“We need 12 carriers.
We need a strong amphibious force to include nine big-deck amphibious and
another 19 or 20 [LPDs] to support them. Perhaps 30 or more smaller amphibious
ships to support Maritime Littoral Regiments… to 60 destroyers and probably 50
frigates, 70 attack submarines and a dozen ballistic missile submarines to
about 100 support ships and probably looking into the future about 150
unmanned.”
According to Gilday’s calculations, the list will have about 513 ships with 263 manned combatants along with 100 logistics and supply ships and 150 unmanned vessels. Gilday has also told reporters that the total would include Littoral Combat Ships. “LCS is in that mix,” he added.
“The real message I
wanted to get out of those numbers, it’s actually grounded on how we’re going
to fight,” he said and explained, “We’re going through another force structure
assessment right now, but based on the hard work we’ve done over the last five
or six years we’re thinking about how we would fight,” Gilday said. “How would
we fight differently in terms of a wide, vast ocean like the Pacific?”
Gilday’s affirmation
of the fleet follows reports that the Biden administration is planning late
influx funds into the Pentagon budget for FY 2023. USNI News reported earlier
this week that the new top-line could be as high as $773 billion.
