Posted on 06/28/2010 4:13:17 PM PDT by lbryce
debkafile's military sources report that Washington has posted a third carrier opposite Iran's shores. It is supported by amphibious assault ships and up to 4,000 Navy and Marine Corps personnel, bringing the total US strength in these waters to three carriers and 10,000 combat personnel.
The USS Nassau (LHA-4) Amphibious Ready Group 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, tasked with supporting the Bahrain-based 5th Fleet area of operations, is cruising around the Bab al-Mandeb Straits where the Gulf of Aden flows into the Red Sea. Its presence there accounts for Tehran announcing Sunday, June 27 that its "aid ship for Gaza" had been called off, for fear an American military boarding party would intercept the vessel and search it.
This would be permissible under the latest UN sanctions punishing the Islamic Republic for its nuclear program.
The third US carrier group to reach waters around Iran consists of three vessels:
1. The USS Nassau Amphibious Assault ship is not just an enormous landing craft for the 3,000 Marines aboard; its decks carry 6 vertical take-off AV-HB Harrier attack plans; four AH-1W Super Cobra, twelve CH-46 Sea Knight and CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters, as well choppers convertible to fast V-22 Osprey airplanes capable of landing in any conditions.
This vast warship has 1,400 cabinets for sleeping the entire Marine-24th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard.
2. The amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde which carries 800 Marines equipped for instantaneous landing.
3. The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland which carries 400 Marines and 102 commandos trained for special operations behind enemy lines.
(Excerpt) Read more at debka.com ...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2543488/posts
Truman Carrier Strike Group Relieves Eisenhower
USS Harry S. Truman Public Affairs ^ | 6/28/2010 | Navy.mil
Thank you, sir, for the “heads-up”.
you’re right ... best sign of action is the USN scats the Persian Gulf ... except for the 688s, of course ..
Too shallow for the 688s. No room to manuver.
Some of the DDGs and FFs will stay in to work with the GCC navies but that is all. The birdfarms will be at Gonzo. It will look like 1987-88 except the CVN count will be 4 on Gonzo Station. 2 does not hack it...
Note: This turnover is off the Pakistani coast. It is offensive season in Afghanistan and the carrier is providing air support.
So you’re thinking this is just a saber rattling ruse?
I think it is normal operations being potrayed by propagandists as sabre rattling.
This is not new, it happens every 4-6 months.
When you see 4 CVNs in the IO, then we are doing something.
Ignore the big-deck gator, its aircraft do not have the range...
Makes sense....thanks.
thanks ! x 2
Turnover complete and Eisenhower in Med heading for the barn.
http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=52443
Right on schedule.
There is always a spin-up when a CVN is inbound to relieve, but never a follow-up mention when the relieved CVN heads for home.
Looks like you were right.
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