Sea Transportation: Strategic Sealift Shortage
Ezoic
December 17, 2024: The United States does not have enough ships to support military operations in the Pacific. While the Marine Corps would be involved in the Pacific, most of the military manpower would be provided by the army. A growing problem is the shrinking U.S. Army transport fleet. The army has always had some ships of its own, for moving troops and equipment and for managing amphibious operations or a major port operation overseas that needs to happen very quickly. This is a tradition, and a necessity, that goes back to the American Revolution. In 2024 the army is still seeking sufficient shipping to support a Pacific Ocean campaign, The army was able to obtain only eight 6,000 ton LSV/Logistics Support Vessel. The LSV is similar to the famous World War II era LST (Landing Ship Tank). The LSVs are the largest transport ships the army operates. The current army naval force consists of over 130 vessels. These ships are mainly for port operations or landing craft. What is missing are freighters, tankers and troop ships to get the army and its supplies to the combat zone.
The U.S. Army has always owned ships, usually tugs and coastal craft for assisting in moving supplies. During World War II, the U.S. Army actually had more ships, with more tonnage, than the U.S. Navy. By 2000 the Army had only about 295 ships. Nearly 20 years later that number fell to 130. Back then the decision was to buy more, mainly to speed up the deployment of units to overseas hot spots. During the 1991 Gulf War, it took the Army 150 days to move five divisions by sea to the Persian Gulf. It actually took 205 days to move all the combat and support units to the Gulf.
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htseamo/articles/2024121712356.aspx#gsc.tab=0
