Episode 716: Mid-March Melee

Having trouble keeping up with all the developments in the national security realm over the last two months? Well, let not your heart be troubled, Sal & Mark are here for you this week with the ever-popular Midrats Melee format! No guest this week for the podcast, just your two humble hosts, solving the world’s problems in 60-minutes. Show Links Rear Admiral William Daly, USN OPNAV N96 at Surface Navy Association’s annual symposium: quotes can be found at link 1 and link 2. TRANSCOM’s purchase of used cargo ships. Substack on medium USV. Trump’s Gunboats, The National Interest, December 2016, by Claude Berube, and Mark Tempest. Substack on The Ship’s Act, December 2024. Summary In this episode of MidRats, Sal and Mark discuss the current state of naval infrastructure and the bipartisan Ships Act aimed at revitalizing shipbuilding in the U.S. They explore leadership changes within the Navy, the importance of unmanned vessels, and the potential for optimism in naval operations. The conversation also touches on geopolitical concerns, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict and North Korea's military developments, emphasizing the need for a robust maritime strategy. Takeaways The Ships Act has bipartisan support and aims to enhance naval infrastructure. Leadership changes in the executive and legislative branchs could positively impact shipbuilding efforts. There is optimism regarding the revitalization of the U.S. maritime industry. Unmanned vessels are seen as a crucial component of future naval strategy. Admiral Daly advocates for affordable and practical designs. The maritime industry can provide significant economic benefits across the U.S. The U.S. must adapt to lessons learned from the Ukraine conflict. The importance of recapturing intellectual capital from former military personnel. Sound Bites "It's an exciting thing to see." "We need hulls in the water." "We need to keep the money flowing." Chapters 00:00: Introduction 01:44: The Ships Act: A Bipartisan Initiative 09:11: Challenges in Shipbuilding and Maintenance 12:45: Historical Context: Lessons from WWII 16:38: The Need for New Vessels and Innovation 20:28: Admiral Daly's Vision for Unmanned Vessels 23:56: Utilizing Naval Reserves for Unmanned Operations 28:03: Conclusion and Future Directions 30:01: Navigating Military Transitions 32:57: Optimism in Maritime Strategy 36:49: Challenges in Global Security 39:05: The Syrian Crisis and Its Implications 45:30: North Korea's Military Developments 52:59: Lessons from the Ukraine Conflict