Tag Archives: Secretary of Defense Mark Esper

Hudson Recommends 581 Ships, New Class of Corvette as Part of Input to Pentagon Fleet Plan

Hudson Recommends 581 Ships, New Class of Corvette as Part of Input to Pentagon Fleet Plan

USS Sterett (DDG-104) steams through the night in the Gulf of Oman on Sept. 17, 2020. US Navy Photo

The first of three inputs to the Pentagon’s Future Naval Force Study was released this week, the Hudson Institute is calling for a future U.S. Navy fleet of 581 battle force ships through the addition of 80 corvettes, 99 unmanned surface vessels, 40 unmanned submarines and 27 new small amphibious ships Read More

Cleanup on USS Bonhomme Richard Continues as Ship's Fate Remains Unclear

Cleanup on USS Bonhomme Richard Continues as Ship’s Fate Remains Unclear

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper reviews the damage from the July 12 fire on the USS Bonhomme Richard, docked at Naval Base San Diego, Calif., Sept. 18, 2020. DoD photo.

NAVAL BASE SAN DIEGO, Calif. – USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) hasn’t moved from the pier-side spot where it caught fire on July 12 and burned for almost five days. The ship might not be moving anytime soon. Investigations into the fire have been extended until at least until December, USNI News understands, and with them any decisions about the fate of the ship.

Still, with the ship still hot enough to need cool air pumped inside, the crew has settled into a new normal, spending their duty rotations helping clear out the amphibious assault ship and offload equipment that can be salvaged and put back into the Navy supply system. Read More

Esper: Unmanned Vessels Will Allow the Navy to Reach 355-Ship Fleet

Esper: Unmanned Vessels Will Allow the Navy to Reach 355-Ship Fleet

Defense Secretary Mark Esper speaks to sailors aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on Sept. 17, 2020, during a visit to California. USNI News photo.

ABOARD AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS CARL VINSON, OFF THE COAST OF CALIFORNIA – Defense Secretary Mark Esper told sailors today that heavy investment in unmanned systems would be key to the Navy reaching 355 or more ships and having the lethality and survivability needed if a conflict were to break out with China. Read More