The American news cycle moves so quickly that only the most jarring events break through into popular consciousness. Notwithstanding, the United States faces complex social and political problems that require long-term solutions.But certain events encapsulate the broader policy difficulties the nation faces. Indeed, the USS Bonhomme Richard fire and its aftermath is one such event. It demonstrates the specific stresses the US Navy faces, both externally and internally, and highlights the perils to US national security from poor funding and unclear strategy.

A massive fire began on the Bonhomme Richard in mid-July, continuously burning for five days. The Navy has yet to release a formal damage assessment for the ship, but there is a broad consensus that parts of it must be “re-fabricated”—militaryspeak for wholly replaced. Considering the location and duration of the fire, this may entail rebuilding nearly all of the ship’s operational flight and hangar deck, with a cost of around $1.5 billion. This, of course, assumes that the “Bonnie Dick”experienced no structural hull damage. If it did, the ship may be unsalvageable.

The Bonnie Dick, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship,plays a critical role in US maritime strategy. Aircraft carriers and submarines provide the fleet with most of its combat power, while large surface combatants—the Navy’s modern destroyer and cruiser force—defend the carrier from aerial and subsurface attack with their suite of anti-air missiles and antisubmarine sensors. But amphibious assault ships like those in the Wasp class have a small flight deck and a well deck,making them capable of deploying helicopters, various aircraft,and amphibious forces.

Historically, platforms like the Bonnie Dick have spearheaded the Navy’s amphibious assault forces, a role they will likely continue to play. But while the combination of a well deck and a flight deck provides less combat capability