Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans:
Background and Issues for Congress
Ronald O'Rourke
Specialist in Naval Affairs
October 20, 2009
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RL32665
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress

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Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress

Summary
The Navy’s proposed FY2010 budget requests funding for eight new Navy ships. This total
includes two relatively expensive, high-capability combatant ships (a Virginia-class attack
submarine and a DDG-51 class Aegis destroyer) and six relatively inexpensive ships (three
Littoral Combat Ships [LCSs], two TAKE-1 auxiliary dry cargo ships, and one Joint High Speed
Vessel [JHSV]). The Navy’s proposed FY2010 budget also requests procurement funding for
certain Navy ships that were procured but not fully funded in prior years, and advance
procurement funding for certain other Navy ships to be procured in future years.
The Administration submitted its proposed FY2010 budget as a single-year budget only, without
an accompanying Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) for the period FY2010-FY2015. The
Administration also did not submit a 30-year shipbuilding plan for the period FY2010-FY2039,
as required by 10 USC 231. Consequently, relatively little budget-submission information is
available concerning the Administration’s plans for Navy ship procurement in fiscal years after
FY2010.
Concerns about the Navy’s prospective ability to afford its long-range shipbuilding plan,
combined with year-to-year changes in Navy shipbuilding plans and significant cost growth and
other problems in building certain new Navy ships, have led to strong concerns among some
Members about the status of Navy shipbuilding and the potential future size and capabilities of
the fleet.
Legislative activity regarding Navy ship force structure and shipbuilding plans includes the
FY2010 defense authorization bill (H.R. 2647/S. 1390), the FY2010 Department of Defense
(DOD) appropriations bill (H.R. 3326), and H.Res. 477.

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Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress

Contents
Introduction and Issue for Congress ............................................................................................ 1
Background ................................................................................................................................ 1
Proposed 313-Ship Fleet ....................................................................................................... 1
FY2010 Shipbuilding Request............................................................................................... 3
FY2010-FY2015 Shipbuilding Plan Not Submitted ............................................................... 4
FY2010 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan Not Submitted................................................................ 6
Oversight Issues for Congress ..................................................................................................... 8
FY2010 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan Not Submitted................................................................ 8
Adequacy of Proposed 313-Ship Fleet ................................................................................. 10
Adequacy of Shipbuilding Plan for Maintaining 313 Ships .................................................. 10
This Section Based on FY2009 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan............................................ 10
Summary ...................................................................................................................... 10
Shortfalls Relative to 313-Ship Goals ............................................................................ 12
Affordability of Shipbuilding Plan ...................................................................................... 16
This Section Based on FY2009 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan............................................ 16
Overview ...................................................................................................................... 16
June 2008 CBO Report ................................................................................................. 17
Legislative Activity for FY2010 ................................................................................................ 18
FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 2647/S. 1390) .................................................... 18
House ........................................................................................................................... 18
Senate ........................................................................................................................... 20
Conference.................................................................................................................... 21
FY2010 DOD Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3326).................................................................... 23
House ........................................................................................................................... 23
Senate ........................................................................................................................... 24
Resolution Directing Submission of FY2010 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan (H.Res. 477)......... 25
Legislation on Individual Shipbuilding Programs ................................................................ 26

Tables
Table 1. Recent Navy Ship Force Structure Proposals.................................................................. 2
Table 2. New-Construction Navy Ships Proposed for Procurement in FY2010............................. 3
Table 3. Navy FY2009-FY2013 Shipbuilding Plan ...................................................................... 5
Table 4. Navy FY2009 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan....................................................................... 7
Table 5. Navy Projection of Future Force Levels Under FY2009 30-Year Plan .......................... 11
Table 6. Projected Shortfall Relative to 313-Ship Force Under FY2009 30-Year Plan ................ 12
Table 7. Projected Amount of Amphibious Lift Under FY2009 30-Year Plan............................. 14
Table 8. Average Annual Shipbuilding Costs Under FY2009 30-Year Plan................................. 18
Table E-1. Total Number of Ships in the Navy Since FY1948 .................................................... 37
Table E-2. Battle Force Ships Procured or Requested, FY1982-FY2010 .................................... 38

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Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress

Appendixes
Appendix A. Potential For Changing 313-Ship Proposal............................................................ 27
Appendix B. Modified Description of Required Number of Aircraft Carriers............................. 30
Appendix C. Adequacy of Planned 313-Ship Fleet .................................................................... 31
Appendix D. Affordability of Navy 30-Year Plan in 2006-2007 ................................................. 34
Appendix E. Size of the Navy and Navy Shipbuilding Rate....................................................... 36

Contacts
Author Contact Information ...................................................................................................... 38

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Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress

Introduction and Issue for Congress
The Navy’s proposed FY2010 budget requests funding for eight new Navy ships. This total
includes two relatively expensive, high-capability combatant ships (a Virginia-class attack
submarine and a DDG-51 class Aegis destroyer) and six relatively inexpensive ships (three
Littoral Combat Ships [LCSs], two TAKE-1 auxiliary dry cargo ships, and one Joint High Speed
Vessel [JHSV]). The Navy’s proposed FY2010 budget also requests procurement funding for
certain Navy ships that were procured but not fully funded in prior years, and advance
procurement funding for certain other Navy ships to be procured in future years.
The Administration submitted its proposed FY2010 budget as a single-year budget only, without
an accompanying Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) for the period FY2010-FY2015. The
Administration also did not submit a 30-year shipbuilding plan for the period FY2010-FY2039,as
required by 10 USC 231. Consequently, relatively little budget-submission information is
available concerning the Administration’s plans for Navy ship procurement in fiscal years after
FY2010.
Concerns about the Navy’s prospective ability to afford its long-range shipbuilding plan,
combined with year-to-year changes in Navy shipbuilding plans and significant cost growth and
other problems in building certain new Navy ships, have led to strong concerns among some
Members about the status of Navy shipbuilding and the potential future size and capabilities of
the fleet.
The issue for Congress that is discussed in this report is how to respond to the Navy’s proposed
force structure and shipbuilding plans. Decisions that Congress makes on this issue could
significantly affect future U.S. military capabilities, Navy funding requirements, and the Navy
shipbuilding industrial base.
Background
Proposed 313-Ship Fleet
Table 1 shows the composition of the Navy’s planned 313-ship fleet, which the Navy first
presented to Congress in February 2006, and compares the 313-ship plan to other recent Navy
ship force structure proposals. In September 2008, it was reported that the Navy is conducting a
force-structure review that could lead to a change in the planned size and composition of the
fleet;1 for further discussion, see Appendix A. The planned size and structure of the Navy could
also be discussed as part of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), which is currently in
progress.

1 Zachary M. Peterson, “Navy Undergoing A New Force Structure Review Due This Fall,” Inside the Navy, September
29, 2008.
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Table 1. Recent Navy Ship Force Structure Proposals
Early-2005 Navy
2006 Navy
proposal for fleet of
2002-2004 Navy
2001 QDR
Ship type
proposal for 313-
260-325 ships
proposal for 375-
plan for 310-
ship fleet
ship Navya
ship Navy
260-ships 325-ships
Ballistic missile
submarines
14 14 14
14
14
(SSBNs)
Cruise missile
submarines
4 4 4
4
2
or
4b
(SSGNs)
Attack submarines
(SSNs)
48 37 41
55
55
Aircraft carriers
11/12c 10 11
12
12
Cruisers,
destroyers, frigates
88 67 92
104 116
Littoral Combat
Ships (LCSs)
55 63 82
56
0
Amphibious
ships
31 17 24
37
36
MPF(F) shipsd 12d 14d 20d
0d
0d
Combat logistics
(resupply) ships
30 24 26
42
34
Dedicated mine
warfare ships
0 0 0
26e 16
Otherf
20 10 11
25
25
Total battle
force ships
313/314 260 325
375
310
or
312
Sources: U.S. Navy data.
a. Initial composition. Composition was subsequently modified.
b. The report on the 2001 QDR did not mention a specific figure for SSGNs. The Administration’s proposed
FY2001 Department of Defense (DOD) budget requested funding to support the conversion of two
available Trident SSBNs into SSGNs, and the retirement of two other Trident SSBNs. Congress, in marking
up this request, supported a plan to convert al four available SSBNs into SSGNs.
c. 11 carriers, and eventually 12 carriers.
d. Today’s 16 Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) ships are intended primarily to support Marine Corps
operations ashore, rather than Navy combat operations, and thus are not counted as Navy battle force
ships. The Navy’s planned MPF (Future) ships, however, may be capable of contributing to Navy combat
capabilities (for example, by supporting Navy aircraft operations). For this reason, MPF(F) ships are counted
here as battle force ships.
e. The figure of 26 dedicated mine warfare ships includes 10 ships maintained in a reduced mobilization status
called Mobilization Category B. Ships in this status are not readily deployable and thus do not count as
battle force ships. The 375-ship proposal thus implied transferring these 10 ships to a higher readiness
status.
f.
Includes, among other things, command ships and support ships.
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FY2010 Shipbuilding Request
The Navy’s proposed FY2010 budget requests funding for eight new-construction Navy ships. It
also requests procurement funding for certain Navy ships that were procured but not fully funded
in prior years, and advance procurement funding for certain other Navy ships to be procured in
future years. Table 2 compares the new-construction ships projected for FY2010 in the FY2009
budget to the new-construction ships actually requested in the FY2010 budget.
Table 2. New-Construction Navy Ships Proposed for Procurement in FY2010
FY2010
FY2010
column as
Change in
column as
actually
FY2010 column
projected in
requested in
from FY2009
FY2009
FY2010
budget to
Ship type
budget
budget
FY2010 budget




Ford (CVN-78) class aircraft carrier
0
0
NC
Virginia (SSN-774) class attack submarine
1
1
NC
Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyer
1
0
-1
Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class destroyer
0
1
+1
Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)
3
3
NC
San Antonio (LPD-17) class amphibious ship
0
0
NC
MPF-A (large-deck aviation ship for Maritime
1 0 -1
Prepositioning Force (Future) , or MPF[F], squadron)
Lewis and Clark (TAKE-1) class dry cargo ship for
0 2 +2
MPF(F) squadron
Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) ship for MPF(F)
1 0 -1
squadron
Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV)
1
1
NC
TOTAL
8 8 NC
Source: Prepared by CRS based on U.S. Navy data.
Observations that can be made about the FY2010 shipbuilding request include the following:
• The eight new ships requested for FY2010 include two relatively expensive,
high-capability combatant ships (a Virginia-class attack submarine and a DDG-
51 class Aegis destroyer) and six relatively inexpensive ships (three Littoral
Combat Ships [LCSs], two TAKE-1 auxiliary dry cargo ships, and one Joint High
Speed Vessel [JHSV]).
• Although Table 2 shows no change in the CVN-78 line, the Secretary of Defense
announced on April 6, 2009, that aircraft carriers in coming years would be
procured at five-year intervals (as opposed to the previous combination of four-
and five-year intervals). This proposal, if implemented, would defer procurement
of the aircraft carrier known as CVN-79 by one year, from FY2012 to FY2013.
The FY2010 budge request includes procurement funding to help complete the
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procurement cost of CVN-78, which was procured in FY2008, and advance
procurement funding for CVN-79.2
• Under a multi-year procurement (MYP) arrangement approved for the Virginia-
class program, a total of eight Virginia-class boats are to be procured in FY2009-
FY2013, in annual quantities of 1, 1, 2, 2, and 2. The Virginia-class boat to be
procured in FY2010 is the second of the eight boats covered under this MYP
arrangement. Consistent with this MYP arrangement, the FY2010 budget
requests advance procurement funding to support the procurement of two
Virginia-class boats in FY2011.3
• The deletion of the DDG-1000 destroyer and the addition of the DDG-51
destroyer reflects the Administration’s proposal to end DDG-1000 procurement
with the third DDG-1000 (which was authorized in FY2009), and restart
procurement of DDG-51s in FY2010.4 In addition to requesting funding for the
procurement of a DDG-51, the proposed FY2010 budget requests funding to
complete the procurement cost of the third DDG-1000, which was authorized but
not fully funded in FY2009.
• The Secretary of Defense announced on April 6, 2009, that procurement of an
11th LPD-17 and an MLP would be deferred one year, from FY2010 to FY2011.
The proposed FY2010 budget requests funding to complete the cost of the 10th
LPD-17, which was authorized but not fully funded in FY2009, and advance
procurement funding for the 11th LPD-17.
• The two TAKEs requested for FY2010 are the 13th and 14th ships in the TAKE
program, and are to be the final two ships in the program. The Navy in 2008
stated that it removed these two ships from the FY2009-FY2013 shipbuilding
plan pending the completion of a review of requirements for the MPF(F)
squadron, and that it was anticipated that these two ships would be re-inserted
into the shipbuilding plan following the completion of that review.
• The JHSV shown in Table 2 is for the Navy. The proposed FY2010 budget also
requests funding for the procurement in FY2010 of a second JHSV for the Army.
This second JHSV is not shown in the table.
FY2010-FY2015 Shipbuilding Plan Not Submitted
The Administration submitted its proposed FY2010 budget as a single-year budget only, without
an accompanying Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) for the period FY2010-FY2015. For
reference purposes, Table 3 shows the Navy’s FY2009-FY2013 ship-procurement plan, which
was submitted to Congress in February 2008 as part of the FY2009 budget submission.

2 For further discussion, see CRS Report RS20643, Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background
and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke
3 For further discussion, see CRS Report RL32418, Navy Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for
Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke
4 For further discussion, see CRS Report RL32109, Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background
and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke
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Table 3. Navy FY2009-FY2013 Shipbuilding Plan
(Ships funded in FY2007 and FY2008 shown for reference)
Total

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12 FY13 FY09-
FY13
CVN-21

1
1 1
SSN-774
1 1 1 1 2 2 2 8
DDG-1000
2a
0a
1 1 1 1 1 5
CG(X)
1 1 2
LCS
0b 1 2 3 3 4 6 18
LPD-17

1





0
LHA(R)
1






0
TAKE
1 0c
2c




2
JCC(X)
1 1
TATF







0
JHSVd
1 1 1 1 1 5
MPF(F) TAKE







0
MPF(F) LHA(R)
1
1
MPF(F) LMSR
1 1
MPF(F) MLP
1 1 1
3
Total
5
4c
7 8 8 12 12 47
Subtotal: ships other than LCSs
5 3 5 5 5 8 6 29
Source: Navy FY2009 budget submission.
Key: CVN-21 = Ford (CVN-21) class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. SSN-774 = Virginia (SSN-774) class
nuclear-powered attack submarine. CG(X) = CG(X) class cruiser. DDG-1000 = Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class
destroyer. CG(X) = CG(X) class cruiser. LCS = Littoral Combat Ship. LPD-17 = San Antonio (LPD-17) class
amphibious ship. LHA(R) = LHA(R) class amphibious assault ship. TAKE =Lewis and Clark (TAKE-1) class
resupply ship. TAKE-MPF(F) = Modified TAKE intended for MPF(F) squadron. MPF(F) LHR(A) (also called
MPF(F) Aviation) = Modified LHA(R) intended for MPF(F) squadron. LMSR-MPF(F) = Modified large,
medium-speed, roll-on/roll-off (LMSR) sealift ship intended for MPF(F) squadron. MLP-MPF(F) = Mobile
Landing Platform ship intended for MPF(F) squadron. TATF = oceangoing fleet tug. JCC(X) = Joint command
and control ship. JHSV = Joint High-Speed Vessel transport ship.
a. Two DDG-1000s were procured in FY2007 using split-funding in FY2007 and FY2008.
b. Although two LCSs were original y funded in FY2007, the Navy canceled these ships as part of its 2007
restructuring of the LCS program.
c. Although Congress funded the procurement of one TAKE for Navy use in FY2008, the Navy is using much
of this funding to complete the cost of the TAKE funded in FY2007. (The Navy is using much of the funding
that Congress had provided for the FY2007 TAKE in turn to pay for cost growth on TAKEs procured in
earlier years.) The Navy consequently now records zero TAKEs as procured in FY2008 (rather than one),
and the total number of ships of al kinds procured in FY2008 as four (rather than five). One of the two
TAKEs requested for FY2009 is the same TAKE that Congress original y funded in FY2008.
d. Ships shown are those being procured for Navy use. Additional JHSVs are being procured
separately for Army use and are not shown in the Navy’s shipbuilding plan.
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FY2010 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan Not Submitted
The Administration did not submit a 30-year shipbuilding plan for the period FY2010-FY2039, as
required by 10 USC 231. A May 12, 2009, letter from the acting Secretary of the Navy to the
chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and the Defense subcommittees
of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees stated:
Under Title 10 USC [section] 231, the Secretary of Defense is required to submit with the
Defense Budget an Annual Long Range [i.e., 30-year] Plan for the Construction of Naval
Vessels and certification that both the budget for that fiscal year and the Future Years
Defense Program provide the funding required to support the Navy’s long-range construction
plan. Given [that] the National Security Strategy is due for release this summer, future force
structure may be impacted. Therefore, the Navy considers it prudent to defer its Fiscal Year
2010 report and submit its next report concurrent with the President’s Fiscal Year 2011
budget.
In addition to the National Security Strategy, the statutory guidelines require the report to
reflect the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). The latest QDR is on-going in parallel with
the National Security Strategy work. Additionally, the Nuclear Posture Review, which has
direct bearing on the numbers of strategic ballistic missile submarines, is due for completion
incident with submission of the Fiscal Year 2011 budget. These efforts will likely have a
substantive impact on the Navy’s force structure requirements.
It is important to ensure the Navy’s long-range shipbuilding plan reflects the most up-to-date
force structure requirements. I believe the plan would better support a stable demand for the
shipbuilding industry by minimizing its iterations and ensuring alignment with guidance. The
Fiscal Year 2011 report will integrate all of the guidance and provide a more useful and
comprehensive shipbuilding plan.5
A February 2009 press report suggested that the Navy in late-2008 was examining options for
reducing the cost of the FY2010 version of its 30-year shipbuilding plan by reducing planned
procurements of certain higher-cost ships. According to the report, proposals being considered by
the Navy include the following:
• shifting planned procurement of CVNs from one approximately every 4.5 years
to one every five years—a change that was endorsed by Secretary of Defense
Robert Gates as part of a series of proposals on the FY2010 defense budget that
he announced on April 6, 2009;
• reducing planned procurement of attack submarines (SSNs) over 30 years from
53 boats to 40 boats, a reduction of about 25%;
• reducing planned procurement of CG(X) cruisers from 19 (procured at a rate of
one or two per year) to 8 (procured at a rate of one every three years), a reduction
of about 58%;
• reducing planned procurement of destroyers over 30 years from 50 ships to 34, a
reduction of 32%; and

5 Letter dated may 12, 2009, from B. J. Penn, Acting Secretary of the Navy, to the chairmen of the House and Senate
Armed Services Committee and the Defense subcommittees of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
Letter provided to CRS by Navy Office of Legislative Affairs on May 20, 2009.
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• eliminating the three modified large-deck amphibious assault ships
(LHAs/LHDs) from the planned Maritime Prepositioning Force of the Future
(MPF(F)) squadron.
This press report also suggested that the Navy was considering more than doubling planned
procurement of relatively inexpensive Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSVs), from 14 over 30 years
to 29, and increasing annual procurement rates of the relatively inexpensive Littoral Combat Ship
(LCS) while maintaining a planned total of 55 LCSs.6
For reference purposes, Table 4 shows the Navy’s 30-year ship-procurement plan for the period
FY2009-FY2038, which was submitted in February 2008, as part of the FY2009 budget
submission.
Table 4. Navy FY2009 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan
(including FY2009-FY2013 FYDP)
F
Ship type (see key below)
Y
C
S
L
S
S
S
A
C
M
S
T
V
C
C
S
S
S
W
L
P
u
O
N
S
N
G
B
S
F
F
p
T
N
N
(F)
t
A
L
09
1 2 1 1 1 1 7
10
1 3 1 2 1 8
11
2
3 2 1 8
12
1 1 4 2 2 2 12
13
2 6 2 1 1 12
14
1 6 2 2 2 13
15
2 6 2 1 2 13
16
1 2
6 2 1 12
17
2
6 2 1 1
12
18
2
6 2 1 1 1
13
19
2 4 2 1 1 10
20
2 2 2 2 2 10
21
1 2 2 2 7
22
2 2 1 1 2 2 10
23
1 2 1 2 3 9
24
2 2 1 1 2 2 10
25
1 3 2 1 2 2 11
26
3 2 1 2 2 10
27
3 2 1 6

6 Christopher P. Cavas, “U.S. May Cut 52 Ships From Plan,” Defense News, February 16, 2009, p. 1.
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F
Ship type (see key below)
Y
C
S
L
S
S
S
A
C
M
S
T
V
C
C
S
S
S
W
L
P
u
O
N
S
N
G
B
S
F
F
p
T
N
N
(F)
t
A
L
28
3 2 1 1 7
29
1 3 1 1 1 1 1 9
30
3 2 1 1 1 8
31
3 1 1 1 1 7
32
3 1 2 1 2 1 1 11
33
3 1 1 1 1 7
34
1 3
2 2 1 1
10
35
3
5 1 1 1
11
36
3
5 2 1 11
37
3 5 1 9
38
1 3
5 2 2 13
Source: Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2009.
Key: FY = Fiscal Year; CVN = aircraft carriers; SC = surface combatants (i.e., cruisers and destroyers); LCS =
Littoral Combat Ships; SSN = attack submarines; SSGN = cruise missile submarines; SSBN = ballistic missile
submarines; AWS = amphibious warfare ships; CLF = combat logistics force (i.e., resupply) ships; MPF(F) =
Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) ships; Supt = support ships.
Oversight Issues for Congress
FY2010 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan Not Submitted
One potential oversight issue for Congress concerns the Administration’s decision to not submit
an FY2010 version of a 30-year shipbuilding plan, as required by 10 USC 231. Potential
questions to consider include the following: Are the reasons for not submitting an FY2010
version of the 30-year shipbuilding that are cited in the May 12, 2009, letter from the acting
Secretary of the Navy (see “Background” section) adequate? Will this set a precedent for future
administrations to not submit a 30-year plan during their first year in office? What implications
does the absence of a 30-year plan have for Congress’s ability to review, asses, and conduct
oversight on the Navy’s proposed FY2010 shipbuilding budget?
At a May 15, 2009, hearing on Navy shipbuilding programs before the Seapower and
Expeditionary Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, Representative
Gene Taylor, the chairman of the subcommittee, stated the following in his opening statement for
the hearing:
In previous years, at this very hearing [i.e., the subcommittee’s annual hearing on Navy
shipbuilding programs], I have commented that the budget request and the accompanying 30
year shipbuilding plans were unachievable. In fact, I have stated that the long range plan was
‘pure fantasy.’ It now appears the Navy has learned how to deflect criticism of the
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shipbuilding plan: don’t submit one. Although required by title 10 of the United States Code,
all plans for future year’s ship procurement are being withheld from the Congress. This
obviously makes it very difficult for the Members of this Congress to fulfill their Article I
responsibilities to ‘provide and maintain a Navy.’
I realize the two witnesses sitting before this committee today did not make that decision,
and I will not continue to dwell upon it here. But I state for the public record that the failure
of the Department to describe the future shipbuilding plan will not prevent this subcommittee
from the due diligence required in recommending to the full committee and the full House a
shipbuilding plan which will restore the Navy to an acceptable number of ships and which
will preserve the domestic industrial capability for construction of warships.7
Representative Todd Akin, the ranking member of the subcommittee, stated the following in his
opening statement for the hearing:
Our colleague, Representative [Randy] Forbes, asked Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen
about the lack of a 30-year shipbuilding plan at a hearing earlier this week.8 Admiral Mullen
stated, “…it will come in the [FY]'11 budget. And I would say we can rely reasonably well
on the 30-year shipbuilding plan that’s been submitted before.” But I count at least nine ways
this budget diverges from the FY09 [30-year] plan:
• Moving the funding of carriers to five year centers, [which] drops the force to 10
carriers in 2039.
• Building [a total of] 3 DDG 1000 destroyers [over several years] instead of 7.
• Building 1 DDG 51 destroyer [in FY2010] instead of zero.
• Not building the next generation cruiser (CG(X)) in FY11.
• Not building a large deck amphib[ious ship] for the Maritime Prepositioning Force in
FY10.
• Not building a Mobile Landing Platform ship for the Maritime Prepositioning Force in
FY10.
• Not shutting down the LPD-17 production line at 9 ships, but funding the final
increment for the 10th ship.
• Building 2 T-AKE ships in FY10 instead of zero.
• Investing half a billion dollars in R&D for the replacement of the OHIO Class
submarine.
“So, in fact, we cannot rely upon the last shipbuilding plan and evidently we won’t receive a
new one.9

7 Source: Text of Representative Taylor’s opening statement.
8 This is a reference to a May 13, 2009, hearing before the full House Armed Services Committee on the proposed
FY2010 budget for the Department of Defense, for which the witnesses were Robert Gates, the Secretary of Defense,
and Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
9 Source: Text of Representative Akin’s opening statement.
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Adequacy of Proposed 313-Ship Fleet
Some observers have questioned whether the Navy’s planned 313-ship fleet includes sufficient
numbers of certain ships. Areas of concern include planned numbers of amphibious ships and
attack submarines. For additional discussion of the issue, see Appendix C.
Adequacy of Shipbuilding Plan for Maintaining 313 Ships
This Section Based on FY2009 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan
Since the Administration did not submit an FY2010 30-year shipbuilding plan, this section of the
report presents, for reference purposes, a discussion of the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan.
Summary
Table 5 shows the Navy’s projection of future force levels that would result from fully
implementing the Navy’s FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan.
As shown in the table, the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan, if implemented, would generally be
adequate to achieve and maintain a fleet of about 313 ships. Under the FY2009 30-year plan, the
Navy was to reach a total of at least 313 ships in FY2019—three years later than under the
FY2008 30-year shipbuilding plan. A primary cause of the three-year delay was the FY2009
plan’s 13-ship reduction in the total number of ships planned for procurement in FY2009-
FY2013. Most of the 13-ship reduction was due to an 11-ship reduction in the number of Littoral
Combat Ships (LCSs) planned for FY2009-FY2013, which is a consequence of the Navy’s
restructuring of the LCS program in 2007.10
Although the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan would generally be adequate to achieve and
maintain a fleet of about 313 ships, it did not include enough ships to fully support certain
elements of the 313-ship fleet consistently over the long run—shortfalls would occur in areas
such as amphibious lift capability and the number of attack submarines. The Navy’s report on the
30-year plan stated: “While in the main this plan achieves the necessary raw numbers of ships and
sustains the shipbuilding industrial base, there are certain time periods where the ship mix, and
therefore inherent capability of the force, varies from that required as a result of funding
constraints and the timing of legacy fleet service life limits.”11
The FY2009 30-year plan included new assumptions about extended service lives for amphibious
ships and destroyers. If these longer service lives are not achieved, it could increase the shortfall
in amphibious lift capability and create a shortfall in the number of cruisers and destroyers.

10 For more on the LCS program, see CRS Report RL33741, Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background,
Issues, and Options for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke.
11 U.S. Navy, Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2009, p. 5.
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Table 5. Navy Projection of Future Force Levels Under FY2009 30-Year Plan
(resulting from implementation of 30-year shipbuilding plan shown in Table 4)
F
Ship type (see key below)
Y
C
S
L
S
S
S
A
C
M
M
S
T
V
C
C
S
S
S
W
L
I
P
u
O
N
S
N
G
B
S
F
W
F
p
T
N
N
(F)
t
A
L
09
11 109 2 53 4 14 31 31 14 0 17 286
10
11 111 2 52 4 14 32 30 14 0 17 287
11
11 113 2 52 4 14 34 28 14 0 17 289
12
11 110 3 53 4 14 34 29 14 0 18 290
13
10 107 8 54 4 14 33 29 14 1 19 293
14
10 99 11 51 4 14 33 30 14 1 20 287
15
11 94 14 51 4 14 33 30 14 2 21 288
16
11 92 18 49 4 14 33 30 14 4 22 291
17
11 92 24 50 4 14 33 30 13 6 24 301
18
11 93 30 49 4 14 32 30 13 7 26 309
19
12 93 36 50 4 14 32 30 11 9 24 315
20
12 94 42 48 4 14 32 30 10 9 24 319
21
12 95 48 48 4 14 32 30 7 9 24 323
22
12 94 54 47 4 14 32 30 6 10 24 327
23
12 94 55 47 4 14 32 30 2 10 24 324
24
12 94 55 46 4 14 32 30 1 10 24 322
25
12 93 55 45 4 14 33 30 0 10 24 320
26
12 91 55 44 2 14 33 30 0 10 24 315
27
12 91 55 43 1 13 33 30 0 10 24 312
28
12 89 55 41 0 13 33 30 0 10 24 307
29
12 91 55 41 0 13 33 30 0 10 24 309
30
12 94 55 42 0 12 33 30 0 10 24 312
31
12 96 55 44 0 12 33 30 0 10 24 316
32
12 99 55 45 0 12 33 30 0 10 24 320
33
12 101 55 47 0 12 33 30 0 10 24 324
34
12 100 55 49 0 12 33 30 0 10 24 325
35
12 98 55 50 0 12 33 30 0 10 24 324
36
12 95 55 52 0 12 33 30 0 10 24 323
37
12 94 55 53 0 12 33 30 0 10 24 323
38
12 94 55 53 0 12 32 30 0 10 24 322
Source: Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2009.
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Key: FY = Fiscal Year; CVN = aircraft carriers; SC = surface combatants (i.e., cruisers and destroyers); LCS =
Littoral Combat Ships; SSN = attack submarines; SSGN = cruise missile submarines; SSBN = ballistic missile
submarines; AWS = amphibious warfare ships; CLF = combat logistics force (i.e., resupply) ships; MIW = mine
warfare ships; MPF(F) = Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) ships; Supt = support ships.
As mentioned earlier, a February 2009 press report suggested that the Navy in late-2008 was
examining options for reducing the cost of the FY2010 version of its 30-year shipbuilding plan by
reducing planned procurements of certain higher-cost ships. If the FY2010 30-year shipbuilding
plan includes changes such as those reported in the press report, the result could be a future Navy
that increases for a time to more than 313 ships as significant numbers of relatively inexpensive
JHSVs and LCSs enter service in the nearer term, but which subsequently falls to something less
than 300 ships as deliveries of JHSVs and LCSs end and existing higher-cost ships continue to
retire and are replaced on something less than a one-for-one basis.
Shortfalls Relative to 313-Ship Goals
The FY2009 version of the 30-year shipbuilding plan, like the FY2008 and FY2007 versions,
does not include enough ships to fully support all elements of the planned 313-ship force
structure over the long run. As shown in Table 6 below, however, the total projected shortfall in
the 30-year plan relative to the 313-ship force structure has been reduced from about 39 ships two
years ago to 15 ships today. The reduction in the shortfall from about 39 ships two years ago to
about 26 ships one year ago was due primarily to a Navy decision to insert additional destroyers
into the final years of the FY2008 plan. The reduction in the shortfall from about 26 ships a year
ago to 15 ships today is due primarily to a new assumption incorporated into the FY2009 plan to
extend the service lives of the Navy’s 62 Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class Aegis destroyers by five
years (from 35 years to 40).
Table 6. Projected Shortfall Relative to 313-Ship Force Under FY2009 30-Year Plan
Projected shortfall by ship
FY2007
FY2008
FY2009 (FY09-
type, in numbers of ships,
(FY07-FY36)
(FY08-FY37)
FY38) plan of
under...
plan of
plan of
Feb. 2008
Feb. 2006
Feb. 2007
Amphibious ships
1 1 0a
Attack submarines (SSNs)
8 8 7
Cruise missile submarines (SSGNs)
4 4 4
Ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs)
0 0 2b
Cruisers and destroyers
~26 ~10 0
MPF(F) ships
0 0 2
Total projected shortfall
~39 ~26 15
Source: CRS analysis of Navy data.
a. Although the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan would support a force of 32 or 33 amphibious ships, as
opposed to 31 cal ed for in the 313-ship plan, the 32- or 33-ship force would include nine LPD-17 class
ships, as opposed to the 10 cal ed for in the 313-ship plan. The Marine Corps states that ful y meeting the
requirement for an amphibious force capable of lifting the assault echelons of 2.0 Marine Expeditionary
Brigades (MEBs) would require a 33-ship amphibious force that includes 11 LPD-17s.
b. Although the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan includes 12 replacement SSBNs rather than the 14 cal ed for
in the 313-ship plan, the Navy has testified that the 12 new SSBNs would be sufficient to perform the
missions of today’s 14-ship SSBN force because the 12 new ships would be built with life-of-the-ship nuclear
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fuel cores and consequently would not require mid-life refuelings. The Navy states that the need for today’s
SSBNs to be taken out of service for some time to receive mid-life refuelings is what drives the need for a
13th and 14th SSBN.
Amphibious Ships
Although the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan would support a force of 32 or 33 amphibious
ships, as opposed to a total of 31 called for in the 313-ship plan, this 32- or 33-ship force would
include 9 San Antonio (LPD-17) class amphibious ships, as opposed to the 10 called for in the
313-ship plan.12 The Navy’s report on the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan states:
While the mix of the 33 [amphibious] ships reflected in this plan differs slightly from the
USMC requirement, it represents acceptable risk considering the amphibious ships planned
for decommissioning are not scheduled for dismantling or sinking to permit mobilization at a
later date if required. The decommissioning ships are being replaced with newer more
capable LPD 17 and LHA 6 class ships. The Navy will maintain the 33-ship requirement for
amphibious shipping through the FYDP while these new ships are integrated into the
battleforce. Consequently, there will be no amphibious ship capability gaps through at least
FY 2019.13
The Marine Corps states that lifting the assault echelons of 2.0 Marine Expeditionary Brigades
(MEBs)—a requirement that reflects Marine Corps responsibilities under U.S. war plans—would
require a 33-ship amphibious force that includes 11 LPD-17s.14 Table 7 shows the Marine Corps’
calculation of the amount of amphibious lift, relative to the 2.0 MEB lift goal, resulting from the
32- or 33-ship amphibious force that is projected in the Navy’s FY2009 30-year shipbuilding
plan. The table presents the five different elements of amphibious lift. In the table, a figure of 1.0
in a cell would meet 100% of the 2.0 MEB lift goal for that lift element, a figure of 1.5 would
exceed by 50% the 2.0 MEB lift goal for that element, and a figure of 0.75 would meet 75% of
the 2.0 MEB lift goal for that element.
As can be seen in the table, the Marine Corps calculates that the projected 32- or 33-ship
amphibious force would
• roughly meet the lift goal for VTOL aircraft spaces;
• exceed the lift goal for troops, space for cargo, and spaces for LCAC landing
craft; and
• fall short of meeting the lift goal for space for vehicles.

12 Congress, as part of its action on the FY2008 defense budget, provided $50 million in advance procurement funding
for a 10th LPD-17 to be procured in a fiscal year after FY2008. The FY2009 shipbuilding plan, like the FY2008
shipbuilding plan, does not include a 10th LPD-17, and calls for ending LPD-17 procurement with the ninth ship, which
was procured in FY2008. A 10th LPD-17, at a cost of $1,700 million, is the number-two item on the Navy’s FY2009
Unfunded Requirements List (URL) and the first item presented in the Marine Corps’ FY2009 URL.
13 U.S. Navy, Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2009, p. A-3.
14 The 33-ship force that would fully meet the 2.0 MEB lift requirement includes 11 large-deck amphibious assault
ships (LHAs/LHDs), 11 LPD-17s, and 11 LSD-41/49 class amphibious ships.
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Table 7. Projected Amount of Amphibious Lift Under FY2009 30-Year Plan
(Relative to 2.0 MEB lift requirement, Resulting From Amphibious Force Supported By FY2009 Navy 30-
Year Shipbuilding Plan)

2008 2009 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030 2035
Troops
1.46 1.35 1.38 1.45 1.42 1.35 1.49 1.59
Vehicle (sq. ft.)
0.77
0.75
0.80
0.90
0.88
0.93 1.05 1.17
Cargo (cu. ft.)
2.02 1.90 1.92 2.07 2.04 1.95 2.28 2.49
VTOL aircraft
1.02
0.93
0.94 1.07 1.06 0.97 1.18 1.31
LCACs
1.81 1.75 1.79 1.79 1.75 1.77 1.65 1.50
Source: U.S. Marine Corps data provided to CRS, March 11, 2008. Calculations are based on 15 operational
ships per MEB. A figure of 1.0 in a cell would meet 100% of the 2.0 MEB lift goal for that lift element; a figure of
1.5 would exceed by 50% the goal for that element; and a figure of 0.75 would meet 75% of the goal for that
element.
If the Navy cannot extend the service lives of amphibious ships as much as assumed in the
FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan, then the amount of amphibious lift capability in future years
could be less than that shown in Table 7.
Attack Submarines (SSNs)
Although the 313-ship plan calls for a total of 48 SSNs, the 30-year shipbuilding plan does not
include enough SSNs to maintain a force of 48 boats consistently over the long run. The Navy
projects that the SSN force will drop below 48 boats in 2022, reach a minimum of 41 boats
(14.6% less than the required figure of 48) in FY2028 and FY2029, and remain below 48 boats
through 2033. The Navy has completed a study on various options for mitigating the projected
SSN shortfall. One of these options is to procure one or more additional SSNs in the period
FY2008-FY2011. The issue is discussed in more detail in another CRS report.15
Converted Trident Submarines (SSGNs)
Although the 313-ship plan calls for four SSGNs, the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan includes
no replacements for the four current SSGNs, which the Navy projects will reach retirement age
and leave service in FY2026-FY2028. The Navy’s report on the 30-year shipbuilding plan states:
Plans for recapitalization [i.e., replacement] of the OHIO class submarines that have been
converted to SSGN have been deferred until their warfighting utility can be assessed. Should
their replacement be required, it will be necessary to integrate their procurement with other
ship and submarine recapitalization efforts planned for the post-FY 2020 period.16

15 CRS Report RL32418, Navy Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald
O’Rourke.
16 U.S. Navy, Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2009, p. 8.
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Ballistic Missile Submarines (SSBNs)
Although the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan includes 12 replacement SSBNs rather than the
14 called for in the 313-ship plan, the Navy has testified that the 12 new SSBNs would be
sufficient to perform the missions of today’s 14-ship SSBN force because the 12 new ships would
be built with life-of-the-ship nuclear fuel cores and consequently would not require mid-life
refuelings. The Navy states that the need for today’s SSBNs to be taken out of service for some
time to receive mid-life refuelings is what drives the need for a 13th and 14th SSBN.
Cruisers and Destroyers
Although the FY2009 30-year plan assumes a 5-year service life extension for the Navy’s 62
DDG-51s, a Navy official was quoted after the FY2009 30-year plan was released as stating that
the Navy had not yet officially approved the idea of extending the service lives of those ships.17
One potential oversight issue for Congress is why the 30-year plan assumed a 5-year service life
extension for the DDG-51s if the Navy had not yet officially approved the idea. If the Navy
approves the idea, a second potential oversight issue for Congress is whether the Navy will
actually be able to extend the service lives of the DDG-51s and operate them in a cost-effective
manner for 40 years, given the wear and tear that might accrue on the ships in coming years, as
well as the DDG-51 design’s space, weight, and electrical-power capacities. If a five-year service
life extension for the DDG-51s proves infeasible or not cost-effective, a shortfall in cruisers and
destroyers similar to that shown in the FY2008 column in Table 6 might reappear.
MPF(F) Ships
The projected two-ship shortfall in MPF(F) ships is due to a decision to drop two Lewis and
Clark (TAKE-1) class dry cargo ships from the shipbuilding plan. These two ships were
previously planned for procurement in FY2010 and FY2011. Navy officials have stated the two
ships were removed from the plan pending the completion of a study on the MPF(F) concept of
operations, and that the two ships might be put back into the shipbuilding plan next year,
following the completion of this study.18
Aircraft Carriers
As mentioned earlier, the Navy projects that the carrier force will drop from the current figure of
11 ships to 10 ships for a 33-month period between the scheduled retirement of the carrier
Enterprise (CVN-65) in November 2012 and scheduled the entry into service of its replacement,
the carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), in September 2015. The Navy projects that the force will
increase to 12 carriers starting in FY2019, when CVN-79 is commissioned.
10 USC §5062 requires the Navy to maintain an aircraft carrier force of at least 11 operational
ships. As it did for FY2008, the Navy for FY2009 requested a legislative waiver from Congress
that would permit the Navy to reduce the carrier force to 10 operational ships for the 33-month

17 Zachary M. Peterson, “Destroyer Extension Part of 313-Ship Plan,” NavyTimes.com, February 11, 2008.
18 See, for example, U.S. Navy, Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for
FY 2009, p. 9.
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between the retirement of the Enterprise and the entry into service of the Ford. The issue is
discussed further in another CRS report.19
Affordability of Shipbuilding Plan
This Section Based on FY2009 30-Year Shipbuilding Plan
Since the Administration did not submit an FY2010 30-year shipbuilding plan, this section of the
report presents, for reference purposes, a discussion of the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan.
Overview
One of the most significant features in the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan, compared to the
FY2008 30-year plan, was an apparent increase of roughly 44% in real (inflation-adjusted) terms
in the Navy’s estimated average annual cost to implement the 30-year plan. This roughly 44%
real increase was not due to significant changes in the composition of the 30-year plan, because
the types and quantities of ships to be procured under FY2009 30-year plan were generally the
same as those in the FY2008 30-year plan.20
In 2007, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that last year’s version of the 30-year
plan would cost roughly 35% more per year to implement than the Navy was estimating. The
Navy in 2007 downplayed CBO’s higher cost estimate, referring to it in testimony as “worst-case
analysis”21 or as an “extremely conservative” estimate.22 The Navy’s revised estimated cost for
the FY2009 30-year plan, however, is within about 7% of CBO’s estimates for the cost of the
plan.
In 2006 and 2007, the Navy had a clearly identifiable strategy for achieving the shipbuilding
budget that the Navy then estimated would be needed to implement the 30-year shipbuilding plan.
CRS and CBO discussed in reports and testimony in 2006 and 2007 how the Navy’s strategy for
executing the shipbuilding plan depended on a series of five assumptions concerning the future
size and composition of the Navy’s budget and the costs of future Navy ships. As noted by both
CRS and CBO in 2006 and 2007, all five of these assumptions could be viewed as risk items for
the plan, because there were grounds for questioning whether each of them would be borne out.
(For additional discussion, see Appendix D.)
The 2008 increase in the Navy’s estimated cost for implementing the 30-year plan was so large
that the Navy no longer appears to have a clearly identifiable, announced strategy for generating
the funds needed to implement the 30-year plan, at least not without significantly reducing

19 CRS Report RS20643, Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress,
by Ronald O’Rourke.
20 The FY2009-FY2038 plan includes 296 ships, or about 1.7% more than the 291 ships in the FY2008-FY2037 plan.
The types of ships procured under the two plans are essentially the same, and the total numbers of each type being
procured are in most cases similar.
21 Source: Transcript of spoken testimony of Vice Admiral Paul Sullivan before the Seapower and Expeditionary
Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee on March 20, 2007.
22 Source: Transcript of spoken testimony of Allison Stiller before the Defense subcommittee of the House
Appropriations Committee on April 25, 2007.
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funding for other Navy programs or increasing the Navy’s programmed budget in coming years
by billions of dollars per year.
June 2008 CBO Report
A June 2008 CBO report on the Navy’s FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan states that CBO’s
analysis indicates the following:
—Executing the Navy’s most recent 30-year shipbuilding plan would cost an average of
about $27 billion a year (in [FY]2009 dollars), or more than double the $12.6 billion a year
that the Navy has spent, on average, since [FY]2003.... Since CBO testified on this topic on
March 14, [2008], the Navy provided additional information that led CBO to increase its
estimate of the annual cost of the shipbuilding plan from $25 billion to $27 billion.
—After releasing its [report on the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan], the Navy discovered
a calculation error that caused the costs initially reported in the [FY]2009 plan to be about 10
percent higher than the Navy now expects them to be. After correcting for that error, the
Navy’s estimate of the costs of implementing its 30-year shipbuilding plan is about 10
percent less than the estimates that CBO has prepared during the past three years.
—The Navy’s [FY]2009 budget request appears to depart from all of the budgetary
assumptions used to develop the service’s [FY]2007 and [FY]2008 shipbuilding plans.
—CBO’s estimates of the costs of the Navy’s shipbuilding program through the period
covered by the [FY]2009-[FY]2013 Future Years Defense Program are about 30 percent
higher than the Navy’s estimates. In particular, CBO estimates that the DDG-1000 guided-
missile destroyer and the CG(X) future cruiser would probably cost significantly more than
the Navy currently estimates.
—For the [FY]2009-[FY]2020 period—described as the “near term” in the Navy’s plan—
CBO estimates that new-ship construction alone would cost about 13 percent more than the
Navy indicates.
—For the period beyond [FY]2020—described as the “far term” in the Navy’s plan—CBO
estimates that costs would be about 8 percent greater than the Navy projects.23
Table 8, which is taken from CBO’s June 2008 report, summarizes Navy and CBO estimates of
the cost to implement the 30-year shipbuilding plan.

23 Source: Cover letter to Congressional Budget Office, Resource Implications of the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2009
Shipbuilding Plan, Washington, 2008. (June 9, 2008) The cover letter, dated June 9, 2008, is from Peter Orszag,
Director, CBO, and is addressed to Representative Gene Taylor, the Chairman of the Seapower and Expeditionary
Forces subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, with copies to Representative Roscoe Bartlett, the
Ranking Member of the subcommittee, and Representatives Ike Skelton and Duncan Hunter, the Chairman and
Ranking Member, respectively, of the House Armed Services Committee.
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Table 8. Average Annual Shipbuilding Costs Under FY2009 30-Year Plan
(from June 2008 CBO report; figures in billions of constant FY2009 dollars)

New-ship
New-ship construction (including SSBNs),
construction
plus:
Excluding Including Nuclear
Nuclear refuelings, LCS
SSBNs
SSBNs
refuelings
mission modules, and
surface combat-ant
modernization
Actual Navy spending, FY03-
11.1 11.1 12.4
12.6
FY08
Average annual cost as estimated by:
Navy
20.4 23.2a 24.4b 25.2b
CBO
22.4 25.0 26.2
26.9
CBO’s estimate of the cost to fully fund the Navy’s 313-ship fleetc
22.5
25.5
26.7
27.4
Memorandum: Navy’s estimate average annual cost in 2006 and 2007
n.a.
16.1
17.2b 18.0b
Source: Table 3 from Congressional Budget Office, Resource Implications of the Navy’s Fiscal Year 2009
Shipbuilding Plan, Washington, 2008. (June 9, 2008) p. 14.
a. The Navy’s estimate for new-ship construction plus the Navy’s cost target for SSBNs under the FY2007 and
FY2008 shipbuilding plans.
b. The Navy’s estimate for new-ship construction and cost target for SSBNs plus CBO’s estimates for the
additional costs.
c. CBO’s estimates of the costs to buy all of the attack submarines, guided-missile submarines, ballistic missile
submarines, logistics ships, and amphibious ships needed to maintain a 313-ship fleet.
Legislative Activity for FY2010
FY2010 Defense Authorization Bill (H.R. 2647/S. 1390)
House
Section 1032 of H.R. 2647 would require a report on the force structure findings of the 2009
Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR). Regarding this section, House Armed Services Committee’s
report on H.R. 2647 (H.Rept. 111-166 of June 18, 2009) states:
The committee expects that the analyses submitted [under Section 1032] will include details
on all elements of the force structure discussed in the QDR report, and particularly the
following:...
(5) A description of the factors that informed decisions regarding the Navy battle force,
including: assumptions regarding threat capabilities; the modeling, simulation, and analysis
used to determine the number and type of battle force vessels necessary to meet the national
defense strategy; the force sizing construct including contingency operations; the analysis
used to determine the deployed operations required for the battle force fleet during
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peacetime; the limitations on meeting combatant commander priorities with the proposed
battle force structure, including an analysis of risk of not meeting all priority requirements;
and the deployed operations envisioned for the battle force fleet and the geographic areas left
uncovered by continuous deployed operations of battle force vessels. (Pages 387 and 389)
The committee’s report also states:
Capabilities of the United States Navy
The committee believes the U.S. Navy fleet should be balanced in both capability of ships
and quantity of ships, but that quantity should have priority over spending excessive
resources for marginal increases in capability. The committee supports the re-start of the
DDG 51 class and believes that a minimum of two of these vessels should be requested per
year. The committee maintains cautious support for the Littoral Combat Ship and believes a
minimum of three of these vessels should be requested per year. The committee believes that
two Virginia class submarines is the minimum that should be funded annually. The
committee believes that the operational availability of aircraft carriers is more important than
the total number of aircraft carriers in the inventory; however, the committee is not
convinced that a total inventory of fewer than 11 carriers will support the required
operational availability. The committee supports the ongoing efforts to develop the next
generation cruiser. The committee believes that the next generation cruiser must meet the
challenge of emerging ballistic missile technology and that an integrated nuclear power
system is required to achieve maximum capability of the vessel. The committee supports the
revised Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future) and the capability of the Maritime Landing
Platform vessel to resupply logistic support from a sea base. The committee is also
supportive of continuing procurement of amphibious assault ships (LHA/LHD) but
recommends the construction of a modified LHD variant for increased amphibious capability
if such modification can be accomplished with minimal non-recurring costs. Finally, the
committee recommends that the Navy consider combining acquisition efforts with the U.S.
Coast Guard in procurement of the National Security Cutter vessel for use as a Navy frigate.
U.S. Navy shipbuilding
The budget request contained $13.8 billion for the construction of 8 Navy ships and
completes funding for the 3rd and final Zumwalt class destroyer (DDG 1000) and the 10th San
Antonio class amphibious transport, dock (LPD 17). The request also contains advance
procurement for long-lead material and equipment for seven additional vessels, including
two Virginia class submarines, for which full funding is expected in fiscal year 2011.
Overall, the committee considers this budget request a positive step in restoring the fleet to a
level of at least 313 battle force vessels.
The committee is encouraged that the Department of the Navy has requested funding to
complete the last two of the Lewis and Clark dry cargo ammunition ships (T–AKE) and the
final LPD 17 ship. The committee notes that the Secretary of Defense has decided to truncate
the DDG 1000 program to three ships and restart the Burke class destroyer (DDG 51)
program. The committee agrees with this decision and understands the agreement reached
between the Department and the prime shipbuilding contractors for construction of the three
DDG 1000 ships and the re-start of the first three DDG 51 ships will ensure industrial
stability at both of the surface combatant construction shipyards while the Department plans
for future surface combatant capability and force structure. (Pages 72-73)
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Senate
Section 114 of S. 1390 as reported by the Senate Armed Services Committee (S.Rept. 111-35 of
July 2, 2009) would require the Navy to submit a report to the congressional defense committees
on a service life extension program (SLEP) for Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) class frigates that is
to include, among other things, “a detailed plan of the Navy for achieving a 313-ship fleet as
contemplated by the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review, including a comparison for purposes of
that plan of decommissioning Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates as scheduled with extending the
service life of such frigates under the service life extension program.”
Section 1013 of S. 1390 as reported expresses the sense of the Senate on achieving and
maintaining the Navy’s planned 313-ship fleet. The text of the provision states:
SEC. 1013. SENSE OF SENATE ON THE MAINTENANCE OF A 313-SHIP NAVY.
(a) Findings- The Senate makes the following findings:
(1) The Department of the Navy has a stated requirement for a 313-ship fleet.
(2) The Navy can better meet this requirement—
(A) by procuring sufficient numbers of new ships; and
(B) by ensuring the sound material condition of existing ships that will enable the Navy to
utilize them for their full planned service lives.
(3) When procuring new classes of ships, the Navy must exercise greater caution than it has
exhibited to date in proceeding from one stage of the acquisition cycle to the next before a
ship program has achieved a level of maturity that significantly lowers the risk of cost
growth and schedule slippage.
(4) In retaining existing assets, the Navy can do a much better job of achieving the full
planned service lives of ships and extending the service lives of certain ships so as to keep
their unique capabilities in the fleet while the Navy takes the time necessary to develop and
field next-generation capabilities under a low risk program.
(5) The Navy can undertake certain development approaches that can help the Navy control
the total costs of ownership of a ship or class of ships, including emphasizing common hull
designs, open architecture combat systems, and other common ship systems in order to
achieve efficiency in acquiring and supporting various classes of ships.
(6) The Navy needs to continue its efforts toward achieving an open architecture for existing
combat systems, as this will have great benefit in reducing the costs and risks of fielding new
classes of ships, and will yield recurring savings from reducing the costs of buying later
ships in a program and reducing life cycle support costs for ships and classes of ships.
(7) The Navy can also undertake other measures to acquire new ships and maintain the
current fleet with greater efficiency, including—
(A) greater use of fixed-price contracts;
(B) maximizing competition (or the option of competition) throughout the life cycle of its
ships;
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(C) entering into multiyear contracts when warranted; and
(D) employing an incremental approach to developing new technologies.
(b) Sense of Senate- It is the sense of the Senate that—
(1) the Navy should meet its requirement for a 313-ship fleet;
(2) the Navy should take greater care to achieve the full planned service life of existing ships
and reduce the incidence of early ship decommissioning;
(3) the Navy should exercise greater restraint on the acquisition process for ships in order to
achieve on-time, on-cost shipbuilding programs; and
(4) Congress should support the Navy when it is acting responsibly to undertake measures
that can help the Navy achieve the requirement for a 313-ship fleet and maintain a fleet that
is adequate to meet the national security needs of the United States.
Conference
In the conference report (H.Rept. 111-288 of October 7, 2009) on H.R. 2647, Section 124
requires the Navy to submit a report to the congressional defense committees on a service life
extension program (SLEP) for Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7) class frigates.
Section 1021 expresses the sense of the Congress on the maintenance of a 313-ship Navy.
Section 1052 requires a report on the force structure findings of the 2009 Quadrennial Defense
Review (QDR). The House report on H.R. 2647 (H.Rept. 111-166 of June 18, 2009—see
discussion above) includes report language stating that this report is to include, among other
things, “a description of the factors that informed decisions regarding the Navy battle force.... ”
Section 124 states:
SEC. 127. REPORT ON A SERVICE LIFE EXTENSION PROGRAM FOR OLIVER
HAZARD PERRY CLASS FRIGATES.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Navy
shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report setting forth the following:
(1) A detailed analysis of a service life extension program for the Oliver Hazard Perry class
frigates, including—
(A) the cost of the program;
(B) a notional schedule for the program; and
(C) the shipyards available to carry out the work under the program.
(2) The strategic plan of the Navy for—
(A) the manner in which the Littoral Combat Ship will fulfill the roles and missions currently
performed by the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates as such frigates are decommissioned;
and
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(B) the year-by-year planned commissioning of Littoral Combat Ships and planned
decommissioning of Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates through the projected service life of
the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates.
(3) An analysis of the necessary procurement rates of Littoral Combat Ships if the extension
of the service life of the Oliver Hazard Perry class frigates alleviates capability gaps caused
by a delay in the procurement rates of Littoral Combat Ships.
(4) A description of the manner in which the Navy has met the requirements of the United
States Southern Command over time, including the assets and vessels the Navy has deployed
for military-to-military engagements, UNITAS exercises, and counterdrug operations in
support of the Commander of the United States Southern Command during the five-year
period ending on the date of the report.
Section 1021 states:
SEC. 1021. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE MAINTENANCE OF A 313-SHIP NAVY.
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Department of the Navy has a stated requirement for a 313-ship fleet.
(2) The Navy can better meet this requirement—
(A) by procuring sufficient numbers of new ships; and
(B) by ensuring the sound material condition of existing ships that will enable the Navy to
utilize them for their full planned service lives.
(3) When procuring new classes of ships, the Navy must exercise greater caution than it has
exhibited to date in proceeding from one stage of the acquisition cycle to the next before a
ship program has achieved a level of maturity that significantly lowers the risk of cost
growth and schedule slippage.
(4) In retaining existing assets, the Navy can do a much better job of achieving the full
planned service lives of ships and extending the service lives of certain ships so as to keep
their unique capabilities in the fleet while the Navy takes the time necessary to develop and
field next-generation capabilities under a low risk program.
(5) The Navy can undertake certain development approaches that can help the Navy control
the total costs of ownership of a ship or class of ships, including emphasizing common hull
designs, open architecture combat systems, and other common ship systems in order to
achieve efficiency in acquiring and supporting various classes of ships.
(6) The Navy needs to continue its efforts toward achieving an open architecture for existing
combat systems, as this will have great benefit in reducing the costs and risks of fielding new
classes of ships, and will yield recurring savings from reducing the costs of buying later
ships in a program and reducing life cycle support costs for ships and classes of ships.
(7) The Navy can also undertake other measures to acquire new ships and maintain the
current fleet with greater efficiency, including—
(A) greater use of fixed-price contracts;
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(B) maximizing competition (or the option of competition) throughout the life cycle of its
ships;
(C) entering into multi-year contracts when warranted; and
(D) employing an incremental approach to developing new technologies.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the Navy should meet its requirement for a 313-ship fleet until such time that
modifications to the Navy’s ship fleet force structure are warranted, and the Secretary of the
Navy provides Congress with a justification of any proposed modifications, supported by
rigorous and sufficient warfighting analysis;
(2) the Navy should take greater care to achieve the full planned service life of existing ships
and reduce the incidence of early ship decommissioning;
(3) the Navy should exercise greater restraint on the acquisition process for ships in order to
achieve on-time, on-cost shipbuilding programs; and
(4) Congress should support the Navy when it is acting responsibly to undertake measures
that can help the Navy achieve the requirement for a 313-ship fleet and maintain a fleet that
is adequate to meet the national security needs of the United States.
FY2010 DOD Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3326)
House
The House Appropriations Committee, in its report (H.Rept. 111-230 of July 24, 2009) on H.R.
3326, states that:
the Committee is aware that the Department of Defense has consistently failed to provide
funding to maintain sufficient production within the Navy’s shipbuilding program. As a
result, the total fleet of United States vessels has shrunk well below the desired fleet size of
313. In this bill, the Committee’s recommendations provide funding for construction of 10
ships for the first time since 1992 in order to maintain a 300 ship fleet. (Page 4)
The report also states:
SHIPBUILDING
The Navy’s fiscal year 2010 budget request for shipbuilding is moving closer to the goal of
being able to reach and maintain the Navy’s stated requirement of 313 ships. The Committee
firmly believes that in order to reach a fleet size of 313 ships, a minimum of ten ships per
year should be constructed. Over the last ten years, the requested ship quantities have
averaged less than seven ships per year. Although still short of the nominal ten ship level, the
fiscal year 2010 budget requested funding for eight ships. The last time the Navy built at
least nine ships was in 1992 when eleven ships were constructed. While the Committee
recognizes that the shipbuilding plan is extremely complex, it is the backbone of the Navy’s
future and the Navy is strongly encouraged to construct the quantity of ships necessary to
maintain the required fleet size. In the interim, the Committee provides funding for two
additional ships, as outlined below, to bring the fiscal year 2010 ship count up to the desired
level of ten ships. (page 165)
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The report also states:
LEASING OF FOREIGN BUILT SHIPS
The Committee remains very concerned with the Navy’s practice of entering into extended
leases for foreign built ships. Historically, these leases have met the intent of long term
capital lease restrictions on an individual basis, but the recurring nature of several of the
leases violates the spirit and intent of the 1990 Budget Enforcement Act. The Committee
recognizes that the ships leased by the Navy fill an important role that must be continued
through the near term and well into the future, but believes that ships that fill these roles can
provide an economic opportunity for the domestic shipbuilding industry. Two years ago, the
Committee received a report from the Navy on their practice of leasing foreign built ships
and a plan for ending the practice of leasing foreign built ships by 2012. The basic
conclusion of the report was that the dependence on foreign built ships would be
significantly reduced by the year 2012, principally as a result of shifting requirements and
modifications to existing Department of Defense assets. Since the administration is currently
undertaking a review of future requirements, the Committee is extremely interested in how
that review will affect the Navy’s practice of leasing foreign built ships. Therefore, the
Committee directs the Secretary of the Navy to update the report submitted in March 2008
regarding the practice of leasing foreign built ships. The report should include the Navy’s
updated plan for terminating the practice of leasing foreign built ships to supplement the fleet
and using only domestic built ships by 2012. Additionally, the report should include the
necessary budget and funding plans that may be required to accomplish this. This report
should be submitted no later than March 31, 2010. (Page 166)24
Senate
The Senate Appropriations Committee, in its report (S.Rept. 111-74 of September 10, 2009) on
H.R. 3326, states:
Common Hull Form.—The Committee remains concerned about the Navy’s ability to
maintain an adequate fleet and deliver on its shipbuilding program, and build ships on time
and on budget. The Chief of Naval Operations pointed out in testimony before the
Committee, common hull forms and repeat build of ships that permit longer production runs
will reduce construction costs. The Committee supports efforts that control ship costs and
help maintain production schedules.
The Committee understands there has been discussion within the Department of the Navy
about using the LPD–17 hull as a common hull option for the LCC(R) joint command ship
and the LSD(X) dock landing ship replacement programs. The amphibious LPD–17 class
ship is a hull form that is at a mature stage of production and should be strongly considered
for this commonality approach. Therefore, the Committee directs the Secretary of the Navy
to submit a report to the congressional defense committees no later than March 15, 2010, that
describes the benefits of using the LPD hull form as a replacement for these ship classes to
include estimated cost savings of procuring these ships under a multi-year procurement
authority. (Page 114)

24 For additional background information on this issue, see CRS Report RS22454, DOD Leases of Foreign-Built Ships:
Background for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke.
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Resolution Directing Submission of FY2010 30-Year Shipbuilding
Plan (H.Res. 477)
H.Res. 477, introduced on May 21, 2009, directs the Secretary of Defense to transmit to the
House of Representatives the FY2010 30-year shipbuilding plan, as required by section 10 USC
231. On June 19, 2009, the House Armed Services Committee reported favorably on H.Res. 477
with an amendment (H.Rept. 111-167 of June 19, 2009). The text of the resolution as amended
and reported states:
RESOLUTION
Directing the Secretary of Defense to transmit to the House of Representatives the fiscal year
2010 30-year shipbuilding plan relating to the long-term shipbuilding strategy of the
Department of Defense, as required by section 231 of title 10, United States Code.
Resolved, That the Secretary of Defense is directed to transmit to the House of
Representatives, not later than September 15, 2009—
(1) the fiscal year 2010 30-year shipbuilding plan relating to the long-term shipbuilding
strategy of the Department of Defense, as required by section 231 of title 10, United States
Code; and
(2) the certification statement of the Secretary required in the plan that both the budget for
this fiscal year and the future-years defense program relating to the construction of naval
vessels are at a level that is sufficient for the procurement as described in the 30-year
shipbuilding plan.
H.Rept. 111-167 states in part:
Section 231 of title 10, United States Code, requires that the Secretary of Defense submit
with the budget request required by section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for each
fiscal year, a long-range plan for the construction of naval vessels. The long-range plan must
describe the naval force required to meet the current national security strategy or the current
Quadrennial Defense Review and must certify that the construction plan and that the budget
request for the current year and programmed for future years is sufficient to maintain such a
naval force.
The budget request submitted pursuant to section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, for
fiscal year 2010 did not contain the long-range plan for the construction of naval vessels. On
May 21, 2009, the Honorable Randy Forbes of Virginia introduced House Resolution 477, a
resolution of inquiry that would direct the Secretary of Defense to transmit, within 14 days of
the adoption of the resolution, to the House of Representatives, the long-range construction
plan for naval vessels along with all documents, including telephone and electronic mail
records, logs and calendars, and records of internal discussions in the possession of the
Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Navy, and the Director of the Office of
Management and Budget relating to the long-range plan for the construction of naval vessels.
Clause 7 of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives provides for a committee
to report on a qualifying resolution of inquiry, such as House Resolution 477, within 14
legislative days or a privileged motion to discharge the committee is in order. House
Resolution 477 was referred to the Committee on Armed Services on May 21, 2009.
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On June 16, 2009, the Committee on Armed Services took up House Resolution 477 for the
purpose of reporting a recommendation to the House. House Resolution 477 was amended to
require the Secretary of Defense to submit only the long-range plan for the construction of
naval vessels and certification required by section 231 of title 10, United States Code, by
September 15, 2009.
Under the rules and precedents of the House, a resolution of inquiry is one of the means by
which the House may request information from the head of one of the executive departments.
It is a simple resolution making a demand of the head of an executive department to furnish
the House of Representatives with specific information in the possession of the executive
branch. It is not used to request opinions or to require an investigation on a subject.
Legislation on Individual Shipbuilding Programs
For legislative activity on individual Navy shipbuilding, conversion, and modernization
programs, see:
• CRS Report RS20643, Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program:
Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke;
• CRS Report RL32109, Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs:
Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke;
• CRS Report RL34179, Navy CG(X) Cruiser Program: Background, Oversight
Issues, and Options for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke;
• CRS Report RL33741, Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background,
Issues, and Options for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke;
• CRS Report RS22595, Navy Aegis Cruiser and Destroyer Modernization:
Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke;
• CRS Report RL34476, Navy LPD-17 Amphibious Ship Procurement:
Background, Issues, and Options for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke; and
• CRS Report RL32418, Navy Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and
Issues for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke.
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Appendix A. Potential For Changing 313-Ship
Proposal
In General
The Navy’s 313-ship force structure plan is likely being reviewed as part of the Quadrennial
Defense Review (QDR) currently in progress, and could be altered as a result of that review. In
addition to the QDR, a September 29, 2008 press report stated:
The Navy is conducting a force structure review that could change the number of ships the
service needs in the 2020 time frame to maintain sea control and support the maritime
strategy issued last year, the Navy’s top programmer told Inside the Navy in an exclusive
interview last week.
“The 313 plan, as it’s known, was based on a force-structure analysis done in 2005 and it has
served us very well,” Vice Adm. Barry McCullough, deputy chief of naval operations for
integration of capabilities and resources, said Sept. 24. “But as we look at the changes in the
security environment in the newly published maritime strategy, we felt it was appropriate to
work through a similar methodology that we did in 2005 to make sure that we have our force
structure correct.”
Since Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead took over last fall, he has has
continually referred to the 313-ship mark as a “floor,” meaning the minimal number of ships
the Navy needs to conduct its myriad missions.
McCullough would not say if the number of ships the Navy wants in its future fleet will
change.
“I’m not going to tell you if it’s more or less or anything until we work through the reviews
with leadership,” he said....
The new force structure review should be complete in conjunction with the release of the
2008 Naval Operations Concept, which will outline how the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast
Guard will operate in accordance to the tri-service [Navy-Marine Corps-Coast Guard]
maritime strategy published last October.25
An April 2008 press report stated that:
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead has ordered internal reviews into the
Navy’s long-term basing requirements and strategies, as well as needs for personnel, ships
and aircraft, a Navy spokesman said.
The reviews, which probably will not be made public, will produce an “internal working
document” that will help Roughead and other top Navy commanders plan into the coming
decades, Navy spokesman Cmdr. Jeff Davis said. The findings probably will be incorporated
into future quadrennial defense reviews, shipbuilding plans and budget requests, Davis said.

25 Zachary M. Peterson, “Navy Undergoing A New Force Structure Review Due This Fall,” Inside the Navy, September
29, 2008.
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Roughead mentioned his review of the Navy’s basing requirements and strategy—what he
called a “force rating” and Davis called a “strategic lay-down”—in response to questions
from a House panel in March....
Davis described the four other reviews Roughead requested when he took over:
* Force structure, including the numbers of aircraft and ships.
* The life span of those aircraft and ships.
* The Navy’s personnel requirements, including end strength and skill sets.
* Infrastructure requirements, including details about the physical state of the Navy’s
bases.26
Amphibious and MPF(F) Ships
The Navy’s February 2008 report on the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan stated that the
Department of the Navy “is reviewing options to increase assault echelon amphibious lift to 33
ships to meet USMC requirements.”27 The report also states:
The Commandant of the Marine Corps has determined that a minimum of 33 amphibious
ships is necessary to support their assault echelon lift requirements; specifically, he has
requested a force of 11 aviation capable amphibious ships, 11 LPDs and 11 LSDs. The Chief
of Naval Operations supports the Commandant’s determination.28
The Navy’s February 2007 report on the FY2008 30-year shipbuilding plan stated:
Future combat operations may require us to revisit many of the decisions reflected in this
report, including those associated with amphibious lift. As the Navy embarks on production
of the Maritime Prepositioning Force in this FYDP, the Navy will continue to analyze the
utility of these ships in terms of their contribution to, and ability to substitute for, the assault
echelon forces in the Navy’s future battle-force inventory. The current force represents the
best balance between these forces available today. However, changing world events and
resulting operational risk associated with the various force structure elements that make up
these two components of overall lift will be analyzed to ensure the Navy is not taking
excessive risk in lift capability and capacity. While there needs to be a balance between
expeditionary and prepositioning ships for meeting the overall lift requirement, future reports
may adjust the level of support in one or both of these solutions. Any adjustments made in
these capabilities will have to be accommodated in light of the resources available and could
require the Navy to commit additional funding to this effort in order to support the overall
balance of our shipbuilding program.29

26 Philip Ewing, “CNO Orders Far-Reaching Base, Force Reviews,” NavyTimes.com, April 21, 2008.
27 U.S. Navy, Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2009, p. 5.
28 U.S. Navy, Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2009, p. A-3.
29 U.S. Navy, Report to Congress on Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels for FY 2008, p. 5.
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Cruisers and Destroyers
The Navy testified in July 2008 that it no longer wants to procure additional Zumwalt (DDG-
1000) class destroyers, and instead now wants to restart procurement of Arleigh Burke (DDG-51)
destroyers. The Navy’s new plan, if implemented, would change the planned composition of the
Navy’s destroyer fleet and possibly change the planned total number of cruisers and destroyers.30
SSBNs
The Navy has testified in 2007 and 2008 that its next-generation ballistic missile submarines
(SSBNs) are to be fueled with a nuclear fuel core sufficient for the ships’ entire expected service
lives. Consequently, the Navy has testified, these SSBNs, in contrast to today’s SSBNs, would not
need a mid-life nuclear refueling. As a result, the Navy testified, the Navy in the future may be
able to meet its requirements for SSBN deployments with a force of 12 SSBNs rather than 14.31
This testimony suggests that the Navy might at some point change the required number of SSBNs
in the 313-ship plan from 14 to 12. The Navy’s February 2008 report on the FY2009 shipbuilding
plan continues to state that the 313-ship force-structure includes 14 SSBNs, but the FY2009 30-
year shipbuilding plan includes 12 SSBNs rather than 14.

30 For further discussion of the Navy’s preferred new course for destroyer procurement, see CRS Report RL32109,
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O'Rourke.
31 Source: Transcripts of Navy testimony to Senate Armed Services Committee, March 29, 2007, and to Seapower and
Expeditionary Forces subcommittee of House Armed Services Committee, March 14, 2008.
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Appendix B. Modified Description of Required
Number of Aircraft Carriers
In late-March 2007, the Navy modified its description of the number of aircraft carriers in the
313-ship proposal. From February 2006 through early March 2007, the Navy described the 313-
ship proposal as one centered on, among other things, 11 aircraft carriers.32 In late March 2007,
the Navy modified its description of the 313-ship proposal to one centered on, among other
things, 11, and eventually 12, aircraft carriers, the modification being the addition of the phrase
“and eventually 12.”33
The Navy’s modification of its description of the number of aircraft carriers in the 313-ship
proposal occurred about a week after the decommissioning of the aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy
(CV-67), which occurred on March 23, 2007. The decommissioning of the Kennedy reduced the
Navy’s carrier force from 12 ships to 11. The Navy had proposed decommissioning the Kennedy
in its FY2006 and FY2007 budgets, and opponents of the Kennedy’s retirement had resisted the
proposal. If the Navy, prior to the Kennedy’s decommissioning, had described the 313-ship fleet
as one centered on, among other things, 11, and eventually 12, aircraft carriers, opponents of the
Kennedy’s decommissioning might have cited the “eventually 12” part as evidence that the Navy
really requires 12 carriers, not just 11.34
The Navy’s February 2008 report on the FY2009 30-year shipbuilding plan states that the 313-
ship plan includes 11 carriers and does not include a reference to “eventually 12” carriers, but the
long-range force projection in the report continues to show a total of 12 carriers in FY2019 and
subsequent years.

32 See, for example, Navy testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on March 1, 2007 (transcript of
hearing).
33 See, for example, Navy testimony before the Defense subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee on
March 28, 2007, and before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 29, 2007 (transcripts of hearings).
34 For additional discussion of the debate over the Kennedy’s retirement, see CRS Report RL32731, Navy Aircraft
Carriers: Retirement of USS John F. Kennedy - Issues and Options for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke.
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Appendix C. Adequacy of Planned 313-Ship Fleet
Specific Ship Categories
Amphibious Ships
Some observers have questioned whether the Navy’s proposed total of 31 amphibious ships
within the 313-ship fleet will be sufficient. The Marine Corps has stated that a total of 33,
including 11 San Antonio (LPD-17) class ships, would be needed to meet the Marine Corps’
requirement for having a force capable of lifting the assault echelons of 2.0 Marine Expeditionary
Brigades (MEBs). The issue is discussed in more detail in another CRS report.35
Attack Submarines
Some observers have questioned whether the Navy’s proposed total of 48 attack submarines
within the 313-ship plan will be sufficient, and have suggested that a total of 55 or more would be
more appropriate, particularly in light of requests for forward-deployed attack submarines from
U.S. regional military commanders, and the modernization of China’s naval forces, including its
submarine force. The issue is discussed in more detail other CRS reports.36
Aircraft Carriers
Some observers have questioned whether the Navy’s proposed total of 11 aircraft carriers through
FY2018 will be sufficient, particularly in light of past Navy plans that have called for 12 carriers,
the Navy’s testimony in 2007 that the 313-ship proposal includes a requirement for an eventual
total of 12 carriers, and Navy plans to increase the carrier force back to 12 ships in 2019 and
maintain it at that level thereafter. The latter two points, they argue, suggest that the Navy would
actually prefer to have 12 carriers between now and FY2019, rather than 11.
Observers have expressed concern that the current carrier force of 11 ships will temporarily
decline further, to 10 ships, during the 33-month period between the scheduled retirement of the
carrier Enterprise (CVN-65) in November 2012 and scheduled the entry into service of its
replacement, the carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), in September 2015. Even if an 11-carrier force
is adequate, these observers argue, a 10-carrier force might not be, even if only for a 33-month
period.
10 USC §5062 requires the Navy to maintain an aircraft carrier force of at least 11 operational
ships. The Navy for FY2009 is requesting a legislative waiver from Congress that would permit
the Navy to reduce the carrier force to 10 operational ships for the 33-month between the
retirement of the Enterprise and the entry into service of the Ford. The Navy made the same
request as part of its FY2008 budget submission; Congress did not act on the request in FY2008.

35 CRS Report RL32513, Navy-Marine Corps Amphibious and Maritime Prepositioning Ship Programs: Background
and Oversight Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke.
36 CRS Report RL32418, Navy Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald
O’Rourke; and CRS Report RL33153, China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—
Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke.
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Overall Number of Ships
Some observers have questioned whether the overall planned total of 313 ships would be
adequate, particularly in light of Navy plans in recent decades for larger total numbers of ships.
One possible method for assessing the appropriateness of the total number of ships being
proposed by the Navy is to compare that number to historical figures for total fleet size. Historical
figures for total fleet size, however, might not be a reliable yardstick for assessing the
appropriateness of the Navy’s proposed 313-ship fleet, particularly if the historical figures are
more than a few years old, because the missions to be performed by the Navy, the mix of ships
that make up the Navy, and the technologies that are available to Navy ships for performing
missions all change over time.
The Navy, for example, reached a late-Cold War peak of 568 battle force ships at the end of
FY1987,37 and as of June 5, 2008, had declined to a total of 280 battle force ships. The FY1987
fleet, however, was intended to meet a set of mission requirements that focused on countering
Soviet naval forces at sea during a potential multi-theater NATO-Warsaw Pact conflict, while the
June 2008 fleet is intended to meet a considerably different set of mission requirements centered
on influencing events ashore by countering both land- and sea-based military forces of potential
regional threats other than Russia, including non-state terrorist organizations. In addition, the
Navy of FY1987 differed substantially from the June 2008 fleet in areas such as profusion of
precision-guided air-delivered weapons, numbers of Tomahawk-capable ships, and sophistication
of C4ISR systems.38
In coming years, Navy missions may shift again, to include, as a possible example, a greater
emphasis on being able to counter improved Chinese maritime military capabilities.39 In addition,
the capabilities of Navy ships will likely have changed further by that time due to developments
such as more comprehensive implementation of networking technology and increased use of ship-
based unmanned vehicles.
The 568-ship fleet of FY1987 may or may not have been capable of performing its stated
missions; the 280-ship fleet of June 2008 may or nor may not have been capable of performing its
stated missions; and a fleet years from now with a certain number of ships may or may not be
capable of performing its stated missions. Given changes over time in mission requirements, ship
mixes, and technologies, however, these three issues are to a substantial degree independent of
one another.

37 Some publications, such as those of the American Shipbuilding Association, have stated that the Navy reached a
peak of 594 ships at the end of FY1987. This figure, however, is the total number of active ships in the fleet, which is
not the same as the total number of battle force ships. The battle force ships figure is the number used in government
discussions of the size of the Navy. In recent years, the total number of active ships has been larger than the total
number of battle force ships. For example, the Naval Historical Center states that as of November 16, 2001, the Navy
included a total of 337 active ships, while the Navy states that as of November 19, 2001, the Navy included a total of
317 battle force ships. Comparing the total number of active ships in one year to the total number of battle force ships
in another year is thus an apple-to-oranges comparison that in this case overstates the decline since FY1987 in the
number of ships in the Navy. As a general rule to avoid potential statistical distortions, comparisons of the number of
ships in the Navy over time should use, whenever possible, a single counting method.
38 C4ISR stands for command and control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
39 For a discussion, see CRS Report RL33153, China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—
Background and Issues for Congress, by Ronald O’Rourke.
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For similar reasons, trends over time in the total number of ships in the Navy are not necessarily a
reliable indicator of the direction of change in the fleet’s ability to perform its stated missions. An
increasing number of ships in the fleet might not necessarily mean that the fleet’s ability to
perform its stated missions is increasing, because the fleet’s mission requirements might be
increasing more rapidly than ship numbers and average ship capability. Similarly, a decreasing
number of ships in the fleet might not necessarily mean that the fleet’s ability to perform stated
missions is decreasing, because the fleet’s mission requirements might be declining more rapidly
than numbers of ships, or because average ship capability and the percentage of time that ships
are in deployed locations might be increasing quickly enough to more than offset reductions in
total ship numbers.
Previous Navy force structure plans, such as those shown in Table 1, might provide some insight
into the potential adequacy of a proposed new force-structure plan, but changes over time in
mission requirements, technologies available to ships for performing missions, and other force-
planning factors suggest that some caution should be applied in using past force structure plans
for this purpose, particularly if those past force structure plans are more than a few years old. The
Reagan-era plan for a 600-ship Navy, for example, was designed for a Cold War set of missions
focusing on countering Soviet naval forces at sea, which is not an appropriate basis for planning
the Navy today.40

40 Navy force structure plans that predate those shown in Table 1 include the Reagan-era 600-ship plan of the 1980s,
the Base Force fleet of more than 400 ships planned during the final two years of the George H. W. Bush
Administration, the 346-ship fleet from the Clinton Administration’s 1993 Bottom-Up Review (or BUR, sometimes
also called Base Force II), and the 310-ship fleet of the Clinton Administration’s 1997 QDR. The table below
summarizes some key features of these plans.

Features of Recent Navy Force Structure Plans
Plan
600-ship
Base Force
1993 BUR
1997 QDR
Total ships
~600 ~450/416a 346
~305/310b
Attack submarines
100 80/~55c 45-55 50/55d
Aircraft carriers
15e 12
11+1f 11+1f
Surface combatants
242/228g ~150
~124 116
Amphibious ships
~75h 51i 36i 36i
Source: Prepared by CRS based on DOD and U.S. Navy data.
a. Commonly referred to as 450-ship plan, but called for decreasing to 416 ships by end of FY1999.
b. Original total of about 305 ships was increased to about 310 due to increase in number of attack submarines to 55
from 50.
c. Plan originally included 80 attack submarines, but this was later reduced to about 55.
d. Plan originally included 50 attack submarines but this was later increased to 55.
e. Plus one additional aircraft carrier in the service life extension program (SLEP).
f. Eleven active carriers plus one operational reserve carrier.
g. Plan originally included 242 surface combatants but this was later reduced to 228.
h. Number needed to lift assault echelons of one Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) plus one Marine Expeditionary
Brigade (MEB).
i. Number needed to lift assault echelons of 2.5 MEBs. Note how number needed to meet this goal changed from Base
Force plan to the BUR plan—a result of new, larger amphibious ship designs.
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Appendix D. Affordability of Navy 30-Year Plan in
2006-2007
In 2006 and 2007, the Navy’s position was that for its shipbuilding plan to be affordable and
executable, five things needed to happen:
• The Navy’s overall budget needed to remain more or less flat (not decline) in real
(inflation-adjusted) terms.
• Navy Operation and Maintenance (O&M) spending needed to remain flat (not
grow) in real terms.
• Navy Military Personnel (MilPer) spending needed to remain flat (not grow) in
real terms.
• Navy research and development (R&D) spending needed to decrease from recent
levels and remain at the decreased level over the long run.
• Navy ships needed to be built at the Navy’s currently estimated prices.
The Navy said that the first four things were needed for the Navy to be able to increase the
shipbuilding budget from an average in FY2002-FY2007 of about $9.6 billion per year in
FY2008 dollars to a long-term average of about $15.4 billion per year in FY2008 dollars—an
increase of about 60% in real terms.41 The fifth thing on the list, the Navy said, was needed if all
the ships in the shipbuilding plan were to be affordable within an average annual shipbuilding
budget of $15.4 billion in FY2008 dollars.
Some observers in 2006 and 2007 questioned whether all five of the above things would happen,
arguing the following:
• The need in coming years to fund an increase in Army and Marine end strength
could, within an overall DOD budget that remains more or less flat in real terms,
require funding to be transferred from the Air Force and Navy budgets to the
Army and Marine Corps budgets, which could, for a time at least, lead to a real
decline in the Air Force and Navy budgets.
• DOD in the past has not been fully successful in meeting its goals for controlling
O&M costs.
• The Navy does not have full control over its MilPer costs—they can be affected,
for example, by decisions that Congress makes on pay and benefits.
• While the Navy may be able to decrease R&D spending in coming years as a
number of new systems shift from development to procurement, it may be
difficult for the Navy to keep R&D spending at that reduced level over the long
run, because the Navy at some point will likely want to start development of
other new systems.

41 Source: CBO telephone conversation with CRS, May 31, 2006. See also Statement of J. Michael Gilmore, Assistant
Director, and Eric J. Labs, Principal Analyst, [On] Potential Costs of the Navy’s 2006 Shipbuilding Plan, [Testimony]
before the Subcommittee on Projection Forces Committee on Armed Services U.S. House of Representatives, March
30, 2006.
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• Several Navy shipbuilding programs have experienced significant cost growth in
recent years, and CBO estimates that Navy ships will cost substantially more to
build than the Navy estimates.
If one or more of the five required things listed above did not happen, it was argued in 2006 and
2007, it might become difficult or impossible to execute the Navy’s shipbuilding plans. The risk
of the plan becoming unexecutable, it was argued, might become particularly acute starting in
FY2011-FY2013, when the Navy planned to increase procurement rates for cruisers and
destroyers and for submarines.
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Appendix E. Size of the Navy and Navy
Shipbuilding Rate
Size of the Navy
Table E-1 shows the size of the Navy in terms of total number of ships since FY1948; the
numbers shown in the table reflect changes over time in the rules specifying which ships count
toward the total. Differing counting rules result in differing totals, and for certain years, figures
reflecting more than one set of counting rules are available. Figures in the table for FY1978 and
subsequent years reflect the battle force ships counting method, which is the set of counting rules
established in the early 1980s for public policy discussions of the size of the Navy.
As shown in the table, the total number of battle force ships in the Navy reached a late-Cold War
peak of 568 at the end of FY1987 and began declining thereafter.42 The Navy fell below 300
battle force ships in August 2003 and included 280 battle force ships as of June 5, 2008.
As discussed in Appendix C, historical figures for total fleet size might not be a reliable
yardstick for assessing the appropriateness of the Navy’s proposed 313-ship fleet, particularly if
the historical figures are more than a few years old, because the missions to be performed by the
Navy, the mix of ships that make up the Navy, and the technologies that are available to Navy
ships for performing missions all change over time. For similar reasons, trends over time in the
total number of ships in the Navy are not necessarily a reliable indicator of the direction of
change in the fleet’s ability to perform its stated missions. An increasing number of ships in the
fleet might not necessarily mean that the fleet’s ability to perform its stated missions is increasing,
because the fleet’s mission requirements might be increasing more rapidly than ship numbers and
average ship capability. Similarly, a decreasing number of ships in the fleet might not necessarily
mean that the fleet’s ability to perform stated missions is decreasing, because the fleet’s mission
requirements might be declining more rapidly than numbers of ships, or because average ship
capability and the percentage of time that ships are in deployed locations might be increasing
quickly enough to more than offset reductions in total ship numbers.

42 Some publications have stated that the Navy reached a peak of 594 ships at the end of FY1987. This figure, however,
is the total number of active ships in the fleet, which is not the same as the total number of battle force ships. The battle
force ships figure is the number used in government discussions of the size of the Navy. In recent years, the total
number of active ships has been larger than the total number of battle force ships. For example, the Naval Historical
Center states that as of November 16, 2001, the Navy included a total of 337 active ships, while the Navy states that as
of November 19, 2001, the Navy included a total of 317 battle force ships. Comparing the total number of active ships
in one year to the total number of battle force ships in another year is thus an apple-to-oranges comparison that in this
case overstates the decline since FY1987 in the number of ships in the Navy. As a general rule to avoid potential
statistical distortions, comparisons of the number of ships in the Navy over time should use, whenever possible, a
single counting method.
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Table E-1. Total Number of Ships in the Navy Since FY1948
FYa Number FYa Number FYa Number
1948 737 1969 926 1990 547
1949 690 1970 769 1991 526
1950 634 1971 702 1992 466
1951 980 1972 654 1993 435
1952 1,097 1973 584 1994 391
1953 1,122 1974 512 1995 373
1954 1,113 1975 496 1996 356
1955 1,030 1976 476 1997 354
1956 973 1977 464 1998 333
1957 967 1978 468 1999 317
1958 890 1979 471 2000 318
1959 860 1980 477 2001 316
1960 812 1981 490 2002 313
1961 897 1982 513 2003 297
1962 959 1983 514 2004 291
1963 916 1984 524 2005 282
1964 917 1985 541 2006 281
1965 936 1986 556 2007 279
1966 947 1987 568 2008 282
1967 973 1988 565 2009
1968 976 1989 566 2010
Source: Compiled by CRS using U.S. Navy data. Numbers shown reflect changes over time in the rules
specifying which ships count toward the total. Figures for FY1978 and subsequent years reflect the battle force
ships counting method, which is the set of counting rules established in the early 1980s for public policy
discussions of the size of the Navy.
a. Data for earlier years may be for the end of the calendar year (or for some other point during the year),
rather than for the end of the fiscal year.
Shipbuilding Rate
Table E-2 shows past (FY1982-FY2009) and requested (FY2010) rates of Navy ship
procurement.

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Table E-2. Battle Force Ships Procured or Requested, FY1982-FY2010
(Procured FY1982-FY2009; requested FY2010)
82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98
17 14 16 19 20 17 15 19 15 11 11 7 4 4 5 4 5
99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15
5 6 6 6 5 7 8 4a
5a
3a 8 8 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
Source: CRS compilation based on examination of defense authorization and appropriation committee and
conference reports for each fiscal year. The table excludes non-battle force ships that do not count toward the
313-ship goal, such as certain sealift and prepositioning ships operated by the Military Sealift Command and
oceanographic ships operated by agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA).
a. The totals shown for FY2006, FY2007, and FY2008, have been adjusted downward to reflect the
cancel ation two LCSs funded in FY2006, another two LCSs funded in FY2007, and an LCS funded in
FY2008.

Author Contact Information

Ronald O'Rourke

Specialist in Naval Affairs
rorourke@crs.loc.gov, 7-7610




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