Navy Seeks 40 Amphibious Ships for Three MEUs
Navy and Marine Corps leaders say the service needs nine more amphibious ships than its current fleet of 31 to deploy three Marine Expeditionary Units at once.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Military
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Navy and Marine Corps leaders said 40 amphibious ships are needed to deploy three Marine Expeditionary Units simultaneously, up from the current fleet of 31. Navy and Marine Corps analysts concluded the optimal force would consist of 13 big decks and 27 landing platform dock ships.
Why it matters
Amphibious ships let Marines, tanks, and supplies land without established deep-water ports, making them central to rapid U.S. military response. Congress has already set a 31-ship minimum, and the gap between that floor and the 40-ship requirement shapes how the nation can project force overseas.
The Navy's current 31-ship amphibious fleet falls nine ships short of the 40 that analysts say are needed to support three Marine Expeditionary Units at once. Funding for the additional ships has not been secured, and the Marine Corps will await future congressional action.
The players
U.S. Navy
The U.S. Navy is the naval warfare branch of the United States armed forces responsible for maritime operations and the amphibious fleet that carries Marines to shore.
U.S. Marine Corps
The U.S. Marine Corps is the amphibious expeditionary branch of the United States armed forces that deploys Marine Expeditionary Units from ships.
The details
Navy and Marine Corps leaders said the service would add ships by building new vessels and extending the service life of selected current ships. Leaders plan to approach Congress later this month to make the case for the additional amphibious ships.
Timeline
Congress set the 31-ship minimum in the FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
The War Zone published the 40-ship requirement report on Nov. 5.
Navy and Marine Corps leaders plan to approach Congress later this month.
Big Picture
Congress's FY2023 National Defense Authorization Act set a 31-ship amphibious fleet minimum to stop the Navy from retiring aging amphibious hulls without replacements. Navy and Marine Corps analysts now argue that floor is too low and that 40 ships are needed to deploy three Marine Expeditionary Units at once.
The 40-ship requirement would change how quickly U.S. Marines can be deployed by sea, since amphibious ships are the vessels that land troops without deep-water ports. The added ships would depend on future congressional funding and on building new vessels or extending the service life of current ones.
The takeaway
The gap between the 31-ship minimum and the 40-ship requirement shows how Congress's floor can lag behind operational needs. Readers should watch whether lawmakers fund new amphibious ships in the coming budget cycles.
What happens next
Navy and Marine Corps leaders plan to approach Congress later this month to make the case for additional amphibious ships.
Further reading
For more on U.S. force structure and deployment capacity, see Military coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Military.
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