Navy ships, one from Florida, sail to disrupt terrorists at sea

Posted on Tue, May. 24, 2005


Navy ships, one from Florida, sail to disrupt terrorists at sea

SUE LINDSEY
Associated Press


NORFOLK, Va. - As part of its faster response to requests from overseas, the Navy announced Tuesday it is sending five ships to the Middle East with a mission to disrupt terrorist operations at sea.

The 2,800 sailors had less than two months' notice that they would leave this week and next to spend about three months in the Mediterranean and Red seas.

Leaving Wednesday are the USS Saipan, an amphibious assault ship, the USS Nashville, an amphibious transport ship, the frigate USS Nicholas and the cruiser USS Philippine Sea. The Saipan, Nashville and Nicholas are all based in Norfolk, while the Philippine Sea's home port is Mayport, Fla.

The USS Gunston Hall, an amphibious dock landing ship, is to leave June 1 from Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base in Virginia Beach.
(snip/...)

http://www.bradenton.com/mld/bradenton/news/local/11727505.htm

Or is that just a Marine Transport ship/Hovercraft?

Terrorists at sea

...so they can in fact launch their equipmet like LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion). Seals can launch from any platform.

they are pretty flexible platforms for amphimious landing as well as transporting troops to a particular place.

on edit ... or maybe an LPD. It's been a long time for me.

I was TAD on two of them in Korea, 1952--The Comstock (LSD 19) and the Fort Marion (LSD 22).

They alternated in carrying/deploying Mine Sweep Boat Division One (MSB1).

180

Having Flashbacks are we?

what is called a MEU - Marine Expeditionary Unit. It's basically a self contained marine assault unit, several thousand strong - with fixed and rotor wing aircraft capabilities (harriers, cobras, sea knights and hueys), and a variety of ground units deployed by landing craft (ie tanks, humvees, lav's). These sorts of ships were previously in the gulf and used in the initial invasion.

Additionally, these units can serve as a floating special operations HQ platform.

My assessment is that they want to have heavy helicopter assets available in the gulf for interdiction, and dont mind having a threatening set of invasion assets near Iran.

ON EDIT:

1) they are going to the med and red sea - probably for deployment in North Africa.
2) On ship is leaving from Little Creek, one of two HQ for the Navy Seals (the other being in Coronado, California). SEAL assets will definately be on board.

about the al qaeda scuba armada on its way to nicaragua and NOW IT TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE!

Quick get the kids outta the ocean.

Why are ships going to "the Mediterranean and Red seas?" The countries in "question" don't even access to those seas.

and 3 if by SUV.

I'm just sayin'.........

I forgot Syria was not landlocked...what was I thinking? :)

The amhib ships are to land marines the other 2 are to protect the amphib ships. Either they need to send it more marines because things really such in Iraq or they are planning on another invasion.

Plus if the Navy is A) crazy enough to keep carriers and amphibious assault ships anywhere near the Persian Gulf and then B) start some hostilities with Iran, we will C) end up with some sunk ships. Iran has anti-ship missiles that ain't no joke.

http://www.strike-the-root.com/51/herman/herman3.html




That's whan an Exocet did to the USS Stark way back when. Now imagine Iran has even better missiles now.

that crippled the Stark. But since Saddam was bestest buds with Reagan at the time, no problem, Saddam apologized and that was that.

http://eightiesclub.tripod.com/id344.htm

...right?:sarcasm: :eyes:

Best send an expedition there.

thank god they aren't sending any from Hawaii, that's where my brother is stationed. He already went near Iraq once, hope he never does again. I feel for anyone on those ships, and everyone who knows or is related to them. This war sucks shit.

terrorist building in the desert of Iraq? The insurgents must be good at reusing our spent metal casings!:eyes:

When did terrorism at sea because a problem? I thought all the terrorists lived in caves?

Looks like they are in a hurry to get their Armageddon on.

Think we're fucked if * pulls the trigger.

So * is on his June schedule......

What do you think?

Israeli jets can attack Iran without overflying any third country. But, IAF fighter-bombers and tankers would have to fly down the Red Sea to do so. Denied direct U.S. assistance, Israel might move to seize a temporary landing field en route to Iran to carry out such a mission. Preparations for this would likely be spotted by American forces who have redeployed in force without much explanation in the area.

Look at a map of the region. This explains what may be about to happen.



IAF F-15 and F-16 fighter-bombers fly south from bases near Elat Airport in Southern-most Israel out the Gulf of Aqaba and straight down the middle of the Red Sea (1100 nm.) The Red Sea exits at the Gulf of Aden into the Arabian Sea where, over international waters, these planes are refueled by IAF tanker aircraft (yes, they have them), and then proceed northeast another 900 nm until they turn 90 degrees left, flying into Iran near the entrance to the Persian Gulf at the Straights of Hormuz. From there, it's a straight line to the nuclear reactor at Bushehr 300 nm northwest up the Iranian coast and on to other targets in Iran.

Approached from the Arabian Sea, IAF F-15s can strike anywhere within Iran, while the shorter-range F-16s can hit targets in the southern half of the country before they have to turn around and fly back out to meet circling Israeli Air Force air tankers, fill up again, before returning to bases in Israel.

Not an easy mission, but not outside the technical abilities of the Israelis. Everyone will feign surprise, particularly in Washington. Aside from Iran, no one can complain about encroachment into their airspace, and Iran will have a hard time justifying to the world any decision to attack U.S. or third country installations in the region on the basis that Israel received de facto overflight rights.

This makes it almost too tempting for Sharon to resist. Because we armed Israel with 600 bunker busters and a whole lot of other guided munitions (not to mention the aircraft to deliver them to targets in Iran), of course, Iran would blame the U.S. for all the Iranian citizens who are going to be killed by such an attack. Therefore, Iran may decide to launch its missiles and chemical and biological weapons at US targets in the region anyway.

Such an eventuality would likely signal a wider war with massive casualties.

Recent U.S. activity on the Coast of the Red Sea in Northern Somalia

There have been reports that US Marines are back in some numbers in Northeast Somalia. Marine helicopters seem to be looking for something on the ground in the area on the Red Sea coast between Berbera and Basaso. Yet, that area has generally been quiet.http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20050505-1008-security-somalia-usa.html

We all know Israel has been very publicly planning to bomb nuclear installations in Iran. However, Sharon apparently hasn't been able to get overflight rights from anyone in the region, not even the US that controls Iraqi airspace. So, the Israeli Air Force will have to fly F-15s and F-16s around the Arabian Peninsula to get to Bushehr, a 4,500 mile round trip.

Problem is, according to public sources, the IAF only have five tanker aircraft. Not enough to refuel a sufficient number of strike aircraft to assure a successful mission. If this is the case, they could be preparing to temporarily seize airstrips in north-east Somalia near the outlet of the Red Sea.

There's a paved 13,000 ft. runway at Berbera and a 3,500 ft. dirt strip at Bosaso, on the coast of the Gulf of Aden. The long, paved strip could be a place to land and refuel the three big KC-135 (Boeing 707) IAF tankers and perhaps some of the fighter-bombers. The turboprop KC-130s could use one of several dirt strips.

If the Marine helicopters spot foreigners with lots of refueling equipment near Somali landing strips, that might tell them something. The U.S. could also be doing friendly reconnaisance in preparation for such an Israeli operation. Or, they could just be looking for Osama's friends in Somaliland, which is the public cover.

The question then comes down to whether the Bush Administration actually decides to assist the Israelis bomb Iran, thwart that plan, or look the other way. One thing is most unlikely: such an attack by Israel would really come as a surprise at the White House.

Maybe they are going after the pirates from "The Life Aquatic"...
Guard your tagalog-speaking accountants well!

God only knows if it will be executed, or where, but I bet there are tons and tons of spooks on those ships.