Some Things Just Don't Change

摘要

Congress has authorized the construction of six "super frigates." They pack more firepower than larger conventional warships and take advantage of superior materials of build. But construction is taking longer than anticipated, the ships are coming in over weight-and the completed cost will be two to three times the estimate. No, we're not talking about the latest Navy shipbuilding cost debacle, we're talking about the original six frigates built for the infant U.S. Navy. The story, very briefly, is this. After the War of Independence, in 1785 the last ship of the Continental Navy, was auctioned off. No longer protected by British naval forces and with no American Navy, American ships became the prey of Algerian corsairs and many American seamen were held hostage.