The 600-ship Navy was a strategic plan of the United States Navy during the 1980s to rebuild its fleet after cutbacks that followed the end of the Vietnam War. The plan, which originated with Republican leaders, was an important campaign plank of Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election, who advocated a larger military and strategic confrontation with the Soviet Union.
The number of ships peaked at 594 in 1987, before declining sharply after the end of the Cold War in 1989–1992.
The program included:
Recommissioning the s Keeping older ships in service longer A large new construction program Stepping up production of s
The idea was supported by John F. Lehman, who became Reagan's Secretary of the Navy, and Caspar Weinberger, Reagan's Secretary of Defense.
The plan was cancelled after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Background The idea behind the 600-ship Navy can be traced back to the Vietnam War. During the war, the armed services rapidly expanded to meet the demands placed on them.
The Soviet Union, which had been supporting North Vietnam, began staging their naval vessels from former U.S. ports in South Vietnam. Building on this gain, Soviet vessels began to sail in all seven seas with increased vigor and even ventured into the Gulf of Mexico. Soviet forces also stepped up infantry, armor, and air force deployments in Eastern Europe.
Reagan plan It was against this backdrop in 1980 that the United States began an election year. President Reagan continued this in 1984, releasing a campaign commercial "Bear," which played on the use of the bear as a national symbol of Russia in order to promote higher vigilance and defense expenditures against the Soviet Union.
The overseas strategic retaliation arm was strengthened and the development of new weaponry like the B-1B bomber, the Bradley fighting vehicle, and the Abrams tank was completed and they were put into production.
Lehman attempted to "front-load" the program, by committing the Navy to the building program, but in the end the funds were not available and it fell short.
Ships and weapons systems deployed during the plan The Navy saw the largest benefit of the rebuilding. Under the Reagan administration, the first of the ballistic missile submarines were completed. This class was the largest submarine ever built in the U.S. The ship carried 24 Trident I nuclear-capable missiles, each one with a range. Construction of the Nimitz class of supercarriers and attack submarines were dramatically stepped up. The revolutionary new Aegis Combat System was installed on the upcoming ships, production of which was also stepped up. Several aircraft carriers were put through Service Life Extension Programs (SLEPs) aimed at keeping them in service longer. The Iowa-class battleships, built in the 1940s, were all recommissioned and refitted with RGM-84 Harpoon, BGM-109 Tomahawk, and Phalanx CIWS system capabilities, plus their armor plating would be more resilient against anti-ship missiles. The first Harpoons, Tomahawks, and AGM-88 HARM missiles all debuted on the navy's ships. Naval aviation was stepped up with the introduction of the F/A-18 Hornet, along with improved versions of the EA-6 Prowler electronic countermeasure aircraft, the A-6 Intruder, and the F-14 Tomcat. In addition, the nation's strategic retaliatory arm was strengthened with advanced B-1B bombers and deploying Pershing II theater missiles to Europe. The initiative also included deployment of Abrams main battle tanks and Bradley armored fighting vehicles. U.S. Navy unclassified miscellaneous ships, auxiliary ships, and yard ships are not included in the ship count.
Build-up by year Aircraft carriers
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Nimitz class 2 2 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Kitty Hawk class 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Forrestal class 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Midway class 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Essex class 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total Ships 1414151515151616161717
Battleships
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4 Total Ships 0 0 0 1 2 2 3 3 4 4 4
Cruisers
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 1 2 3 5 9 11 15 16 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total Ships 26 26 26 27 28 29 31 35 37 41 42
Destroyers
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 30 30 30 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 23 20 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 8 7 18 18 7 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 14 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Ships 9591766969696969686352
Frigates
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 8 17 26 37 45 50 52 54 54 55 55 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 46 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 1 0 0 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 5 1 0 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Total Ships 738291102110115117119108104103
Years19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Total major combatants active 208 213 208 214 224 230 236 242 232 229 218
Amphibious assault ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 Total Ships 1212121212121212121313
Dock landing ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 8 8 8 6 4 3 3 3 3 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 Total Ships 1414141210101112121010
Amphibious transport dock
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Total Ships 1515151515151515151515
Amphibious cargo ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Total Ships 66666655555
Tank landing ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 General Frank S. Besson class 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 4 4 Total Ships 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 22 24 24 24
Years19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Total amphibious active 67 67 67 65 63 63 63 66 68 67 67
Command Ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Blue Ridge class 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Total Ships 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Hospital ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 2 2 Total Ships 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 2 2 2
Minesweeper
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 3 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 18 14 Total Ships 19 19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 21 17
Patrol ships
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 1 1 2 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 9 9 9 9 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 Total Ships 10 10 11 15 12 12 12 10 10 10 10
Replenishment oiler
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 6 8 9 0 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 Total Ships 7 10 11 12 12 12 13 16 18 20 21
Tanker
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 SS class 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 Total Ships 1 2 2 2 2 2 3 4 4 4 4
Ammunition ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Total Ships 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11
Combat stores ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 Sirius class 0 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Total Ships 7 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Fast combat support ships
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Total Ships 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Roll-on/roll-off
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 Cape Island class 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 5 5 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3 3 Total Ships 7 9 9 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Destroyer tender
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 1 2 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Ships 4 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Submarine tender
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total Ships 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Crane ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 5 5 7 7 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 Total Ships 1 1 1 1 4 4 6 8 8 10 10
Heavy-lift ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 American Cormorant 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total Ships 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1
Cable ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total Ships 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Rescue and salvage ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Safeguard class 0 0 0 1 1 2 4 4 4 4 4 Pigeon class 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 Bolster class 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 Total Ships 8 8 8 9 9 10 12 12 12 12 12
Tracking ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 USS Range Sentinel (AGM-22) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 USNS Vanguard (T-AG-194) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total Ships 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Ocean surveillance ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 0 0 0 3 7 9 11 13 17 18 Total Ships 0 0 0 0 3 7 9 11 13 17 18
Oceanographic research ship
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Total Ships 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Years19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Total auxiliary active 88 98 100 109 113 119 128 136 140 149 147
Years19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Total surface active 363 378 375 388 400 412 427 444 440 445 432
Attack submarines
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 10 16 20 25 29 33 35 37 39 42 44 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 13 12 10 8 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 3 3 0 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 1 0 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 3 3 3 2 2 2 1 0 0 0 0 Total Subs 77 83 87 91 94 98 96 97 95 94 89
Ballistic missile submarines
Class of shipsImage19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 0 1 2 3 5 6 8 8 9 10 11 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 12 10 10 10 10 10 10 9 9 9 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 6 3 5 5 5 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 4 3 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Subs 41 41 41 39 40 39 39 39 40 38 36
Years19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Total submarines active 118 124 128 130 134 137 135 136 135 132 125
Years19801981198219831984198519861987198819891990 Total active fleet 481 502 503 518 534 549 562 580 575 577 557
End of the plan Eventually political pressure to reduce the national budget deficit resulted in Congress reversing itself and passing a series of declining defense budgets beginning in 1986. Weinberger clashed with Congress over the cuts, resigning in late 1987, and was succeeded by Frank Carlucci. Furthermore, concerns were raised about how the expansion of the Navy would reduce attention and resources needed in other scenarios where the Soviets also had to be confronted such as Europe.
Lehman's successor as Navy Secretary, Jim Webb, remained a fierce proponent of the expanded fleet, and disagreed with Carlucci over how to cut the Navy budget in line with other services. Webb resigned rather than endorse Carlucci's cut of 16 frigates. As revealed in The Reagan Diaries, Reagan reflected about Webb's resignation on 22 February 1988: "Present Sec. Webb resigned over budget cuts. I don't think Navy was sorry to see him go."