[Republican Party Reptile]

Interesting ... at 9100 ton it's got to be the largest surface ship in the Pakistan Navy, I think the largest ship they currently have is the 3700 ton ex-UK Type 21 FFG's.

So they are going to fit their own Babur cruise missile on the VLS? That will make things interesting in the Indian Ocean. It's got a short leg (300 miles or so range) but is nuclear capable ...

[1rudeboy]

So who gets the Fletcher, Turkey or Pakistan? I'm curious because one of my friends served on the Fletcher.

[indcons]

This is yet another dangerous step in the militarization of Pakistan by the USA. Pakistan's forces are obviously targeted towards India. Washington and Delhi talk of co-operation but pursue steps like these that are detrimental to future relationships.

The average Pakistani HATES America...yet America continues to pamper Pakistan. This news is troubling indeed.

[badpacifist]

I protest!

[pabianice]

All Sprucans are good for is ASW.

[Oztrich Boy]

December 8, 2005: In a good news for Pakistan Navy United States House of Representatives has given its final approval for providing USS Fletcher to Pakistan ....
United States will give Turkey a Spruance class destroyer ship USS Fletcher,

They're gonna share it. How does that work? 6 months/year in each navy or 50:50 crew?

[PAR35]

can also carry two helicopters.

The source I googled up indicated that the Fletcher could only accomodate 1 helicopter. It looks like about half of the class had accomodations for two, the other half just one.

[PAR35]

It should be noted the USS Trenton was ordered by US navy on 17 May 1965

The Trenton was commissioned in 1971. It is going to need some upgrading.

[beaver fever]

If the US continues to apply the Kissinger doctrine to India and Pakistan it will blow up big time in the future and bring China into the equation.