Three armadas, three strategies
- Source: The Global Times
- [02:03 April 24 2009]
- Comments
Unmatched at sea
By Liang Chen and An Baijie
USA: USS George Washington, aircraft carrier
“The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas,” the mission statement of the United States Navy says.
Data shows its ruling power
The comprehensive power of the world’s largest navy is evidenced by its overwhelming number of aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, other warships and the branch’s special forces, widely considered the most elite in the US military.
In total, the navy has nearly 500,000 personnel, with 331,871 on the active duty and 118,637 in ready reserve as of March, according to data available on the navy’s website.
Considered “4.5 acres of sovereign and mobile American territory,” the Nimitz-class aircraft carriers are deployed around the world, enabling the US to respond quickly to international crises and participate in joint exercises with allies. The carriers include the Enterprise class (one in commission), Nimitz class (10 in commission), and Gerald R. Ford-class (one under construction).
Apart from aircraft carriers, the navy currently commissions 22 Ticonderoga-class cruisers, 52 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and 30 Oliver Hazard Perry-class modern frigates and 29 amphibious ships.
All propelled by nuclear power, the submarines currently include Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (18 in commission, with four converted into guided-missile submarines), 45 Los Angeles-class attack submarines, three Seawolf-class attack submarines and five Virginia-class attack submarines.
Apart from the ships on and below the surface of the sea, the combat ability of the navy is greatly enhanced by its special squads, namely the United States Navy SEALs (2,450 in commission) and the Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (600 in commission).
Who can oppose the US Navy?
Since the end of the Cold War, the navy continues to be a major support to American interests. Currently, the navy has more than half of the major warships in the world, with the largest number of aircraft carriers and other maritime battle vessels.
While most countries’ navies restrict themselves to patrolling territorial waters, the US Navy rules the open seas with bases across the globe.
The navy originated during the early American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), at which time Congress decided water forces should intercept British supply ships. And October 13, 1775 later become known as the navy’s official birthday.
As of December, the navy had 283 ships in active service, and more than 3,700 aircraft, the most in the world. And its battle-fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest fleets combined. It also has the world’s largest carrier fleets.
Although the US boasts 11 aircraft carriers, pirates off the Somali coast hijacked a US merchant ship this month, setting off shock and awe among Americans, as well as concern that the navy may not be equipped to protect US citizens from some smaller scale, but still lethal, maritime threats such as pirates and other terror groups.
Following the incident, the Pentagon has begun adjusting its arsenal to deal with the threat posed by pirates and other stateless, low-tech foes. Defense Secretary Robert Gates recently announced plans to outfit the navy with more combat vessels for patrolling coastlines. According to the Boston Globe, the navy is going to pursue smaller, faster and cheaper sea power to combat various threats, big and small.
“Even as the US was engaged in two fronts in the so called War on Terror over the last eight years, it simultaneously spent defense dollars on weapons systems grounded in the assumption that someday the US might well find itself in conflict with a big, technologically sophisticated nation with global ambitions – one with a well-funded, well-equipped army, navy and air force,” US-based Time magazine said.