How large a US Navy would be needed for conflicts in two places at once?
Short answerA rough estimate is 20 carriers, at least 60 cruisers, around 120 destroyers and a similar number of frigates, based on keeping six carriers available.
NotesTwo conflicts using two-carrier formations require four carriers available for those operations. Covering other areas raises the proposed availability requirement to six. The resulting estimate is roughly 20 carriers, at least about 60 cruisers, around 120 destroyers and a similar number of frigates. These figures depend on the deployment assumptions. A larger fleet could also attract more government tasking and consume the extra capacity.