U.S. Media: The Size of the U.S. Navy Fleet is Rapidly Shrinking

Reference News Network, May 6 report According to the U.S. magazine "National Interest" website on May 3, the size of the U.S. Navy is rapidly shrinking and will soon become even smaller.

Currently, the size of the U.S. Navy has fallen to its smallest since World War I. By the end of the fiscal year 2026, which ends on September 30, the U.S. military may reduce more than a dozen vessels. Newly released documents list 14 vessels that the naval forces hope to retire before the end of this fiscal year.

The list includes 3 nuclear-powered submarines, 2 cruisers, 1 littoral combat ship, 1 dock landing ship, and several support vessels.

Nuclear-powered submarines

The 3 nuclear-powered submarines planned for retirement by the U.S. Navy include: the "Newport News" (SSN-750), a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine commissioned in June 1989; the "Alexandria" (SSN-757), a Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine commissioned in June 1991; and the "Georgia" (SSGN-729), an Ohio-class guided missile submarine commissioned in February 1984. The U.S. Navy is gradually retiring the oldest models of the Los Angeles-class submarines, which have been in service for over 40 years, replacing them with the newer Virginia-class submarines.

Four Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines have been converted to guided missile submarines, and all four of these converted submarines will be retired by 2028.

Cruisers

Two Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers—USS "Chancellorsville" (CG-67) and USS "Lake Erie" (CG-70)—will also be retired. The former was commissioned in July 1992 at a ceremony at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Maine, while the latter was commissioned in July 1993 in Pearl Harbor.

CG-70 was built at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and is the first modern U.S. Navy ship to be commissioned in Hawaii.

From 1983 to 1994, the U.S. Navy built a total of 27 Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers. This is the last type of such warship built by the Navy, and its role is now transitioning to the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers.

As of May 2026, only 7 Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers remain in the active fleet.

Littoral Combat Ships

The U.S. Navy has been struggling for years to find a role for its littoral combat ships: the Independence-class can take on anti-mine roles, but the path for the Freedom-class remains unclear. This is precisely why the plan is to retire USS "Fort Worth" on July 31 in San Diego. It is the oldest active Freedom-class littoral combat ship.

The U.S. Navy Times weekly reported: "The Freedom-class has been plagued by mechanical issues, weapon system failures, and spiraling maintenance costs." Due to various problems, some who have served on this class of littoral combat ships have nicknamed it "Little Rust Bucket."

USS "Fort Worth" is the latest littoral combat ship facing retirement. The lead ship of the Freedom-class, USS "Freedom" (LCS-1), as well as USS "Milwaukee" (LCS-5), USS "Detroit" (LCS-7), USS "Little Rock" (LCS-9), and USS "Sioux City" (LCS-11) have already been retired, several years ahead of schedule.

Logistics Vessels

The Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship USS "Germantown" (LSD-42) and the Military Sealift Command's large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ship USS "Red Cloud" (T-AKR-313) will be retired by the end of September.

Two other large medium-speed roll-on/roll-off ships, USS "Watkins" (T-AKR-315) and USS "Pomeroy" (T-AKR-316), will also retire this year. This year will also see the retirement of the Henry J. Kaiser-class underway replenishment oiler USS "John Ericsson" (T-AO-194), USS "Pecos" (T-AO-197), and USS "Big Horn" (T-AO-198), as well as the offshore petroleum distribution system ship USS "General K.R. Wheeler" (T-AG-5001).

Relevant parties have developed plans to recover the related vessels. T-AKR-313, T-AKR-315, T-AKR-316, T-AG-5001, and T-AO-197 will be transferred to the Maritime Administration's Strategic Sealift Office. At that time, they can be used to strengthen the National Defense Reserve Fleet, for recycling, or even for creating artificial reefs. (Translated by Qiu Fang)