U.S. Navy Faces Prolonged Carrier Gap Due to Maintenance and Construction Shortfalls
The U.S. Navy is grappling with an increasing number of carrier gaps, periods when no aircraft carriers are available for deployment in the Western Pacific, as it struggles with maintenance and construction backlogs. This issue has come to the forefront as the Pentagon rushes to deploy two carriers in the Middle East in response to rising tensions, according to a report by the Global Times on August 28, 2024.
The Defense News website reported on August 27 that the Pentagon announced an indefinite deployment of two carriers in the region following a retaliatory airstrike by the Lebanese Hezbollah on Israel. This decision to extend the deployment of the USS Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group was made to ensure the availability of two carriers and their supporting warships under the U.S. Central Command in the event of a regional conflict.
The USS Roosevelt, which had been deployed since the end of last year, was rushed to the Middle East in July to relieve the USS Eisenhower, which had overstayed its deployment. The USS Lincoln, equipped with F-35C stealth fighters, was poised to take over from the Roosevelt in the Middle East but was redirected to the region earlier due to the escalating situation. However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s order to prolong the Roosevelt’s deployment has left the Indo-Pacific region without a carrier for at least three weeks.
The Eurasia Times observed that the allocation of resources to protect Israel has created a carrier gap in the Indo-Pacific. The U.S. Navy’s carriers play a crucial role in its foreign policy and power projection. With a fleet of 10 Nimitz-class and one Ford-class carriers, the Pentagon boasts the world’s largest carrier fleet. Historically, 60% of these carriers have been stationed in the Pacific under the U.S. rebalance to Asia strategy. However, the current absence of available carriers in the region has raised concerns among military analysts.
According to the Navy News website, of the six carriers deployed in the Pacific, the USS Carl Vinson is undergoing routine maintenance after participating in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 exercises in Hawaii, while the USS Nimitz is on standby in Bremerton, Washington, after completing a six-month maintenance period. The USS Reagan, which was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, is back in the United States for an extensive overhaul, and its replacement, the USS Washington, is in San Diego preparing for a scheduled visit and may require time to transfer personnel and equipment before deploying.
The USS Roosevelt and USS Lincoln are currently operating in the U.S. Central Command’s Fifth Fleet area, dealing with potential conflicts in the Middle East. Given the Roosevelt’s extended deployment, even if it concludes its mission, it will require time in port to rest and refit, leaving the Pacific without a carrier for an extended period.
This carrier gap is not a new phenomenon. In 2018, the U.S. experienced a 22-day global carrier absence, and last year, only the USS Nimitz was available worldwide. The Western Pacific and the Middle East, both regions of strategic importance, have often witnessed a void in U.S. carrier presence, necessitating frequent redeployments to fill the gap. For instance, in 2021, the USS Reagan was diverted to the Middle East to support the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, leaving the Western Pacific without a carrier.
The Indo-Pacific region was without a carrier for over two months during the COVID-19 pandemic, and similar situations have recurred. In June, the departure of the USS Eisenhower from the Red Sea to return to the U.S. led to the deployment of the USS Roosevelt to the Middle East, creating another carrier gap in the Pacific. The USS Lincoln was rushed to fill the void, but its redeployment to the Middle East due to heightened tensions left the entire Pacific without a carrier.
Analysts have expressed concerns about the shortage of available military resources, with Alex Lekas, a Western observer, suggesting that the current absence of carriers in the Pacific may not pose an immediate threat but could have long-term implications. It could potentially undermine the credibility of the U.S.’s military commitments to its Asian allies, casting doubt on its ability to fully fulfill its defense guarantees in the region.
The U.S. Navy’s challenges in effectively managing its carrier fleet highlight the need for improved maintenance and construction capabilities to ensure a more consistent and reliable presence in critical areas around the world.
【source】https://news.ifeng.com/c/8cPFxdsMV2K
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