"How Long Will The U.S. Navy Rule The Oceans?" Topic

"China builds fake islands in the South China Sea. Russia fires missiles into Syria from the Mediterranean and Caspian Seas. North Korea launches ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan. The U.S. orders three -- three! -- aircraft carrier strike groups to the Western Pacific in response. Houthi rebels shoot rockets at U.S. ships off Yemen. Pacific nations go on a submarine-buying binge. India and China start constructing their first homemade aircraft carriers. Pirates return to the waters off East Africa.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that control of high seas is becoming more vital than any time since World War II. Which makes it the perfect moment for an authoritative new book on the role of sea power in shaping human civilization across the globe and across the ages…"
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imho….as long as the American taxpayer is willing to pay for the navy that the U.S. has …. the U.S. will probably be "ruling the oceans" for a long… long time…. (smile)

Amicalement
Armand

The US doesn't rule the oceans.
Rule Britannia! Clearly says Britain rules the waves. And songs never lie.

It will take the Chinese quite some time before they get a good blue-water navy, but they can already challenge the USN within about 200 miles of their coasts.

Whatever happens, it will happen all of a sudden, and will be totally obvious in retrospect.

DrSkull – Hear hear! Only morons would not have been able to predict this – after it happens of course!

Of the three major armed services the USN has the largest budget by a substantial margin, and the POTUS wants to build a 350-ship navy.

Potential adversaries like China and Russia will never match our capability in the forseeable future, but they don't need to achieve parity. All they need to do is to have enough capability to challenge us in their regional waters.

From Athens to Spain to UK to US to China within 50 years. Same reasons, power of the seas, necessary as need to secure the trade routes etc. A Mahan and others will tell you better.

Us will sustain it as long as the economy will allow and they need it. It might refocus on truly useful places, mostly Pacific.

(smile)

Amicalement
Armand

While Mahans point was correct I always thought it was a weird little book.

He always seemed to be saying that it shouldn't be Britain that ruled the waves as it should have been France!

He just seemed to be continually trying to put down the Royal Navy and excuse the French….