This issue is our annual focus on the submarine force. U.S. Navy nuclear-powered fast-attack and guided-missile submarines are sometimes referred to as the “queens of the chessboard.” Their stealth, speed, endurance, and firepower make them impressive elements of the joint force. As retired Captain Bill Toti pointed out in last year’s December issue, “You Can’t Win Without (More) Submarines.” And U.S. ballistic missile submarines are the only survivable leg of the nation’s strategic nuclear triad. In keeping with our ongoing focus on shipbuilding, we must note that the Navy and the submarine industrial complex are still short of the goal of building one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines per year. More must be done to reach that goal as soon as possible.
In “Maintaining Undersea Superiority—Status Report,” Commander, U.S. Submarine Forces, Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher outlines his priorities: warfighting, people, and safety. Told through the lens of the recently completed two-year deployment of the USS Florida (SSGN-728), Admiral Gaucher provides an excellent overview of the submarine force’s manning, training, force structure, and modernization plans.
Joseph Labrum’s “Strategic Shifts Require Reshaping the U.S. Nuclear Arsenal” highlights the modernization and buildup of China and Russia’s nuclear weapons and the attending requirements for the United States to renew and strengthen its own strategic arsenal and posture. Like its naval shipbuilding program, China’s nuclear weapons and delivery-system buildup is sobering.
In “How Submarines Can Shut Down Trade,” Navy Lieutenant Brant Verhulst echoes the Mahanian theme of deranging adversary trade that we have seen recently from several authors. Verhulst’s key point is that today’s U.S. fast-attack subs are not armed with enough antiship cruise missiles (ASCMs) to make a dent in the Chinese merchant fleet. Backfitting older Harpoon missiles has begun, but the Navy needs substantial quantities of better, modern sub-launched ASCMs.
The challenges of submarine maintenance and shipyard availabilities have been addressed by numerous authors in recent years, but Captain Joel Holwitt’s “Thanks for Everything, Mister Roberts” may be the most poignant piece yet. Captain Holwitt uses lessons from the 1946 novel Mr. Roberts by Thomas Heggen and the 1955 Hollywood film starring Henry Fonda to drive home the point that service in shipyards is far from the action submariners dream of, but it is vitally important work that must be done. Joel had the bittersweet task of commanding the USS Toledo (SSN-769) through a multiyear shipyard availability without having the opportunity to take the boat to sea. Mr. Roberts helped him stay motivated and lead his crew through the hard job of tearing the boat apart and rebuilding it for the next captain and crew to take to sea.
Finally, we intend to focus an upcoming issue on shipbuilding. There are many interconnected challenges and causes for the current delays and shortfalls, ranging from inconsistent funding to requirements creep, engineering risk, industrial base capacity, and more. Our goal is not to assign blame, but rather to identify the factors that have hindered recent shipbuilding programs. After identifying the key challenges, we hope to offer ways that Congress, the next administration, the Navy, and industry can avoid those pitfalls going forward. Much has been written on this topic, but it has not been pulled together in one place or one series of articles. We invite your participation. Please submit articles at www.usni.org/webform/article-submission-form.
