Navy Wants to Decommission 39 Warships in 2023

The Navy intends to decommission 39 vessels during Fiscal Year 2023, with the first vessel scheduled to depart on October 31.

Also Read:- Semi-Annual Oil & Gas December 2022 Update

The list, which consists of five guided-missile cruisers and nine Littoral Combat Ships, was issued as an administrative bulletin on Friday. However, the final list’s composition is far from certain. Several ships on the inactivation list could be saved from decommissioning by provisions in the House, Senate, and House Appropriations versions of the National Defence Authorization Act and the House Appropriations bill.

The decommissioning of the USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300), USNS Fisher (T-AKR-301), and USNS Walter S Diehl (T-AO-193) begins on October 31, 2022. USS Gunston Hall (LSD-44) and USS St. Louis are the last ships set to be decommissioned (LCS-19).

Gunston Hall is among the four dock landing ships scheduled for deactivation. The version of the NDAA proposed by the Senate Armed Services Committee prohibits the Navy from retiring any of the four Whidbey Island-class ships — Gunston Hall, USS Germantown (LSD-42), USS Tortuga (LSD-46) and USS Ashland (LSD-48). While the committee passed its version of the bill, the full Senate has not yet voted on it.

USNI News reported that the Tortuga is now being updated to increase its service life in the fleet.

The House or Senate has provisions to save 16 of the 39 ships placed on the Navy’s list. After the two chambers consult on the NDAA, the final list of salvageable vessels will be compiled.

The version of the NDAA proposed by the Senate Armed Services Committee forbids the decommissioning of thirteen ships, including four landing dock ships.

The version proposed by the SASC would prevent the Navy from decommissioning five of the nine littoral combat ships on the list, while the version proposed by the House Appropriations Committee would prevent the decommissioning of four.

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) has proposed an amendment to the House version of the NDAA that prevents the disposal of littoral combat ships unless they are transferred to an ally’s military. Upon decommissioning, according to the NAVADMIN, the Navy will place all LCS in reserve status.

In its version of the NDAA, the House Armed Services Committee also included provisions prohibiting the decommissioning of dock landing ships and limiting the sea service to four cruiser decommissioning. Currently, there are five items on the list.

Both armed services committees included provisions in their respective versions of the NDAA that prohibit the Navy from deactivating the USS Vicksburg (CG-69). According to the Navy’s plan, the ship would be decommissioned on June 30 after nearly completing a $200 million refurbishment project.

USNI News has claimed that the modernization works now being done on Vicksburg might keep the ship in the service until 2030. Since 2020, there have been ongoing operations.

USNI News stated that the Navy planned to deactivate 22 Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers during the next five years, including the Vicksburg. The Navy has already obtained authorization to decommission the USS Monterey (CG-61), USS Hué City (CG-66), USS Anzio (CG-68), USS Vella Gulf (CG-72) and USS Port Royal (CG-72) in Fiscal Year 2022.

The Navy decommissioned Vella Gulf — the first of ships — Aug. 4, USNI News reported.

The following is the complete list of ships the Navy is set to decommission in Fiscal Year 2023.