Posted on 01/13/2024 4:41:02 AM PST by FarCenter
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There are two answers to the question of why the situation with the Houthis was going out of control. The first answer relates to the number of missiles aboard a ship. US ships are relying on SM-2 missiles, part of the AEGIS system.
One expert estimates the number available as follows:
“The [AEGIS] destroyers have a complement of 96 VLS cells, while the [Ticonderoga class] cruisers have 122…. However, they need to fit a mixture of weaponry in those cells so they can’t all be used for air defense.
This weaponry includes the ESSM (quad packed into a single cell), the SM-2 (and its newer counterpart the SM-6), Tomahawk cruise missiles, ASROC anti-submarine missile(s) and SM-3 anti-ballistic missile(s).
The exact ratio of these weapons is largely dependent on the mission and the possible threats faced. However, at least 200 ESSM and another 100 or so SM-2 or SM-6 seems like a fair guess. Maybe a bit more.”
In short, each of the AEGIS has around 100 missiles. The British Sea Viper is the main air defense system the HMS Diamond relied on to fire at Houthi drones and missiles.
“Type 45 destroyers, also known as Daring-class destroyers, are specifically designed around the Sea Viper (PAAMS) air defense system. Each Type 45 destroyer is equipped with a 48-cell A50 Sylver Vertical Launching System. This system is designed to accommodate a mix of up to 48 Aster 15 and Aster 30 missiles,” the expert said.
Neither the US nor the British ships can be reprovisioned at sea, so they have a limited ability to “stay in the fight” if it continues for any length of time.
As the January 10 Houthi attack demonstrated, the Houthis were increasing the number of daily attacks. How large an arsenal the Houthis had, therefore, was challenging US and British defense capabilities.
Missile defenses are very expensive. Each SM-2 missile costs US$2.1 million each. Sea Viper, which can either be an Aster 15 or Aster 30, costs either 1 million to 2 million pounds per shot. ($1.25 million to $2.5 million).
Nor does this take into account the challenge of replacing these missiles once expended. It not only will be more expensive but could take years of production time.
Once a ship has expended its missiles, it is a sitting duck and has to retire to a friendly naval base.
Somebody didn’t think that through…
As Jack Posobiec said on Bannon’s Warroom, the Houthis (supported by Valerie Jarret’s Iran), have tens of thousands of “Flying Lawnmowers with bombs”.
I wonder where Iran got the money for these flying bombs? Oh that’s right, the idiot mental retard Bide(Obama) gave Iran $6 billion to fund their war machine.
Once again, the filthy evil corrupt Biden and his America-hating puppet masters are responsible for the carnage, again and again.
How many of those weapons are from Biden’s failed Afghanistan withdrawal.
“Why Biden finally attacked the Houthis”
To cover his arse. It’s an election year.
wy69
Good thing the US Navy has hundreds of ships
The Houthi a-holes will run out of weapons (or simply get destroyed, my personal choice) long before the US Navy does
Houthis are on borrowed time ... good riddance
We keep going through the same cycles.
About 150 years ago, the development of the self-propelled torpedo prompted the development of the “torpedo boat”, small, cheap, fast, nimble boats that could swarm battleships, fire off a bunch of torpedoes and sink them.
That, in turn, led to the development of the “torpedo boat destroyer” (later simply “destroyer”) with small, quick-firing guns to take out the torpedo boats.
And now we are back there, with cheap, small, fast, nimble drones.
Video: Starship Enterprise meets swarm attack
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HC1YIxyl1Wc
mebbe ‘cause if he can’t find a war by November he’s toast?
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How many billion-dollar naval ships are we willing to lose to swarm attacks by cheap drones, before the Navy withdraws?
If you’re always frightened by petty thugs, you can never win in Life
I have confidence in the US Navy’s abilities
“Why Biden finally attacked the Houthis”
Well, the DS probably told him that if he didn’t: “no more diaper changes by that cute, little SS gal. Oh, and no more puddin’ pops on Thursdays”.... /s
Why now? Hunter had a court date in LA and they needed something to take the story off Hunter so why not shoot off several million dollars of ammunition, it is not their money. /s
I have confidence in the US Navy’s abilities
—
Few would doubt the US Navy’s ability. What is in doubt is our civilian leadership who have not shown any reason to be confident in the outcome.
It is shocking that they cannot be reloaded at sea. I wonder where the friendly bases are. Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean?
“..I have confidence in the US Navy’s abilities...”
I always have as well.
This past July 4th, a U.S. Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyer pulled into port near where we were staying and had guided tours of the ship for the public. Other than the Marine detachment assigned to the security detail to check in the visitors and to keep the ship secured, we were NOT impressed by the ship’s crew at all.
Let’s just say our confidence has somewhat waned.
It’s not his money being spent, because he’s Canadian. That’s why he doesn’t care how much money is spent. He just wants to play the valiant warrior role, from afar of course, because in reality it’s nothing but a game as far as he is concerned.
Yes, by all means, lets close the busiest seaway in the world to a bunch of sand eaters. That would be a good plan for the world.
Biden attacked the Houthi riff raff because his military and diplomatic people told him he had to.
Not just Obama.
Trump administration sanctions on the export of crude have been relaxed by the Biden administration.
I suspect this was something China requested.
China being one of the largest importers of oil from that part of the world.
It also puts more oil into the overall world supply forcing the price even lower.
Which is bad for Russia and all OPEC countries.
Which is why Saudi Arabia continues to lower exports to maintain price levels.
This is also why Iran doesn’t want any direct conflict with Israel or the USA because we could shut off 90% of their exports with a strike on Irans one export island.
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