Posted on 04/10/2009 5:10:07 PM PDT by kellynla
WASHINGTON (AP) The Navy is moving a huge amphibious ship closer to the scene of the pirate hostage standoff off Somalia.
Defense officials say the USS Boxer will be nearby soon. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss sensitive ship movements.
The Boxer is the flag ship for a multination anti-piracy task force. The Boxer resembles a small aircraft carrier. It has a crew of more than 1,000, a mobile hospital, missile launchers and about two dozen helicopters and attack planes.
Two other Navy ships are expected to remain much closer to the pirate-held lifeboat. The USS Bainbridge is in sight of the lifeboat; the USS Halyburton is nearby. The Bainbridge uses drones to keep watch on the lifeboat. The Halyburton has helicopters.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
The Boxer is quite able to handle anything these pirates or their friends can throw. If she is equipped like her sister ship, The USS Kearsarge, she has twin Ma Dueces, 25MM manual controlled guns on each side, rolling frame surface to air missle launchers, sea sparrow surface to air missle launchers, and I believe three 20 Mike Mike Sea Wizs (Phalanx)that can be used against air and surface targets.
Maybe it’s for keeping the shipping lanes open and safe.
The USS Boxer which is based here in San Diego
is not an Air Craft Carrier
The Boxer is an Amphibious Assault Ship
It also carries around 2,000 Marines.
CVNs Choppers, etc etc are all in the area only the area is so large it would take several times the ships in the area. WE are talking a vast area.
Also they are taking care of business in the Iraq and Afgh area
the USS Halyburton
That’s got to drive the Commie DemocRATS insane!
You stole my thoughts! I laughed out loud when I heard the Halyburton was headed there.
I wish Dick Cheney was in command.
No way. Obama would fly out some of the leftover pizza...for the pirates.
I don't think so ... these guys know if they harm the hostage they're dead. As I said before ... these guys are into money NOT martyrism
My dh deployed aboard the Essex in the 90s. He flew AV8Bs.
That means boots on the ground.
Nope, could mean rockets from the air to the ground. Blow up all the sea coast mansions built by the pirates.Make them think twice about robbing anyone.
Now THATS what I call a bow thruster! Look at the water at the bow, the ship is “shoved” to port!
At least 30 - 50 feet... and ? the ship rolled a bit to.
USS Essex (LHD-2) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship Commissioned on 17 October 1992 while moored at North Island NAS San Diego .
Dick Cheney, then the Secretary of Defense in the first Bush Administration, spoke at the commissioning ceremony.
Her maiden deployment was in October 1994. With the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) embarked, Essex showcased her abilities on numerous occasions.
The highlight of the deployment came in January 1995, when she left the Persian Gulf to prepare for the complex task of covering the withdrawal of United Nations multinational force from Somalia in Operation United Shield.
Under fire from advancing Somalis, every member of the force was successfully extracted. Essex returned to San Diego on 25 April 1995
It would be so cool to open up with all barrels like that, right over their heads. Give the captain a warning to cover his ears first. In the meantime, divers surface and take out the stunned pirates.
Essex in the 90s. He flew AV8Bs.
He knows what an all purpose ship the LHDs are
I would hate to be at the receiving end of those 16-inch (406 mm)/50-caliber Mark 7 naval guns, which could fire 2,700-pound (1,200 kg) armor-piercing shells some 20 nautical miles.
“Thats why the captain tried to escape by jumping overboard - to give the Bainbridge a few seconds to open open on the life-boat and make short work of it.”
My sentiments exactly!
Looking more and more like jimah’s Iran desert operation.
The Skipper should have taken his chances and kept swimming, then of course the FBI may have not let him onboard the ship, cause it weren’t the deal they worked out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.