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The USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, conducts routine operations in the Atlantic Ocean in 2021. Wasp-class ships have broken down three times this year — a pattern that some defense analysts said sends a message to other countries that the U.S. is unprepared to respond to a conflict. (Brenton Poyser/U.S. Navy)
WASHINGTON — Three Wasp-class amphibious warships have suffered mechanical problems at sea in recent months — a pattern that some defense analysts said projects a message to other countries that the U.S. Navy might be unprepared for a fight rather than a powerful fleet ready to strike.
“As these instances keep stacking up, that certainly demonstrates a pattern of unpreparedness. Any potential bad actor out there might factor that into their decision making,” said Dan Grazier, a senior fellow for the National Security Reform Program at the Stimson Center, a Washington think tank.
Naval Surface Forces Atlantic confirmed last week that the USS Iwo Jima experienced an engineering problem Sept. 5 while conducting training off the coast of Virginia. The Wasp-class amphibious ship was observed limping back to Naval Station Norfolk by Aviation and Naval Assets, a ship spotter based in Hampton Roads, Va. Three tugs met the Wasp-class ship off the coast, with a fourth joining the group further inland, according to the ship spotter.
“The ship returned to Naval Station Norfolk under its own power to conduct repairs and is currently back underway continuing basic phase training events,” Lt. Cmdr. David Carter, a spokesman for Naval Surface Forces Atlantic, said Sept. 11.
The ship spotter speculated the issue was rudder related based on the way that the Iwo Jima moved.
“All of her turns were to port after 01:58 Zulu or 9:58 p.m. Eastern Time. From then on, there were no turns to starboard. Also, as she was approaching the pier, she was angled into the wind like the tugs couldn’t keep her from going out of the main channel,” Aviation and Naval Assets shared Sept. 5 on X.
Carter did not say if the mechanical issue was rudder related as the ship spotter suspected. Carter indicated last week that the issue was resolved, stating the Iwo Jima was back at sea conducting basic phase training events. Typically, basic phase training is conducted in preparation for deployments.
“We are fully committed to delivering amphibious warships on schedule that are properly organized, trained, equipped, evaluated, and certified to execute maritime expeditionary warfare and amphibious operations,” Carter said.
The Iwo Jima is the third Wasp-class amphibious ship to break down this year.
A different ship spotter in March said the USS Wasp came into port on one shaft due to an engineering problem. A few weeks later, Adm. Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations, said the Wasp’s deployment was likely to be delayed due to mechanical problems.
The Wasp ultimately deployed on time in June, but the news of the Wasp’s issue came about the same time that the USS Boxer was forced to make a U-turn for repairs on its long-delayed Indo-Pacific deployment. The Boxer, also a Wasp-class amphibious ship, deployed April 1 from San Diego but returned to port 10 days later because of a problem with its starboard rudder. The Navy elected to repair the rudder pier side with divers, USNI reported, and the ship returned to its deployment in July.
Wasp-class amphibious assault ships are flat-top warships that act as helicopter landing docks at sea. The warships are also used to deploy Marine expeditionary units, which are described by the Navy and the Marine Corps as a global 911 force that responds to humanitarian crises and conflict.
“They are supposed to be out there standing by, ready to respond to any potential crisis around the world. Seeing problems like this, watching MEUs turn around and come back to port for maintenance issues is pretty disturbing,” Grazier said.
The strain of readying amphibious ships for deployment is a lingering effect of the USS Bonhomme Richard fire of 2020, according to Mark Cancian, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, another Washington think tank. The Wasp-class Bonhomme Richard, which was undergoing maintenance in San Diego, burned for more than four days. Soon after, the ship was declared a total loss.
Eight Wasp-class amphibious ships were built, leaving the Navy with seven active ships following the loss of the Bonhomme Richard. The Navy also has two America-class amphibious assault ships, with a third under construction.
“If we just had one more amphib, it would take some of the stress off the others so there would be a little more time for maintenance,” Cancian said.
The U.S. military, Cancian said, is facing an increased operational tempo around the globe that is pulling its available forces from one area of responsibility to another. The U.S. can maintain a virtual presence by monitoring areas of responsibility from afar, and quickly deploy forces to respond to acts of aggression. For example, he said, the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, based at Fort Liberty, N.C., specializes in parachute assault operations into hostile areas.
“But virtual presence is actual absence,” Cancian said.
Potential enemies, he said, are “not impressed” by a virtual presence.
“Other countries notice when the U.S. forward presence declines,” Cancian said. “This is a problem because it means the U.S. will not be as ready to respond to crises.”
Grazier pointed to a shortage of sailors at sea and an inability to get necessary parts that can create a “cascading effect of problems.”
“Big machines have big problems and for really big machines like an amphib, those problems are just magnified. It is important the Navy recruit enough people to fully flesh out their crews or we are going to continue seeing problems like this,” he said.
The Navy is facing more than 18,000 vacancies at sea as of 2024. Wasp-class ships across the Navy fleet are operating with about 20% fewer sailors than required, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last week. The labor shortage, exacerbated by a lack of in-depth and hands-on training for sailors in maintenance and repair techniques, makes it difficult for the ships to complete regular routine maintenance and repairs at sea.
The watchdog report also found the Navy has a persistent shortage of spare parts and materials necessary to complete sailor-led maintenance.
“When you are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, days away from any additional support, it is critically important for these crews to have all the personnel they need, all the spare parts they need and all the knowledge to make these repairs while at sea so the crew can carry on with its mission,” Grazier said.
