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The success of the US Navy in the past was due to constant training and the empowerment of the officer corps at the junior ranks, and billions in cash thrown at

by ok_dad 4y ago

The success of the US Navy in the past was due to constant training and the empowerment of the officer corps at the junior ranks, and billions in cash thrown at tech and equipment. If China can afford to train well, has decent technology that’s reliable, and is flexible enough to allow power to disseminate the ranks, then I assume they are on the way to overtaking the US Navy in ability as the USN wanes due to lack of leadership and misplaced priorities.

Animats 4y ago
The US Navy has a lot of problems.[1] The big one is that they haven't fought a naval battle in decades. The US Army, Air Force, and USMC have been involved in too many wars in recent decades. For better or worse, they have a lot of people who have been at the sharp end. The Navy, not so much. It's beginning to look like warships will not be able to operate anywhere near a hostile shore in future. Truck-mounted systems are now a serious threat to warships. No more parking a helicopter carrier offshore and sending in the Marines. The new "littoral combat ships" are already being retired after only a few years in service. [1] https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-19-225t.pdf https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-19-225t.pdf
- ok_dad 4y ago
  Yea, I was in the pre-com unit for the first LCS ship and it was an absolute shit-show at the builders constantly. The real problem isn't that the Navy can't fight battles, it's that they can't even perform basic navigation now without subs and ships hitting everything in sight! There is a "brain drain" in the USN where the best leaders (officers or otherwise) are forced out by the toxic culture and all that remains are the dickheads who are barely competent.
ilamont 4y ago
and is flexible enough to allow power to disseminate the ranks They're not. China (and other dictatorships) do not want an empowered office corps at the junior ranks, and the CCP is very careful to keep senior PLA generals on a short leash. The PLA Navy has not fired a shot in anger since the 1980s.

by ok_dad 4y ago

Animats 4y ago

The US Navy has a lot of problems.[1] The big one is that they haven't fought a naval battle in decades. The US Army, Air Force, and USMC have been involved in too many wars in recent decades. For better or worse, they have a lot of people who have been at the sharp end. The Navy, not so much. It's beginning to look like warships will not be able to operate anywhere near a hostile shore in future. Truck-mounted systems are now a serious threat to warships. No more parking a helicopter carrier offshore and sending in the Marines. The new "littoral combat ships" are already being retired after only a few years in service. [1] https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-19-225t.pdf https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-19-225t.pdf

ok_dad 4y ago
Yea, I was in the pre-com unit for the first LCS ship and it was an absolute shit-show at the builders constantly. The real problem isn't that the Navy can't fight battles, it's that they can't even perform basic navigation now without subs and ships hitting everything in sight! There is a "brain drain" in the USN where the best leaders (officers or otherwise) are forced out by the toxic culture and all that remains are the dickheads who are barely competent.

ilamont 4y ago

and is flexible enough to allow power to disseminate the ranks They're not. China (and other dictatorships) do not want an empowered office corps at the junior ranks, and the CCP is very careful to keep senior PLA generals on a short leash. The PLA Navy has not fired a shot in anger since the 1980s.