Navy proposes decommissioning 39 ships next year

The Navy last week proposed decommissioning 39 battle force and non-battle force ships next year, another sign the Navy will continue to pursue efforts to shrink the fleet.

The Navy’s list, published as an administrative note on Friday, included 25 battle force ships and 14 auxiliary ships:

The note acknowledged that Congress has already made moves to save some of the ships on the list. Those annotated with a “1,” “2” or “3” have been targeted in some way for being salvaged by the House Armed Services Committee, House Appropriations Committee or the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The last several budget cycles have included a push by the Navy to shrink the fleet. Two years ago, the Navy proposed cutting 15 ships and building eight, and this year, the Navy proposed cutting 24 ships and building just nine.

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