Official: US ship in scrape now has armed escort

WASHINGTON — The Navy has assigned a heavily armed destroyer to escort the U.S. surveillance ship that got into a high-seas confrontation with Chinese ships last weekend.

A defense official says the Pearl Harbor-based destroyer Chung-Hoon is keeping a close eye on the unarmed sub-hunting ship Impeccable as it continues operations in the South China Sea. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe sensitive ship movements.

Part of me wishes that the Chinese escalate and miscalculate while we still have such an overwhelming advantage in naval hardware.

I’m worried about what the Navy will look like vis-a-vis China’s 10 or 20 years out after all of the damage from current economic policies has accumulated.

The idea of repudiating our debt to China, and embargoing exports/imports, precipitating a collapse, suddently sounds very juicy.

I am only contemplating this because they continuously build up their military and do not repudiate their warlike aims. It’s integral to their ideology to see us as the enemy. If war with China is inevitable (as they seem to make it) it’s better that it happen now than 20 years from now. There is too much likelihood of them using nuclear weapons on our major cities in any case. Each year they only multiply the available warheads.

You are correct about the prior service and retired military being a part of the crew. Many former Navy people love the lifestyle and do seek employment that allows them to continue it.

That’s part of my history. Former Navy Viet Nam vet Employed by MSCFE out of North Pier in Yokohama for seven years.

I wish I had stayed with them. My downfall was that I got married and my wife started the guilt trip thing of “you are never home, don’t you love your family, why don’t you get a different job”. So I resigned to try to satisfy her, not suspecting that she wouldn’t ever be satisfied until she had complete control of my life. Needless to say, that did not last and I was left without the wife and my seagoing career.

MSC is part of the Navy Department and most of the ships are owned by the Navy
The crews aboard most MSC ships are permanent employees of the U.S.Navy. The Navy is highly selective of the people hired to crew these ships and the crews are trained continuously in their jobs and for emergencies. The MSC ships are more efficient than the same type USN vessels because MSC operates with only the necessary number of crew members. MSC did not have required time in port (R&R), as the Navy did, so MSC ships could operate more sea time than Navy ships of the same type.
These ships with permanent employees usually operate with the fleet in underway replenishment and other direct support roles.

MSC owns some special type ships in which the crews are furnished by civilian companies/unions and other ships that are totally civilian, leased under time contract.

I enjoyed it and kick myself frequently for giving it up.

MSC is a great career for those who like going to sea and all that it involves. High quality people and very interesting work. Google Military Sealift Command if you think you can qualify.

Many more stories than I could ever relate here.

“Everyone knows that America in the 30’s and 40’s was too racist for him to have been allowed these accomplishments.”

#####

Yeah, he may not have even been allowed to join certain country clubs, like the Jews and Blacks. Oh, and MANY, if not MOST WHITES as well.

The horrible era of American 20th century discrimination.

WORST.

HISTORICAL.

PERIOD.

EVER.

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