Saturday, 2 June 2012  Repositioning the Legions - the USN in
2020  It has been announced by US Secretary of Defence, that by
2020 60% of the USN will be based in the Asia Pacific theatre.
This is a significant shift in posture, and reflects the wider
changes occurring to the US military as it orientates itself
away from a global posture, and into a more Asian century.  Lets
consider for a moment what this means – the reality is that by
2020, 60% of the USN, including ‘a majority of’ surface
combatants, submarines, and no less than six carrier groups will
be based in the Pacific fleet. This is a very substantial shift
in resourcing, and reflects this authors long standing view that
the US is experiencing its ‘East of Suez’ decade, where
increasingly difficult choices have to be made about where
resources are applied. The new 'nation of concern' at sea. An
increasingly common sight  In practical terms, as hull numbers
drop ever more steadily, and replacements seem interminably
delayed, the USN appears on track