By Retired Captain Ros Poplar, USN

As we face the challenges of keeping the Straits of Hormuz open, “Quantity is indeed a Quality all of its own “

As I was reminded by Shipmate Michael Morano this A.M. 1987 marked the high point of the “600 Ship Navy,” with total numbers reaching 594 combatants. Included within those numbers were 119 frigates, 69 destroyers, and 35 cruisers, all of various classes.

In fact, Operation “Earnest Will” marked the high point of the FFG-7 “Oliver Hazard Perry” class frigate – a ship specifically intended for convoy operations – and FFG-7s figured prominently in each of that conflict’s major incidents.

By contrast, the US Navy of 2026 has roughly 234 combatants, of which 85 are cruisers and destroyers. There are no frigates, a source of much contention within US Naval circles. There are 26 littoral combat ships, but it’s unclear whether the US Navy would want to risk those ships in the littorals of the Persian Gulf.’

Hmm …with the heavy seas the FFG (X) Program has encountered perhaps hindsight is 20/20. Let the lessons of the past guide us forward ….

Pictured is the USS Lewis B Puller (FFG 23) the little ship class of ship that did it all (AAW, ASW, and SUW keeping in mind that perfection if the enemy of good enough …) where I served as her Commissioning Operations Officer under the command and steady hand of CDR Ralph K Martin a ship handler par excellence who qualified three Chief Petty Officers as Fleet OODs and did not allow his OODs to use tugs at special sea and anchor detail. The lost art of using mooring lines as spring lines is a thing of a bygone era of ship handling.

“Esprit-Discipline-Service” was her motto and in my humble opinion the FFG 7 Class (then part of the “High Low” Mix) is ideally suited for operations in the Straits of Hormuz and other maritime choke points. The picture above was taken while the “Louie B” was a member of COMDESRON 9 “En Garde!”

Just a thought from and Old Salt who still longs for a piece of the action ….of course hindsight is always 20/20, but coach put me back on the starboard bridge wing with Fleet Sailors and Marines who are the world’s best maritime fighting force bar none !

Bless our men and women on the tip of the spear as challenges await them …