Posted on 06/19/2009 6:08:19 PM PDT by Steelfish
Pictured: The massive floating destroyer the Americans are sending to keep North Korean missiles at bay
By DAILY MAIL REPORTER 19th June 2009
USS John McCain: The destroyer has been deployed to intercept a North Korean vessel suspected of carrying illicit weapons
The U.S. military is planning to intercept a North Korean ship suspected of carrying illicit nuclear materials and missiles.
Navy destroyer the USS John McCain has been deployed to intercept the Kang Nam as it leaves the coast of China, according to a senior US defence official.
The ship, which left a port in North Korea on Wednesday, appears to be heading towards Singapore.
Its suspected cargo is in violation of a UN Security Council resolution passed last Friday, and it is now being constantly monitored by air.
The Kang Nam is the first ship the U.S. has tracked from North Korea since the UN imposed sanctions following the country's recent nuclear test.
The resolution bans North Korea from exporting a wide range of weaponry - but does not allow the US to forcibly board the vessel.
Instead, they would have to ask for permission - which, in all likelihood, would not be granted.
North Korea has already stated that any attempt to board its ships without permisson would be viewed as an act of war.
It promised '100- or 1,000-fold' retaliation if provoked.
The latest tension follows a recent report in Japan's Yomiuri newspaper that North Korea may fire a long-range ballistic missile toward Hawaii in early July.
The Taepodong-2 missile has a range of 4,000 miles, but even though Hawaii is 4500 miles away, the US has already deployed anti-missile defences around the state.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Correct: Apples and oranges.
Still the BB would survive numerous tomahawk hits. but the little McCain would be blown apart by a single 16 incher hit. Most AP rounds would blow right through the smaller vessel without even detonating I’ll bet.
This happened with thin skinned vessels in WWII.
The Pueblo was a barely armed spy ship. The McCain, while not instilling fear in the way that a battleship or carrier task force does, is more than capable of handling the NK arsenal. Of course, that's assuming Obama lets them actually use their weapons in self defense.
He might. North Korea isn't muslim.
The harpoons are designed to find the engines and disable them, not sink ships. About the only thing that would sink a battleship is a slew of torpedoes.
Its such a stupid move. What for?? I would only send it to board it, law or no law.
In 1988, Harpoon missiles were used to sink the Iranian frigate Sahand during Operation Praying Mantis. I was throttleman aboard USS Joseph Strauss DDG-16 that fired those harpoons. Got the pictures of the burning, sinking Sahand courtesy of some flyboys from USS Enterprise.
McCain’s father (the person the ship was named for) wasn’t a RINO.
Mea Culpa.
I just looked it up on Globalsecurities.org and it does not discuss the heat seeking configuration I am familiar with. Of course not all the good toys are configured for submarine launch.
MM1(SS)
USS Albany (SSN-753)
USS Greeneville (SSN-772)
They are sleek and fast and deadly but not massive. we used to call them “greyhounds”
Cool. It’s a pretty useful tool that has been adapted for many uses. Some of the airlaunched models have in excess of 100 nmi range. Anyway I’d take that over 16” guns anyday. With all due respect T the 16” were great for their time but the anti-ship missle technology rendered them obsolete except for shore bombardment and and finishing cripples off.
Welcome to the Era of Useless Massive Floating Destroyers. That is a fine looking destroyer, makes me proud, toooooo bad we can’t actually use it.
2 Screw.
That's aft engineroom for anyone in Rio Linda.
Of course, those Harpoons would have to reach the BB first. I’d assume her escorts would pick off most of the AShMs flying her way, then any remaining ones would have to get past the CIWS, and then we’d see how strong the armor is. I have serious doubts about a BB (at least something like the Iowas) taken out by one or two Harpoons. Heck, even the Sahand took two Harpoons, and was bombed, and didn’t go down for some time until the fires reached her magazines—and that was a frigate!
I wonder why Keith Alexander, Director of National Security, should think the North Koreans would send a missile to Hawaii 4,500 nmiles away when Anchorage, Alaska is only 2,900 mile away? Go figure
ex animo
davidfarrar
I agree (about the 16” guns). Still, required manpower aside, I think they’re so much better at projecting power (not to mention they just look better).
LOL. Okay , Okay. Uncle already. I’m biased. Either way I wouldn’t want to be the Kang Nam effing with the McCain. Glad to see so many squids here.
Maybe the NKs would have plausible deniability like some here have suggested? I honestly have no clue...
Sadly, I don’t think they’ll be able to do anything more than just look.
I’ve never served, but I have a passing interest in the subject. Thanks for your service.
Yes, I’ve been thoroughly chastised.
Hopefully they got some real good intel cause it's kind of curious that the Norks wouldn't pick a closer target. One, say with Sarah there.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.