Adding to the Pacific fleet

 Despite major cuts expected in the U.S. defense budget over the next decade, the Pentagon plans to increase the Pacific fleet from 50 warships to 58. In addition, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said that more than 40 Navy ships in the Pacific would be replaced with more advanced ships over the next five years.

 But the number of warships “forward deployed” at any one time – operating in Asian waters rather than moored in U.S. ports – will grow by only four, from 23 to 27, by 2020. The reason: It is far less expensive to base troops, ships and planes in U.S. ports than abroad.