Abstract
ABSTRACTThis paper begins with comments on accomplishments in sealift and a summary of current problems in fast sealift. These include: few fast sealift ships in the inventory, a diminishing industrial base capable of producing such ships, and a lack of production programs to build ships that would increase our national fast sealift capability. The paper discusses strategic mobility concepts and highlights system interactions and linkages in moving war materials and replacement forces from depots and factories to the front lines.From this foundation, the paper then discusses operational requirements “pull” as related to analysis and allocation of performance among components of the strategic mobility system. Sealift technology options are characterized and performance potential of these options are described. These characterizations include speed, ship lift capacity, equal cost fleet size, and fuel demands for a range of speeds from 24 to 50 knots. Performance potential for each option includes the total fleet lift capability stream over a 100‐day time span for a notional mission with and without an assumed rate of attrition. Alternative program plans are described for each technology option addressing technological risk, system and component development needs, design requirements, production strategies, acquisition time lines, and resource requirements.The paper then revisits the operational requirements from a technologist's perspective. In a technology “push” approach, a set of practical and achievable requirements are selected that could be the basis of an effective and cost efficient production program for fast sealift ships.Finally, the paper concludes with a call to action that would suggest a modest reallocation of transportation resources to establish and sustain a fast sealift production program, sustain a sector of the maritime industrial base hard pressed by a lack of commercial shipbuilding, and achieve a relatively near‐term increase in fast sealift capability at sea.
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