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7 warships on fiscal 2011 inactive ship list - Navy News, news from Iraq - Navy Times7 warships on fiscal 2011 inactive ship list
Posted : Thursday Jul 22, 2010 16:55:30 EDT
Three frigates, three amphibious ships and one attack sub are among the Navy and Military Sealift Command ships scheduled to leave the fleet over the next year, according to a new message that spells out the names and dates for the Navys next inactivations.
The message, dated Wednesday and signed by Vice Adm. John Blake, the Navys top requirements officer, details the fates of some familiar names, but leaves the door open for at least one major one: the amphibious assault ship Nassau.
Although the Navy has scheduled to decommission Nassau on March 31, 2011, Blakes message includes this note: Service life extension is currently under review. Stakeholders will be advised ... of any decision to extend the ships service life.
Congressional lawmakers have called on the Navy to keep its ships around for as long as possible, and went so far as to mandate in this years defense bill that the Nassau and its sibling, Peleliu, must stay in commission at least until the arrival of their replacement America-class gators. That bill has not yet become law, so Blakes note seems to indicate the Navy is reserving its options on Nassau in case it must rehabilitate the ship to last until the commissioning of the America, now set for 2012.
In addition to seven Navy warships, the list includes the fate of four MSC support ships. They appear here, with their scheduled inactivation dates and current fates:
Frigates
Hawes: Dec. 10, 2010 Will be utilized as a logistic support asset primarily for remaining ships in the FFG 7 class.
Jarrett: May 27, 2011 Set aside for foreign military sale.
Doyle: July 29, 2011 Set aside for foreign military sale.
Amphibious transport docks
Dubuqe: April 29, 2011 Will be kept in a reserve status.
Cleveland: Sept. 30, 2011 Will be kept in a reserve status.
Amphibious assault ships
Nassau: March 31, 2011 Commanders are evaluating a life-extension program, and if its decommissioned, the ship will be kept in a reserve status.
Fast attack submarines
Memphis: March 14, 2011 Will be dismantled.
Transport tankers
Samuel L. Cobb: Oct. 30, 2010 Will be transferred to the U.S. Maritime Administration.
Richard G. Matthiesen: March 31, 2011 Will be transferred to MARAD.
Ammunition ships
Kiska: Jan. 14, 2011 Will be dismantled.
Shasta: Sept. 30, 2011 Will be dismantled
Frigates
Hawes (FFG-53) first commissioned in 1985.
Jarrett (FFG 33) first commissioned in 1983.
Doyle (FFG-39) first commissioned 1983.
McInerney decommed in October 2009 and will be transferred to PN in August 2010. Using that as reference, the next OHP transfer can be expected to occur in March/April 2012 and the third in May/June 2012. Foreign military sale is likely to be either to Pakistan or else to Taiwan.
Hawes must have seen heavier service than Jarrett and Doyle for this relatively new hull to be paid off in 2011. A 'logistic support asset for remaining ships' is probably a euphemism for 'spare parts hull'.
Between FFG8 McInerney (1979) and FFG33 Jarret (1983) are only 2 other OHPs, namely FFG32 Hall and FFG34 Fitch (both 1982). In addition to Jarrett and Doyle there remain another 7 OHPs from 1983, 8 from 1984, 5 from 1985 (excl Hawes), 2 from 1986, 2 from 1987 and 1 from 1989.
Frankly, looking at the numbers, I expect Pakistan to be served with retiring OHPs first, before Taiwan. That would mean all subsequent OHPs will most likely be from 1983 i.e. 27-28 years old today and aup to 30-31 years old on transfer. Assuming 10+ years of additional service, PN would need replacements coming online 2020-2025. Keep that date in mind in relation to any new domestically built corvettes/frigates or additional foreign ship orders (F22P, Milgem, other)