Navy, Marines tell Senate amphibious fleet maintenance shortfalls hurt marine readiness
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Summary
Navy and Marine Corps leaders told senators that a large share of amphibious ships are unavailable and that both services need a shared maintenance plan and resources to restore amphibious readiness.
Navy and Marine Corps leaders told the Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee that limited amphibious ship availability is a critical constraint on Marine Corps expeditionary operations and on the services' ability to present a credible three-ship amphibious arc.
Marine Corps witness General Mahoney said he checks amphibious availability daily and that "there were 13 of 32 amphibious ships available," a figure he and senators described as "unacceptable." Mahoney outlined short-, medium- and longer-term steps: resource ships to reach service lives rather than early decommissioning; improve maintenance planning to get availabilities on schedule; and pursue service-life extensions and midlife upgrades.
Admiral Kilby acknowledged the problem and described steps the Navy is taking to improve planning and maintenance execution, including locking funding and contracts months ahead of availabilities so industry can order long-lead parts and assemble repair teams. He told senators the Navy is applying a goal of making 80% of ships, submarines and aircraft "combat surge ready" by Jan. 1, 2027, and said the Navy seeks to apply the processes that improved aviation maintenance to ships and submarines.
Senators asked whether the Navy and Marine Corps could commit to shared definitions and a concrete agreement on how amphibious ships will be classified and sustained. Admiral Kilby said he would "get into an agreement" and that the services now brief from the same database. Mahoney and Kilby both emphasized the consequences for Marine Corps force generation: when an ARG (amphibious ready group) sails with fewer ships because of maintenance shortfalls — as occurred when Boxer returned to maintenance and the ARG operated with a reduced set — the Marine Corps cannot embark the planned complement or maintain planned surge operations.
GAO testimony and senators' questioning connected shipyard capacity and workforce issues to amphibious availability. Senators highlighted the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP) and asked whether Navy flexibility under a potential CR would prioritize critical SIOP projects; Admiral Kilby said SIOP work is ongoing and that the program remains a priority.
The committee pressed for clearer roles and stronger leadership and delivery metrics to get amphibious maintenance on schedule. "To me, that's a start," Admiral Kilby said after agreeing to pursue a formal Navy–Marine Corps agreement on amphibious maintenance priorities.
