USN Looks To Reduce Crew Sizes on Carriers

[nhboy]

"The U.S. Navy wants to figure out a way to deploy an aircraft carrier, which normally sails with more than 5,000 sailors aboard, with a crew and airwing numbering less than 1,000.

In an era when manpower costs devour 60 percent of annual Navy budgets, the service has been hard-pressed to not only reduce its endstrength so it can afford the ships and aircraft it wants, but to pare down crew sizes while making the most of each sailor.

The manning goals for future warships are far below that of current surface combatants, with just 75 aboard the Littoral Combat Ship and fewer than 150 on DDG 1000. Future submarine crews will also be smaller."

DefenseNews.com - USN Looks To Reduce Crew Sizes on Carriers - 10/22/07 22:11

 

[Gummie]

Looks like they are going to be working port and starboard watches.

 

[MMDad]

Looks like they are going to be working port and starboard watches.

I wouldn't have minded that at sea if we could have had more free time when we were home. It works well for the Coast Guard, but they rarely deploy for long periods.

The only way they can get there is to have the crew be operators only. Anything breaks, they'll need to have support there for them quickly. They'll get there one day.

One problem I see is that when the s*** hits the fan, there is no substitute for sheer manpower. Look at what the crews to save their ships on the Stark, Sammy B., and Cole. Could a reduced crew have done the same?

 

[~mellabella~]

Well, I think this is going to end badly....I mean yeah, I can understand budget cuts and all. But hubby is Navy, and will tell you straight up that when all goes south the more people on board the better!