The US Fleet Shrinks to Its Lowest Level Since World War I.. What Is Happening?

The smallest since World War I.. Decommissioning 14 ships reduces the size of the US fleet

The size of the US naval fleet has currently shrunk to its smallest level since before World War I, following a decision to decommission 14 ships at the end of fiscal year 2026 by September 30.

Recently published documents indicate the Navy's desire to decommission an additional 14 ships before the end of the current fiscal year, according to The National Interest magazine.

The list includes 3 nuclear-powered submarines, two cruisers, a littoral combat ship, an amphibious assault ship, and a number of support ships. Their decommissioning dates range from last January to next September.

The three nuclear-powered submarines that the US Navy plans to decommission include:

The fast attack submarine of the Los Angeles class USS Newport News (SSN-750), which entered service in June 1989.

The fast attack submarine of the Los Angeles class, USS Alexandria (SSN-757), which entered service in June 1991.

The guided missile submarine of the Ohio class USS Georgia (SSGN-729), which entered service in February 1984.

Oldest US submarine

The US Navy is now working on decommissioning its oldest Los Angeles class submarines, which have been in service for more than 40 years, and replacing them with newer Virginia class submarines.

The submarine SSGN-729 will be the first of the four Ohio class submarines, originally designated for ballistic missiles (SSBNs), that were converted to cruise missile submarines (SSGNs).

All four modified submarines are scheduled to be decommissioned by 2028, after having far exceeded their designed service life.

The US Navy has also decided to decommission two Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers, USS Shiloh (CG-67) and USS Lake Erie (CG-70).

The first was launched at a ceremony at Bath Iron Works in Maine in July 1992, while the second was launched at Pearl Harbor two years later, in July 1993.

Despite being built at Bath Iron Works, the ship CG-70 became the first US Navy warship to be operated in Hawaii.

27 Ticonderoga class cruisers were built for the US Navy between 1983 and 1994.

This was the last class of warships built for the US Navy, and their missions have now been transferred to the Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers.

However, three cruisers, USS Gettysburg (CG-64), USS Chosin (CG-65), and USS Cape St. George (CG-71), were selected for service life extension due to their recent modernization, and their service period was extended to 2029-2030. Nevertheless, as of May 2026, only 7 ships remain in the active fleet.

The US Navy has struggled for years to define the role of its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), and while Independence class ships can undertake mine countermeasures, the path for Freedom class ships remains unclear.

This explains why the decommissioning date for the USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) of the Freedom class, the first ship named after the city of Fort Worth, Texas, was set for July 31 in San Diego, making it the oldest active ship of its class.

"Small crappy ships"

Freedom class ships have suffered from mechanical problems, malfunctioning weapons systems, and increasing maintenance costs. As a result of these and other issues, these warships have earned the nickname "small crappy ships" among some who served on them. USS Fort Worth is the latest LCS class ship facing decommissioning.

The lead ship of this class, USS Freedom (LCS-1), along with USS Milwaukee (LCS-5), USS Detroit (LCS-7), USS Little Rock (LCS-9), and USS Sioux City (LCS-11), have already been decommissioned, years ahead of schedule.

Ships LCS-7 and LCS-9 were previously placed under monitoring within the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. Even with 6 Freedom class LCS ships decommissioned, the final ship, the future USS Cleveland (LCS-31), which has not yet entered service, is scheduled to be officially commissioned later this month.

Reduction of logistics ships

The Whidbey Island class amphibious assault ship USS Germantown (LSD-42) is also scheduled to be decommissioned at the end of next September, as well as the large, medium-speed military sealift ship USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR-313).

The list includes two other LMSR class ships, USNS Watkins (T-AKR-315) and USNS Pomeroy (T-AKR-316), being decommissioned this year, along with the Henry J. Kaiser class naval oil tankers USNS John Ericsson (T-AO-194), USNS Pecos (T-AO-197), and USNS Big Horn (T-AO-198), and the naval petroleum distribution system ship USNS Vadm. KR Wheeler (T-AG-5001).

The plans include recycling the three submarines and dismantling the littoral combat ship LCS-3.

The ships T-AKR-313, T-AKR-315, T-AKR-316, T-AG-5001, and T-AO-197 will be transferred to the Office of Strategic Sealift Transportation under the Maritime Administration (MARAD), where they can be used to bolster the National Defense Reserve Fleet (NDRF), recycled, or even used to create artificial reefs.

The remaining ships will become Logistics Support Assets (LSA). According to the US Navy, these ships will be used as a primary means for ship dismantling and equipment removal.

Al-Sharq