Mine Warfare

Consolidation at Ingleside Has Not Been Justified Gao ID: NSIAD-93-147 February 16, 1993

The Secretary of the Navy's January 1993 analysis of the plan to consolidate mine warfare forces at Ingleside, Texas, does not justify that move. The Center for Naval Analysis estimates that moving to Ingleside is one of the costliest alternatives. The Secretary's report neither adequately challenges that view nor addresses the fundamental need for mine warfare forces to train with the fleets they are to protect--a difficult task if Ingleside is chosen. A draft National Academy of Sciences study directed by the House Armed Services Committee argues that mine warfare forces need to be located with the fleets on both coasts. The draft says that this is one of the many disadvantages of locating these forces at Ingleside. The Navy's failure to support its decision with compelling evidence that can override the cost factor and the fleet training issue suggests that Ingleside is not the best alternative.

GAO found that: (1) the consolidation of mine warfare forces at Ingleside was substantially more costly than consolidation of alternative sites; (2) the Navy made cost adjustments to its study on alternative sites, which considerably narrowed the range of single-site cost estimates while increasing the cost of dual-site alternatives; (3) the cost adjustments were unwarranted or inconsistent and did not identify operating and support cost differentials, such as housing costs for personnel; (4) the Navy did not consider the desirability of locating mine warfare forces on both coasts so that training would be integrated with the fleets they are supposed to protect; (5) the Navy failed to show how stated operational, training, and environmental benefits associated with the Ingleside site justified its higher cost; (6) the Navy did not consider how planned downsizing and relocations of fleets and squadrons would free space for mine warfare forces at some alternative sites; and (7) the Ingleside site did not offer any transit time advantages over other sites.

Recommendations

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