At least that's what this article declares.
The US Navy overly relies on electronics and automation, according to the US Naval Institute, and it could be its downfall in a war against a major foe like Russia or China.
US Navy figures have been warning for some time about a lack of fundamental skills that could lead to the US losing its next major sea conflict.
Russia and China both have a strong focus on countering the US's ability to access electronic and automated systems.
"Navigation and seamanship, these are the fundamental capabilities which every surface warfare officer should have, but I suspect if called to war, we'll be required to do a lot more than safely navigate the Singapore strait," US Navy Capt. Kevin Eyer, former skipper of the cruisers Shiloh, Chancellorsville, and Thomas Gates said in December. Eyer was speaking in reference to the USS John McCain's crash with a container ship in the Singapore strait, as Breaking Defense noted at the time.
I wonder if this isn't happening to all of our armed forces. Read more @ The US Navy has abandoned classic sailing skills — and it could lose its next war