This has the basis of a good idea but I think our logistics ships are busy enough trying to support the Navy sea control mission and supporting the other services overseas without burdening them with the sea control mission, too:
At a House Armed Services Committee hearing in June, Rep. Elaine Luria (D-Va.), inquired into the potential for incorporating Mk 41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) into the cargo ships operated by the Virginia-based Military Sealift Command, remarking, “I just think that’s a concept that requires further examination.”
Further examination should lead to modularized auxiliary cruisers using container ships armed with weapons and other systems in standard shipping containers.
I advocated this concept for a power projection platform for AFRICOM in Military Review not too long ago.
But my original idea was for Navy expansion to put missiles at sea in a hurry.
Auxiliary cruisers were once a routine source for navy numbers. They have a role again.
