600-ship Navy
The 600-ship Navy was a strategic plan of the United States Navy during the 1980s to rebuild its fleet after cutbacks that followed the end of the Vietnam War. The plan, which originated with Republican leaders, was an important campaign plank of Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election, who advocated a larger military and strategic confrontation with the Soviet Union.
The number of ships peaked at 594 in 1987, before declining sharply after the end of the Cold War in 1989–1991.
The program included:
- Recommissioning the Iowa-class battleships
- Keeping older ships in service longer
- A large new construction program
- Stepping up production of Nimitz-class aircraft carriers
The idea was supported by John F. Lehman, who became Reagan's Secretary of the Navy, and Caspar Weinberger, Reagan's Secretary of Defense.
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