The U.S.S. Sioux City May Soon Be Decommissioned. Here’s Why
The U.S.S. Sioux City was commissioned in 2018. Following just over 3 years of service, the Littoral Combat Ship, or LCS, may soon be decommissioned.
There are a variety of factors that are at play in the budgetary move by the US Navy.
Per a recent article on KTIV.com:
The move to take the U.S.S. Sioux City out of service permanently is part of cost-cutting measures included in the Navy’s budget request for fiscal year 2023. If the Navy’s request to decommission the U.S.S. Sioux City, and 23 other vessels, isn’t altered they’ll be removed from service by the end of fiscal year 2027.
The potential decommissioning isn't solely budget related, as the U.S.S. Sioux City and other similar ships have been dealing with engine issues since being in service:
Since the LCS was introduced, CNBC reports the model was plagued by an engine issue that related to the combining gear, a piece of machinery that ensures that the multiple engines on the ship can function together.
While the cost savings make sense, some are highly critical of the potential move because of what it says to the U.S. Taxpayers per The Seattle Times:
U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Virginia, was more blunt, tweeting that it “sucks” to be decommissioning so many ships, especially newer ones.
“The Navy owes a public apology to American taxpayers for wasting tens of billions of dollars on ships they now say serve no purpose,” she said.
Lastly, both articles note that congressional review still must take place.
Congress must sign off on the Navy’s proposal to decommission ships ahead of their projected service life.
The decommissioning plan isn’t a “done deal”. Navy officials say to retire these newer ships the Navy would have to ask Congress for a waiver.
We'll see what is to come for the U.S.S. Sioux City and the other 23 vessels that may soon be decommissioned.
Sources: The Seattle Times and KTIV.com
Note: Pictures are of Littoral Combat Ships, not U.S.S. Sioux City specificially.