Proceedings - February 2025 Vol. 151/2/1,464

Shipbuilding: A Deep Dive

February 2025

This issue focuses on naval shipbuilding—perhaps more urgent than the need for a new naval strategy is the need for more capacity and greater discipline in shipbuilding.

CEO Notes

February 2025

The Institute is grateful for our friends and donors who help make possible so many of our important programs.

A quartermaster on the USS Bataan (LHD-5) takes a celestial reading using a sextant in the Atlantic Ocean in March 2024. Readers have supported the call for better celestial navigation skills.

Comment & Discussion

February 2025

Readers respond to articles on the flying warrants, celestial navigation, and more.

An unmanned surface vessel, the USCGC Charles Moulthrope (WPC-1141), the dry cargo and ammunition ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE-6), and the guided-missile destroyer USS Thomas Hudner (DDG-116) transit the Strait of Hormuz in August 2023.

What Is UNCLOS?

By Lieutenant Commander James Halsell, U.S. Navy

February 2025

Maritime claims the world over are governed by a treaty too often undermined by signatories (and defended by a non-party).

A seven-and-a-half-year gap between the build of the Doris Miller (CVN-81) and that of the first carrier of the next proposed dual buy would negate the economic and shipbuilding experience advantages of a dual buy.

Don’t Delay the Next Dual Buy of Carriers

By Captain Tal Manvel, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

Having the government side equally knowledgeable is critical when negotiating dual buys to certify the savings.

The Navy has conducted multiple studies, all of which say the same thing: Not enough. The Navy’s sea power problem is not for lack of study, but lack of stuff.

Parable of the Shipbuilding Plan

By Lieutenant Commander Matthew Hipple, U.S. Navy

February 2025

The Navy’s sea power problem is not for lack of study, but lack of stuff.

Seabees unload a concrete bucket at Cubi Point, the Philippines. In the 1950s, Seabees built Cubi Point Naval Air Station—something civilian contractors claimed was impossible given the mountainous, jungle-covered terrain.

Time for a Seabee Resurgence

By Commander John Orr, U.S. Navy

February 2025

The Department of the Navy needs to start tasking Seabee battalions with constructing infrastructure projects across the Pacific.

When crew members sleep well, their bodies and minds are less stressed, and they can maintain effective physical performance. This makes missions safer and more successful.

To Make Missions Safer, Just Turn Out the Lights

By Petty Officer Second Class Bruno Felberg Borges, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve

February 2025

Sleep-skills programs that focus on circadian rhythms and available light can be the foundation of a sound sleep-management strategy.

The Navy’s next surface ship needs to be the foundation for a family of combatants.

Warship Construction Is a Critical and Urgent Challenge

By Vice Admiral Phil Balisle, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

In 1941, the United States was behind militarily and industrially. When the proverbial light bulb came on, the nation mobilized and, at great price, achieved victory.

U.S. Navy ships moored at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, in July 2024.

A Path to the Navy Force Structure the Nation Needs

By Vice Admiral Thomas J. Moore, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

The Navy’s force structure is inadequate because the service has been unable to effectively manage new construction and ship retirements.

Battleship traverses Wall Street in this created image.

Shareholder Interests Are at Odds with Navy Needs

By Martin J. Bollinger

February 2025

Wall Street and the Navy see shipbuilding investments differently.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) seen in June 2021 preparing for her commissioning in Pascagoula, Mississippi. In 2002, the HII Pascagoula yard was owned by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, which grudgingly agreed to a Navy proposal to send some DDG construction to Bath Iron Works in Maine in return for taking on construction of the full San Antonio–class amphibious transport dock line instead of sharing production with Bath.

The High Costs of Doing (Shipbuilding) Business

By Rear Admiral Philip A. Dur, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

Volatility in shipbuilding forecasts makes capital investments risky for builders.

The final piece of the underwater hull of the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy (CVN-79) being lowered into place in September 2019. The Navy needs to recapitalize the shipbuilding industry to produce the new capabilities and warships required to win the next war.

The Nation Needs a Shipbuilding Revolution

By Captain Brent D. Sadler, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

The luxuries of yesterday’s Navy are today’s urgent shipbuilding necessities.

The Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS John Lenthall (T-AO-189) conducts a replenishment at sea.

Build the T-AOL Right

By Captain Bob Schwaneke, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

The oiler must be able to fully support distributed maritime operations.

A concept showing a container ship as it might look after conversion to a warship with containerized missiles and drones weapons, including the missile launcher shown amidship.

Warship Weapons for Merchant Ship Platforms

By Colonel T. X. Hammes, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), and Captain R. Robinson Harris, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

Turning merchant ships into warships would expand the combat fleet quickly.

A future U.S. Navy frigate will be capable of significant software upgrades at sea to constantly hone its warfighting edge.

The Future Is Here: Thoughts on Warship Design and Acquisition

By Admiral John Richardson, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

The future fleet must be designed, procured, and supported with a three-stream process.

Marines refuel an AH-1Z Viper during a forward arming and refueling point (FARP) exercise. With properly cross-trained Marines, the Marine Corps has the expertise to deploy and sustain multiple FARPs across dispersed areas.

Advanced Base Force: Cross-Training Marines to Operate FARPs in the WEZ

By Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Warren, U.S. Marine Corps

February 2025

The Marine Corps possesses the capabilities to be the joint force’s advanced base unit.

There is a precedent in naval aviation for integrating manned and unmanned aircraft. Here, a CH-53E Super Stallion refuels an MQ-8C Fire Scout unmanned helicopter.

A Large Unmanned Logistics Aircraft Is Critical to Sustain EABO

By Major Nolan Vihlen, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve

February 2025

The system must operate at long range, with substantial payloads, and at high speeds.

Marines at the School of Infantry handling M4 recoilless rifles during their training. Junior Marines take on some of the service’s most dangerous jobs—jobs that require extensive critical thinking—and should be treated as smart and capable individuals.

Treat Junior Marines Better

By First Lieutenant Grant Boyes, U.S. Marine Corps

February 2025

The next generation of officers must recognize and treat junior and inexperienced enlisted service members for who they truly are—highly capable, valuable team members.

The destroyer tender USS Shenandoah (AD-44) in April 1990. The last of the Yellowstone class, she was decommissioned in 1996. The Navy’s current logistical model for the western Pacific relies on shore-based facilities and would not work well in prolonged combat. Tenders could serve as mobile and distributed logistics hubs, putting critical repair parts in the theater where they are needed.

Bring Back the Destroyer Tender

By Lieutenant William Yale, U.S. Navy

February 2025

If the Navy expects to keep ships underway and operational, it should revive a battle-tested capability from a time when its control of the seas was not assured.

A Marine Corps intelligence specialist from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit launches an Anafi Parrot unmanned aerial vehicle during an exchange with Philippine Marines in October 2024. Marine Corps intelligence forces must be forward, focused, and persistent to detect the environment and adversary intentions.

Make Marine Corps Intelligence a Stand-In Force

By Major Ryan Sutherland, U.S. Marine Corps

February 2025

Marine Corps intelligence must critically assess its posture and evolve current tactics to meet the Force Design vision.

The Arleigh Burke–class flight III destroyer USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) during acceptance trials in May 2023. By combining the turbo-electric propulsion approach with modern high temperature superconductor and permanent magnet synchronous motors and the Arleigh Burke’s controllable pitch propeller, the technical building blocks would be in place to create a highly power-dense, simple, and reliable all-electric engineering plant.

An Electric-Powered Arleigh Burke–Class Destroyer Is Possible

By John M. Ulliman

February 2025

With its recent investments in power-dense propulsion motors and generators, the Navy can get the electric power needed for future ships.

Book Reviews

February 2025

Experts review Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space, and other new and noteworthy books.

Where We Were

February 2025

A look back at the February issues of Proceedings from 1925, 1950, and 1975.

Launching of the cargo vessel SS Tar Heel Mariner in 1952.

From Our Archive

February 2025

Launching of the cargo vessel SS Tar Heel Mariner in 1952.

Sailors play an information warfare wargame centered on logistics and sustainment in the Indo-Pacific. The pilot wargame was led by the Center for Naval Analyses.

Heave to, and Prepare to Be Board Gamed

By Commander Jared Samuelson, U.S. Navy

February 2025

What should the Navy attempt to accomplish through wargaming?

The Royal Fleet Auxiliary Proteus protects critical underwater infrastructure and serves as a mothership for remotely operated and autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles.

Defending the Seabed: The British Auxiliary Proteus

By Eric Wertheim

February 2025

The United Kingdom’s multirole ocean surveillance ship Proteus has served with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) since late 2023.

Jim and Taimi Leavelle at Pearl Harbor, the site of Jim’s first brush with history in 1941. Two decades later, as a detective with the Dallas Police Department, he would be witness to another momentous event in the nation’s history.

Jim Leavelle—Fate Knocks Twice

By Lieutenant Commander Thomas Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired)

February 2025

When Jim Leavelle left the destroyer USS Hammann (DD-412) in spring 1941 and reported to his new assignment, he expected a quiet tour of duty...

Asked & Answered

February 2025

What was your best and/or worst experience in a U.S. or foreign shipyard?

The maritime pre-positioning force (MPF) utility boat (UB) is a small and versatile craft currently employed by the Military Sea-Lift Command. (Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Chan.)

Lighting the Way: Marines, Missiles, MPF Boats, and the Path through PRC Defenses in the Western Pacific

By Colonel David S. Rainey, U.S. Marine Corps

February 2025

U.S. naval forces may again need to leverage experimental capabilities to ensure freedom of maneuver in the Pacific. Reprinted with permission from the Marine Corps Association.

The Next Great Era in U.S. Shipbuilding

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

February 2025

There are five eras of U.S. peacetime shipbuilding that demonstrate how the U.S. Navy's rearmament might proceed.

Define Training Standards for Interoperability

By Captain James Ward, U.S. Marine Corps

February 2025

There is no training and readiness standard to gauge unit integration with allied and partner forces. This needs to change, because interoperability is crucial to U.S. strategy.

The Hidden Battlefield: Diet and Lifestyle in Military Readiness

By Staff Sergeant James Benjamin, U.S. Marine Corps

February 2025

The health and readiness of military personnel does not depend only on physical training and operational support. Nutrition is fundamental.

February 2025

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