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Maritime robots are valuable assets, but crewed small ships handle an array of diplomatic, constabulary and presence duties that can only be undertaken-at least at this point-by humans. Navy is abandoning pint-sized crewed combatants, and apparently is hoping friendly robots will somehow take their place. But, rather than respond to pent-up demand and tactical utility, building upon America’s apparently popular design niche, the U.S. Navy has never really liked and has struggled to employ effectively. It is fascinating to watch the world embrace tiny ships that the U.S.

Of the three remaining, two are likely to be scrapped, and one is still slated for transfer to a foreign navy. Today, five Cyclones serve in the Royal Bahrain Naval Forces, three serve in the Philippine Navy and three more are commissioned in the Egyptian Navy.

What, exactly, drove the Philippines to request two aged 355-ton speedboats over a big, 3200-ton ship? What do they see in small vessels that the U.S. More interestingly, the Philippines actively advocated for small vessels, choosing to take more Cyclones rather than add to their fleet of three retired Hamilton Class U.S. The new additions will soon undertake dangerous duties in the increasingly contested South China Sea. Navy ’s Cyclone class cast-offs into Philippine service. This week, the Philippines commissioned two of the U.S. Just a day ago, relatively small Philippines Coast Guard vessels and Ayungin Shoal-bound supply ships went toe-to-toe with the Chinese fleet.

The South China Sea is a small ship battleground. At a minimum, should be somewhat embarrassing for America’s risk-averse surface warriors to watch America’s former small ship fleet-cast off as inadequate for front-line fighting-going straight into the front lines of modern maritime conflict.

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