[rottndog]

60 SSNs is right at replacement rate. Boats last about 30 years and are currently being built at 2 a year. I would say we need no less than 70 boats...there has to be some level of flexibility, for things just like what happened to Miami.

And with China becoming more aggressive, and there’s simply no slack anymore.

[cva66snipe]

My concerns would be long term ability to produce as well as short term need and on hand availability for emergency deployment if production is not possible or refueling is disrupted for several years. IOW too much rides on our one source policies as far as building and fueling in respective venues. In event of attack and war it's better to have them built and ready and if a few things get destroyed in our infrastructure we have some time to rebuild.

We were able to pull from behind strength wise in WW2 because our manufacturing infrastructure was there in almost all aspects and in multiple venues if needed. We don't have that luxury now even in non nuclear defense production. I just don't think China is going to process our needed steel or especially fuel if we came under attack. Not to mention you just don't go hire experiences ship builders off the street much less ones capable of building boats. It's the old saying practice makes perfect.