Posted on 01/19/2022 8:03:24 PM PST by blam
Reflecting the Pentagon’s new focus on China, US aircraft carrier strike groups almost doubled deployments to the South China Sea in 2021 compared to the year before.
According to the Beijing-based South China Sea Probing Initiative (SCSPI), US carrier strike groups entered the South China Sea 10 times in 2021, compared with six times in 2020, and five in 2019.
“The US military have drastically reinforced their military deployment in the South China Sea since last year, in terms of training scales, sorties and scenarios,” SCSPI director Hu Bo said Friday, according to The South China Morning Post.
Hu said that the carrier training patterns have become “more complicated and unpredictable.” In the past, US warships typically entered the South China Sea through the Bashi Channel, a waterway between the Philippines and Taiwan. But Hu said over the past year, the US has diversified its routes, and the time span of the deployments varies.
The US shows no sign of slowing down its carrier deployments to the South China Sea. The US Navy’s Seventh Fleet said Monday that the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson just wrapped up joint operations in the disputed waters with an amphibious group led by the USS Essex, a landing helicopter dock ship.
“The USS Carl Vinson strike group fleet includes destroyers, frigates, submarines and supply ships. The new approach of warships sailing between island groups would also require US sailors to boost their skills in traditional terrestrial navigation,” the report underscored.
* * *
F/A-18E & F-35C aboard the USS Carl Vinson, South China Sea. (📸Caden Richmond) pic.twitter.com/QCTm2VDtep
— Air Power (@MIL_STD) January 17, 2022
I predict collisions.
“would also require US sailors to boost their skills in traditional terrestrial navigation,”
That’s probably a good idea.
L
Thank you for your service.
With that said, WAR, FEAR, DESTRUCTION, DEATH, DISEASE, THERE IS NO HOPE UNLESS YOU PAY US MORE MONEY!
I’m sure it’s been posted many times on this storied and near-legendary site, but it was H.L. Mencken who said: “The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”
Carry on.
Hank Johnson wants to know who’s steering the islands to make sure they don’t sail into the ships’ path.
My dad was on the Shangri-la. Salute to you.
Worthy of Note:
UKs Queen Elizabeth Carrier Task Force Joint Exercises US Navy.
The Carrier Strike Group take part in Exercise Noble Union (24.8.21)
The Carrier Strike Group is taking part in EX Noble Union, which sees Japan, US and CSG21 integrated and operating together. Amphibious assault ship USS America and Aircraft Carrier JS Ise (Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer) are operating alongside the Queen Elizabeth Strike Group. An F-35B Lightning jet from the British carrier also landed on USS America as UK and US squadrons from both ships worked closely together, while helicopters from around the task group learnt to operate seamlessly with ships from allied nations. More info here.
Carrier Strike Group work with USS Carl Vinson and also the Republic of Korea Navy (Sept 2021)
The USS Carl Vinson and HMS Queen Elizabeth’s air wings put on an impressive display of air power, as jets from the carriers trained to work seamlessly together by practising techniques, tactics and procedures, which included mid-air refuelling. It saw the two F-35B Lightning jet squadrons from Queen Elizabeth work closely with four F-35C Lightnings, five F/A-18 E/F Super Hornets, two EA-18G Growlers and a E-2D Advanced Hawkeye from USS Carl Vinson. The Carrier Strike Group also worked alongside ships from the Republic of Korea Navy during three days of events near Busan, which included joint maritime manoeuvres, with Commander of the UK Carrier Strike Group, Commodore Steve Moorhouse, thanking the ROK for “their enthusiastic support to the CSG21 deployment”. Meanwhile, HMS Richmond has stopped in Guam for a reset and HMS Diamond will head through the Suez Canal shortly to deliver operations supporting the Carrier Strike Group after repairs were completed in Taranto in Italy.
More info here:
https://www.military-airshows.co.uk/press21/queen-elizabeth-carrier-pacific-deployment2021.htm
All I can say is that if China doesn’t act in the next three years they never will. There’s various reasons for that.
-SB
The last word I got was that the US had 4 carriers in the region. The British, French and Japan have carriers there as well. Even though the Japanese don’t call them carriers. We also have American pilots flying F-35s off the British carrier.
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.