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January 15, 2001

The U.S. Army has always owned ships, usually tugs and coastal craft for assisting in moving supplies. During World War II, the U.S. Army actually had more ships than the U.S. Navy. But today, the Army has only about 295 ships. But they are buying more, mainly to speed up the deployment of units to overseas hot spots. During the 1991 Gulf War, it took the Army 150 days to move five divisions (mostly by sea) to the Persian Gulf. It actually took 205 days to move all the combat and support units to the Gulf. The Army is buying three LSVs (Logistic Support Vehicles.) These are actually LSTs, and can carry 24 M-1 tanks, and deliver them right to a beach. The Army already has six LSVs. The Army is also buying high speed (80 kilometers an hour catamaran) ferrys that can move twenty tanks some 2,000 kilometers. The LSVs, and 20 larger Roll On/Roll Off transports will be used to pre-position armored brigades worth of equipment off potential hot spots. Just add the troops, get the equipment ashore, and you're ready for war.