Branden på USS Bonhomme Richard får operative konsekvenser for US Navy

Branden på landgangsskibet Bonhomme Richard får store konsekvenser for den amerikanske flådes evne til at opstille styrker i den kommende tid. Skibet var netop ved at færdiggøre en flerårig opgradering som blandt andet skulle sætte det i stand til at operere marinekorpsets F-35B kampfly. Opgraderingen har kostet 250 millioner dollars.

Som Bryan McGrath forklarer i en kommentar på War on the Rocks, er landgangsskibe som Bonhomme Richard kernen i de amerikanske såkaldte expeditionary strike groups :

To provide conventional deterrence and forward-deployed assurance, the U.S. Navy relies on a finite number of force packages. They include the carrier strike group — comprised of a large, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, a carrier air wing, and three to five surface combatants (cruisers and destroyers) and logistics ships — and the expeditionary strike group — comprised of an amphibious assault ship (such as the Bonhomme Richard), two additional amphibious warships, and a Marine expeditionary unit of over 2,000 marines whose mobility is provided by the ships and aircraft of the overall expeditionary strike group. Additionally, one to two surface combatants provide offensive and defensive power to the expeditionary strike group. Attack submarines may be associated with a larger formation but generally operate independently. Moreover, ships deploy independently or in small groups to support combatant commander requirements for exercise participation and other allied engagement.

The carrier strike group and the expeditionary strike group are, however, the basic formations of U.S. naval power. The ships at the heart of these formations — known colloquially as “big decks” — are large, capable, expensive, and critical.

Det er mildt sagt ødelæggende for de amerikanske operationsplaner at der nu ikke kan formes en expeditionary strike group omkring Bonhomme Richard i de kommende år. Ikke mindst kan det komme til at betyde at presset på de øvrige skibe kommer til at stige, hvilket kan lægge yderligere belastning på den i forvejen hårdt spændte amerikanske flåde. Det er en dårlig nyhed, idet netop manglende tid til vedligeholdelse og træning i de senere år har været en årsag til flere alvorlige ulykker med amerikanske krigsskibe.