European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 4, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday december 4, 1992 the stars and stripes Mediterranean based ships Seei Way to boost Navy s efficiency by Chuck Vinch Washington Bureau washing i on a the Navy could Cut the size of the Fleet without hurting readiness by putting a Home port in the Mediterranean sea a recent report concludes. I he 56-Page report from the congressional research service an  of Congress said such a move could reduce by at least 20 percent the number of ships of a Given kind the Navy needs to maintain its commitments. A ship with a Home port abroad is considered to be continuously available for duty or a on station a without having to be backed up by rotating  ships. So Home porting outside the United states cuts the number of ships needed for a deployment regardless of the ships Type said Ronald of Rourke the study a author. Forward Home porting already is the policy in the Western Pacific where the United states has a Carrier Battle group and a few amphibious ships in the japanese ports of Yokosuka and Casebo. That Carrier is the Only one designated for maintaining a deployment in the Western Pacific. In the Mediterranean however about five carriers based in Norfolk va., Are committed to covering that Region of Rourke said. The study said the Navy also underestimates the number of ships required to maintain a Forward deployment taking exception to the Navy adage that three ships Are needed to keep one Forward deployed. Of Rourke the research services National defense analyst said More than twice that number May be needed to keep one ship on station depending on the location of the Home port. The three for one formula is based on an 18-month Cycle for a ship with a six month deployment of Rourke said. But considering the time necessary for transit training and maintenance even More ships Are needed to cover a Given area. For submarines almost six vessels arc needed to keep one on station he said. Of Rourke said the three for one Rule has survived largely because Navy officials keep invoking it in Public forums possibly to make the service seem More Cost efficient. He acknowledged that Forward Home porting in the Mediterranean would face obstacles a including the search for a willing Host nation. Ships in Forward Home ports also would be vulnerable to sudden eviction and a dispute could arise if the Host nation sought to limit a ships use in return for base Access. A while Host nation limits do not appear to have posed much of a problem with the Japan Home porting arrangement they could pose a problem in the Mediterranean where the potential Host countries maintain carefully measured relationships with the countries of North Africa and the Middle East a of Rourke said. Ending an overseas Home porting arrangement to move the ships to another Region also might spark political difficulties he said because foreign nations usually View such actions As a signal of reduced . Commitment and resolve. Costs also could be a Factor. Japan pays part of the Basing costs for . Ships there but other potential Host nations might seek the kind of rent payments for base Access that clouded . Relations with the Philippines of Rourke said. He outlined several options that could help reduce the number of ships needed to maintain Forward deployments such As conducting More Shore based training with simulators. If at sea training time could be reduced some Navy ships might then become suitable candidates for a double  under that concept a ship returning from deployment would switch Crews undergo repairs and a Brief period of at sea training and then return to deployed status with the second Crew while the first remains ashore for rest and training. Double crewing has been the policy for years in the Navy a ballistic missile submarine Fleet of Rourke said. But he acknowledged that modifications might be needed to configure other ships for that purpose. The Senate armed services committee recently expressed interest in increasing the use of Navy training simulators and the possibility of double Crews for aircraft carriers of Rourke  majors reprieved from forced separations by Ray Rowden Washington Bureau Washington a army officials have cancelled plans to oust majors in 1993, although a february Board will select up to 1,400 captains for forced separation. As recently As july army officials thought they would have to trim As Many As 700 majors to meet personnel target goals by sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. A when we got the numbers in october our projections for 1993 losses dropped to 300 to 400,�?� said it. Col. Eugenia Thornton an army personnel official. A we can do that without ousting people who really want to stay in the  the attraction of voluntary separation programs with Cash incentives has contributed to the cancellation of reduction in Force plans Thornton said. A message sent to Field commands last week said each application heavy fighting keeps Sarajevo Airport closed Sarajevo Bosnia and Herzegovina apr the Airlift to Sarajevo the encircled City a lifeline remained suspended for a third Day thursday because of continued heavy fighting near the Airport. A danish peacekeeper abducted wednesday was released unharmed after being held in a garage for about eight hours the . Peacekeeping Force said. The Airlift was suspended tuesday after a . Transport plane was hit by Small arms fire. It will not resume at least until today because of the fighting said maj. Juan Villalon a spokesman for the . Peacekeepers. Fighting at the suburb of otes North of the Airport subsided during the night but resumed about 4 . With a major serbian infantry and Armor attack from the West and South the bosnian army said. The serbs reportedly also used artillery and fired tear Gas shells. The army claimed to have destroyed a third serbian tank. It had said its troops destroyed two of them wednesday. Army officers reported some close Range combat and an unspecified number of casualties on each Side. In wednesdays fighting around otes the bosnian reported 14 dead a nine military and five civilians a and dozens wounded. Government forces have been under attack for four Days in otes. Bosnian officers said the serbs used a nov. 12 ceasefire which has since collapsed to move at least 10 tanks into position to attack otes from three sides. They said the serbian strategy was to forge a link Between Lidza to the West of Sarajevo and Rajkovac to the Northwest. For the variable separation incentive or special separation Benefit will reduce the number of captains to be ousted. A a we be certainly stressed the programs in All our messages a Thornton said. The army withdrew the offer of separation bonuses for majors at the same time it cancelled the reduction in Force Board. The move did not affect majors whose applications for voluntary separation had been approved. The army soon intends to reopen the voluntary separation programs to majors Thornton said. But she gave no timetable. Thornton also said a number of officers who were expected to retire in january have already left the service a they must have found jobs and left Early a she said. Although officials Are looking at How to use the 15-year retirement option recently authorized by Congress the defense department has not yet allowed the services to use it. While the proposed Early retirement option would affect senior officers and enlisted personnel it will not affect the captains who will be considered for ouster by the february Board. The Board will consider about 5,000 captains who began their Active duty careers in 1983 and 1984, Thornton said. By Law such boards May select no More than 30 percent of those considered. Thornton stressed that the actual number of oysters will be based on the latest figures available. A the numbers Are changing constantly Quot she said. A they could go up but we Hope they go  leaving the service under the reduction in Force will be separated by sept. 30. Those requesting one of the voluntary programs will be out by aug. 1. A the if really is our last resort Quot Thornton said. Wet walk in Wales a shopper walks through flood Waters in Pontypridd Force winds and heavy rain throughout the Day causing South Wales on wednesday. Wales was lashed by Gale widespread flooding