Posted on 03/22/2014 3:01:57 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
MANAMA, Bahrain — Iran is building a replica of a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier at a shipyard on the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. 5th Fleet officials said.
The mock-up of the aircraft carrier was first noticed last summer, 5th Fleet officials said, but it wasn’t until February that they saw the number 68 painted on it — the same number of the USS Nimitz, which was deployed in the region last summer.
“It’s interesting to us that they would be building something like this ... this is a head-scratcher more than anything,” said Cmdr Jason Salata, Navy 5th Fleet spokesman. He said the Navy is not particularly concerned about it.
The New York Times first reported on the mysterious vessel on Thursday.
A recent commercial satellite image shows the vessel with similar lines painted on top of it that a real aircraft carrier might have. There also appear to be three aircraft atop the structure.
Officials believe the mock-up is comprised of barges with steel construction to replicate the hull, and superstructure of a carrier. It’s about two-thirds the size of an actual Nimitz class carrier, which is about 1,092 feet in length.
Navy officials said they are sure it’s not a real aircraft carrier, but they are puzzled about Iran’s intent in replicating such a large American warship.
“If it’s designed for strategic effect, to what effect?” Salata said. The New York Times suggested Iran might use it to make a propaganda point, possibly to fire a missile at it as part a training exercise to be broadcast on state-run media.
Other countries, including the United States, have used land runways to simulate carrier operations. China has even built a mock-up of its sole carrier atop a training building near Wuhan, about 400 miles inland from the East China Sea. That facility appears intended to train crews in handling aircraft, logistics and weapons, as well as hangar placements.
The continuing rapprochement between Iran and the United States and its Western allies has been highlighted by the interim nuclear deal reached last November by which Tehran agreed to halt certain nuclear activities in exchange for limited relief from sanctions. Negotiations are continuing on a comprehensive accord that would ensure that Iran’s civilian nuclear program could not be used for military purposes.
As talks on Iran’s nuclear program continue next month in Vienna, the political and security situations in the Persian Gulf region remain delicate. Despite the winding down of the war in Afghanistan, U.S. officials have sought in recent months to reassure Gulf allies that the U.S. is fully committed to the region, irking Iranian officials who question America’s motives.
Earlier this month Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized the U.S. military posture in the Persian Gulf in a meeting with reporters in Tokyo.
“We do not believe presence of foreign forces is conducive to security,” he said.
This spring, two more U.S. Coastal Patrol ships are expected to homeport at the U.S. naval base in Bahrain, which is in the midst of a $260 million expansion.
The U.S. Navy is not seeking confrontation in the Gulf, said Salata.
“We feel that there is a balance of force that we need to do our mission,” which Navy officials commonly describes as partnering with allies in the region for maritime security.
You fool! That's only half of the plan! They plan to steal it and replace it with their infernal doppelganger!
Kamikaze planes were nearly entirely a waste of resources, even though they did damage and killed US servicepeole; the kamikaze boats were one big fiasco. It’s amazing what people can talk themselves into, right up through a hierarchy, even when the data shows they’re dead wrong. :’) During the Battle of Okinawa, the nearly complete failure of kamikaze attacks was ignored by “noble” suicide-seeking residue from the premodern traditions.
ASBM target practice maybe?
I will admit under pressure to a very salubrious evening in Vancouver when I directed the taxi driver not only to the wrong ship, but to the wrong dock. It was an easy mistake to make - big, steel-looking thingy...
Can't speak for others. But it isn't surprising to me that people question your posts.
Anti-ship missiles are currently the greatest threat to aircraft carriers.
Both the Russians and the Chinese have them. Apparently, we do not have much defense for them (though I hope I am incorrect here).
My guess is that Iran is in possession of some of those “toys.”
So, yes, target practice. Just as the AF uses (or, at least, used to use) pull older, decommissioned planes behind real jets (on VERY long tethers) for target practice, or so I would assume.
I think we can eliminate the idea that it is a homage.
I am reminded of a line from Search for the Holy Grail: “It’s only a model.”
The such target practice aircraft are rigged for remote control.
It’s a Trojan Horse. Didn’t anyone watch Monty Python?
It might also be used for the new for of voodo that they African tribes have combined with Islam to createa new deadly form of witchcraft. They do use dolls and other types of replicas for that type of “magic”. Since our leadership has obviosly gone pagan by default we don’t have the same protections that we had previously. Just a thought.
Actually, all of the US Navy Deck Apes are busy attending Diversity Classes, so there is no one available to build replicas of a Chinese carrier.
And US domestic shipyards could not do the job - there is a 10 year waiting list for applications for the forms to file the Environmental Impact Statement.
And....(the list goes on...)
They could be building it for a movie.
Same thing Paramount did when filming Hunt For Red October. They were given carte blanche access (at a price) to just about anything the USN could provide. But they knew better than to ask the Soviets for access to a Typhoon-class ballistic missile submarine.
So they built one. 1:1 scale waterline replica that sat on top of barges. Sounds very similar to what the Iranians are doing here.
After 75 posts not one is on target. Consider, Iran is a primitive culture. They are motivated by magic. Think about the tribes in the south seas during the war.
Now, make the leap:
It is a cargo cult replica intended to trick planes and supply ships to bring their goodies.
“Neither did the Japanese making a mock-up of Pearl Harbor.
Unless...”
Perhaps they want to test their Sunburn and Yakhonts missiles. It’s pretty well acknowledged that the US has no credible defense for them. Read this article, then decide if you think our carriers are at risk:
The unquestioning meme that the US is invincible brings to mind “Pride goeth before a fall”...
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.