Archive for the ‘Sea’ Category
Just saw it. It’s the first time I’ve paid any attention to it.
Oh dear Lord.
UPDATE: Speaking of commercials, Murdoc is sure disappointed in Eastwood for that Chrysler or Detroit or whatever commercial. No more commercials for Murdoc tonight.
A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 (Reinforced) lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) in the Atlantic Ocean Jan. 27, 2012. The VMM-261 is part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and was conducting flight deck certification in support of Bold Alligator 2012. Bold Alligator is a joint and multinational amphibious assault exercise involving several foreign militaries and the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, designed to execute brigade-sized amphibious assaults against low-to-medium land and maritime threats to improve amphibious core competencies. (DoD photo by Cpl. Michael Petersheim, U.S. Marine Corps/Released)
A starboard side view of the nuclear-powered attack submarine ex-USS NAUTILUS (SSN 571) with the city of San Francisco visible in the background. The NAUTILUS is being towed from Naval Shipyard Mare Island to Groton, Connecticut, where it will become a museum. Photographer's Name: PHC J. Kristoffersen Location: SAN FRANCISCO Date Shot: 5/28/1985
She served 1954 to 1980.
US won’t cut carrier fleet to fix budget: Panetta
Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta, right, and Rear Adm. Walter E. Carter, commander of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 12, watch flight operations aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). The Enterprise Carrier Strike Group is underway conducting a composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Scott Pittman/Released)
Good news, if true:
Aboard The USS Enterprise: The United States will not cut America’s fleet of 11 aircraft carriers to help trim the budget deficit, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Saturday, citing tensions with Iran as an example of why the massive ships are so critical to national security.
Panetta was addressing about 1,700 sailors headed to the Gulf this spring aboard the USS Enterprise, which after a half-century of service is about to embark on its final tour before being taken offline in November.
We’ll see. There is already a gap between the retirement of the Big ‘E’ and the addition of the USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78).
Murdoc hasn’t posted much about the Littoral Combat Ships lately, so here’s a link to a good post over at CDR Salamander: LCS: A Global Force for Confusion
Money quote:
We all know that LCS is just a speed-fetish’s version of a large corvette. A slightly armed, sub-optimal corvette at that.
Murdoc was a fan when the LCS was a cheap low manpower multipurpose modular ship that could operate well close to shore. That was a long time ago.
And they make a pretty big target considering their relative lack of punch.
Here’s more from a while back on MO: Critical of the LCS
Headline on Yahoo News:
The Navy Is Depending on Dolphins to Keep the Strait of Hormuz Open
Navy’s secret weapon against Iran threat
The key to keeping a strategic oil route open may lie not with ships, but a fleet of lovable animals.
Great story. Everybody loves dolphins. Puts a human interest twist on a big issue.
But they’re counting on ships and planes, not Flipper.
Not looking good:
Cargo Ship MV Rena on 09 Jan 2012.
The ship ran aground off the coast of New Zealand in October. They unloaded many of the containers, but a storm this past weekend finished her off.
A full gallery of photos is on Yahoo.
What a mess.
Close Up Photos of China’s Carrier
While we’ve written about the new weapon systems the Chinese are installing aboard her, notice these pics show some early 1960s-vintage RBU-6000 Soviet-designed anti-submarine rocket launchers. Nothing like some 50-year-old weaponry to outfit your “new” carrier. Although, another picture shows a more modern rolling airframe missile launcher.
The Shi Lang recently returned from another short trial cruise.
Meanwhile, Murdoc didn’t know that the Chinese had actually turned another ex-Russian carrier into an actual hotel. Well, the Kiev, which was more of a missile cruiser hybrid which could operate a helos and Yak-38s.
US aircraft carrier filmed by Iran in Strait of Hormuz standoff
They’re all giddy about this, apparently:
An Iranian surveillance plane has recorded video and photographed a US aircraft carrier during Iran’s ongoing navy drill near a strategic waterway in the Persian Gulf, the official IRNA news agency reported.
The commander of Iran’s navy said the reconnaissance mission was proof that his fleet had “control over the moves by foreign forces” but it was unclear what intelligence could be derived from the grainy video, which was played triumphantly on state television.
“Control over the moves by foreign forces” by taping some video? They apparently define “control” differently than we do.
Here is the video. Decide if they’ve got control over the movement of the USS John Stennis:
I didn’t translate the news report, but it probably said the ship was fleeing for its life.
Murdoc hadn’t been planning to take a break, but it was refreshing.
So here’s a picture of some ships drag racing:
U.S. Navy Hull Technician Firemen Douglas Anderson, left, and Patrick Zembol watch as the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill performs a replenishment at sea with the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) in heavy seas in the Pacific Ocean Dec. 24, 2011. Bunker Hill was part of the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group and was deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet and U.S. 7th Fleet areas of responsibility. (DoD photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Apprentice Dean M. Cates, U.S. Navy/Released)
