Seems like the powers that be have finally woken up to the fact that we have Riverine Forces that aren't in the fight. Read the story here.
Tuesday, the Navy tested the ability to dock and secure the RCB and the smaller riverine patrol boat in the well deck of the anchored dock landing ship Oak Hill during a proof-of-concept test held at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.My guess.
Riverine force leaders gave the demonstration a thumbs-up. If senior Navy leaders agree, the riverine force could find itself with a new post-Iraq war mission set outside the green-water arena for which it is designed, and the Navy with yet another capability for the flexible and heavily deployed amphibious force.
Riverine looked around, put its finger up in the breeze and didn't like the direction that the wind was blowing.
Remember my posts here? Well even though this is a positive development, it doesn't go far enough. If Riverine's are going to continue then they need to become attached to the MEU. JHSV's as some are talking about won't be operating in as independent a fashion as some imagine.
They are ship to shore connectors. They aren't combat boats. And unless the Riverine's attach themselves to either Amphibs or LCS then they're done once the budget cutters come.
The facts are simple and stark.
We have a war fighting capability that can't get to the scene of conflicts and worse aren't visible to the Combatant Commanders (or worse still, the Commanders see no use for them).
Last year the new Chinese LPD deployed to the African Horn with a pair of brand new small coastal patrol boats that operated out of her well deck.
ReplyDeleteA well deck is a fantastic resource to have in the fleet and just deploying LCACs and LCUs out of it is hardly putting it to its full use. Let not forget there was a time when larger ships would haul torpedo or gun boats or even submarines to the edge of battle and put them over the side and off to the fight as their mission in life.
An LPD and three or four of those Swede PT boats are what a REAL littoral combat ships should be.
Here are the realities: Both NECC and NSW units always have to hitch a ride on "somelse's ship" to get where they want to go. Floating combat boats out of wet well docks is a SLOW process and leaves the amphib more vunerable. Using amphibs is only ONE of several possible platforms which could be used to lift NECC and NSW boat & crews. LCS has been looked at. There is NOTHING that points to amphibs as anything other than expedients.
ReplyDeleteTLAM wet well docks are the least effective means of launching boats smaller than LCAC and LCUs. RHB, RCB, RPB, and others can more easilyt and quickly be launched by cranes or davits (been there done that).
an oh BTW I sure wouldn't want to send the very under armed LPD17 close to any hostile shore. Apparently neither does the Navy?
JHSVs will be operating idependently the question is will they be armed?
P.S. the NECC units such as RivRons and MESrons do NOT need to be attached to the MEU. It only makes sense to use sailors driving boats in MORE locations from MORE ships, why tie up all ones littoral assets in ONE ship type? Let the Marines do their thing wherever else they are needed.
ReplyDeleteThere is NO lock between Navy boats and Marines or their amphibs.
Historically both sailors and marines have conducted raids, and sailors are usualy the boat drivers offshore.
because unless the NECC gets to be an asset that the Combatant Commanders use then they'll go away. the CC's know about the MEU's...the MEU's stay busy and the Amphibs are the busiest ships in the fleet.
ReplyDeleteface it...in the world we live in, carriers aren't the ships of choice Amphibs are...that's why the NECC needs to wake up to the reality of a partnership with the MEU.
TLAM !
ReplyDeleteTotally agree! 100% agree!
Well I have personally heard CNO and others say the COCOMs want NECC units. I am assuming that every mission does NOT need an ARG to respond or support it. Therefore more NECC and NSW dets on more ship types is my conclusion.
ReplyDelete