if i had to guess, i'd say sacrificial lamb... if they are really going to try and sink one, the Big E fits the bill
Posted on 02/24/2012 10:28:56 PM PST by U-238
The Pentagon is beefing up U.S. sea- and land-based defenses in the Persian Gulf to counter any attempt by Iran to close the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. military has notified Congress of plans to preposition new mine-detection and clearing equipment and expand surveillance capabilities in and around the strait, according to defense officials briefed on the requests, including one submitted earlier this month.
The military also wants to quickly modify weapons systems on ships so they could be used against Iranian fast-attack boats, as well as shore-launched cruise missiles, the defense officials said.
The readiness push is spearheaded by the military's Central Command, which oversees U.S. forces in the Gulf region, these officials said. It shows the extent to which war planners are taking tangible steps to prepare for a possible conflict with Iran, even as top White House and defense leaders try to tamp down talk of war and emphasize other options.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
The biggest problem for the Fifth Fleet is the fast attack boats and mini-subs. The Iranian Navy has at least ten “suicide boats”(unconfirmed).Iran’s use of “mini submarines” pose very serious problems in the region, Iran continues to build missile and torpedo boats, as well as the fleet of mini subs…fast boats and small submarines pose a danger to multi million dollar US combat vessel. Remember the U.S. Cole? A rubber dinghy caused millions of dollars of damage.Nowadays, the Iranian Navy has up to 1,500 speedy boats, according to some conservative estimates.
Why? Just launch one from the States.
The damage to the Cole came about because the Navy had determined that the locals were people of peace and therefore issued no rounds to the sailors on watch, nor allowed the deck guns to be armed or manned.
Those superhulled speed boats will only work as long as congress and the CIC withhold permission to upgrade to defend against swarm tactics.
Many of those boats are precached on uninhabited islands ... easy targets before they are made operational.
Just launch one from the States.
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It is very diffifulty to launch a missile form anywhere which has been decommissioned - no longer exists. Send your thanks to Bill Clinton.
Looks to me like the modern model of the Minuteman III can hit Iran from launched from Florida, or California.
And why are we sending our oldest carrier to the front line ?
The big E was scheduled to decom. this year. But we have now got her heading out of Norfolk with a full crew and air wing.
Is this like moving your oldest battleships to Pear Harbor when you know there is an attack coming ?
We should have been free of the need for Middle Eastern oil years ago. What we are doing now is looking out for Europes oil.
We have the oil here, we just need to go get it.
Let Europe look out for the Straits.
The Middle East is a time bomb. Iran has tirned it into a time bomb. Sooner or later Iran will have to be destroyed.
Rules of Engagement in a “friendly” port were the cause of the Cole damage and casualties. The Zodiac was merely the means of delivery.
(”Rubber dinghies don’t kill ships, people do!”)
Free fire zones with a sufficient stand-off distance are the solution.
LGM-30F MIII was not tested in the video as an air launched missile - the 30F is over 5 feet longer than the tested 30A/B. No dispute about a ground launch.
Gound launch would be easier and sooner detected than an air launched version. Especially one bound for Mecca/Tehran.
How quaint just in time for the elections
Why bust our butts for oil when we are already drilling like crazy for natural gas? We have so much of it and much more coming online, the price has been driven so low, companies are moving to drill for wet gas (contains propane, ethane, etc.) instead of dry gas (only natural gas)?
All we have to do is start converting part of our vehicle fleet to multi-fuel to kill OPEC and the high price of oil. The demand for imported oil in this country will drop like a rock.
Cheap energy prices in this country might quite possibly spur a renaissance in manufacturing as a side effect.
Being able to cruise by the gasoline pump and ignore the traditional Labor Day, Memorial Day, whenever the oil traders and sellers decide to screw you day is, of course, priceless.
Check my tagline.
if i had to guess, i'd say sacrificial lamb... if they are really going to try and sink one, the Big E fits the bill
If the excrement does hit the fan in the Gulf, rules of engagement are what might cause us to lose a capital ship. With our glorious CIC, can you imagine that you are the captain of a US Navy ship under asymmetrical attack, having to call the DOJ and White House for permission to defend yourself?
I hope I am mistaken on this, and that someone with experience can set met straight, but it seems to me that America's military assets are now used more for agendas that are politically correct rather than for defense and the waging of war.
Unknown to most people the military has its hands tied by the current administration. There will be no attack on Iran and Israel will be told to negotiate or have their funding cut.
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