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Caribbean-Latin America
Brazil to Protect Oil Fields with Nuclear Sub
2008-06-08
BRASILIA, Brazil - Brazil will use a planned nuclear-powered submarine to protect its off-shore oil fields, Defense Minister Nelson Jobim told lawmakers this week. "We have to make it clear that defense is part of the national agenda," he told the Brazilian Congress' foreign relations and defense committee on Wednesday, according to a statement from his ministry.

Jobim stressed that the Brazilian navy was looking to acquire 50 new ships in the future, which, along with the nuclear-powered submarine, would be used to protect the oil installations off his country's southeast coast.
Fifty new ships would be an impressive navy. The Brits have about 90 in their Navy, and the US has just under 300.
He suggested that royalties paid by the state-run oil company Petrobras could be used more to finance the expansion of the fleet and argued that the climbing price of Petrobras shares reflected Brazil's capacity to protect its oil reserves.

Jobim also noted that Brazil's claim before the United Nations to extend its territorial waters from 200 nautical miles to 350 nautical miles would put more demands on the navy, if approved. Brazil was negotiating that issue in the face of reluctance from the U.N.

The South American nation has recently announced a series of huge oil finds off-shore which, if they are proven viable, could propel the country into the same league as OPEC states.
Posted by:3dc

#9  Realistically, you would want a Marine Corps LHD-1 Wasp class ship for oil field protection. They carry enough troops, LCACs, helicopters, and Harriers to put a MAJOR hurt on anyone trying to mess with the oil field. The whole deal with the nuke sub is just Brazil's way of saying "Mine is bigger than yours" to the rest of Latin America.
A LHD-1 fleet of 1 LHD-1, 2 frigates and/or destroyers, 5 Hamilton class cutters, and 3-4 fleet resupply ships would make the entirety of the Brazil oil field area secure against anyone but a major class navy.
Posted by: Shieldwolf   2008-06-08 21:27  

#8  Are Battleships thoroughly obsolete?

I know! I know! Call on me!

The answer is YES!

amirite?
Posted by: HalfEmpty   2008-06-08 20:20  

#7  Why Not? Oil fields actually improve fishing, the fish use the towers as shelter.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2008-06-08 15:09  

#6  It sounds like they intend to overlap Japanese fishing waters with this oil field. Is that allowed ?
Posted by: wxjames   2008-06-08 13:46  

#5  Wouldn't oil field defense be more of an ssk mission profile? If they want a nuclear sub, fine, but this is a pretty silly justification.
Posted by: Snineting Tojo5324   2008-06-08 11:04  

#4  Well - there you go AC, sounds like they're set but for the sub.
Posted by: Shomosh Tojo7120   2008-06-08 10:03  

#3  The ship the French unwisely replaced with the troubled Charles DeGaulle, the CV Foch, is still motoring happily along as flagship of the Brazilian Navy, renamed Sao Paulo. Its airwing consists of upgraded A-4 Skyhawks and assorted helicopters but it is capable of operating the F-18 and S-3 (and has done so many times in joint exercises).
Posted by: Atomic Conspiracy   2008-06-08 09:19  

#2  Are Battleships thoroughly obsolete? This sounds like a task for a large naval gun platform, attack helicopters, and perhaps harriers. Rather than a carrier task force, a BB task force with accompanying destroyers and frigates, with platform based air assets.
Posted by: Harcourt Jush7795   2008-06-08 02:37  

#1  Of course, if that one nuclear sub were to sink, and its reactor leaked, making the whole oil field inaccessible, it would be a real shame, ya know.
Posted by: Rambler in California   2008-06-08 02:23  

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