If the Navy had properly maintained the Spruance-class destroyers, they would still be among the most powerful naval ships in the world today. Despite the significant defense budget of the United States, our Navy has seen a decline in size and capability over the past three decades. The premature retirement and scrapping of the Spruance-class destroyers, particularly known for their exceptional anti-submarine warfare capabilities, was a missed opportunity for maintaining a strong naval fleet. These ships had been upgraded with modern technologies and had the potential for decades of service, yet they were decommissioned and destroyed, diminishing our Navy’s ASW capabilities. The decision to retire and scrap these vessels was based on cost-saving justifications that may have been overstated, as the operating costs of refurbished older ships can be reduced significantly. By properly maintaining and utilizing the Spruance-class destroyers, the Navy could have enhanced its ASW capabilities and networked them with other Aegis-class ships for effective fleet defense. Unfortunately, these powerful warships now lie at the bottom of the sea, sacrificed to make way for new, untested ship designs. The decision to invest in the Littoral Combat Ship and Zumwalt-class destroyer has resulted in over $50 billion being spent, yet these ships have not delivered the combat power that the Spruances would have provided over the past two decades.
Option one, which proposed purchasing new Burkes while modernizing existing fleets of Spruance-class destroyers, Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates, and Ticonderoga-class cruisers, would have resulted in a more potent Navy today.
Please note that the views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and may not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
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