Marine Corps Calls for Nine Additional Amphibious Warships to Bridge Readiness Gap

The U.S. Marine Corps seeks nine new amphibious ships to combat low maintenance-driven readiness levels and meet global deployment demands.

Editorial Desk

November 6, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — The States Marine Corps has officially identified a critical requirement for nine additional amphibious warfare vessels to successfully execute its ongoing operational mandates.

Leadership within the Corps asserts that the current fleet of 31 ships must expand to a total of 40 to meet modern mission demands.

While the strategic need is clear, the source of funding for this massive expansion remains uncertain following the recent midterm elections.

The Navy and Marine Corps have determined that it is currently more cost-effective to procure new vessels than to attempt to repair aging ships at the necessary speed.

Data shows that the average amphibious ship is currently sidelined for more than half of the time, leading the services to propose a plan focused on new construction.

This shipbuilding push occurs as the Corps aims to maintain the continuous deployment of three distinct Marine Expeditionary Units.

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Readiness levels for the existing amphibious fleet plummeted to a low of 41% in 2025, prompting a multi-pronged strategy involving maintenance reforms, service-life extensions, and new ship acquisitions.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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