Why US naval procurement stands out for wasted scale

Which country has fumbled naval policy worst over the last two or three decades?

The United States, because the Zumwalt and LCS programs consumed extraordinary resources for limited deployable return.

Other navies made serious mistakes, but the scale of American spending makes its recent losses especially conspicuous. The discussion contrasts repeated clean-sheet programs with the possibility of reusing proven hull and engineering work. LCS speed-driven machinery and corrosion problems show how demanding requirements can create avoidable cost, while Zumwalt delivered too few ships to amortize its ambitions. Virginia is treated more favorably, though continued hull stretching illustrates the pressure placed on successful designs.