Whither the U.S. Navy Surface Forces? Sea Control? Is it mission possible?

From The National Interest blog: Rough Waters Ahead: How to Maximize the Power of the U.S. Navy's Surface Fleet by Bryan Clark and Bryan McGrath.

The U.S. Navy faces a daunting future environment. Flat defense budgets, improving adversary capabilities, growing instability and a defense strategy that portends additional responsibilities all conspire to challenge the fleet’s capability and capacity. At the same time, its backbone—the surface force of cruisers, destroyers and smaller combatants—is at a decision point.
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The Navy should rethink traditional approaches to air defense, weapons development and maritime security so it can equip surface combatants to better defend themselves and increase their ability to outrange the enemy and conduct offensive operations.

We discussed this topic on Midrats a couple of weeks ago with Bryan Clark Episode 255: Commanding the Seas – the Surface Force with Bryan Clark from CSBA

Suggested background reading and more:

Bryan Clark's Commanding the Seas: A Plan to reinvigorate U.S. Navy Surface Warfare

Jerry Hendrix's "Buy Fords, Not Ferraris". And Influence Squadron Are Here, But Will We Use Them?. And another Midrats interview, Episode 253: The Fleet we Have, Want, and Need - with Jerry Hendrix.

Bryan McGrath: On Midrats, Episode 223: 12 Carriers and 3 Hubs with Bryan McGrath discussing his co-authored (with McKenzie Eaglen) article, America's Navy needs 12 carriers and 3 hubs. On the Sea Control podcast, Episode 20 On Maritime Strategy.

For My Sons' Navy I Want - What We Sell to Egypt

As reported by the shipbuilder VTHM Holds Dedication Ceremony for Egyptian Navy Fast Missile Craft (pdf):

VT Halter Marine, Inc. . . . held a dedication ceremony for the first of four Fast Missile Craft (FMC) built for the Egyptian Navy at its Pascagoula shipyard . The keel for this first FMC was authenticated on April 7, 2010.
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The FMC is designed to perform coastal patrol, surveillance, interdiction, surface strike and naval battle group support. The vessels will allow the Republic of Egypt to maintain security of its coastal regions for both itself and friendly countries, while denying access to the areas by any potential adversaries. Each FMC will be approximately 62m in length and will incorporate ship signature control technology. High speed and maneuverability are two of the ship’s primary assets to fulfill these roles. The vessels will also incorporate numerous combat system assets and electronic sensors, equipping the vessels with capabilities in anti-aircraft, anti-surface and electronic warfare.

As reported by World Maritime News, US Navy Announces Launch of First Egyptian Navy Fast Missile Craft:

The primary mission of the FMC is to conduct independent and joint operations, primarily against armed surface adversaries. The Egyptian Navy has a requirement for a vessel with the capabilities of an FMC to combat these threats and to patrol and defend its coastal waterways of the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and in particular, the Suez Canal.

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Each of the 63 meter craft carry a 76mm Super Rapid Gun, Harpoon Block II missiles, MK49 Rolling Airframe Missiles, and the Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) Block 1B. These high-speed, agile craft can reach speeds of greater than 34 knots provide berthing for a crew of up to 40 sailors and operate up to eight days independently at sea.

The first of four FMCs are scheduled to join the Egyptian fleet in 2012. PEO Ships will continue to assist with acquisition and oversight efforts throughout the construction process and will provide follow-on technical and training support to the Egyptian Navy upon delivery of the vessels.

From the U.S. Navy's International Programs Office:

Nice.

Some background.

I added the emphasis above.

UPDATE: Yes, small ships, heavily armed, short-legged. I got that. Less expensive for littoral warfare (surface) than another model which shall remain unnamed here. In a squadron of 5 or 6, joined by armed helicopters and a "mother ship" - they would be nice to have in the green and brown waters for asymmetric stuff.

I see putting a few in the Med, Guam, Pearl, Singapore, Bahrain, "Africa Station" and the Gulf of Aden (East African littorals) for counter pirate ops.

China: Shipyard shake out and consolidation

Jiangnan Shipyard Shanghai

Reported as Chinese shipbuilders to run aground in 2011:

Fueled by vigorous government support and cheap labour, the number of shipyards has grown exponentially in the past decade in China, reflecting its role as the world's top exporter and one of the biggest buyers of foreign oil, iron ore and grains.

But many small shipyards face a bleak year in 2011 as growing numbers of clients cancel orders to avoid floating unchartered vessels, and Beijing tightens credit in its fight to rein in inflation.

'There are too many shipyards. For the next couple of years, a number of them won't be able to survive on their own,' Robert Lorenz-Meyer, president of BIMCO, the world's largest shipowners' grouping, told Reuters. 'There will be consolidation, but hopefully some yards will refocus on scrapping,' he added.

Ouch!

Famed Navy expert Norman Polmar takes a whack at the inept U.S. Navy shipbuilding program in Ships that Won't Sail:

Coupled with the delays and major cost increases in the Navy's littoral combat ship (LCS) program, and the Navy's continued confusion and changes in the DDG 1000 advanced destroyer program, the credibility of the Navy's shipbuilding efforts must be questioned. When addressed in the broad context of the shrinking size of the fleet and the expected reductions in shipbuilding budgets, the situation should be considered critical.

I cannot imagine a civilian shipowner who would accept ships built so poorly to standard from any shipbuilder.

I'd like 40 of these to go, please

See here for an explanation.

And for ship particulars, see Fincantieri