How Navy Could Turn USS Bonhomme Richard Catastrophe to Its Advantage
On July 12, an explosion rocked the USS Bonhomme Richard, touching off a fire that raged for four days, gutting the amphibious assault ship. It was a catastrophe, but one the Navy may be able to turn to its advantage. Replacing the ship would cost the Navy billions. But for less money, it could repurpose the Bonhomme Richard, making it an operational testbed for cutting-edge unmanned, sea-based weapons systems. This would help the Navy address concerns about unmanned systems and improve the prospect of growing the fleet—in both size and lethality—more rapidly.