Posted on 03/01/2018 2:13:13 PM PST by blam
The USS Carl Vinson, a massive nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, reportedly sailed deep in the South China Sea amid U.S.-China tensions over Beijing’s territorial disputes with several American allies in the region. “It shows resolve, and gives decision space to our leaders,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Doug Verissimo, the ship’s commanding officer, referring to the presence of the warship on the South China Sea, the Australian Broadcasting Network (ABC) reported.
The captain noted:
When they put a carrier strike group somewhere it helps to show that the United States is interested. We don’t have a lot of these, so when you put one in a certain area, it has some influence. Of course, it also gives our diplomats time and space to negotiate and make decisions, ultimately to try and prevent any type of armed conflict.
The Filipino newspaper, the Inquirer, recently described the super-carrier as a “floating city,” noting that it houses 72 aircraft, mostly fighter jets, and 5,000 sailors.
Without revealing where exactly the U.S. is planning to sail during its mission, the commander of the Carl Vinson strike group, Rear Adm. John Fuller, added, “I will say our navigation is very good and we know where international law says we can operate and I know where international law says we can’t. And we’re going to do what international law says we can do.”
(snip)
(Excerpt) Read more at breitbart.com ...
Need an updated file photo because the following aircraft on that flight deck are now retired: F-14, S-3 Viking, EA-6B Prowler, F/A-18 B and C.
Oh!
That's my mistake. The photo of the Vinson at Beitbart was from Getty, which we can't use. So, I just grabbed the first picture of the Vinson I could find as a substitute.
I'm an old submarine guy and didn't pay close attention to the planes.
I wish them every success and safety, but in an age of surface to surface missiles they are floating targets.
That why they have destroyer screens.
No one said joining the military is risk free.
What a profound change from Obama...
“Tower,this Ghostrider requesting a flyby...”
Yeah, sure, hopefully. Just today Russia is boasting about it’s new indefeatable missile. And China has its own. All it takes is one to get through. Don’t get me wrong: I wish for the U.S. navy to rule the seas, but there are very real threats out there.
Indefeatable? Never heard that term. But any weapon can be compromised or defended against.
““Tower,this Ghostrider requesting a flyby...””
Ummm...That’s a negatory Ghostrider. Plus I am holding a cup of hot coffee and if you buzz the tower it will spill all over me and the Captain will ream you for it.
Let us trust and pray that we will not one day in some Orwellian scenario awake to learn that U.S. Navy battle carriers have been sunk by enemy missiles. They are floating targets, detroyer escorts be damned.
Ha! Roger that.
Wouldn’t be the first carrier sunk. War is risky. China would quickly find how risky if they ever sink one of ours.
It’s going to arrive in DaNang VN within the next 3 days. No US Carrier has been there since 1975 and it’s certain to gain a lot of attention in Beijing.
The whole Battle Group will do a port call there.
And the US Congress lifted all military export conditions for Viet Nam in 2016. They are eligible to buy the F-35 and other US Weapons Systems.
That’s a big friggin’ deal.
“but in an age of surface to surface missiles they are floating targets”
No, they are not.
They are the most protected asset in the US Military.
Additionally, every other country knows that the price of a US Aircraft Carrier is existential war.
I think it's an unspoken (but globally assumed) caveat that the sinking of an American carrier will garner a nuclear response.
China better watch out, or we’ll ram them with one of our destroyers.
Carl Vinson to visit DaNang.
You are imagining a conflict in which every defensive weapon performs as advertised, according to the manufacturer’s claims. Those weapons have not been battle tested, and there remain serious doubts whether they can perform as promised. Let us hope and pray that the defensive armaments aboard our main battle carriers - and their escorts - perform as promised.
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