US Navy destroyers and cruisers needing to leave the ongoing battle against Iran-backed Houthi rebels with missile and drone barrages in the Red Sea, to reload their Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS) missile cells are causing a presence gap and “a real challenge,” Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro said Wednesday at the annual Surface Navy Association conference. That challenge extends not only to the Red Sea campaign, he said, but especially to a future war with China across the vast West Pacific expanse as well.

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The U.S. Navy’s Orca drone, also known as the Extra-Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle (XLUUV), has been in development for years, but will soon be in the hands of sailors as the sea service works to figure out how they will use the capability going forward. The Navy ordered five semi-tractor trailer-sized submersible drones from Boeing Defense in 2019. But like other Navy acquisition programs, the Orca has been hit by cost increases and delivery delays.

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Naval tugboats are essential service vessels, frequently seen bustling around ROCN military harbours. They handle berthing guidance, piloting, and assisting ships in docking and undocking operations. Showing ROCS Di Hua (PFG-1206) a Kang Ding-class frigate of the Republic of China Navy.

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USN says that in the battle with Houthis in the Red Sea it has used around 400 munitions. Including 120 x SM-2 missiles, 80 x SM-6 missiles, 160 x 5-inch rounds as well as a combined 20 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) and SM-3 missiles.

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