As many of my readers know, a series of RIFs (reductions in force) occurred during the Clinton Administration in the 1990s. A large number of military bases were closed (two just in the Sacramento area itself: Mather AFB and McClellan AFB) and its civilian workers relieved and military personnel transferred.

At one time (1987) the United States Navy possessed 594 ships. Its current strength stands at 282 ships.

A new class of USN ship is being built, termed an LCS (littoral combat ship). The first of the class is the USS Freedom, LCS-1 (pictured), commissioned just nine days ago in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

As an aside, ships historically have been built for two overarching, general purposes: utilization in what is called blue water — that is to say, deep and extensive oceans, and utilization in the littorals — shallower, off-coastal waters.