PODCAST DISCUSSION: Why America Only Builds 2 destroyers and 1.2 submarines a year

WASHINGTON DC 8JUNE2026WWII America built 5,500 merchant ships in over 30 shipyards; today it can manage two destroyers and 1 sub a year from 6 yards. China’s shipyards outproduce us 200:1. Our missile lines build in the hundreds. Our shipyards are staffed by workers averaging 55 years old. And the Navy is short 20,000 sailors before the shooting even starts.The United States is being overmatched by China in every category.“One Chinese Shipyard can produce more ships in a year than all of ours combined.”Brigadier General Mark Clingan, USMC, 2023.“China has 13 naval shipyards, with one of these facilities having more capacity than all seven US naval shipyards combined.”Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, 2023.The Office of Naval Intelligence put the disparity in raw shipbuilding capacity at more than 200 to one by tonnage.* The U.S. spends like a wartime power but builds like a peacetime museum.* The bottleneck isn’t money — it’s time, skills, and industrial extinction.FULL ANALYSIS HEREThe National Security Desk offers these posts freely, but your support is necessary and appreciated. Please subscribe, paid if you’re able, or leave a tip.Thank you This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit nsdpodcasts.substack.com