US Military-US Navy vs Russian Navy(Rapidly Expanding)

Russia is on a huge shipbuilding splurge and acting quickly in doing so.

The Russian fleet is more than 300 ships at the present time. You can see a list of the Russian Navy
on the website http://rusnavy.com/nowadays/strength/  yes some of the ships are rather old, but they
have been updated and modernized.

Now the part that should be of interest to every American, and should open some eyes in Congress and
at the Department of Defense:

Russia will add Fifty (50) warships by 2016 which will include 18 surface warships of various ranks
and designation. Also 30 special-purpose and counter-subversion vessels. It also has plans put into operation 6 multi-purpose and strategic submarines.

The statement from the Defense Ministry said "The implementation of the ship building program envisages serial construction along with the introduction of new technical and modernization solutions into each subsequently built warship."

It was also announced that the Russian Navy will receive eighty (80) support vessels which will include tugboats, patrol boats, diving boats, modular search and rescue platforms and floating cranes.

Last year Russia announced  plans to build  over 100 auxiliary ships by 2020, these ships will use
full integration of logistics, technical, and maintenance capabilities. Each ship will be able to perform a wide variety of missions including firefighting and resupply of fuel food, fresh water and munitions.

The U.S. Navy plans-made in early 2012-call for 41 ships in the FY2013-FY2017. That is 16 fewer than planned last year. with an average of 8.2 ships per year. This was with a goal of 310-316 warships.

Of course, with the budget constraints and possible cuts in defense spending; and as our ships
age and are retired we could see a fleet of 290 ships in the near future.

Our nation can not allow our military to fall behind this far this quickly. The Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard are already facing cuts in personnel; some of the cuts will be quite drastic.

Can we dare to become a second class military? Should we allow other countries to grow stronger and risk the possibility of not being able to defend ourselves?

Yes other countries are facing the same problems with finances being cut and defense spending also slowed or drastically reduced.

But we must always remain strong and ready to face any challenge no matter where or when it originates. America can not and must not take the chance.


---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Russia to purchase French Helicopter carriers

On Sunday Russia's defense ministry announced plans to purchase two French Amphibious Assault Ships. The Mistral class ship is most similar to our LHD USS Iwo Jima a Wasp class amphibious assault ship.

The plan is to buy two Mistral class helicopter carriers plus the complete technology to enable
Russia to build their own ships. Delivery of the first ship is thought to be in 2013.

The Mistral is capable of transporting and deploying 16 helicopters, 4 landing barges up to 70 armored vehicles including 13 battle tanks and 450 personnel.

Russia plans to use their own helicopters which will require some modification to the flight deck and
elevators, making the ship a little larger.

Reports say that at present no shipyard in Russia is capable of producing the Misstral class ship, and
massive upgrades and improvements must be made before production can begin.

Also since Russia has no ship of this type in their navy all officers and crew members will require extensive training before the ship would be ready for sea.

This is one more step in the Russian plan to rebuild their military, making their navy bigger and stronger. Could it be a return to the Cold War type and size military making Russia once again a superpower to be reckoned with?

With China and Russia making their military forces stronger and larger the U.S. must continue with
our ship building program.

Talks of cutting the defense budget in the face of other countries ever growing buildup must be looked at very closely. We can not allow our country to fall behind.

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996