Webb: Boost shipbuilding, control costs

Webb: Boost shipbuilding, control costs
By Zachary M. Peterson - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Jan 16, 2008 13:14:54 EST

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy must build more ships to project power across the globe and protect the country’s strategic interests, Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., said Wednesday morning.

“I am concerned today about how far the sea services’ force structure has been allowed to deteriorate,” Webb, a former secretary of the Navy and Marine officer, said at the Surface Navy Association’s annual conference. “The size of naval forces must be considered in terms of our national strategic interests.”

Webb told naval officers, industry members and other attendees that he agrees with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead’s statements that the 313 ships in the current Navy shipbuilding plan are “a floor” — the minimum number of ships that service must build. In the future, the service must build more vessels to maintain its superiority over potential rivals, specifically China, Webb explained.

“Simply stated, we are decommissioning Navy ships faster than we are building them,” Webb said. “It’s imperative that we reverse this steady slide in shipbuilding. I plan to help lead this effort in the Senate during the years ahead.”

Webb said this year marks the 20th anniversary of his resignation as secretary of the Navy over reductions in the fleet size in 1988. During that time, Webb and others in the Reagan administration were trying to build a 600-ship fleet. However, the number of ships peaked at 568, he noted.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/01/navy_webbshipbuilding_sna_070116w/