty Officer John Minor, U.S. Navy

December 2024

Enlisted Prize Essay Contest—Second Prize, Sponsored by USAA. It is key that Warrior Toughness training highlights the sailors involved in the Red Sea combat events.

RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft provide near real-time intelligence collection and analysis. This kind of support has been an important enabler for Ukrainian forces—without putting U.S. forces into direct conflict with Russian ones. Similar assistance to Taiwan could disrupt a Chinese invasion while lessening the risk of escalation.

‘Strategic Disruption’ Can Thwart an Invasion of Taiwan

By Major Korey F. Lantes, U.S. Air Force

December 2024

The United States should seek indirect means of disrupting China’s plans.

In October 2024, the PLA Navy’s Liaoning and Shandong carrier strike groups (CSGs) exercised together in the Philippine Sea. It was the first time the PLAN was able to demonstrate dual CSG operations—evidence of China’s growing blue-water navy aspirations.

China’s Global Maritime Ambitions 10,000 Miles Beyond Taiwan

By Commander Aaron Marchant, U.S. Navy

December 2024

By midcentury, China wants to achieve naval power that spans the globe.

Learn from the Fall of the Philippines: Prepare the Third Island Chain

By Lieutenant Commander Frederick “Andy” Cichon, U.S. Navy (Retired)

December 2024

CNO Naval History Essay Contest—Professional Historian First Prize, Sponsored by the U.S. Naval Institute. The United States must fortify and expand its Indo-Pacific bases.

With advances in communications and technology, merchant ships increasingly stay connected to the internet, a vulnerability an adversary could exploit to compromise the ships, their companies, and the port facilities they visit.

The Risk of Shipping Interconnectivity

By Lieutenant Commander Dan Bell, U.S. Coast Guard

December 2024

Systems that offer time and cost savings may also open the door to cyberattack.

The commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke–class guided-missile destroyer USS Ralph Johnson (DDG-114) communicates with tugboats during a port visit to Guam.

Prioritize the Human Factor for Future Naval Warfare

By Captain Andrew Carlson, U.S. Navy

December 2024

Navy tenure and other policies may make it difficult to man the future fleet.

The U.S. Seventh Fleet flagship, USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), returns to Yokosuka on 20 August 2024.

Warfighting Readiness Is About Relationships

By Commander Allison M. Bergquist, U.S. Navy Reserve

December 2024

Reserve and active-duty members must foster a network of strong relationships.

Sailors assigned to Navy Reserve Center Los Angeles. Because of a loophole, reserve senior officers are often required to pay their own travel expenses to and from weekend duty. The Navy must stop this practice.

Stop Making Senior Reserve Officers Pay to Serve

By Commander Thomas E. “Ted” Visser, U.S. Navy Reserve

December 2024

Reserve leaders pay out of pocket for travel to weekend drills. It must stop.

A Navy lieutenant stands watch. If the Navy wants to fill its department head, executive officer, and commanding officer billets, it needs more women—who separate sooner and at a higher rate than men—to commit to longer careers in the service.

The Navy Must Retain More Women SWOs

By Lieutenant Jasmaine Arnold and Lieutenant Commander Kayla Lovelady, U.S. Navy, and Major Grace Chng, Republic of Singapore Navy

December 2024

Women depart the Navy earlier, leaving fewer officers to fill leadership billets.

2024 Naval & Maritime Photo Contest

December 2024

The winners, runners-up, and honorable mentions in the Institute’s 2024 contest.

Disciplinary events are a part of Navy life for officers and enlisted members. The Navy Supply Corps School hosted a mock executive officer’s inquiry and captain’s mast to help officers feel more comfortable in these disciplinary situations should they arise.

Coping with Captain’s Mast

By Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Jacqueline Hayre-Pérez, U.S. Navy

December 2024

The distinction between individual autonomy and collective responsibility in the military environment is a fine line.

silhouette image of two hands holding a paper cutout of the word "Hope" with sunlight pouring through the letter O

The Navy Saved My Life

By Chief Petty Officer Olivia Stahle, U.S. Navy

December 2024

The Navy saved my life, my future, and my family by providing me safety within the protective barrier of the base.

Sailors assigned to the guided-missile destroyer USS Paul Ignatius (DDG-117) troubleshoot a simulated navigation equipment failure during a Seamanship Training Team drill. Blind reliance on GPS is a danger to any sailor who lacks a fundamental understanding of the history and art of navigation, familiarity with navigation tools old and new, and the operational experience to blend this knowledge with modern technology.

The Surface Fleet Must be Proficient at Navigating without GPS

By Richard L. Guion

December 2024

The surface fleet already should be prepared to safely navigate in the event of a total loss of GPS. Sadly, it is not.

U.S. Navy explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians and maritime EOD technicians from the Royal Netherlands Navy conduct floating mine response drills in the Baltic Sea in June. Instead of struggling to unilaterally produce the knowledge and capabilities necessary to address mine threats, the U.S. Navy should look to successful allied programs, such as the Franco-British Maritime Mine Countermeasures Program.

Turn to Allies to Improve U.S. Mine Warfare

By Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hipple, U.S. Navy

December 2024

Instead of struggling to unilaterally produce the capabilities necessary to address mine threats to U.S. Navy freedom of maneuver, the service should look to successful allied defense programs.

Marines with a low-altitude air defense unit during an exercise at Ie Shima, Japan, in August. The Marine Corps needs cheaper options to deter and defeat drone swarms other than the expensive Marine Air Defense Integrated and MIM-104 Patriot systems.

Defend EABO Logistics with Hiders and Finders

By Master Sergeant Joshua Owen, U.S. Marine Corps

December 2024

Marine Corps logistics units are still not ready for a peer adversary fight. The air domain will test their ability to hide in plain sight.

Book Reviews

December 2024

Experts review The Boiling Moat and other new and noteworthy books.

Republic of Vietnam. Vice Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr., Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Vietnam, Awards the Navy Unit Commendation to Crewmen of the Tank Landing Ship USS Harnett County (LST-821).

Where We Were

December 2024

A look back at the November issues of Proceedings from 1924, 1954, and 1974.

From Our Archive

December 2024

Sailors on board the battleship USS West Virginia (BB-48) pose for a portrait in front of their Christmas decorations in late 1929.

Japanese records confirmed Navy Captain Edwin T. Layton’s suspicions: Japan had tried a second strike on Pearl Harbor using two Kawanishi H8K “Emily” flying boats.

Second Attack on Pearl

By A. Denis Clift

December 2024

Navy Captain Edwin T. Layton shared the details of a second, failed Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Orekhovo-Zuyevo is the seventh Buyan-M (Project 21631) missile corvette and the tenth overall unit of the Buyan program to enter Russian service.

Russia’s Buyan Naval Corvette Program

By Eric Wertheim

December 2024

This program includes three original Buyan gunboats and 12 follow-on Buyan-M–class missile corvettes.

Asked & Answered

December 2024

How many Army-Navy football games have you attended, and which was your most memorable experience?

How 'AI Agents' Can Help Navy Commanders Win the Fight

December 2024

To a large extent, the AI agents are doing the same things the commanders and analysts would be doing if they had the time and resources. In a sense, the AI agents—collections of complex algorithms—are just doing the math.

Military Sealift Command Reserve enlisted sailors

Use the Navy Reserve to Address the Mariner Shortage

By Commander Joseph Schwartzstein and Lieutenant John Kinlein, U.S. Navy Reserve

December 2024

Navy Reserve officers can fill billets on board surge sealift ships. The Navy also should look to Reserve enlisted sailors to meet the demand for mariners.

Prepare the Marine Corps for Attritional War

By Captain Morgan Daley, U.S. Marine Corps

December 2024

States rarely desire a drawn-out conflict. But realities of warfare mean that any conflict with a major power will ultimately become a war of attrition.

How the Marine Corps Can Maintain Its Momentum

By Colonel Glen Butler, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired)

December 2024

The Marine Corps will no doubt remain steadfast throughout a period of intense transition and vulnerability, leaning forward and adapting as strategy and guidance evolve.

Can the Navy Achieve 80 Percent Surface Force Surge Readiness?

By Lieutenant Commander Steven Wills, U.S. Navy (Retired)

December 2024

The Navy has been hard-pressed to reach 50-percent readiness in a discrete cohort of ships. How will the service reach 80-percent readiness across the fleet?