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Officials: Navy has Amphibious Assault Ship Ready ( U.S.S. Boxer on the way )
google.com ^ | 4/10/3009 | ANNE GEARAN

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 ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government
KEYWORDS: lhd4; maerskalabama; maritime; muslims; navair; pirates; shipmovement; somalia; somalipirates; terrorists; usnavy; ussbainbridge; ussboxer; usshalyburton
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To: clamper1797

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.


81 posted on 04/10/2009 6:37:56 PM PDT by rgplusr
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To: toeknee32

Maybe it’s for keeping the shipping lanes open and safe.


82 posted on 04/10/2009 6:42:10 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: sergeantdave

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.


83 posted on 04/10/2009 6:43:01 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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To: SampleMan

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


84 posted on 04/10/2009 6:46:10 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

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.


85 posted on 04/10/2009 6:47:18 PM PDT by Islander7 (If you want to anger conservatives, lie to them. If you want to anger liberals, tell them the truth.)
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To: Mariner
" They bring devastating firepower and plenty of expertise."
Devastating Military Fire Power:


Something the terrorist and PI RATS understand..... they don't even 2nd guess it.



86 posted on 04/10/2009 6:48:30 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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87 posted on 04/10/2009 6:54:25 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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To: Bean Counter

No way. Obama would fly out some of the leftover pizza...for the pirates.


88 posted on 04/10/2009 6:55:28 PM PDT by getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL (****************************Stop Continental Drift**)
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To: Non-Sequitur
And the hostage too.

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

89 posted on 04/10/2009 6:57:18 PM PDT by clamper1797 (FUBO ... protege of the unholy union of Karl Marx and affirmative action)
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To: SoCalPol

My dh deployed aboard the Essex in the 90s. He flew AV8Bs.


90 posted on 04/10/2009 7:01:56 PM PDT by getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL (****************************Stop Continental Drift**)
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To: RC2

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.


91 posted on 04/10/2009 7:07:53 PM PDT by sonic109
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To: Prophet in the wilderness

Now THATS what I call a bow thruster! Look at the water at the bow, the ship is “shoved” to port!


92 posted on 04/10/2009 7:09:24 PM PDT by Eye of Unk ("If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace." T. Paine)
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To: Eye of Unk

At least 30 - 50 feet... and ? the ship rolled a bit to.


93 posted on 04/10/2009 7:11:38 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL

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


94 posted on 04/10/2009 7:12:02 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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To: kellynla

95 posted on 04/10/2009 7:12:55 PM PDT by roses of sharon (Pray Hussein fails!)
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To: Prophet in the wilderness

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.


96 posted on 04/10/2009 7:12:55 PM PDT by Right Wing Assault ( Obama, you're off the island!)
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To: getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL

Essex in the 90s. He flew AV8Bs.

He knows what an all purpose ship the LHDs are


97 posted on 04/10/2009 7:13:46 PM PDT by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin 2012)
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To: Eye of Unk

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.


98 posted on 04/10/2009 7:14:47 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: PGR88

“That’s 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!


99 posted on 04/10/2009 7:34:18 PM PDT by Senormechanico
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To: jazminerose

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.


100 posted on 04/10/2009 7:40:17 PM PDT by dusttoyou (Alamo Tea Party like its 1773)
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