The 600-ship Navy was a strategic plan of the United States Navy during the 1980s to rebuild its fleet after cutbacks that followed the end of the Vietnam War.[1] The plan, which originated with Republican leaders, was an important campaign plank of Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election, who advocated a larger military and strategic confrontation with the Soviet Union.[2][3]
The number of ships peaked at 594 in 1987, before declining sharply after the end of the Cold War in 1989–1992.[4]
The program included:
- Recommissioning the Iowa-class battleships
- Keeping older ships in service longer
- A large new construction program
- Stepping up production of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers
The idea was supported by John F. Lehman, who became Reagan's Secretary of the Navy, and Caspar Weinberger, Reagan's Secretary of Defense.
- ^ Hattendorf, John B. Kelleher, Catherine McArdle; Boyer, Pelham G.; Goodrich, Patricia A. (eds.). The Evolution of the U.S. Navy's Maritime Strategy, 1977-1986 (PDF). Directorate for Information Operations and Reports (Center for Naval Warfare Studies) (Essay). Naval War College Newport Papers. Vol. 19. Newport, Rhode Island, United States: Naval War College. ISBN 1-884733-32-8. ISSN 1544-6824. OMB No. 0704-0188. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2009.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
rhodewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Armstrong, C.E.; Bottoms, Albert M. (22 June 1989). Uhlig Jr., Frank (ed.). "Command of the Seas: Building the 600 Ship Navy" (PDF). Naval War College Review. 42 (3). New Port, Rhode Island, United States: Naval War College: 118–122. ISSN 0028-1484. LCCN 75617787. OCLC 01779130. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
- ^ "US Ship Force Levels 1886-present". Naval History and Heritage Command. Archived from the original on 5 November 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.