Here’s a quick rundown of the tech the U.S. military is sending to help in the aftermath of the massive earthquake and tsunami that just hit Japan. From a Pentagon news release:4 ships on call...2 are amphibs...1 is a carrier and 1 is a command ship.
So far, there are no reports of U.S. military casualties or major damage to American military equipment in Japan.
- The USS Tortuga, in Sasebo, Japan, is preparing to load landing craft and to leave for the disaster areas as early as this evening.
- The USS Essex, with the embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, arrived in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, this morning. The ship is preparing to depart as early as this evening.
- The USS Blue Ridge, in Singapore, is taking on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief supplies and preparing to depart tomorrow morning.
- The USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group, at sea in the western Pacific on its way to Korea, can respond if directed.
Why this mix?
Quite simply...Manpower and equipment.
Disasters require personnel to physically search for and treat survivors...operate heavy equipment for clean up...fly helicopters to aid in casualty evacuation....man amphibious assault vehicle to travel flooded areas to reach stranded persons..etc...
A unique capability found on amphibious ships. A capability not found on Destroyers...Subs...Frigates or Patrol Ships.
It does little good for a ship to arrive in 2 hours if it can't provide meaningful assistance.
A carrier---as effective a ship of war as it is---doesn't have the resources to provide the kind of assistance that is needed.
It can show the flag but it can't do the work.
Amphibs again prove their worth.
And why the CH-53K is so vital going forward.
ReplyDeleteright you are. i'm actually beginning to think that the CH-53K might be more vital to USMC operations than the V-22 despite its speed...oh and i'm not worried about it being escorted by Harriers or F-35B...that's a given but for sustained combat...rapidly building up combat power at an objective...you can't be the lift capacity found in the 53K.
ReplyDeleteAmphib are the "first responders" They bring Marines, sailors, the essential "connectors" (boats, helos, LCACs) and medical facilities. They do not have a generous amount of relief supplies onboard. They can stay around for awhile to help like they did in Haiti.
ReplyDeleteCarriers bring many "bodies" to work on ship making water and ashore/ship for technical and medical help. BUT most importantly they bring aircraft especialy helos and can serve as functioning airfields offshore. But once againg their warship functions may well be needed elsewhere.
Sol are very right the 53K wukk be more important to Marines when it gets online. You know the line about tactics and logistics?
P.S. that is a great photo of a Navy 46!
ReplyDeletei get the importance of the sea lift ships and there tremendous staying power and such but the carriers and their bodies??? not so sure.
ReplyDeletenot so sure when it comes to helos either...as far as i know the LHD brings more utility helos to the party than any two aircraft carriers. i'll check the numbers....
oh and when i saw the pic on the Navy website i had to get it...but i still wonder if that guy wasn't smoking something illegal.
Reports of the US Navy supplying coolant to some Japanese nuke-electric reactors.
ReplyDeletewow. if thats true then things are worse in Japan than i thought.
ReplyDeletethat might explain the carrier.....and the command ships they would need the communications gear in case of a melt down.
the primary coolant system is obviously not working. primary coolant is essentially hyper-clean WATER and lots of it. I doubt the CVN has much in reserve? The problem is powering up the primary coolant system pumps.
ReplyDeleteThis is not the China Syndrome but things are a lot worse and not turning around as yet.
SAR will be first order of business followed closely by MEDEVAC both areas where helos and medfacs on ships can help.
what's wrong with MSC NFAF and sealift ships (staying behind) with Navy helo dets onboard?
ReplyDelete