| Submit your comments on this article |
| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Three American carriers converging on Middle East |
| 2005-03-21 |
| Edited for brevity. The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt is on the move in Atlantic Ocean and is possibly headed towards the Mediterranean Sea. The convergence of three carrier groups in the corridor of the Middle East will send very strong message to the Syrians and Iranians. There are indications that soon US is moving two more aircraft carrier battle groups to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf. This will spell a formidable strike force for Iran and Syria who are in defiance on issues of Lebanon and Nuclear weapons development. Outbound from Singapore, the USS Carl Vinson is currently crossing the Indian Ocean headed towards Middle-East. This will be the first time since February 2004 that US will have three major carrier groups stationed on and around Middle East. Each of these carrier groups carry nearly 85 aircrafts and is capable of deliver precision-guided munitions. In addition there are anti-submarine aircrafts, airborne-early-warning and rotary-wing aircrafts. Because in the air refueling capabilities these aircrafts can operate from a long distance. The carrier groups are independent and can operate indefinitely. This information was included in a previous post on Rantburg. The third carrier is presumably the USS Harry S. Truman. |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #20 Yesssss....... But what do the Mad Mullahs think? |
| Posted by: Bobby 2005-03-21 9:24:55 PM |
| #19 Dear Mullahs: Say good night, Gracie... Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2005-03-21 9:13:13 PM |
| #18 Mark Z: THREE carrier groups in one place? Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't such a display of testosterone make that three prong group about, oh...say... the second most power laden country on the face of the earth in one confined area? With all due respect...you really want three USN carrier groups parked off your coast? Since George HW Bush's New World Order, Uncle Sam has, with the exception of Afghanistan, pretty much gone to the UN for anything that related to America's national interests. A display of testosterone is when we destroy a significant portion of the Iranian military. These are just routine maneuvers blown out of proportion by excitable Indian reporters. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-03-21 7:24:53 PM |
| #17 THREE carrier groups in one place? Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't such a display of testosterone make that three prong group about, oh...say... the second most power laden country on the face of the earth in one confined area? With all due respect...you really want three USN carrier groups parked off your coast? |
| Posted by: Mark Z. 2005-03-21 7:02:32 PM |
| #16 This will be the first time since February 2004 that US will have three major carrier groups stationed on and around Middle East. The above statement is the reason why this means absolutely nothing. |
| Posted by: Elmoting Granter5118 2005-03-21 5:56:59 PM |
| #15 The mighty Moo? LOL! I didn't know that. I have kin who fought there and ran and fought and ran and waited for Gen. Greene to get with the program. :) |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-03-21 5:48:07 PM |
| #14 mojo, yes it is. The WWII carrier the Cowpens was nicknamed The Mighty Moo and the Battleship Missouri was The Mighty Mo. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-03-21 4:42:47 PM |
| #13 Isn't the USS Theodore Roosevelt informally known as "The Big Stick"?... |
| Posted by: mojo 2005-03-21 4:17:47 PM |
| #12 Even if it's routine rotation, it's nice to have that much power right there--enough to say to both Syria and Iran we've got the power to swat both of you down, and simultaneously at that! |
| Posted by: Dar 2005-03-21 4:15:13 PM |
| #11 Daily status of the navy: http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/.www/status.html |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-03-21 4:10:35 PM |
| #10 MMHQ! lol. They gotta be getting a little twitchy in Tehran at the moment. Never hurts to keep em thinking "flinch." Even lil Kim in Korea understands the usefulness of an attitude adjuster displayed properly. |
| Posted by: Tkat 2005-03-21 4:03:36 PM |
| #9 We may be able to pull off strikes with assets already in place, but nothing says "Hello" like old fashioned gun boat diplomacy. Carriers represent a very large and visible stick to all involved. |
| Posted by: Laurence of the Rats 2005-03-21 3:51:41 PM |
| #8 :) Yep. Specs for the converted ones. General Characteristics, Ohio Class Builders: General Dynamics Electric Boat Division. Power Plant: One nuclear reactor, one shaft Length: 560 feet (170.69 meters) Beam: 42 feet (12.8 meters) Displacement: 16,764 tons (17,033.03 metric tons) surfaced; 18,750 tons (19,000.1 metric tons) submerged Speed: 20+ knots (23+ miles per hour, 36.8 +kph) Ships: USS Ohio (SSBN 726) — Out of service 29 Oct. 2002 for conversion to SSGN USS Michigan (SSBN 727) — conversion to SSGN scheduled for October 2003 USS Florida (SSBN 728) — conversion to SSGN scheduled for October 2003 USS Georgia (SSBN 729) — conversion to SSGN scheduled for 2004 Crew: 15 Officers, 140 Enlisted Armament: Up to 154 Tomahawk missiles each (140 on SOF-configured SSGNs). |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-03-21 3:47:18 PM |
| #7 Att'n Mullahs: Don't forget the U.S. submarines that may already be well within striking distance. And it's one hell of a punch. |
| Posted by: Tom 2005-03-21 3:36:07 PM |
| #6 Shipman : Aw shucks, I thought the Turbanites were gonna see some more "UFOs" flying over MMHQ*, Tehran *Magic Mullah Headquarters |
| Posted by: BigEd 2005-03-21 3:17:26 PM |
| #5 This is way overdone. We have all the air power we need in Iraq and around the Gulf States. No real need for carriers as such. There are perhaps political considerations involved in not using the land-based assets - namely, that the local governments will be concerned. Local allies can't give us a hard time about using the carriers, since they don't operate on their soil. Still, that has to be balanced against putting these really expensive warships at risk. |
| Posted by: Zhang Fei 2005-03-21 3:15:30 PM |
| #4 Nothing to it. Regular rotation with a modified stir up for fun. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-03-21 3:05:27 PM |
| #3 LOL! Awesome observation, Mrs D! LOL! |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-21 3:00:02 PM |
| #2 2 Democrats and a Republican. Bipartisanship at its best. |
| Posted by: Mrs. Davis 2005-03-21 2:56:46 PM |
| #1 Nothing to see here, heh, move along Mullahs. ;-) |
| Posted by: .com 2005-03-21 2:51:23 PM |