And that essentially is what the thesis I've been talking about confirms. The US Navy relies too heavily on technology and it's carriers and almost ignores ASW. They've also got a problem with training and keeping technicians with some vital maintenance roles (and a few operational ones too!) currently filled by civilians who will not be accompanying the vessels should they go to war.
Many ships are currently undermanned in critical areas and some grossly over-manned with commissioned officers (one example is of a ship with a requirement of about 15 officers but having 34 assigned to it, most obviously having nothing to do). Crews are also rotated to quickly - almost the moment a crewmember gains competency (but not expertise) they're often reassigned to a new, completely different role, usually on a different vessel.
The US Navy has serious problems, but nothing that can't be fixed if there's a will to do it. The problem is though there is currently no will - too many high ranking officers with too much to loose if the problems are admitted to.
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If it moves, shoot it, if not push it, if it still doesn't move, use explosives.
Nothing happens in isolation - it's called "the butterfly effect"
Mors ante pudorem
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