Retired Adm. James Winnefeld said Sunday that basic training and maintenance is "stretched" on U.S. warships overseas.

During an interview on CBS's "Face The Nation," he was asked about a memo that said two recent deadly naval collisions in the region are "not limited occurrences, but part of a

disturbing trend of mishaps involving U.S. warships."

"In the Pacific, it's a very unique situation. These are some of the most high-leverage naval forces that we have in the country," he said.

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"To create the equivalent presence that these ships provide by being based out there, you'd have to have three or four ships back in the United States."

Winnefeld added that the U.S. warships get "the very best stuff."

"Our newest and latest and greatest equipment," he said.

They are also the "hardest-working ships in the Navy," he continued.

"They have a very high operational tempo," he said.

"Their maintenance is very stretched. Some of their basic training that they would need to operate out there is very stretched sometimes because they're out there on the leading edge of the spear."

When pressed on whether they are overtaxed, Winnefeld said the Navy is going to look "very deeply" into that question, adding that it is a "very valid" question.

"It's one of the most dangerous operating environments in the world, where the USS McCain had her collision," he said.

His comments come after the USS John S. McCain collided with an oil tanker in the Strait of Malacca.