Re:It’s Time to Repeal the Jones Act
by toast0 on Wednesday October 19, 2022 @04:13PM
(#33267383)
If the US is fighting with (or just in!) Asia and Europe, they still want to trade with Australia, Africa, and South America. And, they likely need to get a lot of materiel to the theater.
In the last World War, the US built a ton of cargo ships (about 6,000) to replace ships that were sunk and to increase shipment capacity in general. Allies weren't able to build ships fast enough. I'd imagine that capacity will be needed in the next world war, too. Having existing shipyards helps get production ramping sooner.
Certainly, ware has changed a lot in 80 years, but all out war is still going to need a lot of shipping, and cargo ships carrying war materiel are going to be fair game for sinking, and need to be replaced (as well as escorted). Industrial capacity and availability of fuel will continue to be necessary but not sufficient for success on the battlefield.
In the last World War, the US built a ton of cargo ships (about 6,000) to replace ships that were sunk and to increase shipment capacity in general. Allies weren't able to build ships fast enough. I'd imagine that capacity will be needed in the next world war, too. Having existing shipyards helps get production ramping sooner.
Certainly, ware has changed a lot in 80 years, but all out war is still going to need a lot of shipping, and cargo ships carrying war materiel are going to be fair game for sinking, and need to be replaced (as well as escorted). Industrial capacity and availability of fuel will continue to be necessary but not sufficient for success on the battlefield.