US carrier and amphibious groups consume the escort fleet

The force calculation uses eleven carrier groups and ten amphibious ready groups, aiming to keep four of each type available. A carrier group is assigned a cruiser as its principal area-air-warfare escort and about four destroyers. Amphibious groups sometimes deploy without escorts in peacetime, but the wartime assumption here is at least two destroyers per group and cover from one or more carrier strike groups. Four of each formation therefore require four cruisers and twenty-four destroyers. A two-in-five availability cycle implies ten cruisers and sixty destroyers, while one-in-three implies twelve cruisers and seventy-two destroyers. The comparison is with the seven cruisers and seventy-eight destroyers quoted in the talk, before assigning escorts to separate regional duties.