Manpower Issues Could Force Navy to Idle 17 Support Ships

A dearth of qualified civilian mariners could put 17 U.S. Navy support ships out of commission, U.S. Naval Institute News reported Thursday.

A “force generation reset” plan drafted by the Military Sealift Command identified two Lewis and Clark replenishment ships, a fleet oiler, a dozen Spearhead-class expeditionary fast transports, and two forward-deployed Navy expeditionary sea bases that would enter an extended maintenance period where their crews would be sent to other ships in the fleet, USNI News reported, citing three people familiar with the plan.

MSC operates a fleet of logistic ships that refuel and resupply the Navy’s ships around the world and are crewed by 5,500 civilians who are employed by the Navy. If the Navy and MSC elect to reassign the crews of all 17 ships, it could free between 600-700 sailors to the larger MSC pool, USNI News reported.

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