US Marines will have a shortage of amphibious ships until 2030

The US Navy’s fleet of amphibious ships has declined by half in the last 25 years, from 62 in 1990 to 31 today, with current shipbuilding plans calling for four additional amphibious ships to be added by fiscal year 2024, increasing the total number of amphibious ships to 35.

The shortage reduces the ability of joint naval forces to train, particularly in large-scale formations, which harms readiness.

The US Navy and marines need as many as 38 amphibious ships to meet rising operational demands, but the service likely won’t be able to reach that number until 2030 due to budget constraints.