Panel studies ways to extend lifespan of fleet

Panel studies ways to extend lifespan of fleet
By William Cole - Honolulu Advertiser
Posted : Sunday Dec 20, 2009 18:04:47 EST

Following nearly a decade of increased war fighting with a shrinking fleet and a spate of embarrassing ship readiness issues, the Navy is taking a new “holistic” look at how it can sustain its surface ships as it seeks to stretch the fleet’s lifespan, officials said.

A four-member panel — two rear admirals, a retired vice admiral and a readiness and training official with the Navy’s Fleet Forces Command — has been convened to examine a range of issues involving the Navy’s surface fleet.

“It goes back to taking a look at how do you sustain the surface force for the expected service life?” said Capt Jeff Breslau, a spokesman for U.S. Pacific Fleet. “So everything that touches that inspections, manning, training, equipping — all of the things that go into sustaining a ship” will be examined.

The Navy intends to expand the operational life of some of its ships five years or more beyond the typical lifespans to help achieve a 313-ship fleet. The Navy now has 285 deployable ships.

Some members of Congress have raised concerns that a series of ship failings represents possible systemic problems with the Navy’s manning, training and maintenance.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/12/gns_navy_fleet_lifespan_122009/