Just Back from San Diego - Navy Question

October 7, 2007 | Jim Noble

[Jim Noble]

I just got home from a 4 day business trip to San Diego. While I was walking this morning along the bay, I saw two very fast, dark gray/camo hull boats go by at high speed. They had what could be missile racks aft and a gun mount (but no gun) forward.

They certainly looked military, came up the bay from below the Coronado Bridge, passed the carriers, and headed out towards Point Loma.

Does the USN or USCG deploy boats fitting this description? They reminded me of a super-modern PT boat, but I didn't think we had any of those.

Any info would be appreciated.

[wastedyears]

SEAL Mark V boats.

[doc1019]

Mark V boats

[al baby]

[al baby]

Builder Halter Marine Inc., Gulfport, Miss.
Length Overall 82 ft.
Beam, maximum 17.5 ft.
Draft (max. static) 5 ft.
Displacement 57+ tons in operational configuration
Hull Mono hull, 5086 series aluminum
Propulsion Engines 2 x 2285 HP MTU 12V396 TE94 engines
Propulsor 2 x KaMeWa K50S Waterjets
Fuel Capacity 2600 gallons fuel capacity
Nav System Radar, GPS, LORAN, chart plotter, fathometer, flux gate compass
Comm System VHF-BTB, VHF-FM, UHF/VHF-FM UHF AM/FM, LOS/SATCOM, VHF-High Band, HF, UHF-handheld, data, IFF
Accommodations 5 crew,
up to 16 passengers/
up to 4 CRRC/
6 outboard motors fuel
Weapons 5 mounting positions for 7.62 mm,
12.7mm, 40mm;

improvements include
7.62mm gatling guns,
twin 12.7mm,
25mm guns,
STINGER
Cruise Speed (SS3) 25-35 knots
Range at Cruise 550+ nautical miles
Max. Speed (SS2) 47-50+ knots
Range at Max Speed 500+ nautical miles
Payload (variable) 6,500 lbs+

2 Transporter
2 Tractor (M916A1E1)

Deployment Package Containerized on:
2 5-ton truck (M1083 or equivalent)
4 5/4-ton truck (M1097 or equivalent)

[april15Bendovr]

Photo of Mark V Boat at this URL

http://www.msc.navy.mil/sealift/2003/May/seal.htm

[doc1019]

Sorry, didn’t mean to step on your toes. ;-)

[kbennkc]

Live bait well ?

[wastedyears]

No problem :)

[Hebrews 11:6]

The SEALS training base is on the bay. Next time you're in San Diego, take the two-hour harbor cruise. It loops into the south bay under the Coronado Bridge, where you will go past all the Navy ships. Then, it loops around the north bay all the way to Point Loma, and you will pass the SEAL base.

Also, be sure to tour the Midway, a 1945 carrier.

I had the good fortune to do all that with my wife just two months ago. Lottafun!

[tanknetter]

Most likely Mark Vs, as mentioned. However, it's possible that they were the boats being used by the new riverine squadrons (although aren't these just deployed out of Little Creek at the moment?)

article with pics here

[Jim Noble]

Thanks very much, that’s them!

[Rembrandt]

This sounds like part of the future Naval ships that Rumsfeld began pushing 10 years or so ago. It looks like some parts are now coming to fruition. Slick looking destroyers were also part of the plan - similar design.

Not to worry, Her Thighness will have them all scuttled so we don’t look too war-like.

[HardStarboard]

Yep - I used to see them often when I had my sailboat in San Diego. I suspected that they were connected with the Seal Team training unit....and I guess that is confirmed by post #2.

Would also see big inflatables with Seals losded up going out past Point Loma to attack some beach on Coronado.

The underwater folks also had a "seal" (the furry kind) training unit right at the entrance to Shelter Island estuary.... damn seals would jump in and out of their boats like your dog jumping into the back of your pickup. Noisy little buggers - but I have heard they do good work finding mines. Were evidently used in Iraqi Freedom to clear the harbor so supplies could come in after the invasion.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Say high to my nephew! He’s in SD, in his 8th year in the Navy.

[Jim Noble]

Too late - I'm back in the woods in NH.

Thanks to your nephew for his service.

[Jim Noble]

This is from Wikipedia:

"Located at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California is a new facility to house operational maintenance, training and administrative functions for 12 Mark V SOC. The North Island location was designed to allow rapid mobilization and transport of these vessel worldwide. The facility provides non-depot level maintenance of rolling stock and depot level maintenance of the Mark V SOC. In addition to maintenance and supply/spare parts warehousing facilities, on-site administration and training facilities with classrooms and briefing areas were provided. Final design includes a new 115' by 37' U-shaped, reinforced concrete pier, 60' long concrete floating docks to berth five vessels, and a gangway. Special design requirements for the pier included the capability to support the combined load of a 50-ton Mark V SOC vessel and a 70-ton marine travel lift used to lift the vessels out of the water and transport them to the maintenance facility."

[gpapa]

[taxesareforever]

It truly is unbelievable the amount and types of security boats that are employed in San Diego compared to the couple of low class boats that Puget Sound Naval Shipyard uses for its’ security. Have to believe one is over secured and one is under secured. But hey, who wouldn’t rather be in a boat in San Diego instead of Bremerton.

[piasa]

The underwater folks also had a "seal" (the furry kind) training unit right at the entrance to Shelter Island estuary....

Those are sea lions. You should see what Navy dolphins do to divers foolish enough to sneak around ships in port thinking of evil things to do with limpet mines.