U.S. Navy Ships Forced To Leave Combat In Red Sea To Reload Missiles

Due to long missile reloading times, U.S. Navy ships, including cruisers and destroyers, are being forced to leave their positions in the middle of combat.

This is a serious issue, especially as the Navy is actively fighting the Houthis in the region, who have been launching missile and drone attacks since October 2023.

Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, says that the Navy needs to find a way to keep its ships in the region longer without leaving to reload.

One solution could be the Transferrable Reload At Sea Method (TRAM). This method is still being tested, but it could allow ships to reload while staying at sea, so they don’t have to leave the area.

This would help Navy ships remain in the fight without leaving to dock for rearming.

In October 2023, TRAM was successfully tested when a missile was transferred from the USNS Washington Chambers to the USS Chosin while both ships were moving in the sea. This transfer was done using a cable and pulley system.

The need for such a system is not just limited to the Red Sea. If tensions with China escalate, the Navy needs this technology to operate in areas without easy access to bases. At-sea reloading could help them stay active without returning to distant ports for resupply.

While there are support facilities in places like Bahrain and Greece, they are far from the Red Sea, which means it’s difficult for ships to stay in combat without taking long breaks to reload.

The U.S. Navy is adapting different techniques to counter the Houthis actions, like using high-energy lasers to shoot down drones. It is also looking for ways to keep its ships in action without needing to leave the region.

The Navy has already expended a large amount of ammunition in the Red Sea.

Over the past 15 months, the U.S Navy has fired nearly 400 munitions while fighting against the Houthis in the Red Sea. These include 120 SM-2 missiles, 80 SM-6 missiles, 160 rounds from five-inch guns, and 20 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) and SM-3 missiles.

Each missile can cost between $2 million and $28 million, making the situation costly and unsustainable without a solution.

Vice Admiral Brendan McLane shares these details during the Surface Navy Association conference.

The Houthi rebels, supported by Iran, have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea since October 2023. In response, U.S. Navy ships, aircraft, and submarines have engaged more than 400 Houthi drones, missiles, and rockets.

The Navy’s missile systems, like the SM-2 and SM-6 are designed to protect against threats in the air and sea. U.S. military leaders have asked Congress for extra funding to replenish munitions stocks.

One ship, the USS Spruance, recently returned after shooting down three anti-ship ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and seven drones during its Red Sea deployment.

Despite the heavy use of munitions, McLane said that commanders are focused on the mission and not the cost of each missile. Their priority is to protect forces in the region.

After a friendly fire incident in December 2023, where the USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down a U.S. F/A-18 Super Hornet, investigations are underway.

The Navy wants to know what went wrong and follow precautionary measures for future incidents.

References: The War Zone, Stars and Stripes

Source: Maritime Shipping News