U.S. Media: U.S. Navy's New Concept Emphasizes "Lightweight" Overseas Deployment

Reference News Network reported on February 15 According to the Associated Press on February 9, the highest-ranking active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy hopes to persuade commanders at all levels to use smaller, more advanced equipment when carrying out missions, rather than relying solely on giant aircraft carriers.

The concept proposed by U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle—whom he calls "operational guidance"—calls for the Navy to deploy more customized vessels and equipment formations, allowing for more flexible responses during crises.

This new strategy comes at a time when the Trump administration has been repositioning aircraft carriers and other vessels around the globe due to various emergencies. This often disrupts established deployment plans, forcing ships to rush thousands of miles to assist, and puts additional pressure on vessels and equipment already facing severe maintenance issues.

The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, was moved from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean at the end of last year, with its crew participating in the early January operation to forcibly control Venezuelan President Maduro. Meanwhile, two weeks ago, amid rising tensions in Iran, the USS Abraham Lincoln, which had been redeployed from the South China Sea, arrived in the Middle East.

Before the release of related documents, Caudle told an Associated Press reporter that his strategy would streamline U.S. Navy deployments in regions like the Caribbean.

Caudle stated that he has communicated with the commander of U.S. Southern Command, who is responsible for the Caribbean and Venezuela. He said, "We discussed the issues he faces, and I hope to make him understand that I can address these problems through customized deployment plans."

In general terms, Caudle said he envisions U.S. military missions in the Caribbean focusing more on blockades and monitoring the movements of commercial vessels.

Reports indicate that the U.S. military has repeatedly seized "suspicious" tankers related to Venezuela.

Caudle said, "Such missions actually do not require an aircraft carrier strike group to execute." He added that he believes these tasks can be accomplished with a few small Littoral Combat Ships, Navy helicopters, and close cooperation with the Coast Guard.

For months, the U.S. military has deployed 11 ships in South American waters, including the USS Ford aircraft carrier, several amphibious assault ships, and thousands of Marines. This represents a significant shift for the region, which previously typically deployed only one or two small naval vessels.

Caudle said, "I do not want a large number of destroyers cruising there just to activate radar monitoring of maneuvering ships and tankers leaving port. This does not match the mission requirements."

To address this shortcoming, Caudle envisions relying more on drones and other robotic systems to provide military commanders with similar capabilities while reducing the commitment of Navy vessels. He acknowledged that this concept may be difficult for people to accept immediately.

Caudle said that even if commanders are aware of a new capability, staff members "may not know how to request, integrate, and effectively utilize this new specialized capability." He later added, "This requires some outreach and education efforts." (Translated by Zhu Jie)