LCS in New York Times: Seth Cropsey

The New York Times article on the Littoral Combat Ship dominated the Navy discussion this morning, prior to the F-18D crash in Virginia Beach anyway. In response to Bryan's earlier post, Seth Cropsey of the Hudson Institute contributes this response to Bryan and the New York Times article for comment.

There can be no argument with Bryan McGrath’s praise for Bob Work, nor argument that Work is fallible. But Work’s remark in today’s New York Times article that the Littoral Combat Ship “is the right ship at the right time” overshadows his argument that the Navy’s size matters little. Yes, the current Navy’s capability trumps the power of the fleet in being during William Howard Taft’s administration. And yes, the U.S. Navy today is roughly the same size it was then. And, yes, this is a real problem because nothing has changed the truth of the remark attributed to Nathan Bedford Forrest about getting there the “fustest with the mostest.” Increased punch, however, is only useful if it can be brought to bear when needed and the number of ships is critical to achieving this end. The smaller the fleet the smaller the chances that ships will be where they are needed when they are needed. However ships have to be capable.

But the important question is whether the LCS is “the right ship at the right time.” With the Obama administration’s “pivot to Asia ” it’s hard to see how Work’s observation can be correct. And this raises the clear question of whether the administration’s support for the LCS is consistent with its declared policy in Asia. China stakes much of its anti-access/access denial strategy on missiles and land-based naval air. Will the LCS be able to defend itself against such threats? And if not, will other ships be needed to protect it in any conflict? The LCS is indeed a terror to pirates and small coastal threats. It is a relatively inexpensive ship to demonstrate American presence and assure allies of the U.S. ’s continued global reach. But it is hard to see how a pivot to Asia that recognizes the importance of preserving American naval access to the region will be aided by surface vessels that are vulnerable in the face of China ’s strategic effort to deny it.