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Wait for the USS Boxer
Vanity | 12 April, 2009 | Mariner

Posted on 04/12/2009 9:16:17 AM PDT by Mariner

I read much saber rattling concerning the current hostage crises.

Remember, a Destroyer or Frigate only have the capability to sink ships and submarines...and to shoot planes and missile out of the sky.

They do not have SEAL teams...nor even snipers...onboard. They have the ship's weapons and small arms, usually shotguns and pistols.

Until the USS Boxer arrives on the scene, the Navy does not have the ability to even ATTEMPT a rescue.

However, I'm pretty darn sure that lifeboat will not reach the beach, no matter what...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: 444; hostages; maritime; navy; piracy; rescue; somalia; usnavy; ussboxer
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To: neodad
They could have flown a SEAL team in within hours. Don’t need to wait for the Boxer.
This looks like a made to order mission for the SEALs.
21 posted on 04/12/2009 9:29:52 AM PDT by wjcsux (Germany, 1933. America, 2009. History repeats itself again.)
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner

I’m just waiting to see pictures of captured (or dead) Somali pirates. Enough is enough, Obama is making Clinton and Carter look strong by comparison.


22 posted on 04/12/2009 9:30:02 AM PDT by bigbob
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To: Mariner

I’d love to see a helicopter grab the lifeboat, pick it up, and deposit it on the deck of the destroyer surrounded by a company of armed Marines.

Probably not feasible, but I’d still like to see it.


23 posted on 04/12/2009 9:30:28 AM PDT by Not A Snowbird (HOPE and CHANGE? More like BAIT and SWITCH.)
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To: Mariner

actually speaking from experience a seal team could be taken anywhere in a matter of hours and yes to there would be easy enough

They have had the FBI and hostage negotiator taken tot he ships and yet not a seals team

I can tell you right now that those seal teams are itching to go and are getting frustrated that we can’t go because of orders from the white house


24 posted on 04/12/2009 9:30:57 AM PDT by manc (Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick queer sham--- end racism end affirmative action)
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To: ryan71
"You don’t think a SEAL team can be inserted by helicopter? Even a submarine, which is what I would probably opt for, at night".

Yes, an LHD/Boxer CAN do this, but the DDG and FFG don't have the capability to deploy any SEAL team options.

The Boxer has to be within 150 miles of the scene. The SEAL assets would be deployed via CH-46's and that's their limit.

Still, that's probably second on the list. First would be to get within a few miles and deploy operators via far more capable mini-subs via the well deck of the LHD. Stealth and surprise...and substantial capability to stay ON THE SCENE for many, many hours.

Herein is the capability to anchor the raft, or even tow it.

25 posted on 04/12/2009 9:31:13 AM PDT by Mariner
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To: Former Proud Canadian

AMEN!!!!!


26 posted on 04/12/2009 9:31:42 AM PDT by elephantlips
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To: BarnacleCenturion
The USS Boxer is already there

As are the SEALs and snipers

27 posted on 04/12/2009 9:32:01 AM PDT by paul51 (11 September 2001 - Never forget (July 4, 2009 see you there))
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To: Mariner

>> The Frigate and Destroyer can land a small helicopter, but it would take several trips to get a SEAL team and their supporting, specialized equipment aboard.

So make several trips.

I’m fairly certain you could not hoist and land a mini-sub on either, much less launch it.

So don’t send one. I think a mini-sub is of questionable utility in this case.

>> Too simply drop SEALS with small arms in the water near the lifeboat will do little besides get them shot.

So drop seals with rebreathers (no bubbles) — lots and lots and lots of them, in multiple waves. Let the freaking jihadis see them coming! For starters, just let them swim toward (but underneath) the boat, reconnoiter, and swim away. Let the monkeys get nervous. Real nervous, wondering what’s next. Have you seen that boat? I used to build ‘em. Note, they have only a few doors and windows. you either stay outside on the flange or very top — vulnerable — or open the doors — again, vulnerable. At the right moment, create a distraction to let a seal or two board. Or bang-stick a hole in the thing and pump in sleeping gas or tear gas. Or SOMETHING.

My point is, to say that a) there’s no way to get seals in there RIGHT NOW, and b) even if seals were there there’s nothing they could do, is not only defeatist, it’s technically wrong.


28 posted on 04/12/2009 9:32:05 AM PDT by Nervous Tick (Party? I don't have one anymore.)
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To: BarnacleCenturion
"The USS Boxer is already there".

If that is true (and there means RIGHT THERE), then this will be over in the next 24 hours.

29 posted on 04/12/2009 9:32:32 AM PDT by Mariner
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To: Mariner

And I am pretty sure that the lifeboat WILL reach shore. 0 has seen fit to let the media cover this up(NYT had one small article hidden way in the back) because he will not order anything that might upset his muslim brothers in arms. 0 is not even fit to manage a pig farm let alone be POTUS and Commander in Chief.


30 posted on 04/12/2009 9:33:29 AM PDT by freeangel ( (free speech is only good until someone else doesn't like what you say))
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To: Mariner
Well, it sure looked like special forces were aboard the Alabama as it came into port last night. They were a mix of soldiers in black and camouflage so we put protection on the freighter pretty quickly.
31 posted on 04/12/2009 9:33:43 AM PDT by Truth29
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To: Mariner

Even with full sheets to the wind, she is no help.
32 posted on 04/12/2009 9:34:02 AM PDT by Andy from Beaverton (I'm so anti-pc, I use a Mac)
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To: TiredofItalltoo

“I heard there was an 18 man security detail put on the Maersk Alabama for her to continue to her destination - also heard these were Navy SEALS - is that incorrect?”

That’s correct. Navy Seals have been there from the beginning.


33 posted on 04/12/2009 9:34:13 AM PDT by BarnacleCenturion
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To: nathanbedford
These are MUSLIM pirates. Doesn't anybody else see the historical precedents? Can anyone guarantee that none of this ransom money is going to fund other "community organizers" in the mid east?

This whole situation is ridiculous. Think of it for a minute. Rag tag muslim PIRATES are attacking shipping in 2009 in defiance of the whole world, and they are getting away with it!!!!

This is just another battle in the war on terror and Obama is unwilling to engage.

34 posted on 04/12/2009 9:34:42 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian (How do I change my screen name now that we have the most conservative government in the world?)
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To: Mariner
Obama cannot risk anything that may kill the Captain. It would cause such political damage that it might begin an uncontrollable decline in his poll numbers. Political capital tends to evaporate like that. A mere 9 months after his re-election, Bush's capital was exhausted.

The French attacked a 4-on-5 situation (4 gunmen, 5 hostages) and one hostage was killed. This is a 4-on-1 situation, 2 orders of magnitude greater odds of his death resulting from an assault. I know we are not the French, but I don't see any way Obama will permit any kind of assault at this stage. Particularly with the other foreign human shields complicating his new naive peacenik outreach to the world if they were to be killed in retaliation. Obama's goal is to get the Captain out without anyone being captured or killed, and look to a Somalian solution later on. That won't work, either. But this is how the Left thinks.

35 posted on 04/12/2009 9:35:47 AM PDT by FreepShop1 (www.FreepShop.com)
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To: manc

to add
there was a seals team already and they went on the cargo ship

The navy has been fired on and there in itself the navy could have opened fire but cannot due to orders

while this is going on think about it

the president is meeting homos and cross dressers at the white house for a egg hunt

he has flew a cook nearly a 1000 miles to make him pizza, thus adding pollution and costing tax payers
he has not said one thing in 5 days

do we all see where his agenda is now?

our job today and for the rest of this year is to tell everyone as much as possible about how much of an idiot obama is as the media are covering for him

today we will have family and I bet most of you will so please get them to know how this is being handled by obozo the clown


36 posted on 04/12/2009 9:35:55 AM PDT by manc (Marriage is between a man and a woman no sick queer sham--- end racism end affirmative action)
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To: Former Proud Canadian
Kill their relatives, their goats,

Agreed. If you killed their goats, that would really be a deterrent.

37 posted on 04/12/2009 9:35:57 AM PDT by The_Media_never_lie
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To: Virginia Ridgerunner
ALL of the equipment you showed pictures of have a range of 150miles, or less.

Except the CH-53...but you're not going to land one of those on a FFG:)

38 posted on 04/12/2009 9:36:41 AM PDT by Mariner
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To: Mariner

Thes Pirates are not Jihadists or ideological fanatics. They are simple gangsters trying to extort money. If I were talking with them, I would put things in simple terms. If you kill the Captain, we will kill you. In the meantime, you just sit and wait. Keep them on the high seas. Jam any communication they have with their allies. While you are doing this, you start tossing up flares at night and playing a lot of loud music. Keep inching your large vessels closer and closer. Send you aircraft including helicopters on constatnt close reconnaisance. Eventually, they will crack.


39 posted on 04/12/2009 9:38:00 AM PDT by Old Retired Army Guy (tHE)
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To: SandyInSeattle

It’s feasible. A CH53 could do it EASILY.


40 posted on 04/12/2009 9:38:09 AM PDT by Mariner
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