In 2016, the Navy considered a need for hundreds more warships than the 355 the service eventually decided represents the force-level goal needed to execute the Obama administration's defense strategy, according to a senior official involved in crafting the 2016 Force Structure Assessment. Vice Adm. William Merz, deputy chief of naval operations for warfare systems, said that as part of the 2016 Force Structure Assessment -- which calls for a larger fleet, including 18 more attack submarines than previously planned...