US Navy - discussione ufficiale

[Andrea75]

USS Enterprise: The Beginning of the End for the “Big E”

 

By 2014, however, USS Enterprise is scheduled to fade into history, to be replaced by the first ship [CVN 78] of the Gerald R. Ford Class. This time, there will be no reruns or syndication deals. When the end comes, plans and facilities for permanently decommissioning the ship and dealing with its A2W nuclear reactors will need to be ready…

Oct 15/12: FY 2013 base. Huntington Ingalls, Inc. in Newport News, VA receives a $72.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification, exercising an option for the FY 2013 continuation of CVN 65 advance defueling and inactivation planning. As usual, that includes advanced planning, ship checks, design, documentation, engineering, procurement, fabrication and preliminary shipyard or support facility work.

Work will be performed in Newport News, VA, and is expected to be completed by June 2013. Funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The US Navy’s supervisor of Shipbuilding Conversion and Repair in Newport News, VA manages the contract (N62793-07-C-0001).

 

Alcune foto dalla pagina facebook della USS Enterprise (CVN 65) scattate durante l'ultima missione nella 5^ flotta (mare arabico e golfo di aden)

 

 

 

[Andrea75]

Sulla via di casa Enterprise Transits the Suez Canal for the Final Time

 

Oct. 12, 2012 - The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) moves through the Suez Canal for the last time.

 

Sept. 27, 2012

[-{-Legolas-}-]

Mitica Enterprise.

 

Forse ne avevamo gia parlato, ma c'è gia un'idea sulla prossima unità denominata Enterprise?

[TT-1 Pinto]

Forse ne avevamo gia parlato, ma c'è gia un'idea sulla prossima unità denominata Enterprise?

Dal blog dell'USNI (United States Naval Institute) .... un paio di anni fa ....

 

http://blog.usni.org/2010/01/18/uss-enterprise-cvn-79-petition-update

 

 

[-{-Legolas-}-]

Dal blog dell'USNI (United States Naval Institute) .... un paio di anni fa ....

 

http://blog.usni.org...petition-update

 

 

 

Grazie!

[Andrea75]

... 15 ottobre, seguendo il viaggio della USS Enterprise (CVN 65) The aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) transits the Strait of Messina

 

[vorthex]

ma i "bozzi" lungo le murate a cosa servono? sono strutture di rinforzo o altro (sulle Wasp c'era la stessa configurazione ma con gli anelli)?

[Andrea75]

U.S. Navy Christens Future USS America (LHA 6)

 

The newest amphibious assault ship America (LHA 6) was christened Oct. 20 at a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss. ... The 844-foot ship will be a flexible, multi-mission platform necessary to quickly respond to incidents worldwide and provide forward presence and project power as part of joint, interagency, and multinational maritime expeditionary forces.

America also marks the first of the Navy's newest class of amphibious assault ships replacing the Tarawa class. It is considered to be the next generation "big-deck" amphibious ship. The new ship will be more capable to support current and future aircraft such as the tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey and Joint Strike Fighter.

"It's kind of like a mini-aircraft carrier,"

 

[Andrea75]

U.S. Navy Seeks Undersea Aegis-like System

 

The U.S. Navy would like to develop an underwater system similar to the Aegis shield that protects its surface ships with a bubble of situational awareness,

 

 

... e la Big 'E' si trova in navigazione in Atlantico

 

[-{-Legolas-}-]

Sulla via per casa. L'ultima dimora. Mitica Big E.

[Andrea75]

Navy Demonstrates 1st Launch of Spike Missiles from Unmanned Surface Vehicle

 

The Chief of Naval Operation's Expeditionary Warfare Division and the Naval Sea Systems Command's Naval Special Warfare Program Office successfully launched six Rafael Spike missiles from an unmanned surface vessel precision engagement module (USV PEM) on Oct. 24th, the first time the Navy has shot a Spike missile from an unmanned surface vessel.

Though the U.S. military has had the capacity for several years to target and engage enemy forces remotely using missiles from unmanned airborne vehicles comparable technological progression has not been achieved for unmanned surface going vessels. The USV PEM, a remotely operated eleven meter boat armed with missiles and a .50 caliber machine gun, represents the first significant step forward in surface unmanned combat capability.

The increase in attention and effort for water borne technological advancements coincides with the drawing down of U.S. military resources in the land locked campaign in Afghanistan and a strategic refocusing to problem regions were unconventional maritime threats must be accounted for. "The USV PEM project was developed in response to recent world events which have increased the concern over swarms of small attack craft, as well as threat assessments outlined in recent studies conducted by the Naval Warfare Development Command," said NAVSEA Naval Special Warfare Assistant Program Manager Mark Moses. "The study punctuates the effectiveness of these swarm attacks against both military re-supply ships and naval vessels. Technology demonstrated in this project can provide a capability to combat terrorists who use small low-cost vehicles as weapons platforms."

The PEM, which aims, fires, and updates the missile in the flight, is operated by shore-based personnel. These personnel, sitting in a remote control center, use onboard sensors to control the boat and obtain and destroy targets. During the demonstration, they engaged stationary and moving targets out to 3.5km. The Spike missile uses electro-optic and infrared sensors to identify and lock onto the target. "The fiber optic tether is ultra thin and is spooled up and uncoils automatically during flight," said Moses "This allows the operator to view updated targeting information to the missile while it is in flight and to confirm the missile is tracking the intended target up to the moment of impact."

The demonstration is part of a joint project between the U.S. and Israel accomplished under an international agreement with the Combating Terrorist Tactics Support Office. The integration of the PEM into the USV was done with cooperation from the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Newport, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane and Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren.

 

 

Stennis CSG Commander Reassigned Pending Investigation

 

Navy replaces admiral leading Mideast strike group

 

 

After $700,000 in repairs, Navy ship is back in action

Modificato 29 Ottobre 2012 da Andrea75

[Andrea75]

Navy replaces admiral of Mideast strike group; allegations of inappropriate judgment cited

 

The U.S. Navy said Saturday it is replacing the admiral in command of an aircraft carrier strike group in the Middle East, pending the outcome of an internal investigation into undisclosed allegations of inappropriate judgment.

Rear Adm. Charles M. Gaouette is being sent back to the USS John C. Stennis’ home port at Bremerton, Washington stae, in what the Navy called a temporary reassignment. The Navy said he is not formally relieved of his command of the Stennis strike group but will be replaced by Rear Adm. Troy M. Shoemaker, who will assume command until the investigation is completed.It is highly unusual for the Navy to replace a carrier strike group commander during its deployment.

The Navy did not reveal details of the allegations, citing only an accusation of “inappropriate leadership judgment” that arose during the strike group’s deployment to the Middle East. Rear Adm. John Kirby, the Navy’s chief spokesman, declined to discuss the investigation.

The Stennis group deployed from Bremerton in late August and had entered the Navy 5th Fleet’s area of operations in the Middle East on Oct. 17 after sailing across the Pacific.

[Andrea75]

A bordo della portaerei Enterprise nella sua ultima crociera operativa

 

Dopo più di cinquanta anni di servizio la mitica Big-E è giunta alla fine della sua ricchissima vita operativa. La sosta a Napoli, pochi mesi prima della radiazione,ha infatti un valore altamente simbolico in quanto primo porto straniero toccato dopo la sua entrata in servizio. Il 1 dicembre sarà posta in disarmo nella sua base di Norfolk con una grande cerimonia a cui parteciperanno anche migliaia di reduci e marinai che negli anni l’hanno accompagnata per i mari.A sostituirla nella squadra navale sarà la USSGerald R. Ford, prima di una nuova classe di portaerei nucleari che diverrà la spina dorsale della Marina nel 21° secolo. Centinaia di appelli sono giunti alla Dipartimento della Difesa affinché fosse preso in considerazione un progetto per renderla un museo galleggiante. Purtroppo lo smantellamento degli otto reattori richiederà il taglio completo dello scafo a mezza nave cosa che renderà impossibile la conversione a causa degli ingenti costi di ricomposizione e manutenzione. Anche l’idea di preservare l’isola è stata accantonata per problematiche relative alla mole della stessa e all’impossibilità di trovare una giusta collocazione. Sarà conservata solo la porzione di poppa con il nome della nave e la campana in ricordo di un pezzo di storia navale americana che è entrataa pieno diritto nell’immaginario collettivo.

[Andrea75]

Homecoming 2012

 

The Legend's final return to homeport Norfolk

 

Inactivation Week

November 27- December 1, 2012

 

The USS Enterprise (CVN 65) will inactivate on December 1, 2012, after 51 years of legendary service.

All Veterans of Enterprise, families and friends, and those who share in the pride of Big E are invited to attend the Inactivation Ceremony and to visit the ship in the week leading up to the Ceremony.

You MUST RSVP to attend!

 

 

Enterprise Carrier Strike Group to Return to Norfolk

[Andrea75]

Segnalo una serie di paper predisposti per il Congresso USA:

 

Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress

 

Navy Ohio Replacement (SSBN[X]) Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress

 

Navy Shipboard Lasers for Surface, Air, and Missile Defense: Background and Issues for Congress

 

Navy Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism Operations: Background and Issues for Congress

[Andrea75]

Next Generation Jammer (NGJ)

 

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) intends to conduct a full and open competition under the authority of 10 USC 2304 (a) and in accordance with FAR Part 15 for the Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) Technology Development (TD) contract. NAVAIR does not intend to use the provisions of FAR Part 12 for this acquisition. ... The objective of the TD phase is to develop a cost effective jammer system to enhance aircraft survivability. NGJ is an electronic attack system that will provide significantly improved Airborne Electronic Attack capabilities against advanced threats through enhanced agility and precision within jamming assignments, increased interoperability and expanded broadband capability for greater threat coverage against a wide variety of radio frequency emitters. Initially, the NGJ system will be integrated on the EA-18G tactical aircraft to replace aging ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System pods.

 

Next Generation Jammer Technology Development

 

 

... la partnership industriale Northrop Grumman and ITT Exelis Partner for U.S. Navy's Next Generation Jammer

 

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and ITT Exelis (NYSE:XLS) are teaming to bring together the best of industry to offer unique solutions for the U.S. Navy's Next Generation Jammer (NGJ) program.

 

The two companies have been involved in electronic warfare and airborne electronic attack technological development since the 1960s, making them well positioned to compete for the next phase of this critical naval warfighting capability – the Technology Demonstration phase.

 

"The combined expertise of the Northrop Grumman-Exelis team promises to bring the most technologically advanced, innovative and low-risk solution to our Navy customer's Next Generation Jammer program," said Pat McMahon, sector vice president and general manager, Northrop Grumman military aircraft systems. "The demonstrated performance of both companies makes this team well positioned to seamlessly transition into the Technology Demonstration phase of the program and continue its long legacy of support to naval aviation and airborne electronic attack."

 

"The partnership of Northrop Grumman and Exelis provides the Navy with a team that uniquely understands the customer's needs," said Rich Sorelle, acting president of Exelis Electronic Systems. "This collaboration will allow the companies to integrate the best of their independently developed subsystems and components into one truly interoperable system, ensuring U.S. forces will be able to control the battlespace electromagnetic spectrum."

[Andrea75]

The U.S. Navy is arming drone boats

 

The Navy pretty much admits that the project -- called the unmanned surface vehicle precision engagement module (USV PEM) -- is aimed at defeating threats that are straight out of Iran's war plans for the Persian Gulf region.

"The USV PEM project was developed in response to recent world events which have increased the concern over swarms of small attack craft, as well as threat assessments outlined in recent studies conducted by the Naval Warfare Development Command," said NAVSEA Naval Special Warfare Assistant Program Manager Mark Moses in a press release. "The study punctuates the effectiveness of these swarm attacks against both military re-supply ships and naval vessels. Technology demonstrated in this project can provide a capability to combat terrorists who use small low-cost vehicles as weapons platforms."

 

 

US Navy engages speeding boat with Raytheon Griffin missile

 

The U.S. Navy proved the ability of Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) Griffin® B missile to engage rapidly moving small boats during a recent live-fire demonstration.

"This demonstration shows the Griffin missile's effectiveness in engaging the type of small, fast-moving boats used by swarming threats and pirates," said Harry Schulte, vice president of Raytheon Missile Systems' Air Warfare Systems product line. "Griffin is fully developed, in production, lightweight, precise, and can be easily integrated on a wide variety of vessels, making it an excellent weapon for near-term threats."

During the demonstration, which took place late in the first quarter of 2012, three Griffins were fired from a sea-based launcher at three separate speeding-boat targets more than 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. The weapons were guided by laser, and scored direct hits on the target, achieving all demonstration objectives.

[Andrea75]

Navy Zeros In On Requirements for Carrier-Based Drone That Can Do Long-Range Recon & Strike

 

The Navy plans to release a draft solicitation for a new kind of sea-based aircraft in December. Called the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Surveillance & Strike (UCLASS) aircraft, it will be able to carry a suite of sensors and weapons 2,000 nautical miles or more from the carrier that hosts it without refueling. That is about four times farther than manned fighters on carrier decks today can fly without refueling, and thus would greatly expand the reach of sea-based aviation. The idea is to produce a class of reconnaissance and strike drones not dependent on land bases -- drones so stealthy that they can penetrate air space considered too dangerous for most manned aircraft.

[Andrea75]

Navy SEALs busted for giving secrets to make video game more real

 

Seven U.S. Navy SEALs have been reprimanded for giving up classified information connected to their tradecraft so a video game could seem more realistic, according to a navy official.

The seven were charged with the unauthorized showing of their official combat gear and dereliction of duty for disclosing classified material after an investigation found the seven to have worked as paid consultants for two days with the video game company Electronic Arts, according to a U.S. Navy official familiar with the investigation.

The work, done around the late spring and early summer, was unauthorized by their commanders and against military regulations according to the Navy official.

All seven are active duty members of SEAL Team 6, considered the most elite of the Navy’s SEAL community. CBS News, which first reported this story, says at least one of the members was on the raid that killed Osama bin Laden last year.

The seven, all senior enlisted sailors, received their punishment Thursday at their base in Virginia. All seven were given a letter of reprimand and their pay taken for two months. The move essentially prevents their chances for promotion and ends their military careers.

Four other SEALs who have since transferred to west coast SEAL teams are still under investigation, according to the official.

[Andrea75]

Dal costruttore Newport News Shipbuilding Launches Virginia-Class Submarine Minnesota (SSN 783)

 

Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced today that the Virginia-class submarine Minnesota (SSN 783) was launched into the James River Nov. 3 at the company's Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.

 

... ed un link con diverse immagini della costruzione del Building a nuclear submarine – USS MINNESOTA (SSN 783)

 

The U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines are built in two shipyards – the Newport News Shipbuilding yard of Huntington Ingalls Industries in Virginia, and the Electric Boat facilities of General Dynamics in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Each yard builds specific sections of every sub and ships them to the other yard, which alternate in completing the boats.

The latest sub under construction at Newport News is the MINNESOTA, tenth ship of the class. Here are several views of the undersea craft taken this year, from a construction view in the building shed in May, the ship’s christening ceremony in late October, and the launch on Nov. 9.

 

Modificato 12 Novembre 2012 da Andrea75

[Andrea75]

Ohio Replacement Class – a Collaborative Effort

 

In his previous blog concerning the Ohio Replacement program, Rear Adm. Barry Bruner, Director of Undersea Warfare, discussed the need for continued sea-based deterrence, how the Ohio Replacement SSBN will meet this need, how we are going to build an Ohio Replacement at the most responsible cost, and the basis for our SSBN force structure.

...

In the following blog Bruner focuses on the incredible support the Ohio Replacement team is receiving during their continuing efforts to make the next generation SSBN a reality.

While we appropriately see our Ohio Replacement effort as a national imperative, we also recognize the need to ensure our country can continue to maintain a strong Navy through a healthy and sustainable ship building plan that produces the right balance of platforms and capabilities. Our efforts to drive down costs are critical to not only the successful delivery of the Ohio Replacement class, but also to the continued success of the Navy’s other shipbuilding programs including the Virginia Class SSN.

The Virginia Class Submarine Program is widely recognized for delivering required warfighting capability at the most affordable cost, is a must fund, and the investment in procuring two Virginia Class Submarines per year now will pay huge dividends in the coming decades. We must drive down the cost of both classes of submarines to be able to procure two Virginia’s per year and Ohio Replacement at the same time. That is our goal and it is a necessity to the future of our Nation.

[Andrea75]

Navy’s First Mobile Landing Platform Launched

 

The first ship of the Navy’s new Mobile Landing Platform (MLP) class launched Nov. 13, less than two years since the start of fabrication at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego.

Designed to provide logistics movement from sea to shore, the new class of ships will provide the Navy with a dedicated seabasing capability.

...

Thought of as a “pier in the ocean,” the capabilities provided by the MLP class will serve as the centerpiece of the Navy’s seabasing strategy. The ships will operate within Maritime Prepositioning Ship Squadrons to provide the Navy with the capability to transfer vehicles and equipment at sea and to interface with surface connectors to deliver the vehicles and equipment ashore. The ability to establish support facilities at sea assures U.S. military forces access to areas previously denied.

Using the commercially designed Alaska-class crude oil carrier as its base, the Navy’s Strategic and Theater Sealift Program Office (PMS 385) worked in conjunction with NASSCO to develop a design that supported the Navy’s core capabilities while maintaining low costs.

“Working in partnership with NASSCO early in the design phase allowed us to execute an aggressive construction schedule that has stayed under budget,” said Capt. Henry Stevens, PMS 385 program manager. Even working from a preexisting design, the low rework rates have been remarkable for a first-in-class ship.”

The ship will leverage float-on/float-off technology, which will allow the ship to be partially submerged facilitating easy movement of cargo and craft. Additionally, the ship’s size allows for 25,000 square feet of vehicle and equipment stowage space and 380,000 gallons of JP-5 fuel storage.

[Andrea75]

The US Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Contracts

 

Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. in Monroeville, PA receives a $355.9 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for naval nuclear propulsion components.

Work will be performed in Monroeville, PA (68.75%), and Schenectady, NY (31.25%). US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC manages the contract (N00024-13-C-2121).

 

 

B&W Announces $73 Million in Contracts for Naval Reactors Technology Development and Manufacturing

 

The Babcock & Wilcox Company (B&W) (NYSE:BWC) announced today that its subsidiary Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group, Inc. (B&W NOG) has received three U.S. Naval Reactors Program contracts totaling approximately $73 million. The contracts are for technology development and nuclear manufacturing in support of U.S. Navy training operations and other naval nuclear-related programs.

"B&W NOG is pleased to continue its support of the U.S. Naval Reactors Program with these three new contracts," said Peyton S. Baker, President of B&W NOG. "We realize the important role that B&W NOG's unique development and manufacturing capabilities play in supporting the men and women who serve aboard the U.S. Navy's fleet."

[Andrea75]

IKE to Return Home Early, Redeploys in 2013

 

The Navy has directed the temporary return of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower(CVN 69) from her current overseas deployment, allowing the ship to return home for two months before sending it back to the Middle East region.

The unusual move is being made to accommodate delays due to emergent repair work on USS Nimitz (CVN 68). The Everett, Wash.-based carrier was expected to deploy to the region to relieve Eisenhower early next year. Nimitz is now expected to deploy once repair work is complete.

 

 

Navy Engineers Complete Successful Arctic Testing of Critical Communications System

 

Navy engineers scattered across Alaska's polar region successfully communicated to their counterparts in the continental United States for the first time under austere weather conditions with handheld Distributed Tactical Communications System (DTCS) Nov. 21.

The civilian engineers - testing DTCS over thousands of miles in November - confirmed its new global range capability over a multi-satellite, multi-spot beam architecture that will enhance command and control for U.S. Northern Command and U.S. European Command.

"We provided the ability for personnel to communicate in the polar regions above the Arctic Circle and provide reach-back, a paramount capability that otherwise does not exist at the tactical level," said DTCS technical manager, Igor Marchosky. "We tested the global architecture part of the DTCS system, and it worked as designed."

The engineers maintained continuous communications between three DTCS testing sites in Alaska (Barrow, Kotzebue, and Anchorage) and two sites in the continental United States - U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) headquarters, Colorado Springs, Colo., and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD), Dahlgren. Va.

"In spite of inclement weather and the elements of the polar region environment, we all had casual, normal conversation among the sites," said DTCS Program Manager, Nathan Rodecap.

DTCS Phase 3 - leveraging the Iridium low earth orbiting satellite constellation - ensures coverage above the Arctic Circle, eliminating shortfalls and supplementing areas in which current systems are not reliable.

"We sustained voice communications, chat sessions, and position location information transmission to and from every site," said Marchosky, co-located with Rodecap and Rear Adm. Thomas H. "Hank" Bond, Jr., NORTHCOM Command and Control Systems Director at the Colorado Springs site during the testing.

 

 

Navy Announces First MUOS Satellite Accepted for Initial Operational Use

 

The Navy announced today that U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) has accepted the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite for initial operational use.

MUOS is a next-generation narrowband tactical communications system designed to improve communications for U.S. forces on the move. The Naval Satellite Operations Center (NAVSOC) at Point Mugu, Calif., began "flying" the satellite in June.

"This provides the warfighter with powerful capability," said Vice Adm. Michael S. Rogers, commander, U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/ U.S. 10th Fleet. "The hard work of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, NAVSOC, and other teammates continues to benefit Navy and joint warfighting missions."

The Navy is responsible for providing narrowband satellite communication for the Department of Defense and U.S. Fleet Cyber Command is assigned to serve as the Navy Component Command to USSTRATCOM for space, cyberspace, and information operations.

USSTRATCOM Joint Functional Component Command for Space (JFCC Space) is responsible for executing continuous, integrated space operations to deliver theater and global effects in support of national and combatant commander objectives. It coordinates space operational-level planning, integration, and coordination to ensure a unified effort in supporting military and national security operations as well as civil authorities.

"MUOS-1 allows JFCC Space to continue optimal tactical communications support for the joint war fighter and the nation," said Lt. Gen. Susan Helms, commander of JFCC Space and 14th Air Force (Air Forces Strategic).

In addition to providing continuous communication for all branches of the U.S. military, Navy delivered space-based narrowband capability that MUOS provides also ensures reliable worldwide coverage for national emergency assistance, disaster response, and humanitarian relief.

"Whether it's in vehicles, on ships, in submarines, in aircraft, or simply carried by service members who are dismounted from vehicles and on the move, this system was designed to bring them voice and data communication services, both in point-to-point mode and through networked communications. Those capabilities have not existed with previous programs," said Navy Capt. Paul Ghyzel, the MUOS program manager at SPAWAR.

The MUOS constellation will consist of four satellites and an on-orbit spare. The system also includes four ground stations strategically located around the globe, which provide worldwide coverage and the ability to connect users wherever they are. The ground system transports data, manages the worldwide network and controls the satellites.

With today's narrowband communication system, users have to be stationary with an antenna up and pointed toward a satellite. MUOS will allow the warfighter to move around the battlespace while communicating and send data at 10 times more capacity than now.

After the launch of the second satellite, projected for July 2013, MUOS will provide military users simultaneous voice, video and data capability by leveraging 3G mobile communications technology.

The MUOS constellation is expected to achieve full operational capability in 2015, extending narrowband availability well past 2025.

Modificato 22 Novembre 2012 da Andrea75

[Andrea75]

Nimitz delayed; short stop home for Ike

 

The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower will put its deployment on pause and will be back in port at Norfolk, Va., in time for Christmas.

But its time home will be brief.

After its flight deck is resurfaced it will re-deploy back to the Middle East, putting it on station for a total of 10 months.

Ike’s departure from the 5th Fleet is leaving the John C. Stennis as the only carrier in the region until the spring, one carrier fewer than the Navy planned.

Bringing Ike back temporarily is an unusual move, but it gives the Navy time to finish unexpected repairs on the carrier Nimitz.

That ship was supposed to relieve the Eisenhower in 5th Fleet early next year. Two sources said that cooling pumps on the Nimitz’s propulsion system needed repairs that could require two months to finish.

The Navy decisions will have a ripple effect across carrier strike group deployment schedules.

The Ike is, of course, the first carrier strike group to be affected. When it heads home, it will return with Carrier Air Wing 7 and cruiser Hue City. All will re-deploy early next year. But other ships in the Eisenhower strike group, including the destroyers Farragut, Winston S. Churchill and Jason Dunham will remain in 5th Fleet. Their deployment schedules will not change.

Meanwhile, the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, including Carrier Air Wing 3 and cruiser Gettysburg, will deploy early next year. The Truman ended a 16-month yard period in July.

Also, the carrier George H.W. Bush and Carrier Air Wing 8, the cruiser Philippine Sea, and destroyers Bulkeley, Roosevelt and Mason will all have an accelerated training and deployment schedule.

They are expected to leave in summer 2013.

 

 

In a crisis, just where are the carriers? The worrying level of USN carrier availability...

 

News broke recently that the USS NIMITZ, one of 11 USN super carriers, has had her deployment to the Persian Gulf delayed by several months due to engineering problems. This delay will reduce the availability of carriers in the Gulf to just one active vessel for much of 2013.

This news, while in itself not exactly unexpected – after all NIMITZ is nearly forty years old now, and it is inevitable that vessels that age develop machinery challenges – does perhaps illustrate a wider concern about just how thinly stretched the USN is now, and how this is likely to get more challenging.

 

 

Can US keep pressure on in Persian Gulf if USS Nimitz is delayed?

 

Iran. Gaza. Syria. Political opposition in the Emirates and adjoining states. The Persian Gulf region simmers and America may have only one carrier group deployed there at the end of this year. Should we worry?

Let's examine the puzzle. The USS Nimitz's planned deployment to the Persian Gulf may be delayed. That is raising concern, since the Navy will be down to just one carrier in the region during the months of December and January.

But are carrier groups the only agents of US influence in the region? The U.S. Air Force has numerous bases and installations from which it operates. Indeed, Air Force tactical air is a key part of any joint air operations, while the real threat the United States poses to Iran's nuclear ambitions comes from Air Force heavy bombers and their massive ordinance loads, which are operated by Global Strike Command and based in the continental U.S., as well as in the region. Similarly, any theater air operations will be dependent on Air Force tankers in the skies off the battlefield.

The Middle East and Persian Gulf bases the Air Force operates from include: U.S. Air Forces Central headquarters at Al Udeid, Qatar, with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing; Ali Al Salem in Kuwait, hosting the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing; Dhafra, in the UAE; Seeb, in Oman; Kabul, Bagram (455th Air Expeditionary Wing) and Kandahar in Afghanistan; and Bishkek, in Kyrgyzstan. Aircraft currently based in the region include: A-10s, F-16s and 15s for tactical air support; remotely-piloted Predators and Reapers; B-1B bombers; and air mobility and refueling C-130s and KC-135s. Land-based tankers operating in uncontested skies extend the 1,000-mile combat radius of the F-15 Strike Eagle and 500-mile radius of the F-16. The Strike Eagle also carries 23,000 lbs of ordinance, an advantage land-based air has over carrier-based fighters.

The Pentagon's primary concern in the Gulf is a possible confrontation with Iran. Should it come to that, the Air Force will carry much of the load, given that any airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities would require MOABs and Massive Ordinance Penetrators carried by B-2s from Whiteman AFB, as well as early stealth attacks by B-2s and F-22s to disable Iran's integrated air defenses and allow follow-on strikes.

Land-based airpower may be more cost effective than naval air in terms of sorties and ordinance loads, but it is dependent, obviously, on the willingness of foreign states to host U.S. forces. While that is not a problem the carriers face, the Nimitz delay highlights the risk of becoming too dependent on naval air. Ship rotational schedules have little room for disruption, and unforeseen problems, like that with the Nimitz's propulsion system, can leave a gap in the Navy's presence. While aircraft carriers are a potent symbol of American power, there are only 10 of them, with the impending decommissioning of the USS Enterprise. That translates into one or two at most able to carry out steady state operations in any one area of concern (primarily the western Pacific Ocean and the Persian Gulf).

Carrier air wings, moreover, boast a maximum of about 100 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The Nimitz, for example, usually carries four squadrons of F/A-18 Hornets (two squadrons of Super Hornets, two of older Hornets), one E-2C Hawkeye squadron, one EA-6B Prowler squadron, and two MH-60 Seahawk helo squadrons. That means about 150 fighters for two carriers, with the F/A-18E/F Super Hornets limited to a roughly 530-mile (460 nautical mile) attack radius (and slightly less for combat radius), carrying approximately 9,000 lbs of ordinance. Surge requirements during a time of crisis would gravely tax the Navy's capacity, and lead to a corresponding absence in other parts of the globe as carriers were moved to where they were most needed.

In-theater limitations are less of an issue for the Air Force, as it can replenish forces more easily from land bases. This provides crucial sustainability during a conflict, and land bases of course do not need to be rotated in and out of the combat zone. The long-range strike capabilities of the U.S. Air Force ensure their ability to reach any spot on the globe from secure bases in the United States or Europe, while a fairly robust network of forward bases means that Air Expeditionary Wings can quickly assemble to project comprehensive airpower capabilities. This requires, of course, continued partnerships with allied nations to allow access, and the loss of key forward bases would be a major blow to shorter-range air capabilities, like tactical air support. Yet such changes in the basing environment are rarely sudden, and can be mitigated with foresight and planning.

The bigger problem for the Air Force is numbers. With only 20 B-2s globally (fewer than that at any one time), and just 185 F-22s after last week's crash in Florida, stealth and long-range strike are precious commodities. It will be more than a decade until the next generation bomber is built and operated, and the F-35 timeline continues to lengthen. While today's F-15s and F-16s can control airspace over Iran, they will become increasingly vulnerable to integrated air defense systems.

Nevertheless, the land-based capacity of the U.S. Air Force provides comprehensive power projection in the Persian Gulf region and greater inherent flexibility than naval assets. Land bases may not be mobile, but the Air Force's presence in the Gulf is significant and unlikely to disappear in times of crises. Its bases provide nearly unlimited capacity for supplies; multiple airfields provide flexibility, and long-range capabilities ensure strategic reach from the continental United States. There may be concern that having only one carrier -- even temporarily -- in the Gulf weakens the United States ability to influence events and strike if necessary, but that fear is misplaced. The assets of the U.S. Air Force, as a crucial part of a joint operating force, ensure that America can respond to any contingency.