Article

2012-01-28 Arabia

Navy wants commando 'mothership' in Middle East

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Posted by gorb 2012-01-28 05:20|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 On the surface this seems like a good idea, but it has an unusual 'urgency' for anything military or government. So, either there is a real but unspoken urgency (and something's about to pop) or it's yet another way to direct taxpayer dollars to Friends of Obama (no-bid contracts are perfectly suited for that.)

Posted by Glenmore 2012-01-28 07:14|| 2012-01-28 07:14|| Front Page Top

#2 I suspect there is a lot more to the USS Ponce than meets the eye.

Built by Lockheed, which operated a shipyard from 1959-1988.

Posted by Anonymoose 2012-01-28 07:47|| 2012-01-28 07:47|| Front Page Top

#3 Here are the specs for the Ponce as originally designed:

Boats and landing
craft carried:
1 × LCAC, or
1 × LCU, or
4 × LCM-8, or
9 × LCM-6, or
24 × AAV
Complement:
24 officers, 396 enlisted,
+900 marines
Armament:
2 × 25 mm Mk 38 guns
2 × Phalanx CIWS
8 × .50-calibre machine guns
Aircraft carried:
Up to 6 CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters

Posted by Frozen Al 2012-01-28 10:02|| 2012-01-28 10:02|| Front Page Top

#4 I guess I'm wondering two things:

First, given the age of the Ponce, this is clearly a stop-gap measure. Fine, but the need seems clear. This is the sort of ship that works to fill the need (and then some), so is the plan to re-purpose one of the new San Antonio class ships current under construction?

Second, a mothership is pretty visible. Having Ponce in the neighborhood rather announces "HERE BE SEALS". Wouldn't it be better to deliver the SEAL teams on ships (be it an LPD, a destroyer, whatever) as needed?

Posted by Steve White 2012-01-28 11:12|| 2012-01-28 11:12|| Front Page Top

#5 Steve, I doubt the Ponce will be alone. Yes, people may know that there are SEALs aboard, but getting to her won't be easy. They would have to get through the other escort ships first.

Just like a carrier almost never travels alone in hostile waters.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2012-01-28 11:57|| 2012-01-28 11:57|| Front Page Top

#6 Appreciate that Rambler, but I'm wondering if the idea is to have Ponce in a region where few other assets are present. That might be a problem; I'm sure SEALS and the personnel aboard ship can fend for themselves, but a committed enemy with some larger assets could make life difficult.

Plus, the whole idea of a highly visible mothership for a clandestine group of warriors is a bit suspect. HERE BE SEALS is a problem if you want SEALS to slip in and out without the bad guys knowing that you're in the neighborhood.

I'm not mil/ex-mil so I don't know all the issues. A mothership for support sounds good. But I don't like the advertising.

Posted by Steve White 2012-01-28 15:03|| 2012-01-28 15:03|| Front Page Top

#7 Steve, there are several possibilities here. The SEALs could use the Ponce as a floating base, so they can be nearer to their target than, say, Qatar or Diego Garcia. Then, when they went on a mission, they would go on their delivery vessel of choice (ship, helicopter, sub, ...).

Another possibility that this is misdirection, so the Ponce will just float around, with nobody but ship's company on board. The SEALs will be elsewhere.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia 2012-01-28 16:08|| 2012-01-28 16:08|| Front Page Top

#8 I see it as something the Mullahs should be concerned about.

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2012-01-28 18:26|| 2012-01-28 18:26|| Front Page Top

#9 I doubt SEALS are going to be aboard the Ponce much at all, Yemen is getting too exciting too quickly. I suspect those types of assets will be at sea as little as necessary.

Posted by Mike N. 2012-01-28 19:25|| 2012-01-28 19:25|| Front Page Top

#10 SEALS will also be aboard fishing dhows, airliners, shooting stars, and large clouds. Iran, prepare accordingly

Posted by Frank G 2012-01-28 23:15|| 2012-01-28 23:15|| Front Page Top

#11 Besides minefields + anarchies widin the smaller Gulf States, there is also the threat from LR TacMiss + Armed Speedboats + Mini-Subs being deployed from converted Oil-Gas Rigs close to the major shipping lanes.

Iff Iran hopes to prevent a repeat of OPER PRAYING MANTIS, it will have to confront US CVNS + BGS in the Sea of Oman + beyond.

* FYI TOPIX > CHINESE SUB FLEET ON HIGH ALERT IN SOUTH CHINA SEA.

Not becuz of US-Iran situation in the Gulf, but the BFF China's PLAN is there iff Iran + IRGC can harness 'em to their side.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2012-01-28 23:26|| 2012-01-28 23:26|| Front Page Top

00:00 JosephMendiola
23:44 JosephMendiola
23:31 JosephMendiola
23:26 JosephMendiola
23:15 Frank G
23:00 junkiron
22:53 Thing From Snowy Mountain
22:36 Thing From Snowy Mountain
22:35 Thing From Snowy Mountain
22:34 Thing From Snowy Mountain
22:07 Bugs Glomoque3110
21:24 Water Modem
21:18 Bugs Glomoque3110
21:16 CrazyFool
21:11 Water Modem
21:07 Water Modem
21:03 Ebbaique Spereting5364
20:57 Water Modem
20:43 Bugs Glomoque3110
20:21 Anonymoose
20:18 Pappy
20:06 Frank G
19:58 Rambler in Virginia
19:57 Secret Master