Navy wants commando ‘mothership’ in Middle East

WP ^ | 01/28/12 | Craig Whitlock

[TigerLikesRooster]

Navy wants commando ‘mothership’ in Middle East

By Craig Whitlock, Saturday, January 28, 7:57 AM

The Pentagon is rushing to send a large floating base for commando teams to the Middle East as tensions rise with Iran, al-Qaeda in Yemen and Somali pirates, among other threats.

In response to requests from U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East, the Navy is converting an aging warship it had planned to decommission into a makeshift staging base for the commandos. Unofficially dubbed a “mothership,” the floating base could accommodate smaller high-speed boats and helicopters commonly used by Navy SEALs, procurement documents show.

[TigerLikesRooster]

Jihadi magnet. Targets will come to you instead of you going after them.

[bert]

They emphasized commandos but as I read the details, the retrofit would be as a mine sweeper tender.

The navy and marines already have the ground force home base vessels with both helicopters and small boats .

[GenXteacher]

“Jihadi magnet. Targets will come to you instead of you going after them. “

With the right rules of engagement and vigilance, this could serve the same function as a pest strip....

[Chode]

ping...

[wally_bert]

String a bunch of the GI Joe Battle Platforms together...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q25PiRmpfKs

[wally_bert]

String a bunch of the GI Joe Battle Platforms together...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q25PiRmpfKs

[AnTiw1]

Simple. Take two mothballed battleships and make them into one catamaran. Flight deck above, support for amphibs and landing craft below, and 16” guns with the new sabot to take smart projectiles a few hundred miles. Call it Cerberus...two headed dog that watches the gates of hell.

[BwanaNdege]

Probably use the Seals in their original role, that of Underwater Demolition Teams when the Iranians (try to) start mining the Straits of Hormuz. Take out Iranian minelayer bases.

I spent a few weeks on one of the USS Ponce’s sister ships, the USS Coronado. We flew our two CH-53D’s from MCAS New River to land on the Coronado’s two helo spots aft. A leisurely cruise followed, to Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico where we spent 6 weeks supporting a Marine artillery battalion training on Vieques before cruising back to North Carolina.

The Coronado later became the command ship at various times for the US 3rd Fleet, 6th Fleet & 7th Fleet.

“In October 2000, the Office of the Secretary of the Navy assigned Coronado to host the Navy’s Sea-Based Battle Lab (SBBL), an afloat platform for testing prototype systems and software, evaluating future naval capabilities, and assessing operational compatibility and possible further implementation throughout the United States Navy.

Recent developments in technology have spawned significant advances in naval warfighting capabilities. Wireless and Web-based tools, along with new weapon systems, have enabled naval forces to conduct precision operations with greater synchronization, expedience, and potency. With over 16,000 square feet (1,500 m2) of reconfigurable command space and one of the world’s most advanced naval C4I suites, SBBL offers a unique shipboard environment that facilitates the evaluation of research for maritime and joint operations.”

Alas, the Coronado has been decommissioned and is awaiting the scrapyard.

These LPD (Landing Platform Dock) ships have a well deck and the whole stern is two huge watertight gates. Open then, flood the ballast tanks and you can drive landing craft, boats and amtracks right into the well deck, which makes up the aft center of the ship.

Boats and landing craft carried:
1 × LCAC, or
1 × LCU, or
4 × LCM-8, or
9 × LCM-6, or
24 × AAV (Amtrack)

The USS Ponce would make an ideal forward “commando” base.

[rabidralph]

LOL! Excellent analogy.

[FreedomPoster]

Iraq largely operated as a Roach Motel for 7-8 years. I was OK with this, just wish it had been more explicit.

[gandalftb]

We have that platform now, with the Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU).

Any hull left stationary in those warm, rich biological seas will quickly scum and barnacle over. Even moving hulls need dry-docking after about 9 months.

There would be absolute operational security but flight operations would be very dependent on weather. Hard to beat dirt for an all-weather weapons platform.

Coastal bases away from locals give decent security if they resist hiring local laborers and drivers. It’s always about economics.

[Bender2]

BUMP for later read

[GenXteacher]

Calling it Operation Bugzapper might have helped.

[castlegreyskull]

Last week the Navy said they are committed to a 11 carrier Navy. If anyone recalls they converted the USS CONSTELLATION temporarily to a floating mothership at the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom. This is what they will do. I would bet a lot of money on it.

[GATOR NAVY]

I was on two LPDs, USS Dubuque and USS Juneau. I don’t think much is required in the way of retrofitting these ships. We carried SEALs and their 11 meter RHIBs all the time. Smaller (or larger) craft can be launched from the well deck. The flight deck can handle any kind of helo in our inventory. We were even Harrier certified. The only drawback I see to using Ponce is that she is one of the non-flag level LPDs. Having that extra staff space if you want to have a bunch of riders onboard is pretty handy.

[tanknetter]

Last week the Navy said they are committed to a 11 carrier Navy. If anyone recalls they converted the USS CONSTELLATION temporarily to a floating mothership at the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom. This is what they will do. I would bet a lot of money on it.

Not Constellation. Kitty Hawk. Pictures of operations from her during this time are exceedingly hard to come by.

Ponce doesn't really make a lot of sense, from a logical standpoint. Nassau, a recently retired (March 2011) Tarawa-class LHA would be much better. Still has the well-deck, but also more room, better CnC facilities, a hangar deck (Ponce has a telescoping Quonset-hut style helicopter shelter) and a full flightdeck that has not only more helo spotting positions but also can handle Harriers with their STOVL capability.

[castlegreyskull]

Ha ha, your right, it was the USS KITTY HAWK.