The U.S. Navy's Deadly Collision Course

The circumstances of the crash of the USS John S. McCain near Singapore, which killed at least one U.S. sailor and has left nine missing, remain unclear pending a Navy investigation. The bigger picture, however, is already in focus: Four major accidents this year involving ships of the Seventh Fleet highlight a systemic problem that imperils American dominance on the high seas.

At any given time, about 100 of the Navy's roughly 275 ships are deployed. Yet the fleet is half the size it was 30 years ago, meaning the ships are docked for shorter periods before redeploying. The uncertainty caused by so-called budget sequestration has hindered the Pentagon's long-term planning. All this has made shortcuts inevitable, such as neglecting standard upkeep and putting off some training until after deployment.