Profile of Floating U.S. Air Bases Rise – ‘Allied’ Bases Not Necessary

The Associated Press ^ | Jan 22, 3:35 PM EST | MIRON VAROUHAKIS

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ABOARD USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (AP) -- Around Iraq's borders, the Pentagon is struggling to persuade allies to host U.S. troops and warplanes needed for a possible attack. At sea, however, America's military power is unhindered and growing to possibly the biggest concentration of warships since the 1991 Gulf War.

Imposing naval flotillas - with aircraft carriers as their mighty centerpieces - are taking greater prominence in strategic planning for a possible war against Iraq as obstacles are raised to ground deployments, officers say.

"I think all of the aircraft carriers will serve as a floating air base," said Capt. Mark A. Vance, commander of the air wing aboard the USS Harry S. Truman, now in the eastern Mediterranean.

"We are a sovereign platform that operates at international sea and airspace, and that gives us a degree of flexibility that is not shared when someone relies on a host nation," said Vance, a native of Montana.

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At end of article:

He said, however, that Arab states currently reluctant to pledge full-scale assistance could open their air bases to American forces should war break out. Ahrari said they could include "quietly Oman and even more quietly Saudi Arabia."

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[austinite]

Colin Powell-Please READ THIS NOW!

[el_texicano]

"even more quietly Saudi Arabia."

I was thinking the same thing. The Suadis are saying one thing, but when push comes to shove and the war starts, it will be wide open to US use.

[SLB]

Only one problem. Air Force. Try landing an F-16, F-15, B-2 or some other Air Force plane on a carrier.

[Man of the Right]

Naval/Marine aviation is a major source of U.S. military superiority, but generally Naval aircraft are less capable than comparable Air Force aircraft.

In the coming campaign, we'll have the use of bases in Turkey, Kuwait, Qatar, Diego Garcia and possibly Saudi Arabia, with support bases in the Azores, Britain, Spain, Hungary, Cyprus, Georgia and the former Soviet Central Asian republics.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

Sky Pig outbound

[austinite]

Naval/Marine aviation is a major source of U.S. military superiority, but generally Naval aircraft are less capable than comparable Air Force aircraft

Strategically, I will agree with you. the Navy has no heavy bombers. Tactically, the AF has nothing on naval air (IMHO).

[ladtx]

...Ahrari said they could include "quietly Oman and even more quietly Saudi Arabia."

Oman is already full of planes. Apparently the AP isn't keeping up on current events.

[txhurl]

One appealing thought...if we’ve no presence via base use in, say, Saudi Arabia, we certainly couldn’t be charged with intercepting any ‘stray’ missiles they should encounter?

[Travis McGee]

Plans have been 'floating around' for years for various "sea bases". These would be enormous floating concrete sections towed to a theater of operations, then assembled into full length runways.

Not mobile, but very cheap compared to a flat top carrier.

[Taxman]

Most famous Presidential quote (all Presidents since FDR have been quoted as asking, when the $hit was about to hit the fan somewhere in the world):

"Where are the Carriers?"

Proud to be a Naval Aviator. And proud to be a Tailhooker.

[pabianice]

Now the bad news. We have enough deployable carriers (4) for one good sized conflict. If Korea blows up, we do not have enough for that and Iraq. Remember, less than half our carriers are at sea at any one time. Another four are in serious maintenance and the last four's crews and air wings have stood down after completing a deployment.

[Blood of Tyrants]

"I think all of the aircraft carriers will serve as a floating air base," said Capt. Mark A. Vance

With intelligence like this, it is no wonder this guy is an officer.

[Blueflag]

SO, how long would it take to tow a floating 10,000' concrete-section runway into the wind so the AF could attempt a safe landing.

And where would they have thier air conditioners and putting greens? ;-)

[Blueflag]

their = their

[Momaw Nadon]

Attack on Iraq Betting Pool

[MonroeDNA]

Someone needs to post the article about the firepower of an aircraft carrier.

Something about all of WWII combined.

[A Navy Vet]

Fly Navy!

[Taxman]

Well, that may be. The eternal war between the USAF and USN is still ongoing.

I used to get my USAF buddies all upset when I reminded them that no USN Aircraft Carrier had ever been captured by the bad guys and used against us. There are a number of ex-USAF bases now in the possession of foreign powers, some of them actually hostile to the US.

HST, the B-1, B-2 and the BUFF can pack a huge whallop, and though I do not envy their 16 - 24 hour mission lengths, no potential target on earth is beyond their reach.

My butt just now went to sleep because I was thinking about being strapped to one of those bad boys for 16 -24 hours! Jeez -- I think the TACAIR guys are strapped in for the better part of 12 hours! Thass a lot of "hard seat pan" time!

By the time either the Bomber or TACAIR pilots get to their drop zone, they are mighty pi$$ed. Was I a bad guy, I'd be looking for a real deep hole!