Episode 716: Mid-March Melee

Having trouble keeping up with all the developments in the national security realm over the last two months?

Well, let not your heart be troubled, Sal & Mark are here for you this week with the ever-popular Midrats Melee format!

No guest this week for the podcast, just your two humble hosts, solving the world’s problems in 60-minutes.

Show Links

• Rear Admiral William Daly, USN OPNAV N96 at Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium: quotes can be found at link 1 and link 2.
• TRANSCOM’s purchase of used cargo ships.
• Substack on medium USV.
• Trump’s Gunboats, The National Interest, December 2016, by Claude Berube, and Mark Tempest.
• Substack on The Ship’s Act, December 2024.

Summary

In this episode of MidRats, Sal and Mark discuss the current state of naval infrastructure and the bipartisan Ships Act aimed at revitalizing shipbuilding in the U.S. They explore leadership changes within the Navy, the importance of unmanned vessels, and the potential for optimism in naval operations. The conversation also touches on geopolitical concerns, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict and North Korea's military developments, emphasizing the need for a robust maritime strategy.

Takeaways

• The Ships Act has bipartisan support and aims to enhance naval infrastructure.
• Leadership changes in the executive and legislative branchs could positively impact shipbuilding efforts.
• There is optimism regarding the revitalization of the U.S. maritime industry.
• Unmanned vessels are seen as a crucial component of future naval strategy.
• Admiral Daly advocates for affordable and practical designs.
• The maritime industry can provide significant economic benefits across the U.S.
• The U.S. must adapt to lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict.
• The importance of recapturing intellectual capital from former military personnel.

Sound Bites

• "It's an exciting thing to see."
• "We need hulls in the water."
• "We need to keep the money flowing."

Chapters

00:00: Introduction
01:44: The Ships Act: A Bipartisan Initiative
09:11: Challenges in Shipbuilding and Maintenance
12:45: Historical Context: Lessons from WWII
16:38: The Need for New Vessels and Innovation
20:28: Admiral Daly's Vision for Unmanned Vessels
23:56: Utilizing Naval Reserves for Unmanned Operations
28:03: Conclusion and Future Directions
30:01: Navigating Military Transitions
32:57: Optimism in Maritime Strategy
36:49: Challenges in Global Security
39:05: The Syrian Crisis and Its Implications
45:30: North Korea's Military Developments
52:59: Lessons from the Ukraine Conflict