600-ship Navy explained

The 600-ship Navy was a strategic plan of the United States Navy during the 1980s to rebuild its fleet after cutbacks that followed the end of the Vietnam War.^[1] The plan, which originated with Republican leaders, was an important campaign plank of Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election, who advocated a larger military and strategic confrontation with the Soviet Union.^[2]

The number of ships peaked at 594 in 1987, before declining sharply after the end of the Cold War in 1989–1991.^[3]

The program included:

• Recommissioning the s
• Keeping older ships in service longer
• A large new construction program
• Stepping up production of s

The idea was supported by John F. Lehman, who became Reagan's Secretary of the Navy, and Caspar Weinberger, Reagan's Secretary of Defense.

Background

The idea behind the 600-ship Navy can be traced back to the Vietnam War. During the war, the armed services rapidly expanded to meet the demands placed on them.

The Soviet Union, which had been supporting North Vietnam, began staging their naval vessels from former U.S. ports in South Vietnam. Building on this gain, Soviet vessels began to sail in all seven seas with increased vigor and even ventured into the Gulf of Mexico.^[4] Soviet forces also stepped up infantry, armor, and air force deployments in Eastern Europe.

Reagan plan

It was against this backdrop in 1980 that the United States began an election year. President Reagan continued this in 1984, releasing a campaign commercial "Bear," which played on the use of the bear as a national symbol of Russia in order to promote higher vigilance and defense expenditures against the Soviet Union.

The overseas strategic retaliation arm was strengthened and the development of new weaponry like the B-1B bomber, the Bradley fighting vehicle, and the Abrams tank was completed and they were put into production.

Lehman attempted to "front-load" the program, by committing the Navy to the building program, but in the end the funds were not available and it fell short.

Ships and weapons systems deployed during the plan

The Navy saw the largest benefit of the rebuilding.^{[5] [6]} Under the Reagan administration, the first of the ballistic missile submarines were completed. This class was the largest submarine ever built in the U.S. The ship carried 24 Trident I nuclear-capable missiles, each one with a 4000miles range. Construction of the Nimitz class of supercarriers and attack submarines were dramatically stepped up. The revolutionary new Aegis Combat System was installed on the upcoming ships, production of which was also stepped up. Several aircraft carriers were put through Service Life Extension Programs (SLEPs) aimed at keeping them in service longer. The Iowa-class battleships, built in the 1940s, were all recommissioned and refitted with RGM-84 Harpoon, BGM-109 Tomahawk, and Phalanx CIWS system capabilities, plus their armor plating would be more resilient against anti-ship missiles. The first Harpoons, Tomahawks, and AGM-88 HARM missiles all debuted on the navy's ships. Naval aviation was stepped up with the introduction of the F/A-18 Hornet, along with improved versions of the EA-6 Prowler electronic countermeasure aircraft, the A-6 Intruder, and the F-14 Tomcat. In addition, the nation's strategic retaliatory arm was strengthened with advanced B-1B bombers and deploying Pershing II theater missiles to Europe. The initiative also included deployment of Abrams main battle tanks and Bradley armored fighting vehicles. U.S. Navy unclassified miscellaneous ships, auxiliary ships, and yard ships are not included in the ship count.

Build-up by year

Aircraft carriers

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		2	2	3	3	3	3	4	4	4	5	5
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
		4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
		4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
		2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Total	Ships	14	14	15	15	15	15	16	16	16	17	17

Battleships

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	1	2	2	3	3	4	4	4
Total	Ships	0	0	0	1	2	2	3	3	4	4	4

Cruisers

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	1	2	3	5	9	11	15	16
		4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
		2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
		9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
		9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Total	Ships	26	26	26	27	28	29	31	35	37	41	42

Destroyers

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
		30	30	30	31	31	31	31	31	31	31	31
		23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	23	20	10
		10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	8	7
		18	18	7	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0
		14	7	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	Ships	95	91	76	69	69	69	69	69	68	63	52

Frigates

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		8	17	26	37	45	50	52	54	54	55	55
		46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46	46
		6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	1	0	0
		11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	5	1	0
		2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Total	Ships	73	82	91	102	110	115	117	119	108	104	103

Amphibious assault ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1
		5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
		7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7
Total	Ships	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	13	13

Dock landing ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	3	4	5
		5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
		8	8	8	6	4	3	3	3	3	1	0
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0
Total	Ships	14	14	14	12	10	10	11	12	12	10	10

Amphibious transport dock

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12
		3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Total	Ships	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15	15

Amphibious cargo ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
		1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
Total	Ships	6	6	6	6	6	6	5	5	5	5	5

Tank landing ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	20
		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	4	4	4
Total	Ships	20	20	20	20	20	20	20	22	24	24	24

Command Ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
Total	Ships	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2

Hospital ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	2	2	2
Total	Ships	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	2	2	2

Minesweeper

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	3
		19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	18	14
Total	Ships	19	19	19	19	19	19	19	20	20	21	17

Patrol ships

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		1	1	2	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
		9	9	9	9	6	6	6	4	4	4	4
Total	Ships	10	10	11	15	12	12	12	10	10	10	10

Replenishment oiler

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	6	8	9
		0	3	4	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
		7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7
Total	Ships	7	10	11	12	12	12	13	16	18	20	21

Tanker

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	1
		1	2	2	2	2	2	2	3	3	3	3
Total	Ships	1	2	2	2	2	2	3	4	4	4	4

Ammunition ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
		3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Total	Ships	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11

Combat stores ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7	7
		0	2	2	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
Total	Ships	7	9	9	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10

Fast combat support ships

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
Total	Ships	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4

Roll-on/roll-off

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	8	8	8	8	8	8	8
		4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
		0	0	0	0	0	5	5	5	5	5	5
		0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	3	3	3
Total	Ships	7	9	9	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10

Destroyer tender

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		1	2	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
		2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
		1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	Ships	4	5	5	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6

Submarine tender

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		2	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Total	Ships	3	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4

Crane ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	2	2	3	5	5	7	7
		1	1	1	1	2	2	3	3	3	3	3
Total	Ships	1	1	1	1	4	4	6	8	8	10	10

Heavy-lift ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
American Cormoranthttps://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/tak-2062.htm		0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1
Total	Ships	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1

Cable ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Total	Ships	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Rescue and salvage ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	1	1	2	4	4	4	4	4
		2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2
		6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6	6
Total	Ships	8	8	8	9	9	10	12	12	12	12	12

Tracking ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Total	Ships	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3

Ocean surveillance ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	0	0	0	3	7	9	11	13	17	18
Total	Ships	0	0	0	0	3	7	9	11	13	17	18

Oceanographic research ship

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
Total	Ships	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Attack submarines

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		10	16	20	25	29	33	35	37	39	42	44
		37	37	37	37	37	37	37	37	37	37	37
		13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	12	10	8
		5	5	5	5	5	5	4	4	3	3	0
		3	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	2	1	0
		4	4	4	4	3	3	2	2	1	0	0
		1	1	1	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0
		1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	0
		3	3	3	2	2	2	1	0	0	0	0
Total	Subs	77	83	87	91	94	98	96	97	95	94	89

Ballistic missile submarines

Class of ships	Image	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990
		0	1	2	3	5	6	8	8	9	10	11
		12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12	12
		10	10	10	10	10	10	9	9	9	8	8
		9	9	9	9	9	9	8	8	8	6	3
		5	5	5	3	3	2	2	2	2	2	2
		5	4	3	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total	Subs	41	41	41	39	40	39	39	39	40	38	36

End of the plan

Eventually political pressure to reduce the national budget deficit resulted in Congress reversing itself and passing a series of declining defense budgets beginning in 1986.^{[7] [8] [9]} Weinberger clashed with Congress over the cuts, resigning in late 1987, and was succeeded by Frank Carlucci.^[10] Furthermore, concerns were raised about how the expansion of the Navy would reduce attention and resources needed in other scenarios where the Soviets also had to be confronted such as Europe.^[11]

Lehman's successor as Navy Secretary, Jim Webb, remained a fierce proponent of the expanded fleet, and disagreed with Carlucci over how to cut the Navy budget in line with other services. Webb resigned rather than endorse Carlucci's cut of 16 frigates.^[12] As revealed in The Reagan Diaries, Reagan reflected about Webb's resignation on 22 February 1988: "Present Sec. Webb resigned over budget cuts. I don't think Navy was sorry to see him go."^{[13] [14]}

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s and the lack of a perceived threat against the United States, several of the Reagan Administration's policies and plans, such as the "600-ship Navy", were scaled back or abandoned.^[15] U.S. bases across Europe and North America were slowly decommissioned and closed, others were mothballed through the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.^[16] In the Navy, this resulted in the retirement of several older carriers, the decommissioning of all four of the Iowa-class battleships and the cancellation of the remaining s.

See also

• Cold War (1979–1985)
• Cold War (1985–1991)
• List of ships of the United States Navy
• National Defense Reserve Fleet
• United States Navy ships

References

• Book: Holland, W. J. . The Navy . . 2000 . 0-7607-6218-X.

1. John B. Hattendorf . The Evolution of the U.S. Navy's Maritime Strategy, 1977-1986 . PDF . OMB No. 0704-0188 . . Naval War College Newport Papers . 19 . Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (Center for Naval Warfare Studies) . Newport, Rhode Island, United States . John B. . Hattendorf . Catherine McArdle . Kelleher . Pelham G. . Boyer . Patricia A. . Goodrich . 1544-6824 . 1-884733-32-8 . 27 March 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090327083014/http://stinet.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA422147&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf . Essay .
2. C.E. . Armstrong . Albert M. . Bottoms . 42 . 3 . Command of the Seas: Building the 600 Ship Navy . . PDF . 118–122 . 01779130 . 0028-1484 . 75617787 . . New Port, Rhode Island, United States . 22 June 1989 . Frank . Uhlig Jr. . 11 February 2022 . 12 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210612140559/https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4097&context=nwc-review . live .
3. Web site: US Ship Force Levels 1886-present. Naval History and Heritage Command. 2 November 2016. 5 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161105192930/https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/us-ship-force-levels.html. live.
4. News: AROUND THE NATION; Soviet Naval Vessels Found in Gulf of Mexico . . 5 October 1981 . A16 . . 0362-4331 . 1645522 . 4 February 2017 . 25 February 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100225182018/http://www.nytimes.com/1981/10/05/us/around-the-nation-soviet-naval-vessels-found-in-gulf-of-mexico.html . live .
5. Defense Technical Information Center . Manning the 600-ship Navy . Alan J. . Marcus . Office of Naval Research (Department of the Navy) . Naval Planning, Manpower and Logistics Division (Center for Naval Analyses) . 1 December 1985 . Research memorandum . Alexandria, Virginia, United States . https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225306/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA182743.pdf . live . February 11, 2022 . CRM 85-111.10 .
6. Manning the 600-Ship Navy: Analysis of Force Structure and Compensation Options for Navy Program Planning . Research memorandum . Alexandria, Virginia, United States . https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225305/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA172635.pdf . live . February 11, 2022 . Bruce N. . Angier . 1 December 1984 . Defense Technical Information Center . Office of Naval Research (Department of the Navy) . Naval Planning, Manpower and Logistics Division (Center for Naval Analyses) . CRM 85-23 .
7. Building a 600-ship Navy: Costs, Timing, and Alternative Approaches . 1 March 1982 . . Peter T. . Tarpgaard . . . . Congressional study . 15 February 2022 . 27 April 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240427232921/https://books.google.com/books?id=9JQZAAAAIAAJ . live .
8. . . 1 September 1985 . Future Budget Requirements for the 600-Ship Navy . . Peter T. . Tarpgaard . Robert E. . Mechanic . OMB No. 0704-0188 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225308/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA530783.pdf . live . February 11, 2022 . Defense Technical Information Center . Congressional study .
9. The Navy After Lehman: Rough Sailing Ahead?: Navy Secretary John Lehman presided over a major buildup of the fleet but critics charge that there may not be enough money to equip and operate all those new ships; dissent did not flourish in Lehman's Navy . Daniel . Charles . 3 April 1987 . 236 . 4797 . 22–25 . 10.1126/science.236.4797.22 . . 0036-8075 . 17024346 . 00368075 . 1644869 . . 17759195 . Washington, D.C. . Daniel E. . Kohsland Jr. . Daniel E. Koshland, Jr. . 11 February 2022 . 11 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225305/https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.236.4797.22 . live .
10. Bringing The Pentagon to Heel . https://web.archive.org/web/20071227150947/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,967709,00.html . 27 December 2007. 0040-781X . 1311479 . New York City, New York, United States . George J. . Church . . 20 June 1988 . Henry . Muller .
11. 1531-4804 . 3–57 . A Strategic Misstep: The Maritime Strategy and Deterrence in Europe . John J. . Mearsheimer . 11 . 2 . . 22 September 1986 . 44911437 . 2538957 . . Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States . 10.2307/2538957 . 153456004 . 11 February 2022 . 11 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225305/https://www.jstor.org/stable/2538957 . live .
12. The Navy: The Secretary Jumps Ship . Henry . Muller . https://web.archive.org/web/20071227150942/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,966909,00.html . 0040-781X . 1311479 . New York City, New York, United States . 27 December 2007 . . 7 March 1988 .
13. Book: Reagan, Ronald . . Douglas . Brinkley . Douglas Brinkley . Chapter Eight: 1988—1989 . 2009 . 9780061751943 . . 85850929 . . New York City, New York, United States . https://books.google.com/books?id=MhR5a-2nrhoC&pg=PA564 . 2022-02-11 . 2024-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240427232919/https://books.google.com/books?id=MhR5a-2nrhoC&pg=PA564#v=onepage&q&f=false . live .
14. News: The outsider who could beat Hillary . W. James . Antle III . 22 . 46 . . New Delhi, India . 3 April 2015 . Oped . 7 . . T. Venkattram . Reddy . T. Venkattram Reddy . Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited . 11 February 2022 . 11 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225305/https://www.pressreader.com/india/the-asian-age/20150403/281956016294210 . live .
15. Beyond the 600‐Ship Navy: Introduction . 31 . 261 . Donald C.F. . Daniel . 3–4 . 10.1080/05679329108457607 . . . London, United Kingdom . 1944-5571 . 1 January 1991 . Benjamin . Rhode . 11 February 2022 . 11 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220211225305/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/05679329108457607 . live .
16. Business as Usual Inside Obama's Pentagon . Chuck . Spinney . Battleland: Military intelligence for the rest of us (Military Spending) . 6 December 2012 . 0040-781X . 1311479 . New York City, New York, United States . Richard . Stengel . Richard Stengel . . 4 March 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061529/https://nation.time.com/2012/12/06/business-as-usual-inside-obamas-pentagon .

Further reading

• NSC-NSDD-32: U.S. National Security Strategy – The White House, May 20, 1982. archive listings
• Congressional Budget Office:
  • Building a 600-Ship Navy: Costs, Timing, and Alternative Approaches. March 1982
  • Manpower for a 600-Ship Navy: Costs and Policy Alternatives. August 1983
• GlobalSecurity.org
  • Ship Building 1981–89. Reagan, Ronald
• Naval Historical Center:
  • The U.S. Navy in the Cold War Era, 1945–1991
  • NWP 1 – Strategic Concepts of the Navy. February 1987
• Naval War College:
  • John B. Hattendorf. "The Evolution of the U.S. Navy's Maritime Strategy, 1977–1986" Naval War College Newport Paper 19 (2004), . Available in PDF format here and here
• United States Naval Institute:
  • Lieutenant General Bernard E. Trainor, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired). "Triumph in Strategic Thinking". United States Naval Institute Proceedings Vol. 134, No. 2 (February 2008) pp. 40–42
  • Norman Friedman. "The Navy, the Cold War – and Now" United States Naval Institute Proceedings Vol. 133, No. 10 (October 2007) pp. 58–62

External links

• U.S. Naval Strategy During the Cold War from the Dean Peter Krogh Foreign Affairs Digital Archives
• Building a 600 Ship Navy: The Congressional Budget Office Report