This is an idea that the "New Wars" blog pushed real hard and about two years later, I'm finally jumping on his band wagon.
The JHSV's should be considered for High Speed Troop Transports for operations short of war.
*Raids
*Disaster Relief "first responder"
*Embassy Reinforcement
*Embassy Evacuation
*Anti-piracy ops
The missions should be many and varied. Mainly missions that require speed over firepower. That's why the JHSV should be considered. But perhaps more important is the fact that the JHSV is capable of carrying a Battalion of Marines.
The idea of using a Marine Company as a unit of action is sheer lunacy. The Marine Corps would be making the same mistake that others have. Not recognizing that the smaller the unit the greater the need for external support across the spectrum.
And until the Marine Corps starts issuing Rolex watches as standard gear, we shouldn't play the games that other do.
But instead of heading off on a tangent, let me get back on task.
We just had a perfect opportunity to experiment with both the Company Landing Team and what I would call a Special Purpose MAGTF built around two Marine Infantry Companies, LAV-25 detachment and a detachment from the air wing consisting of two MV-22, and two UH-1Y's (we would take advantage of the weapons these aircraft can carry optimizing them in a multi-role fashion).
You would have one company trained as your boat unit, practicing that skill during work ups and the other as your air company, rappelling, fast roping and getting HRST certified.
Both would train to be your mechanized raid team and it probably wouldn't hurt to have a Combined Anti-Armor Team or even revise the Mobile Action Platoons of Iraq War fame built around a number of humvees (preferably rebuilt to a new standard but I'm not holding my breath).
The JHSV is the ship that we have available now but I'd really like to see another vessel used if this role is adopted.
No.
Not the LCS. It should be busy doing other missions and it SHOULD be jammed packed with so many weaponized modules that there won't be room for connex boxes designed to berth around 300 plus Marines.
The ship that I'd like to see modified to perform this work is the Sea Fighter.
To be honest I've wondered what exactly is this ship for! Now it could have a mission and according to one reader over at New Wars blog, its not only fast but it has blistering speed. He made claims of over 70 knots.
Because Marines are Marines, they're used to living in austere conditions and if properly outfitted as living spaces, connex boxes can be bolted down to the decks below and shelters can be arranged above decks for aircraft.
But perhaps more importantly these Marines would only embark during times of emergency or need and would steam ahead of a full strength MEU to points of crisis/need.
Along with the SPMAGTF, we would also revive the near dead Air Contingency MAGTF. Marines ready to go and shape the field before OTHER Marines arrive.
If it must be done then Marines should be doing it. Not scuba divers with big watches, little guns and huge egos.
While small high speed transports have a lot of utility both designs are around 1,500 tons, have no helicopter hangers, and other than small boats do need to dock to unload. For their size they have relatively deep drafts at 13 ft due to being either catamaran's or SWATH. LCS is about twice as large with the same draft.
ReplyDeleteThe Sea Fighter, a SWATH, is I believe credited with a speed in excess of 50 knots but 70 seems far fetched. In any case while useful either design is a small transport carrying around 400 tons of cargo or up to 300 troops. In any opposed operation they would be supported by larger ships.
The USN is planing for up to 23 JHSV's eventually. While the high speed of Sea Fighter, say 55 knots, sounds great it actually has about the same engineering (two diesels and two LM2500's) as LCS which is twice as large and about 10 knots slower. Putting that on a catamaran would result in a ship faster than a SWATH. A SWATH has a lot of advantages including high stability but this is an advantage for ocean going designs. The last two classes of T-AGOS ships have been SWATH's.
Lastly I don't believe either design can handle an MV-22. LCS can carry two MH-60's in the hanger and can land an CH-53. Any opposed operation with JHSV's will see these offloading on a pier supported by larger vessels.
Indeed while I'm not any fan of LCS the one thing it will do well is exactly what you're talking about here. It has the same draft as either ship but is twice the size carrying more cargo, goes 45 knots, and has a hanger for two medium helicopters. It's perfect for this mission if perfect excludes the hideous cost and the fact at this point it can't do any other mission as none of the modules either work or exist. Which of course also leaves the aside the fact that the modules are an extra cost above the $500 million or so for the module less LCS.
Where you guys been? Transporting Marines and Sailoer has always been one of the JHSV missions. OPNAVINST ROC/POE for JHSV says this: At the lower end of the range of military operations, the JHSV will support forward presence and deterrence operations providing lift for tailored,modular forces into areas where austere, unimproved or degraded port facilities preclude access by larger ships.
ReplyDeletef. At the higher end of the range of military operations, the JHSV will support the closure of forces for combat operations, particularly in support of seabased operations (limited to Sea State 1 operations).
g. The JHSV will be a high-speed, highly maneuverable multi-mission platform that will provide COCOMS expanded operational flexibility to support a variety of missions including rapid force closure to and from a variety of ports and sea bases.
h. While it will transport operational combat-ready units, the JHSV will not provide an assault capability. It will be capable of transporting nearly all classes of military tactical vehicles plus other cargo, equipment, and personnel in the littoral region.
Key thint to take away from above is JHSV is a naval auxiliary not a warship nor a HSV ferry.
ReplyDeleteJHSV has four MTU diesels no GTs
Also to bring you up to speed, the Navy is now only buying 10 JHSVs may buy 8 more after this FYDP. Flight deck while large enough for H-53 is not yet certified for that bird. There is only a parking spot of H-60 as was origninally planned.
LCS does NOT have the troop spaces nor cargo lift capacity of JHSV, LCS does not have qtr ramp or crane of JHSV. Plans are to go alongside either a pier OR INLS pontoons FFT to landing craft IF offshore ops are required.
Seafighter is assinged to ONR for R&D projects related to LCS. Ship is now an R/V. Recent mods at Alabama shipyard were not specified. Could FSF-1 be weaponized sure, but NAVSEA not paying for that~
ReplyDeleteSeafighter is a catamaran variant with some SWATH features. It's not a true SWATH like T-AGOS.
ReplyDeleteIt behaves more like a cat than a SWATH.