The Army's best kept secret- who has more boats- the Army or Navy?

Capt Jeff Quinn — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:23:45 -0400

As a young Lt. on a trip to Ft. Eustis for a transportation conference (circa 1997), I was given a tour of the Army's water terminal operations. To my amazement, the Army had numerous "transportation" units that included large tugs, floating machine shops and numerous barges/logsitics support vehicles. I was also briefed at the time by the chief warrant officer on the tour that the Army had more boats than the Navy. Is this still true? Would like to hear all sides of this- should be a good debate.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2014 12:38 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 12:38:01 -0400

The Army does. And we have more air craft than the Air Force.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 14 at 2014 9:04 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 21:04:27 -0400

I never knew that the army had ships. I would love to be a chief of a ship. I am sure it is cake. They would get some good assignments. They wouldn't go to some inland base.

Response by PO1 A C. made Jun 7 at 2017 3:21 PM

PO1 A C. — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 15:21:50 -0400

Absolutely not. The army only has 118 boats to the Navy's overall fleet of 456 (including support vessels and USNS ships). This doesn't even include the hundreds of small craft in use by Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Coastal Riverine Units, and Naval Special Warfare. Also, as to other comments that the Army has more aircraft than the Air Force, also not true. According to the most recent DoD Aviation Plan, the Air Force has 5,199 assorted aircraft to the Army's 5,117.

This has to be one of the biggest myths that is constantly repeated in the Army.

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Jun 7 at 2017 4:58 PM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Wed, 07 Jun 2017 16:58:53 -0400

I never knew how many but I did know that the Army had boats. One of the more interesting to me was a converted Liberty ship called the Sturgis which at the time (1967-68) was docked at Ft. Belvoir. It was a floating nuclear reactor that I was told could power an entire city and for awhile actually powered the entire base. After that it was moved to the Canal Zone and powered everything down there for several years. While TDY to Ft. Belvoir around 1968 I got to take a tour of the Sturgis and was quite impressed. I had seen boats at Belvoir before but nothing like that.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 1:17 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 13:17:13 -0400

I am prior Navy and I teach Unit Movement Officer Course at Ft. Knox and one of the other instructors said the Army has more. I found that hard to believe. Is there doctrine to back up your numbers, because I know he will ask where I got that info from. Thanks. My email is [login to see] .

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 1:28 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 13:28:20 -0400

Yes, the Navy has several boats, but it also has LOTS OF SHIPS!