As much as I think we rely too much on carriers for sea control, they remain a massive part of our naval power. Losing them would hurt our sea war. And perhaps shake our morale seeing them burn. Could an enemy neutralize them before they even get to sea.*
America's carriers are concentrated in home ports much more than I'm comfortable with.
Nimitz Kitsap-Bremerton.
Reagan Kitsap-Bremerton.
Vinson South China Sea (San Diego)
Roosevelt San Diego
Lincoln San Diego
Washington Yokosuka
Eisenhower Norfolk.
Stennis Norfolk
Truman Red Sea (Norfolk)
Bush Norfolk
Ford Norfolk
[Eisenhower is to retire in 2028. Nimitz is scheduled for decommissioning in 2026]
My worry about a Pearl Harbor isn't solely about new, expensive high-tech weapons. Although at least this attack option seems to be more widely appreciated today.
Even low-tech numbers using suicide drones from within are a potential threat.
Just as formerly safe forward bases are at risk, CONUS is no longer a sanctuary during war. Or during the minutes of "peace" before we realize we're at war. Perhaps it is time to spread our carriers out one per home port to complicate enemy attack plans and to mitigate the damage done in a surprise attack. More facilities would be useful in a war, too.
We seem to have forgotten Pearl Harbor. Oh sure, we remember the attack. But we treat it as tragic history rather than a relevant lesson. We act like it can't possibly happen again. But enemies find a way despite our assumptions.
*Optimist that I am, perhaps like the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack that crippled our battleship fleet--and prevented them from being sunk at sea with the total loss of ships and crews--putting our super carriers at the bottom of a port with minimal loss of life might be a blessing in disguise. Their air wings would at least survive to fight from land bases.
NOTE: TDR Winter War of 2022 coverage continues here.
NOTE: I'm adding updates on the Last Hamas War, including the revived Syria multi-war, in this post.
NOTE: You may also like to read my posts on Substack, at The Dignified Rant: Evolved. Go ahead and subscribe to it.
NOTE: I made the image with Bing.
