During drill Tiger Triumph, the amphibious transport dock Somerset, in front, sails in the Indian Ocean alongside India’s INS Kesari, in rear left, and INS Airavat.

Speaking to reporters after giving a speech at the Navy League’s annual Sea-Air-Space conference held here, Franchetti admitted that the amphibious assault ship Boxer was deployed last week, albeit many months later than anticipated. In January, the fellow Boxer Amphibious Ready Group ship Somerset deployed to make up for a maintenance issue that had delayed it, as reported by Military.com. Somerset would carry out missions alone until it could be joined in the Pacific Ocean by its two partner boats and their embarked Marines.

The amphibious assault ship Wasp, which recently started basic at-sea operations after a protracted maintenance availability, is another ship that the Navy is reportedly keeping a watch on for possible delays.

“We’re trying to look ahead to make sure that we can, I want to say, nip this in the bud,” she explained. “Many of our amphibious ships are older. Also, they’re getting the [Joint Strike Fighter] modifications, so that’s taking time when they go in for their upgrades, and that’s taking a little bit longer than expected.”

This study, according to the chief of naval operations, is a “proactive approach” to help “get ahead of potential delays” in maintenance and guarantee that embarked Marines and ship crews are appropriately certified and educated to respond to emergencies and deploy on schedule, even in the event that maintenance takes a lengthy time.

She stated that the team will submit a report the following month that includes the study’s “terms of reference,” which specify what and how to look at.

Franchetti reaffirmed her commitment to the amphibious fleet, pointing out that funds for new amphibious assault ships, amphibious transport docks, and landing ships medium are included in the most recent budget request for the fiscal year 2025.

The Navy and Marine Corps have been at odds over amphibious ships in recent years. The maintenance of some of the older Whidbey Island-class dock landing ships has become more time- and money-consuming. Nevertheless, they have occasionally found it difficult to be prepared enough to deploy.

The Navy has maintained that it ought to cease funding these unfit for combat vessels. The Marine Corps has said that decommissioning the ships sooner than necessary would distance it from the 31-ship amphibious fleet that Congress mandated in 2022. According to the Corps, in order to guarantee that Marines are properly educated and able to keep a consistent presence throughout the world, a minimum of 31 ships are required.

A Pentagon-led initiative last year to postpone purchasing amphibious transport docks and reevaluate what, if any, design the Navy should purchase going forward only served to worsen the problem. The Navy’s FY25 expenditure plan indicates that the procurement of amphibious transport docks will proceed as originally scheduled, seemingly settling that controversy.