Posted on 08/31/2005 5:59:20 PM PDT by SandRat
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Three amphibious ships and a rescue and salvage ship based in Hampton Roads are getting underway Aug. 31 and heading for the Gulf of Mexico to support relief operations along the U.S. Gulf Coast following widespread destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.
The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) and the amphibious transport dock USS Shreveport (LPD 12), both based at Naval Station Norfolk; the dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46) and the rescue and salvage ship USS Grapple (ARS 53), both based at Naval Amphibious Base (NAB) Little Creek, Va., will join the Norfolk-based multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), which is already off the Gulf Coast.
Navy support elements from Mobile Diving Salvage Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 2, and Beach Master Unit 2, all based at NAB Little Creek, will also join the disaster relief effort.
The four ships will bring with them six disaster relief teams that include amphibious construction equipment, medical personnel, and associated supplies to assist with the relief effort.
The Navy's involvement in the humanitarian assistance operations is an effort by the Department of Defense in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
For related news, visit the Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/c2f/.
Navy coming to the rescue
Smooth seas and following winds. Get their quickly to assist and protect!
I have NEVER been so proud that I was a Amphib Sailor(LPH-3/LPH-11)!
Part of the GATOR Navy were you?
Godspeed!
Where's the LCAC's and Amphibs? Looks like they could use some serious air cushion boats down there.
Believe they are aboard the Inchon
Sorry, the Iwo Jima!
How long is this going to take? People crawling out of the flooded streets and onto the highways in New Orleans have no food or water. They haven't had any for two days. The elderly and sick are going to start dropping like flies. Can't something be airlifted or brought by helicopter? Can't they park ships in the Gulf and fly stuff in like they did for tsunami victims? New Orleans needs Rudy Guiliani or somebody who knows how to organize. Whoever is running things doesn't know what he/she is doing.
USS New Orleans LPH-11(ironic huh?), USS Okinawa LPH-3
Give me time I'm posting as fast as I can......
They were saying on the news that they will arrive this weekend. As good as the US Navy is, it still takes a few days to make the run from Norfolk to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. But I can just about guarantee that the ships are cruising along at a pretty fast clip.
In the meantime the PETA/ALF crowd is in there to resue animals, forget the people.
How do you suggest that they get the ships there on your schedule? FedEx them?
USS Iwo Jima & USS Baatan:
Displacement: 40,530 tons full load
Dimensions: 844 x 140 x 26.5 feet/257.25 x 42.7 x 8 meters
Propulsion: 2 boilers, steam turbines, 2 shafts, 70,000 shp, 22 knots
(LHD 8: 2 LM2500, 2 shafts, ~70,000 shp, ~22 knots)
Crew: 1,146
Well Deck: 267 x 50 x 28 feet/81.4 x 15.2 x 8.5 meters; 3 LCAC
Aviation: full flight deck, half-length hangar, 2 deck-edge elevators; ~35-40 helicopters and VSTOL
USS Shreveport:
Displacement: 16,800-17,500 tons full load
Dimensions: 568.75 x 84 x 23.5 feet/173.4 x 25.6 x 7.2 meters
Propulsion: 2 boilers, steam turbines, 2 shafts, 24,000 shp, 21 knots
Crew: 386-400 + 60 flag (no flag in LPD 4-6)
Well Deck: 168 x 50; 1 LCU
Aviation: aft flight deck, telescoping hangar - 58-64 x 18.5-24 x 17.5-20 foot/17.6-19.5 x 5.6-7.3 x 5.3-6 meter; landing for 4 helicopters
USS Tortuga:
Displacement: 16,300 tons full load
Dimensions: 609 x 84 x 19.5 feet/185.6 x 25.6 x 5.9 meters
Propulsion: 4 diesels, 2 shafts, 41,600 bhp, 22 knots
Crew: 310-320
Well Deck: 440 x 50 feet/134 x 15 meters; 4 LCAC or 3 LCU
Aviation: aft flight deck; landing for 4 helicopters
Looks like capacity for 10 LCAC and 1 LCU, or 6 LCAC and 4 LCU. Up to 88 choppers.
Maybe they should have more naval stations with ships nearby instead of closing everything up and consolidating like Rumsfield is suggesting. Peggy Noonan had a article about "thinking dark," in other words, imagining worse case scenarios when it would be necessary to have military bases widely dispersed and able to respond to multiple disasters like widespread terrorist attacks in the U.S. Maybe this disaster is a good practice run for Homeland Security.
I agree the news media is enjoying this catastrophe. You'd think if they can run cameras and get around New Orleans, they could rustle up some bottled water to help these people. Sheppard Smith and the rest of them look fairly clean, hydrated, and well-fed. They don't appear to be suffering.
Wouldn't have made much difference. They would have had to move the ships out of the way of the hurricane anyway. They wouldn't have been able to get there any quicker than the Baatan did.
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