To: impatient
I can't imagine they'll send the Nimitz to Yoko. That would just be rubbing their noses in it, which would be wrong at all, but especially wrong after they've been such fine allies the past 55 years.
174 posted on
10/30/2005 6:40:10 PM PST by
Mr. Silverback
("Fortunately, my voluminous 'fro saved me from a concussion.")
To: Mr. Silverback
I can't imagine they'll send the Nimitz to Yoko. That would just be rubbing their noses in it, which would be wrong at all, but especially wrong after they've been such fine allies the past 55 years.
Various articles on this pending deployment have indicated that the Japanese put two big conditions on the forward-deployed CVN. First, no work on the reactors at Yokosuka. Second, reactors have to be shut down when the ship is tied up or at anchor.
Given this, I'd guess that the Navy will want to put a CVN with fresh cores in Japan. In 2008 GHWB (CVN-77) will be entering service and Vinson (CVN-70) will be fresh out of RCOH. Both will have new cores. Additionally, I'd guess that the Navy would want to modify the forward-deployed CVN with additional diesel generators for power-generation when the reactor isn't hot. Best time to do this would be during building (GHWB), or RCOH (Vinson).
GHWB is going to be a "transitional", modified-Nimitz design to the next-generation supercarrier. LOTS of neat new technologies on board. I can't see the Navy forward-deploying her from the get-go. They'll want her back at a one of the major US yards after her initial deployments, so they can do a thorough analysis of how all the new tech is shaking out in real-world scenarions.
My bet is on the Yokosuka-deployed deck being Vinson.
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