RELOAD MISSILE SHOOTERS AT SEA

摘要

The U.S. Navy began experimenting with underway replenishment capabilities in 1899. The goal then was to enable coal-fired warships to receive fuel while under way so they could stay at sea and avoid the predictable stops at coaling stations around the globe. Today, with more than 30 ships in the combat logistics force, the U.S. fleet can be replenished at sea with fuel, ordnance, and stores so it can remain at sea almost indefinitely-with one important exception. In his May 2013 Proceedings article, "The Rise of the Missile Carriers," Commander Phillip Pournelle wrote, "There are current logistical limitations impeding the deployment of missiles aboard surface ships and submarines." Navy cruisers, destroyers, and submarines must en- ter a port that has ordnance packaging, handling, storage, and transportation infrastructure to reload vertical launchers. In many of the world's potential hotspots, ports that are capable of supporting missile reload are nonexistent or more than a week's sail time away.