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NSIAD-84-31 1 (1984-03-13)

handle is hein.gao/gaobabnhe0001 and id is 1 raw text is: UNITED STATES GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20548 MARCH 13, 1984 NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS DIVISION B-206304 flU The Honorable Caspar W. Weinberger 123608 The Secretary of Defense Dear Mr. Secretary: Subject: Army and Navy Watercraft Programs for Logistics-Over-the-Shore Operations Can Be Better Managed (GAO/NSIAD-84-31) We reviewed the management of the Army and Navy watercraft programs as they relate to logistics-over-the-shore operations. Together the services have over $2 billion worth of watercraft and they plan to modernize these vessels and obtain additional ones at a cost of nearly $1.9 billion through fiscal year 1988. We found that improvements can be made in coordinating the programs, determining the resources available to meet the logistics-over-the-shore requirements, and assessing the need for additional watercraft. We believe opportunities to improve operations, reduce costs, and conserve resources are being lost. The need for coordinating the development of Army and Navy watercraft capabilities to conduct logistics-over-the-shore op- erations has been recognized since the early 1970s. Actions have been taken to improve coordination; however, additional efforts are still needed. The Army and Navy should jointly de- velop and field logistics-over-the-shore equipment and plan for mutual support as a means of reducing the total resources needed to satisfy their combined needs. Air-cushioned vessels, ship offloading equipment, and ship-to-shore lighterage are examples where additional efforts could produce benefits. In addition to intensifying coordination efforts the Army and Navy should include additional watercraft, such as tugs and barges, when determining the resources available to meet logistics-over-the-shore requirements. The Navy should also include landing craft and air-cushioned vessels used in its assault aission. By including these additional watercraft in their available resources, the Army and Navy would better match all available resources with total requirements for logistics- over-the-shore operations. Determining if or how much of a (943365) ILI r:7