The US Navy has issued a summary of its FY 2022 shipbuilding request, outlining what projects it would focus on but also which ships are planned for retirement by September 2022.
The service’s ageing Ticonderoga-class cruisers top the list, with a total of seven guided-missile cruisers slated to be mothballed. They are planned to be put into the Out of Commission in Reserve (OCIR) status, alongside four fairly new littoral combat ships.
The cruisers include USS San Jacinto (CG 56) USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) USS Monterey (CG 61) USS hue City (CG 66) USS Anzio (CG 68) USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) and USS Port Royal (CG 73).
Littoral combat ships scheduled for decommissioning include USS Fort Worth (LCS 3) USS Coronado (LCS 4) USS Detroit (LCS 7) and USS Little (LCS 9). Dock landing ship USS Whidbey Island will also be mothballed.
A pair of Los Angeles-class submarines will not be mothballed, but recycled, together with a fleet ocean tug.
In addition to the scrapping list, the report, which was submitted to Congress also includes a list of ships expected to be funded.
The FY2022 shipbuilding plan continues funding for the Columbia class SSBN program, as well as the Block V multi-year procurement for 10 Virginia-class submarines, 9 with Virginia Payload Modules (VPM).
A procurement of one DDG 51 Flight III destroyer and one Constellation-class frigate is also included. Additionally, the plan would fund one T-AO 205 class fleet oiler and another T-ATS, while continuing work to initiate the T-AGOS(X) program as well as the recapitalization of the surge sealift fleet with the procurement of five used vessels.
