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November 24, 1999

Naval commanders are pressuring the Clinton Administration to "buy back" seven Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarines that had been scheduled for retirement (to avoid the cost of refueling them). The Navy points out that Administration plans for a force of about 50 submarines are totally inadequate, and that the cheapest way to get more subs into the fleet is to refuel these seven boats. Surface commanders complain that the 116 surface combatants planned by the Clinton Administration cannot support the present level of deployments and want to reverse plans to scrap a dozen frigates and destroyers. --Stephen V Cole