Shipbuilding As A Priority For Our Navy? What A Concept!

The recent firing of the Secretary of The Navy was a reasonable action if one assumes that the members of the administration are subordinate to the President and are tasked with implementing his policies. That the former secretary was resistant to some of those policies is ample reason to fire him, and in fact should have been expected.

“He’s a very good man," Trump said Thursday in the Oval Office, referring to Phelan. "I really liked him, but he had some conflict, not necessarily with Pete. He’s a hard charger, and he had some conflicts with some other people, mostly as to building and buying new ships. I’m very aggressive in the new shipbuilding.”

As the saying goes, "Quantity is a quality all its own." And as the Chinese build their navy to compete directly with ours in the Pacific, it is imperative that we accelerate our ship building to more than match theirs.

The issue of course is that ship building in the United States has declined to almost nothing, and the design and procurement process for military vessels has become so unbelievably convoluted and slow, that we essentially have no military shipbuilding. When it takes 10 years to design, approve, and build a new navy vessel like the pathetic Littoral Combat Ship (LCS), it is clear that the system needs revamping, or wholesale destruction and rebuilding from scratch!

Any Navy secretary must understand that and work to change the status quo. Instead, Phelan slow-walked it!

So now we have Hung Cao, whose resume is impressive, and whose dedication to the United States Navy is clear.

Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao Lists Shipbuilding as a Top Priority

Cao said his first and foremost priority is to care for the sailors and Marines of the force.
“We will take care of your needs and make sure you can do the mission,” said Cao, who previously served as an explosive ordnance disposal officer in the Navy and participated in special operations assignments in combat zones.
Cao listed his second priority as shipbuilding.
“We need the platforms we need in order to defend this country,” he said.
President Donald Trump said the previous Navy secretary, John Phelan, was “an excellent guy” but that he had conflicted with other members of the Trump administration on shipbuilding efforts.

Whether Secretary Cao succeeds in revamping a broken system remains to be seen, but his first pronouncements are gratifying, and seem to follow the tone that the Secretary of War is setting for our armed forces.

Is he politically astute? Can he navigate the rats nests in Congress and the Pentagon that are filled with craven opportunists whose every waking hour is consumed by the single-minded goal of personal aggrandizement, or financial gain, or both?

Inquiring minds want to know, but keeping corporatism out of the military seems like a good start!

Posted by: CBD at 12:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good afternoon everyone

Posted by: Skip at April 26, 2026 12:01 PM (Ia/+0)

2 Nooded to the Book Thread.

Posted by: Nazdar at April 26, 2026 12:01 PM (NcvvS)

3 The British are way worse off, but then who wants Islam to have a navy some day?

Posted by: Skip at April 26, 2026 12:02 PM (Ia/+0)

4
All that I can say is that whatever shipbuilding occurs had better be on the end of a supply chain that excludes Chinesium metal products.

Posted by: Krebs 'v' Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at April 26, 2026 12:03 PM (xG4kz)

5 Good morning - big storms. And yes, we need to be looking at strengthening against enemies foreign and domestic. Clearly.

Posted by: Piper at April 26, 2026 12:03 PM (hftzA)

6 Clittoral Combat Ship

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at April 26, 2026 12:03 PM (Kt19C)

7 Never want to hear about the Littoral Combat Ship again, unless the it's described as 'the completely discarded Littoral Combat Ship'. Took the Proceedings magazine for a year and was amazed by the cheerleading for what was an obvious dud.

Posted by: Nazdar at April 26, 2026 12:04 PM (NcvvS)

8 Thx CBD.
The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) quickly became known as the Little Crappy Ship. What a stupid concept and waste of money

Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 26, 2026 12:06 PM (gu0hJ)

9
Clittoral Combat Ship
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats

Are those the ones where ladies in the officer corps engage in catfights and huffy dismissals of one another's opinions as to the vessel's course and other vital aspects of running a tight ship?

Posted by: Krebs 'v' Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) Imprison! Imprison! Imprison! at April 26, 2026 12:06 PM (xG4kz)

10
It takes years to build an army.
It takes decades to build a navy.

Posted by: Pentagon men's room stall, D Ring at April 26, 2026 12:08 PM (2Ez/1)

11 The old joke used to be
Public schools "We're to busy teaching kids to put condoms on cucumbers to teach them to weld."
Now it's...

Posted by: Reforger at April 26, 2026 12:08 PM (G4ajv)

12 As an Airman through and through, I'm all about going on a shipbuilding program to make sure the Navy can project power for decades to come.

(Can we dust the blueprints off the Iowa class BBs and make new ones with nuclear power?)

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 26, 2026 12:09 PM (T6aVk)

13 "Are those the ones where ladies in the officer corps engage in catfights and huffy dismissals of one another's opinions as to the vessel's course and other vital aspects of running a tight ship?"
+++

She knows what she did.

Posted by: Female CO at April 26, 2026 12:09 PM (2Ez/1)

14
7 Never want to hear about the Littoral Combat Ship again, unless the it's described as 'the completely discarded Littoral Combat Ship”

It’s amazing that they could spend so much time and do the job so badly. If I remember, something as simple as basic propulsion never worked right.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 26, 2026 12:10 PM (iowdg)

15 The journalists leap into action following the attack!

https://tinyurl.com/y5ywmbvp

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 12:10 PM (ndZc7)

16 Defense of our country should always be a top priority.
We don't need to erode our military like Europe has.
It's a dangerous world. We need to be prepared.

Posted by: Case at April 26, 2026 12:11 PM (pvf3X)

17 Finally.

I hope its not lost on the geniuses who said that a powerful navy is unnecessary in the age of drones.

The ocean is the most strategic place on earth and always will be.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:11 PM (viF8m)

18 It’s amazing that they could spend so much time and do the job so badly. If I remember, something as simple as basic propulsion never worked right.
Posted by: Tom Servo at April 26, 2026 12:10 PM

++++++

*ahem*

Posted by: ZUMWALT Class destroyers at April 26, 2026 12:12 PM (2Ez/1)

19 3 The British are way worse off, but then who wants Islam to have a navy some day?
Posted by: Skip at April 26, 2026 12:02 PM (Ia/+0)

Given the record of the Ottoman Empire, I'd say no worries when it comes to evil Islam creating an evil Islamic navy.

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 26, 2026 12:12 PM (T6aVk)

20 Build. Let the experts build. Keep the administrators and facilitators in check, they're not the ones who should be deciding design specifications, - let them build.

Administrators and facilitators are there to audit.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at April 26, 2026 12:12 PM (Fbc0I)

21 You don't mess with a guy named Hung Cao.

Posted by: Dark L at April 26, 2026 12:12 PM (W5mpo)

22 We have been sabotaged by the democrap party. It is as simple as that. The democrap will continue to sabotage the USA until the traitors find a traitor’s death.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at April 26, 2026 12:13 PM (xvV+O)

23 Morning, CBD and Horde! I can say that; it's still morning here. Seems to me that the New Navy Secretary should have a close look at how shipbuilding was greatly accelerated during WWII, and try to duplicate some of that effort.

Any new revelations on the Democrat would-be assassin?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:15 PM (utfVc)

24 Can he navigate the rats nests in Congress and the Pentagon that are filled with craven opportunists whose every waking hour is consumed by the single-minded goal of personal aggrandizement, or financial gain, or both?

You say that like it's a bad thing.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:16 PM (Riz8t)

25 Hanwha’s Philly yard joins project to develop next-gen combat support ship for US Navy, Korea Now, YouTube, 3 weeks ago

Posted by: L - No nic, another fine day at April 26, 2026 12:16 PM (NFX2v)

26 Clittoral Combat Ship
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats

Most sailors will not be able to locate them.

Just saying.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 26, 2026 12:16 PM (Kyh8Y)

27 The journalists leap into action following the attack!

https://tinyurl.com/y5ywmbvp
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 12:10 PM (ndZc7)

I wonder if any of those journalists realize that the ones seated closest to the doors are the designated bullet-catchers? But probably not, since that would take some introspection -- and they repeatedly show themselves to amoral swine.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (ksbjf)

28 >>It’s amazing that they could spend so much time and do the job so badly. If I remember, something as simple as basic propulsion never worked right.

Has the Navy got one single ship class built consistently right in the last 35 years?

Posted by: Nazdar at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (NcvvS)

29
Any new revelations on the Democrat would-be assassin?
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:15 PM (utfVc)

Yes.... He hated Christians and was a donor to Kamala... Oh... Some of the Libs are saying it was staged to get sympathy for Trump...

Posted by: It's me donna at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (EKdEo)

30 More like 'liter ships' AMMA RITE????

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (diia5)

31 It is to Virginia's everlasting shame that a man like Hung Cao lost elections to the kind of people who now infest our government.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (Riz8t)

32 31 It is to Virginia's everlasting shame that a man like Hung Cao lost elections to the kind of people who now infest our government.
Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (Riz8t)

I agree...

Posted by: It's me donna at April 26, 2026 12:18 PM (EKdEo)

33 How about allowing competing companies to actually build a prototype and compete against each other for selection by the navy.

The winning design then gets the full support of the other companies, who are contracted to help build that particular ship. Competition breeds innovation and cost savings.

I guess I’m stupid and don’t understand having to compete for a design right on an imaginary ship that might not even float.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 26, 2026 12:18 PM (A5RD0)

34
LCS = Least Capable Solution.

Posted by: Defense Acquisition Reform, part twelve at April 26, 2026 12:19 PM (2Ez/1)

35 16 Defense of our country should always be a top priority.
We don't need to erode our military like Europe has.
It's a dangerous world. We need to be prepared.
Posted by: Case at April 26, 2026 12:11 PM (pvf3X)

This should be a top priority of the federal government.
Si vis pacem, praeperat bellum.

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 26, 2026 12:20 PM (T6aVk)

36 The Ottomans hired British officers to run their navy, so it will be simpler now

Posted by: Skip at April 26, 2026 12:20 PM (Ia/+0)

37 Yes.... He hated Christians and was a donor to Kamala... Oh... Some of the Libs are saying it was staged to get sympathy for Trump...
Posted by: It's me donna at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (EKdEo)

OK. By they way, I suggest we always use the term "Democrat would-be assassin". Make the fuckers wear it.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:21 PM (utfVc)

38 I hope its not lost on the geniuses who said that a powerful navy is unnecessary in the age of drones.

The ocean is the most strategic place on earth and always will be.

I don't want someone to spend tens of billions of dollars on ships because that's what we've always done. If I were king and someone came to me and said "let's build more battleships and carriers" they had better bloody well be able to tell me how they're going to defend those ships against loyal wingmen, drones and missiles. Can it be done? Maybe. But at least show me that you've thought it through.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:21 PM (Riz8t)

39 17 Finally.

I hope its not lost on the geniuses who said that a powerful navy is unnecessary in the age of drones.

The ocean is the most strategic place on earth and always will be.
Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:11 PM (viF8m)

It is. Because there are people who desperately want to skip fundamentals to make a name for themselves.

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 26, 2026 12:21 PM (T6aVk)

40 Oh... Some of the Libs are saying it was staged to get sympathy for Trump...
Posted by: It's me donna at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (EKdEo)

In fact it looks like all of them are saying that. They don’t know that if something is staged, you want to make sure the shooter is dead so he can’t tell who he was working with.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 26, 2026 12:22 PM (iowdg)

41 >>Some of the Libs are saying it was staged to get sympathy for Trump...

While many are saying it was staged by Trump to garner up media support for the White House ballroom.

Posted by: one hour sober at April 26, 2026 12:22 PM (Y1sOo)

42 Any new revelations on the Democrat would-be assassin?
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:15 PM (utfVc)

Yes.... He hated Christians and was a donor to Kamala... Oh... Some of the Libs are saying it was staged to get sympathy for Trump...
Posted by: It's me donna at April 26, 2026 12:17 PM (EKdEo)
************
People are idiots.
Who would stage an assassination knowing they would be going to prison for the rest of their lives?

He also had a manifesto and went to a No Kings protest.

Posted by: redridinghood at April 26, 2026 12:22 PM (NpAcC)

43 "Has the Navy got one single ship class built consistently right in the last 35 years?"

Burke-class destroyers, some amphibious ships, and some support, like fast oilers. And the newest carrier class.

That's why the short-term approach will have to include some more Burkes. They're very effective platforms.

The newest expedient that Phelan talked about was making a Navy version of the newest Coast Guard cutter design. There are of course drawbacks to that but the main idea is to get hulls in service. Don't know where that stands.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:22 PM (U/Byj)

44 28 >>It’s amazing that they could spend so much time and do the job so badly. If I remember, something as simple as basic propulsion never worked right.

Has the Navy got one single ship class built consistently right in the last 35 years?

Anyone who came to me with another design for mixed metals in saltwater would be forced to take electrochemistry classes until they can tell me why that's stupid.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:23 PM (Riz8t)

45 I don't want someone to spend tens of billions of dollars on ships because that's what we've always done. If I were king and someone came to me and said "let's build more battleships and carriers" they had better bloody well be able to tell me how they're going to defend those ships against loyal wingmen, drones and missiles. Can it be done? Maybe. But at least show me that you've thought it through.
Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:21 PM (Riz8t)

That's why you also build cruisers, frigates, submarines, etc.

And you work on how you sustain your operations at sea (logistics).

Posted by: Cow Demon at April 26, 2026 12:23 PM (T6aVk)

46 > LCS = Least Capable Solution.
--------
It's the only hull in service that can perform the mine hunting mission. There are (were) two old, IIRC wooden hulled mine hunters left in the USN and were (are) going to be retired.

That being said, the USN has a number of mine hunting/clearing loadouts for their MH-53 "Sea Dragon" helicopters. Towed sonars, clearing devices, etc.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 12:23 PM (jehhT)

47 The biggest problem is the schools not making kids that are capable of doing the work needed to run foundry's and the larger industries related to ship building. Used to be that a significant part of a class, starting in JR High were taught to cast and weld and machine and design and build things. Not pointed towards some pie in the sky degree in international basket weaving and advanced body modification. This generational loss can't be made up.

Posted by: Reforger at April 26, 2026 12:24 PM (G4ajv)

48 33 How about allowing competing companies to actually build a prototype and compete against each other for selection by the navy.
+++

The US Navy's first ships authorized by Congress were six frigates in 1794. They were to be constructed at six different disparate shipyards specifically to stimulate local economic activity.

Posted by: Politics always wins at April 26, 2026 12:24 PM (2Ez/1)

49 Good morning! Someone should look back at the development and deployment of the P51. Concept to flight in about 120 days. By a private company. Staffed with a few engineers and no HR or superfluous middle management.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 26, 2026 12:25 PM (3Ope8)

50 In all of my conversations and correspondence with the acting SECNAV over the last half-dozen years, I can confirm that he is a patriot, a warrior, an amazing leader universally respected by those he led, and an excellent family man. I sincerely hope he is selected to remain as SECNAV.

Posted by: FIIGMO at April 26, 2026 12:25 PM (R/nr4)

51
By 1944, the Navy was turning out so many ships so fast that there weren't enough sailors and officers to man them.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 26, 2026 12:26 PM (hGldu)

52 Quonest Point Naval Air Station has been transformed into a National Guard training base and a business park. One of those businesses is Electric Boat.

They build parts of the new generation of nuclear subs and then send the parts to Groton for final assembly. They can't find enough workers. Incredible how fast it's growing.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:27 PM (viF8m)

53 LCS = Little Crappy Ships

I've noted before that I have a standard thing I do when asking Navy personnel at my shooting range doing their qualifications which ship they're from (it isn't always evident from their uniforms).

When they say an LCS ship, I say "Oh, I'm sorry". So far 100% of them have taken it in the right spirit, rolled their eyes, and said "yeah, we know". Also had an encounter with a young sailor 10 years ago or more who had a plum spot, she was going to help write the SOPs for the LCS class here on the west coast. She said she was shocked when she first walked into her new office. Morale was dead, and the ships were a festival of poor design and other issues.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:27 PM (U/Byj)

54 The very fact that Phelan was confirmed with 'bipartisan support' should have been the first red flag.

Posted by: DudeAbiding at April 26, 2026 12:27 PM (setIA)

55 “It is. Because there are people who desperately want to skip fundamentals to make a name for themselves.
Posted by: Cow Demon at April 26, 2026 12:21 PM (T6aVk)”

On X there’s been some angry talk by some Brits that are mad that Argentina is talking about the Falklands again. A lot of big talk about how easily they could stop Argentina, with no awareness at all as to what a pathetic joke the British navy has become.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 26, 2026 12:27 PM (iowdg)

56 What types of ships are needed for the 21st century filled with drones?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 26, 2026 12:28 PM (Cqx++)

57 On X there’s been some angry talk by some Brits that are mad that Argentina is talking about the Falklands again. A lot of big talk about how easily they could stop Argentina, with no awareness at all as to what a pathetic joke the British navy has become.

And this time, they wouldn't have us acting as their backstop. You made you beds. Enjoy them!

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:28 PM (Riz8t)

58 You don't mess with a guy named Hung Cao.
Posted by: Dark L
He and his family left Saigon on the last day IIRC...I was off the coast.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 26, 2026 12:29 PM (YBtcQ)

59 How about allowing competing companies to actually build a prototype and compete against each other for selection by the navy.

The winning design then gets the full support of the other companies, who are contracted to help build that particular ship. Competition breeds innovation and cost savings.

I guess I’m stupid and don’t understand having to compete for a design right on an imaginary ship that might not even float.
Posted by: nurse ratched at April 26, 2026 12:18 PM (A5RD0)

What do you do with the prototypes not selected? They might be very capable ships in their own right. Destroying them would be wasteful, but you don't want to commission them as they would be one-offs, with no real tech support behind them. Sell them at a discount to friendly Navies with the understanding that they will be on their own when it comes to keeping them running?

I like the idea that there be a few standardized hull designs, with engine room spaces made so they can accommodate either nuke or conventional power plants.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:29 PM (utfVc)

60 >>On X there’s been some angry talk by some Brits that are mad that Argentina is talking about the Falklands again. A lot of big talk about how easily they could stop Argentina, with no awareness at all as to what a pathetic joke the British navy has become.

Rule Britannia
Britannia waves the rules

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:30 PM (viF8m)

61 Martini Farmer, the USV/UUV revolution has been fully embraced for mine clearance, which means many platforms can do it. We have unmanned surface vessels doing it right now in the Strait, I believe.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:30 PM (U/Byj)

62 What types of ships are needed for the 21st century filled with drones?

I think the best solution is lots of small, agile ships with dedicated anti-drone systems, e.g. lasers and microwaves. The age of small numbers of large, high-value ships is coming to a close. IMNSHO.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:30 PM (Riz8t)

63 56 What types of ships are needed for the 21st century filled with drones?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 26, 2026 12:28 PM

------

The ones with high energy laser weapons.

Posted by: Zap! at April 26, 2026 12:31 PM (2Ez/1)

64
They can't find enough workers. Incredible how fast it's growing.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:27 PM (viF8m)

___________

I've seen TV commercials for people to enter the shipbuilding industry. A woman ground down by dog-walking and Door-Dash gigs passes a shipyard, asks what they do and applies for a job. Well done, actually.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 26, 2026 12:31 PM (tgvbd)

65 Hell, General Dynamics Electric Boat has 50 openings for guys that want to learn to be a welder - no experience needed. They train, pay and you have a job when training is completed.

Pipefitters, shipfitters, and electricians too.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 26, 2026 12:31 PM (Kyh8Y)

66 Reforged @47
Spot on. This will emerge as a strategic weakness in the next few years. And with the commies running education, it will be hard to overcome.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 26, 2026 12:31 PM (2WIwB)

67 > On X there’s been some angry talk by some Brits that are mad that Argentina is talking about the Falklands again.
---------
Argentina would wipe the floor (so to speak) with what's left of the RN.

Their pride and joy, the RNS Queen E was "supposed" to be the centerpiece of a large, Atlantic Ocean NATO exercise last year but had to turn back before getting to the exercise area due to a mechanical failure with one of her props.

The ship's still in drydock.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 12:33 PM (jehhT)

68 >>Burke-class destroyers, some amphibious ships, and some support, like fast oilers. And the newest carrier class.

Thanks, rhomboid.

Posted by: Nazdar at April 26, 2026 12:33 PM (NcvvS)

69 Think shipbuilding was "switched off" in 1944, when it was clear we had/would have enough for the job (primarily, at that point, finishing off Japan). The US Navy shipbuilding effort was so enormous during the war that the ships built served the US until the 1970s, and some *still* are in service with other navies. The WWII ships were very prominent in foreign navies until not long ago.

We didn't really switch off aircraft production, which is why at the surrender in September '45 a combat aircraft was rolling off the line somewhere in the country about every 5 minutes. We probably produced more aircraft in '45 alone than all the other combatants in WWII combined - at least a good % of that total.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:33 PM (U/Byj)

70 The Marxists Propaganda will cover the would be assassin's tracks

Posted by: Skip at April 26, 2026 12:33 PM (Ia/+0)

71 There is no more commercial shipbuilding to speak of in the US. Hasn't been for decades.

Posted by: Oh by the way at April 26, 2026 12:35 PM (2Ez/1)

72
I got a problem with General Dynamics. My father had a contract to do work for them. They stiffed him and in consequence his business went bankrupt. He sued them, fought for years and eventually won. The jury was so pissed off they asked the judge how big an award they could give.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 26, 2026 12:35 PM (tgvbd)

73 > Martini Farmer, the USV/UUV revolution has been fully embraced for mine clearance, which means many platforms can do it. We have unmanned surface vessels doing it right now in the Strait, I believe.

Posted by: rhomboid
-------
True. The LCS has a "mission module" that can be fitted within the ship that supports USV/UUV's and has a pretty good mine detecting sonar package. Two of these configured LCS were in the Persian Gulf prior to hostilities. Why they were repositioned to Singapore (or wherever they went) is sort of a WTF moment.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 12:36 PM (jehhT)

74
Thank Dog, Hung Cao's a military veteran in politics who WASN'T a gorram JAG. And a mustang to boot.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 26, 2026 12:37 PM (y9nCu)

75 Somebody should do a poll of the Falkland islanders and ask them if they wish to continue to be a colony of an increasingly islamized Britain, or become a protectorate of Christian Argentina.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:37 PM (utfVc)

76 The industrial base crisis WRT shipbuilding is real. And not new. I was actually doing work related to this issue *in the 1980s*. No exaggeration.

One very telling anecdote, though nobody really doubts the existence of the problem. Apparently an industry group contacted Mike Rowe ("Dirty Jobs") last year or the year before and asked if he could help finding 5,000 people with particular skills for shipbuilding. He said "nope". Not that he wouldn't help, of course, but that he wasn't aware of where to find such people. Wow.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:37 PM (U/Byj)

77 >>I've seen TV commercials for people to enter the shipbuilding industry. A woman ground down by dog-walking and Door-Dash gigs passes a shipyard, asks what they do and applies for a job. Well done, actually.

Before my buddy sold his boat service business they poached his best marine electrician. The package they offered him was incredible.

For most, college has become a ridiculously expensive waste of time. If I could advise younger me I would demand I learn a trade and be useful.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:38 PM (viF8m)

78 If overwhelming force is a deterrence than maybe the secret service might use that as a way of protecting the president and his leadership team.

Posted by: Unkaren at April 26, 2026 12:38 PM (fwsNC)

79 Imagine our newest class carrier having no current capability to deploy with a squadron (or three) of the Navy's newest fifth generation stealth fighter embarked.

Posted by: one hour sober at April 26, 2026 12:38 PM (Y1sOo)

80 What types of ships are needed for the 21st century filled with drones?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot

Ones that are equipped to shoot them down.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 26, 2026 12:39 PM (YBtcQ)

81 Shooter left a manifesto. It's about what you'd expect. The theme:

"And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes ..."

https://tinyurl.com/54pkhsdy

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 12:39 PM (ndZc7)

82 If I could advise younger me I would demand I learn a trade and be useful.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:38 PM (viF8m)

In your defense, you are severely handicapped because of your NY Mets fandom.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 26, 2026 12:39 PM (n9ltV)

83 >>In your defense, you are severely handicapped because of your NY Mets fandom.

That's one of my few virtues.

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:41 PM (viF8m)

84
For most, college has become a ridiculously expensive waste of time.

____________

If it hasn't already happened, someone could design a syllabus for non-laboratory majors. Want to educate yourself in history? Read these books.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 26, 2026 12:41 PM (tgvbd)

85 Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 12:39 PM (ndZc7

So why did the shooter not target Biden? Oh right, the FNM says that Trump does all the bad things that either Biden or Obama actually did and millions of people still believe those blatant lies.

Posted by: PaleRider at April 26, 2026 12:41 PM (+89TD)

86 "And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes ..."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

Is he not aware that Biden was out?

Posted by: Tonypete at April 26, 2026 12:42 PM (Kyh8Y)

87 Somebody should do a poll of the Falkland islanders and ask them if they wish to continue to be a colony of an increasingly islamized Britain, or become a protectorate of Christian Argentina.

The Malvinas (Falklands) are 300 miles off the coast of Argentina, and 8,000 miles from GB. If China isn't entitled to all of the South China Sea, how is GB entitled to the Falklands?

If GB wants to play in this league, they're going to have to spend a f***ton more money on their military.

(Narrator: They will not spend a f***ton more money on their military.)

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:42 PM (Riz8t)

88 Phelan properly gets credit for doing many correct things, the fact that some tripped him up just underlines how big the task is.

Hung Cao is certainly an impressive figure and the sort of veteran who merits serious interest when trying to get elected to something. Nothing in his background says "punching a ticket" to get ahead, personally. Unlike, I'd say, most veterans who run for office. Knew several people in DC back in the day who clearly wanted to go naval reserve purely as a resume builder.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:42 PM (U/Byj)

89 > Imagine our newest class carrier having no current capability to deploy with a squadron (or three) of the Navy's newest fifth generation stealth fighter embarked.
---------
It's the blast deflectors. They have to be cooled because the F-35s' single engine, at full afterburner used to take off from the carrier is too hot and will melt the steel deflector. (The F/A-18's don't run as hot.)

Another WTF moment in US ship building. IIRC the USS Kennedy, the next Ford class CVN will remedy that.

Maybe.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 12:44 PM (jehhT)

90 86 "And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes ..."

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

Is he not aware that Biden was out?
Posted by: Tonypete at April 26, 2026 12:42 PM (Kyh8Y)

Sounds exactly like Biden and not Trump.. I blame the media/dems for their hateful rhetoric..

Posted by: It's me donna at April 26, 2026 12:44 PM (FtULh)

91 For most, college has become a ridiculously expensive waste of time. If I could advise younger me I would demand I learn a trade and be useful.

Glenn Reynolds has a very good column on this problem. Much of our societal instability from the left arises because overeducated people with few real job skills feel their social status slipping away.

https://instapundit.substack.com/p/our-self-colonized-nation

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:44 PM (Riz8t)

92 Shooter left a manifesto. It's about what you'd expect. The theme:

"And I am no longer willing to permit a pedophile, rapist, and traitor to coat my hands with his crimes ..."

https://tinyurl.com/54pkhsdy
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 12:39 PM (ndZc7)

Setting up his insanity defense.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:44 PM (utfVc)

93 It's more than just the blast deflectors. Good grief.

Posted by: one hour sober at April 26, 2026 12:46 PM (Y1sOo)

94 Sort of related, Trump fired the entire National Science Foundation oversight board. High time. Those cucks imposed DEI on all the NSF grant recipients. Never mind scientific excellence, you must hire and promote based on racial, gay, trans checkboxes first. then you may try to find someone that meets a checkbox that is not a blithering idiot.

https://www.science.org/content/article
/trump-fires-nsf-s-oversight-board

Posted by: PaleRider at April 26, 2026 12:47 PM (+89TD)

95 Setting up his insanity defense.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

Problem there is that the DC jury would find that statement perfectly 'reasonable'.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 26, 2026 12:47 PM (diia5)

96
So, the shooter was a generic Democrat.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at April 26, 2026 12:47 PM (tgvbd)

97 It's the blast deflectors. They have to be cooled because the F-35s' single engine, at full afterburner used to take off from the carrier is too hot and will melt the steel deflector. (The F/A-18's don't run as hot.)

Another WTF moment in US ship building. IIRC the USS Kennedy, the next Ford class CVN will remedy that.

Maybe.

93 It's more than just the blast deflectors. Good grief.

If you're going to say something like that, you need to elaborate.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:47 PM (Riz8t)

98 Well done youtube algorithm. I didn't know I needed to hear this but it turns out I did.

https://tinyurl.com/yjzhp542

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:47 PM (viF8m)

99 > What types of ships are needed for the 21st century filled with drones?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot

Ones that are equipped to shoot them down.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron
---------
The 3rd carrier, the Bush, has a containerized laser weapon to deal with small-ish drones. It was put on board for testing months ago... then the Bush was ordered to Iran and it's still onboard. Powered by the twin nukes that power the ship.

One of the Burke class DDG's also has a laser weapon onboard too. Doubt it's in the war zone tho'.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 12:48 PM (jehhT)

100 [v]Think shipbuilding was "switched off" in 1944, when it was clear we had/would have enough for the job (primarily, at that point, finishing off Japan). The US Navy shipbuilding effort was so enormous during the war that the ships built served the US until the 1970s, and some *still* are in service with other navies. The WWII ships were very prominent in foreign navies until not long ago.
...
Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:33 PM (U/Byj)

When the Old Man was commissioned as a brand-new Ensign in 1960, his first ship assignment was on one of the DD-FRAMs (a WWII-era destroyer with a modernization refit). His first skipper had survived after serving on three ships lost in action in the Pacific.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at April 26, 2026 12:50 PM (ksbjf)

101 Hung Cao was a career Naval officer, reaching the rank of captain. He ran a Senate campaign in 2024 against Kane in Virigina, and, well, Kane is still in the Senate. Cao has been serving for more than a year as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. That leads me to believe

Posted by: mrp at April 26, 2026 12:50 PM (rj6Yv)

102 that he has a pretty good handle on the politics needed for the position of Secretary of the Navy.

Posted by: mrp at April 26, 2026 12:51 PM (rj6Yv)

103 So, the shooter was a generic Democrat.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh

This guy has some interesting thoughts.

https://is.gd/iklpu8

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 12:53 PM (ndZc7)

104 OT, the very very hot "ceasefire" in Lebanon is going well, and about as expected. Many things escape me, but one is just what we think we're doing pretending that the Lebanese "government" and armed forces will, finally and at last, doing anything about disarming Hezbollah. They lack both the ability, and, mostly, the will.

Meanwhile, fairly quietly, Trump has made it clear Israel has the green light to respond to attacks - which unsurprisingly they are doing.

It's not too broad a generalization to say there's little hope of a real solution in Lebanon unless the Tehran regime falls. Same as with Iran itself. So likely all of our current diplomatic kabuki in Lebanon is just a holding pattern, hoping the big game goes the right way.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:53 PM (U/Byj)

105 101 Hung Cao was a career Naval officer, reaching the rank of captain. He ran a Senate campaign in 2024 against Kane in Virigina, and, well, Kane is still in the Senate. Cao has been serving for more than a year as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. That leads me to believe
Posted by: mrp at April 26, 2026 12:50 PM (rj6Yv)

102 that he has a pretty good handle on the politics needed for the position of Secretary of the Navy.
Posted by: mrp at April 26, 2026 12:51 PM (rj6Yv)
And a thorough handle on the genus politicus reptilas.

Posted by: Eromero at April 26, 2026 12:54 PM (DXbAa)

106 101 Hung Cao was a career Naval officer, reaching the rank of captain. He ran a Senate campaign in 2024 against Kane in Virigina, and, well, Kane is still in the Senate. Cao has been serving for more than a year as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. That leads me to believe

Posted by: mrp at April 26, 2026 12:50 PM (rj6Yv)
102 that he has a pretty good handle on the politics needed for the position of Secretary of the Navy.

Depends on what you mean by politics. He comes across as a no-BS guy with no patience for nonsense and a willingness to call the other guy an idiot.

That's what you want in a military officer, but as a practical matter, it's usually a liability in a politician. People want to be told they're brilliant. They want to constantly be thanked for doing their damn job.

Cao needs to learn which of those personas to deploy at any given time.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:54 PM (Riz8t)

107 47, boom, spot-on.

my generation was the last.

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 26, 2026 12:54 PM (VyBeY)

108 I wonder what's up with the pier Biden destroyed off the coast of Gaza.

Posted by: Reforger at April 26, 2026 12:55 PM (G4ajv)

109 Lasers are well-suited to carriers, thanks to nuke power, but the power draw for conventional ships remains a challenge.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:55 PM (U/Byj)

110 The 3rd carrier, the Bush, has a containerized laser weapon to deal with small-ish drones. It was put on board for testing months ago... then the Bush was ordered to Iran and it's still onboard. Powered by the twin nukes that power the ship.

One of the Burke class DDG's also has a laser weapon onboard too. Doubt it's in the war zone tho'.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 12:48 PM (jehhT)

You know, what might be effective against drone swarms would be quad-mount turrets of GAU-8 Avenger cannons as used on the A-10 aircraft. Fire exploding shells with varying time fuses so the result is a deep cloud of high-velocity shrapnel.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:55 PM (utfVc)

111 That's what you want in a military officer, but as a practical matter, it's usually a liability in a politician. People want to be told they're brilliant. They want to constantly be thanked for doing their damn job.

That's what makes Trump sui generis. He can schmooze and praise when he needs to, but there is no doubt in anyone's mind that he'll rip you a new one, or fire you, when he deems it appropriate.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 12:56 PM (Riz8t)

112 It's not too broad a generalization to say there's little hope of a real solution in Lebanon unless the Tehran regime falls.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 12:53 PM (U/Byj)

Yes. And...Hezbollah is deeply embedded into Lebanese politics and culture. It's not as if they are hated across the country. Hell, I think they have official duties within the government.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 26, 2026 12:56 PM (n9ltV)

113 Ships need to be equipped to handle drones and hypersonic missiles. Didn’t they wargame this out and hypersonic missiles were a big issue?

Posted by: Unkaren at April 26, 2026 12:56 PM (fwsNC)

114 I'm sure the Trump-class warships will be the most luxurious ships the world has ever seen- elegant, sturdy, and bursting with class.

Posted by: Don Black at April 26, 2026 12:57 PM (ZxPkt)

115 The US Navy not only needs warships, it also needs auxiliary vessels for logistical purposes, particularly fast oilers, at-sea resupply vessels, and fast cargo ships.

One possibility is that, for the short term, the US government could authorize the construction of American-designed hulls in friendly countries, like South Korea and Japan. US inspectors can monitor the construction of the hulls in those countries, and then have them towed to the US for in-water outfitting.

Posted by: mrp at April 26, 2026 12:57 PM (rj6Yv)

116 Absolutely horrifying twist on Hitler. 19 minute YT video.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PwatFMKWI_M

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 12:58 PM (ndZc7)

117 You know, what might be effective against drone swarms would be quad-mount turrets of GAU-8 Avenger cannons as used on the A-10 aircraft.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:55 PM (utfVc)

Quad .50 Cals would be much cheaper and probably just as effective. The Phalanx is probably effective as well, although far more expensive than .50 Cal.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 26, 2026 12:59 PM (n9ltV)

118 60 >>On X there’s been some angry talk by some Brits that are mad that Argentina is talking about the Falklands again. A lot of big talk about how easily they could stop Argentina, with no awareness at all as to what a pathetic joke the British navy has become.

Rule Britannia
Britannia waves the rules

Posted by: JackStraw at April 26, 2026 12:30 PM (viF8m)

A UK commenter on another blog says their are one, two, three, FOUR, 4, total RAF Typhoons based at Port Stanley!
I wonder how many are typically operational? He says Starmer needs to send another four, ASAP, to show the Argies Britain will defend the Falklands to the last! The Brits on that blog are in full cry that they'll defend the Falklands come hell or high water! They claim their government will declare war on the US if they need to, to keep the British flag flying over the Falklands! I find it very sad UK citizens cling so hard to what I think is the one of the very few remaining non-independent pieces of the mighty British Empire.

Posted by: Gref at April 26, 2026 12:59 PM (5rh/l)

119 107 47, boom, spot-on.

my generation was the last.
Posted by: sock_rat_eez at April 26, 2026 12:54 PM (VyBeY)

I remember about 20 years ago taking my kid to band practice, which was around the corner from my old metal shop. The two Bridgeport mills I learned on were all torn apart and laying in piles on the walkway waiting for the scrap guys to pick them up. I cried. The area is now ESL classrooms.

Posted by: Reforger at April 26, 2026 01:00 PM (G4ajv)

120 One possibility is that, for the short term, the US government could authorize the construction of American-designed hulls in friendly countries, like South Korea and Japan. US inspectors can monitor the construction of the hulls in those countries, and then have them towed to the US for in-water outfitting.

I'd rather SK and Japan build here and show our ridiculously inefficient shipyards how to do it. If the unions aren't willing to countenance that and accept their reforms, then build the ships in SK and Japan. National security is a much bigger priority than pleasing unions.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 01:00 PM (Riz8t)

121 CBD oh yes, Hezbollah has a parliamentary and executive branch presence in Lebanon. "Legitimacy".

Like everyone else I have no magic or easy solutions to Lebanon, I am just speculating about our real strategery, assuming we recognize the realities there.

It's possible Lebanon gets another civil war, even with a change of management in Tehran. But it seems highly unlikely the Hezbollah issue is resolved while the mullahs or their retarded IRGC enforcers run Iran.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 01:00 PM (U/Byj)

122 The recent firing of the Secretary of The Navy was a reasonable action if one assumes that the members of the administration are subordinate to the President and are tasked with implementing his policies

Harumph. Please cancel our subscription forthwith, Mr. Dildo!

Posted by: Federal District Judges Association at April 26, 2026 01:00 PM (aIYqR)

123 Left: it was staged

Also Left: too bad he missed

The retardation level keeps going up.

Posted by: Heroq at April 26, 2026 01:01 PM (oUXe0)

124
I think I'm in love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIbzDBZPPqs

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 26, 2026 01:02 PM (y9nCu)

125 Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 01:00 PM (U/Byj)

I agree with you. Lebanon has been screwed for 50+ years...ever since they allowed the PLO into the country.

Maybe a civil war is the best outcome!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 26, 2026 01:02 PM (n9ltV)

126 @92 Shooter left a manifesto.

Sounds about right. Thirty one years old and still lived with his parents. They are saying he is very smart but things seem very odd with this dude. I guess even very smart people can also be very crazy.

Posted by: Case at April 26, 2026 01:02 PM (pvf3X)

127 I believe the Japan/SK shipbuilding option is actively under consideration, but one issue is their yards are very heavily booked already. There is some SK shipbuilding presence in the US, seems likely they will get some of the work.

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 01:02 PM (U/Byj)

128 The biggest problem in Lebanon is that it is no longer a real country; it is a collection of small ethnic mini states, all of which are outgunned by Hezbollah. The “Lebanese Army” has about as much firepower as my local neighborhood watch group, so it’s ridiculous to think they could actually do anything in this situation.

IOW, either Israel eliminates Hezbollah, or Hezbollah runs Lebanon from on now on.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 26, 2026 01:03 PM (iowdg)

129 Quad .50 Cals would be much cheaper and probably just as effective. The Phalanx is probably effective as well, although far more expensive than .50 Cal.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo

All depends on the environment. Bullet go up, bullet come down. High risk of collateral damage. I think some mil-def companies are working on plastic/frangible rounds that won't kill people on the ass-end of the trajectory.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at April 26, 2026 01:03 PM (diia5)

130 We used to maintain a Navy that could simultaneously fight major wars in two theaters. I believe the drawdown began under the execrable Clinton administration, to the distinct benefit of Bill Clinton's biggest campaign donors, the Communist Chinese.

Now we have a weak Navy, a non-existent national manufacturing capacity, and the most substandard shipyard welding in our nation's history.

Posted by: Sam Adams at April 26, 2026 01:03 PM (X+xvk)

131 "I guess even very smart people can also be very crazy."

Trump said it last night. Paraphrasing - "some people can be geniuses, but they're nuts".

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 01:04 PM (U/Byj)

132 NYT Headline: investigators trying to find motive for shooting.

Lol

Gee I wonder what it could be. Maybe he was upset his favorite baseball team lost a game and decided to shoot at the president. Yeah that’s probably it. Has nothing to do with your newspaper actively encouraging people to kill him.

Posted by: Heroq at April 26, 2026 01:04 PM (oUXe0)

133 Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 26, 2026 01:02 PM (y9nCu)

I have played this several times. She is awesome!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 26, 2026 01:05 PM (n9ltV)

134 Quad .50 Cals would be much cheaper and probably just as effective. The Phalanx is probably effective as well, although far more expensive than .50 Cal.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at April 26, 2026 12:59 PM (n9ltV)

Can the .50 cal fire exploding shells with timed fusing like a flak cannon does? Although I don't think you could put nearly as much metal in the sky with .50's that you could with the rotary cannon. Thing is, the GAU-8 is on the shelf now, and does not have to be invented. They would also be useful against suicide speedboats, and perhaps even torpedoes.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 01:05 PM (utfVc)

135 5 Good morning - big storms.
Posted by: Piper at April 26, 2026 12:03 PM (hftzA)

At first, I was, like, huh?

Looking outside, now I understand.

Posted by: one hour sober at April 26, 2026 01:05 PM (Y1sOo)

136 As noted above, the shipbuilding industrial problem was an issue long before Clinton, disastrously, took his 42% of the vote into the WH. To quote Trump, "believe me".

Posted by: rhomboid at April 26, 2026 01:06 PM (U/Byj)

137 I'd rather SK and Japan build here and show our ridiculously inefficient shipyards how to do it. If the unions aren't willing to countenance that and accept their reforms, then build the ships in SK and Japan. National security is a much bigger priority than pleasing unions.
Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 01:00 PM (Riz8t)
====

The problem is that US domestic shipyards have withered to almost nothingness. They have plenty of orders from the Navy and Coast Guard, they just don't have the construction yards to build them on a timely basis. We need more shipyards, but that falls in the decades-long category. It's way cheaper to build strategic assets for the Army, USMC, and the Air Force than to build shipyards and berths.

We needs hulls, NOW.

Posted by: mrp at April 26, 2026 01:06 PM (rj6Yv)

138 > You know, what might be effective against drone swarms would be quad-mount turrets of GAU-8 Avenger cannons as used on the A-10 aircraft. Fire exploding shells with varying time fuses so the result is a deep cloud of high-velocity shrapnel.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
---------
Apparently there's a risk, of some measure, that the shell casings could get sucked into a jet engine. Depending on where the gun's mounted. I guess you could mount them under the flight deck? Let the casings just fall into the ocean...

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 01:06 PM (jehhT)

139 Back when men were men.

https://tinyurl.com/8xkvbtv6

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 01:08 PM (ndZc7)

140 "Shooter left a manifesto.

Sounds about right. Thirty one years old and still lived with his parents. They are saying he is very smart but things seem very odd with this dude. I guess even very smart people can also be very crazy."

yeah, he was active online with far left nuts. As a teacher he must have made enough money to afford to live on his own. Maybe he had a hard addiction to only fans, or something more deviant. Or maybe he gave half his checks to far left causes?

So many Democrat teachers find their "Higher Calling" in either grooming or going militant, with the less insane just pushing the "Hate Whit America" memes on "their" kids.

Posted by: illiniwek at April 26, 2026 01:09 PM (vbXSk)

141
You know, what might be effective against drone swarms would be quad-mount turrets of GAU-8 Avenger cannons as used on the A-10 aircraft. Fire exploding shells with varying time fuses so the result is a deep cloud of high-velocity shrapnel.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 12:55 PM (utfVc)

Naval ship defense doctrine as designed by a 12 year old boy with a brand new 64 count Crayola box and a ream of copier paper.

And it's GLORIOUS.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 26, 2026 01:10 PM (y9nCu)

142 We used to maintain a Navy that could simultaneously fight major wars in two theaters. I believe the drawdown began under the execrable Clinton administration…

Bubba didn’t offshore all that industry by himself, he had a lotta help from the GOPe. Then he sold the rest for contributions to his global initiative foundation.

Posted by: CrotchetyOldJarhead at April 26, 2026 01:10 PM (3Ope8)

143 The problem is that US domestic shipyards have withered to almost nothingness. They have plenty of orders from the Navy and Coast Guard, they just don't have the construction yards to build them on a timely basis. We need more shipyards, but that falls in the decades-long category. It's way cheaper to build strategic assets for the Army, USMC, and the Air Force than to build shipyards and berths.

We needs hulls, NOW.

Understood. I would divide the work between SK/Jap shipyards and our own. I would spend taxpayer money on beefing up our yards, but only on condition the unions accept reforms that will put them somewhere in the vicinity of those foreign shipyard's productivity. Not willing to do that? Sayonara!

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 01:10 PM (Riz8t)

144 Apparently there's a risk, of some measure, that the shell casings could get sucked into a jet engine. Depending on where the gun's mounted. I guess you could mount them under the flight deck? Let the casings just fall into the ocean...
Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 01:06 PM (jehhT)

Mesh sacks woven from stranded stainless steel wire could be fitted to catch the brass. Saving the brass would reduce the cost of operation by a small factor, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 01:11 PM (utfVc)

145 I think I'm in love.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIbzDBZPPqs

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 26, 2026 01:02 PM (y9nCu)

And for damn good reason.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at April 26, 2026 01:12 PM (snZF9)

146 who remembers 'the peace dividend' ?

Posted by: Don Black at April 26, 2026 01:12 PM (ZxPkt)

147 Before ships can be built, there needs to be adequate supplies of steel, aluminum, and so forth. If we were serious, all the onerous environmental holdups would have to waived, so our steel and aluminum mills could be fast tracked to re-open with modern American-made materials and technology. With the Democrats straddling the road and obstructing? Doubtful prospects.

Posted by: Fritz at April 26, 2026 01:12 PM (J7jo9)

148
This guy has some interesting thoughts.

https://is.gd/iklpu8
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

================

He says "How did Cole know Trump was seated?"

It was being broadcast live, duh. He could see it all on his phone.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia at April 26, 2026 01:13 PM (n7rxJ)

149 Back when men were men.

https://tinyurl.com/8xkvbtv6
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Fat, Dumb, and Happy at April 26, 2026 01:08 PM (ndZc7)

That was in Three Hills, Alberta. Close to my AO. Tornado missed my place by a few miles. I was in AZ at the time.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 01:14 PM (utfVc)

150 Can the .50 cal fire exploding shells with timed fusing like a flak cannon does? Although I don't think you could put nearly as much metal in the sky with .50's that you could with the rotary cannon. Thing is, the GAU-8 is on the shelf now, and does not have to be invented. They would also be useful against suicide speedboats, and perhaps even torpedoes.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 01:05 PM (utfVc)

I was just wondering about Proximity Fuses.

Posted by: Reforger at April 26, 2026 01:14 PM (G4ajv)

151 Somebody put another torpedo-in my pants!

Posted by: Scranton Joe at April 26, 2026 01:15 PM (oftw2)

152
Apparently there's a risk, of some measure, that the shell casings could get sucked into a jet engine. Depending on where the gun's mounted. I guess you could mount them under the flight deck? Let the casings just fall into the ocean...
Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 26, 2026 01:06 PM (jehhT)

The GAU-8 is designed to recycle the spent cartridges back into the magazine, because if they didn't it would radically alter the trim of an A-10 in flight. Should be easy enough to route the cartridge feed to instead dump the cases into a separate spent cartridge magazine below decks.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 26, 2026 01:15 PM (y9nCu)

153 I was just wondering about Proximity Fuses.

I think they might be way too expensive.

A single, high-tech modern artillery or mortar proximity fuze can cost between $3,000 and over $30,000 due to advanced sensor technology, production markup, and specialized, hardened, miniaturized electronics designed to survive extreme G-forces.

Posted by: Archimedes at April 26, 2026 01:16 PM (Riz8t)

154 'Peace Dividend,' the force shrank but the ops tempo stayed the same.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 26, 2026 01:17 PM (qFVoe)

155 I was just wondering about Proximity Fuses.
Posted by: Reforger at April 26, 2026 01:14 PM (G4ajv)

That would be great if they could be miniaturized enough to fit the round being used.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at April 26, 2026 01:17 PM (utfVc)

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