Hard Truth: In a Major War, the U.S. Would Rely on European Shipping to Deploy Its Forces

We talk a lot about defense spending. But here’s a more strategic question:

If the U.S. had to move 100,000+ troops and their gear across oceans tomorrow — could it?
Probably Not without European shipping companies.

Let’s look at the numbers:
✅ As of 2024, the entire U.S.-flagged commercial fleet has only ~180 vessels in international trade.
✅ Fewer than 60 are militarily useful (roll-on/roll-off, heavy cargo).
✅ The U.S. Merchant Marine is shrinking — and aging. Many ships are 40+ years old.
✅ The National Defense Reserve Fleet is partly obsolete, with long activation timelines.
(Source: U.S. Maritime Administration, GAO)

Meanwhile:
✅ MSC (Switzerland), Maersk (Denmark), CMA CGM (France), and Hapag-Lloyd (Germany) control over 54% of global container shipping capacity.
✅ These firms already have standing contracts with the U.S. Military Sealift Command for crisis logistics.
(Source: Alphaliner, DoD logistics contracts)

Ursula, if you’re reading this:
Next time the U.S. needs to rent half of Maersk and MSC to move tanks across oceans, slap a 1000% or so strategic deployment tariff on it. Logistics is power — and Europe owns the fleet. Time to stop giving it away for free.

Anyway , let’s be blunt:
The U.S. cannot fight a large war overseas without European-owned shipping. That’s not even an insult — it’s a structural reality.

Lets see......the only reason we would have to move massive amounts of tanks across an ocean would be to??????

Save Europe from themselves..... Again!

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
Lets see......the only reason we would have to move massive amounts of tanks across an ocean would be to??????

Save Europe from themselves..... Again!

Ask your goldfish if he remembers GWOT. He might remind you. And see if your donkey can explain that this does not only pertain to military transport. The US cannot export without European shipping.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
Lets see......the only reason we would have to move massive amounts of tanks across an ocean would be to??????

Save Europe from themselves..... Again!

Lots of other countries helped us in the Balkans and Afghanistan. Plenty of other missions as well. Those are just the two that I participated in. Your white trash messiah is a fucking idiot who will take away our superpower status and help spread russian and chinese influence around the globe .

quote:

Originally posted by LongDistanceOperator:

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
Lets see......the only reason we would have to move massive amounts of tanks across an ocean would be to??????

Save Europe from themselves..... Again!

Lots of other countries helped us in the Balkans and Afghanistan. Plenty of other missions as well. Those are just the two that I participated in. Your white trash messiah is a fucking idiot who will take away our superpower status and help spread russian and chinese influence around the globe .

Don’t try talking any sense to those with their heads up the MAGA ARSEHOLES rear end!

They cannot hear or see reason!

What goes around comes around. Just like family, allies are not perfect. They may not do everything you want when you want but they are at least generally willing to help you when you need it. You treat them like shit because you think you are better than them, expect the same treatment in return. We live in a global economy whether we like it or not, you cannot act like a petulant child and expect not to pay for that in the long run. But alas, the Orange Messiah must be worshipped regardless of what he does or why he does it.

Just like there are no atheists in foxholes…when bullets flying EVERYONE will be best friends with the USA.

. . . the typical asinine type comment we have come to expect from you.

FREE America!

You are FREE to be STUPID!

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
What goes around comes around. Just like family, allies are not perfect. They may not do everything you want when you want but they are at least generally willing to help you when you need it. You treat them like shit because you think you are better than them, expect the same treatment in return. We live in a global economy whether we like it or not, you cannot act like a petulant child and expect not to pay for that in the long run. But alas, the Orange Messiah must be worshipped regardless of what he does or why he does it.

very good analysis a shame only a minority in usa are sharing it for now ...

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
Just like there are no atheists in foxholes…when bullets flying EVERYONE will be best friends with the USA.

If bullets are flying at them, yes.

But right now, if planes start flying into skyscrapers again... well... as long as bullets aren't flying around Europe but this being some terrorist group from a shithole country... you can sort it out yourselves. You haven't even paid the bill for the last time.

quote:

Originally posted by MisterMountain:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
Just like there are no atheists in foxholes…when bullets flying EVERYONE will be best friends with the USA.

If bullets are flying at them, yes.

But right now, if planes start flying into skyscrapers again... well... as long as bullets aren't flying around Europe but this being some terrorist group from a shithole country... you can sort it out yourselves. You haven't even paid the bill for the last time.

i doubt if they are comiing from your country

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
Lets see......the only reason we would have to move massive amounts of tanks across an ocean would be to??????

Save Europe from themselves..... Again!

Or Taiwan from ...? It is settled wisdom to never mess with a land war in Asia. We are not prepared.

quote:

Originally posted by medved:

quote:

Originally posted by MisterMountain:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
Just like there are no atheists in foxholes…when bullets flying EVERYONE will be best friends with the USA.

If bullets are flying at them, yes.

But right now, if planes start flying into skyscrapers again... well... as long as bullets aren't flying around Europe but this being some terrorist group from a shithole country... you can sort it out yourselves. You haven't even paid the bill for the last time.

i doubt if they are comiing from your country

I may have expressed myself poorly, english is not my primary language. What I meant was: Iran commits acts of terrorism in the US, killing thousands...

You sort it out yourselves. We need these transport ships for our tariff-free trade zone with Canada and Mexico. Don't bother calling.

quote:

Originally posted by HerrBerg:

quote:

Originally posted by medved:

quote:

Originally posted by MisterMountain:

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
Just like there are no atheists in foxholes…when bullets flying EVERYONE will be best friends with the USA.

If bullets are flying at them, yes.

But right now, if planes start flying into skyscrapers again... well... as long as bullets aren't flying around Europe but this being some terrorist group from a shithole country... you can sort it out yourselves. You haven't even paid the bill for the last time.

i doubt if they are comiing from your country

I may have expressed myself poorly, english is not my primary language. What I meant was: Iran commits acts of terrorism in the US, killing thousands...

You sort it out yourselves. We need these transport ships for our tariff-free trade zone with Canada and Mexico. Don't bother calling.

i do understood you perfectly and i absolutely agreed with you 100%,

take care. love from canada.

quote:

Originally posted by TomP:

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
Lets see......the only reason we would have to move massive amounts of tanks across an ocean would be to??????

Save Europe from themselves..... Again!

Or Taiwan from ...? It is settled wisdom to never mess with a land war in Asia. We are not prepared.

Nor should we be. If Iran engages in terrorism and kills thousands in the US they'll have earned themselves a nuke or six.

If I understand correctly Taiwan is China. Taiwan is Chinese soil. I don't see any reason to freight all my tanks to China to fight the Chinese for the Chinese.

I'm happy to stay home. I feel no inclination to go, "over there" for any belligerence. If Herberg wants my tanks to fight for his problems on his soil he better say pretty please and have those transport ships of his gassed up and vacuumed out. Windex the glass while he's at it.

I want nice bedding too, Egyptian cotton, none of that crummy Chinese Amazon stuff.

Thank the US government for unnecessary regulation.

We do need to beef up our merchant marine.

Of course, Trump’s way will be to put tariffs on shipping, rather than making US flagged carriers more competitive.

What war did America win?

I did a search in modern history, and came up with nothing.

Only mention was DEFEATS!

Last one apparently they ran away, in a rather cowardly manner, leaving all their military equipment behind!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
What war did America win?

I did a search in modern history, and came up with nothing.

Only mention was DEFEATS!

Last one apparently they ran away, in a rather cowardly manner, leaving all their military equipment behind!

Ask Saddam.

Saeed, first lets agree what a war is.

Then lets agree what victory is.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with your findings, but there were two you missed obviously... Grenada and Panama.

Noriega was removed, and his politics never resurfaced in Panama.

Grenada had its communist junta removed.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
What war did America win?

I did a search in modern history, and came up with nothing.

Only mention was DEFEATS!

Last one apparently they ran away, in a rather cowardly manner, leaving all their military equipment behind!

quote:

Originally posted by crbutler:
Saeed, first lets agree what a war is.

Then lets agree what victory is.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with your findings, but there were two you missed obviously... Grenada and Panama.

Noriega was removed, and his politics never resurfaced in Panama.

Grenada had its communist junta removed.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
What war did America win?

I did a search in modern history, and came up with nothing.

Only mention was DEFEATS!

Last one apparently they ran away, in a rather cowardly manner, leaving all their military equipment behind!

And right now you your own fascist government in place!

quote:

Originally posted by Jefffive:
Ask Saddam.

Now how did the US troops get themselves and their gear to the middle east? They were shipped over by Maersk, a Danish company. You know, the ally you americans now threaten to invade.

I could not possibly eat so much that I want to vomit on the US right now. I thought the idea of liberty and democracy meant something for you guys. More than for the people of china or russia anyway.

I was dead wrong. You're no better.

HerrBerg, you raise the quality of the conversation here. I hope go will continue to contribute.