Strategic Frigates and Strategic Corporals

"Strategic Frigates and Strategic Corporals" is the new buzz phrase for the US Navy for "Mission-tailored, distributed forces" expected to be included in the soon to be released new Naval Maritime Strategy. Reading the news of the day, I got the impression the USS Doyle (FFG 39) is playing the role of the Strategic Frigate by this new definition today as it prepares the way for the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) upcoming Global Fleet Station deployment.

The buzz phrase will be used as a description to the approach the Navy will take to "foster cooperative relationships; maintain order; provide new approaches for deterrence, escalation and the de-escalation of conflict; and provide homeland defense" according to an article last month in InsideDefense.

The article goes on to describe some of the aspects of the upcoming new Naval Maritime Strategy:

The briefing lists two maritime objectives, the first of which is conducting a full range of operations to prevent and deter conflict. This includes fostering trust and confidence in the global system through new maritime relationships; easing sources of instability, countering extremist ideology, preventing or containing conflict and deterring aggression; and ensuring that key regions, lines of communication and the maritime commons remain accessible for free and open use. The second objective is countering aggression when necessary.

The briefing also lists six maritime strategic imperatives -- the ways to meet the goals. The imperatives are promoting cooperative relationships with other countries, preventing and mitigating disruptions to the world order by providing security, deterring and containing regional conflict, deterring war between major powers, winning U.S. wars and defending the homeland. Together, these form a systematic approach to the escalation and de-escalation of conflict, the briefing says.

I'm going to reserve final judgment for the real thing. I really just wanted to post the link to give people a heads up, and post the one statement in the article that encouraged me the most.

Mullen told the audience he now views 313 ships as the minimum size for the fleet. The Navy may need even more ships, he said in a departure from previous statements.

Gee, ya think? Looks like the 313-ship plan is dead.