Logistics Concerns Over Navy's Guided Missile Frigate FFG-7 Class
PLRD-81-34
Published: Jul 07, 1981. Publicly Released: Jul 07, 1981.
Skip to Highlights
Highlights
GAO evaluated the integrated logistics support planning for the Navy's guided missile FFG-7, a new class of ocean escort ships designed to operate in areas of low enemy threat.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to make greater use of reliability centered maintenance if it can reduce maintenance costs for the FFG-7 class ships at the intermediate and depot levels. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to develop specific policies on using reliability centered maintenance in maintenance planning for future ship construction. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to improve the accuracy of the system used to identify planned material requirements for the FFG-7's. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to revalidate FFG-7 class crew requirements after new logistics support strategies are implemented. |
Closed – Not Implemented
Class crew requirements are still under review and the final crew level is expected in 1-2 months. The crew level has increased and the Navy has stated that it does not expect decreases because the new logistic support strategies and increases are due to maintenance and watchstanding needs.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to reassess stockage of the same items in colocated geographic and corrective maintenance stocks to avoid unnecessary duplication. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Navy disagreed with this recommendation. It stated that the additional stock levels are necessary to implement the maintenance strategy. The GAO review will evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of FFG-7 supply support strategies.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to consider the replacement frequency of end equipment in determining FFG-7 class shipboard spare parts allowances. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Navy disagrees with this recommendation and has not taken any action. GAO plans to do a followup review which will allow it to evaluate operational data, which was not available during this review, to quantify the extent of excess of shipboard material.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to reconsider previously rejected cost-benefit decisions for ship design and equipment alternatives to reduce crew requirements. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Navy disagreed with the recommendation as it relates to the FFG-7 baseline design. While there were some design alternatives that could have been considered, it felt that it was too late in the acquisition process to initiate changes to the baseline design.
|
| Department of Defense | The Secretary of Defense should direct the Secretary of the Navy to develop an action plan for overcoming shipboard personnel quality shortages on FFG-7 class ships. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Navy disagreed with this recommendation. It stated that personnel shortages are shared equally between ship classes. Because of the FFG-7 maintenance strategy, GAO believes that the shortages will be more severely felt than on other ship classes. The followup review will analyze this issue.
|
Full Report
Office of Public Affairs
Topics
Contract costsLogisticsMaintenance costsNational defense operationsPersonnel managementPlanningProperty and supply managementShipbuilding industryShipsWeapons systems