Comments on: Where’s the fleet? https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/ Mon, 06 Apr 2026 12:03:37 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9074 bowser Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:31:05 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9074 OK. STRATFOR says that one Carrier Task Force is on the way back from the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR), one is operating IN the 5th Fleet AOR and another is on the way. The 5th Fleet AOR is the Middle East. That seems to be a significant presence. Carrier Strike Groups The USS John C. Stennis CSG with CVW 9 embarked is under way in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn. The USS George H.W. Bush CSG with CVW 8 embarked is under way in the U.S. 6th Fleet AOR after having completed five months of combat operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR. The USS Carl Vinson CSG with CVW 17 embarked is under way on a deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR. OK. STRATFOR says that one Carrier Task Force is on the way back from the 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR), one is operating IN the 5th Fleet AOR and another is on the way. The 5th Fleet AOR is the Middle East.

That seems to be a significant presence.

Carrier Strike Groups

The USS John C. Stennis CSG with CVW 9 embarked is under way in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR) conducting maritime security operations and support missions as part of Operations Enduring Freedom and New Dawn.
The USS George H.W. Bush CSG with CVW 8 embarked is under way in the U.S. 6th Fleet AOR after having completed five months of combat operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

The USS Carl Vinson CSG with CVW 17 embarked is under way on a deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet AOR.

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9073 bowser Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:27:48 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9073 It wouldn't be spontaneous. Re the carrier task forces, Bill Clinton wrote that whenever there was trouble in the world the first question was "Where are the carriers?" It's quite unusual to not have a significant number "out there". We didn't build them to have them sitting around in their home ports. And it makes sense they are refitting after heavy duty during the wars, even though some were overhauled while the war was in high gear. I think it's a puzzlement, and I'm glad TB pointed it out. Could be innocent. It wouldn’t be spontaneous. Re the carrier task forces, Bill Clinton wrote that whenever there was trouble in the world the first question was “Where are the carriers?”

It’s quite unusual to not have a significant number “out there”. We didn’t build them to have them sitting around in their home ports.

And it makes sense they are refitting after heavy duty during the wars, even though some were overhauled while the war was in high gear.

I think it’s a puzzlement, and I’m glad TB pointed it out. Could be innocent.

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9070 bowser Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:43:06 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9070 One suggestion. Give equal time to Israeli rhetoric. One suggestion. Give equal time to Israeli rhetoric.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9068 TB Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:23:55 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9068 <p>The leadership of Iran thinks the Apocalypse will raise a great Imam for his people.</p> He's built a special road in the capital for the Imam to arrive on. Rafsanjani, currently considered a "moderate," once declared that an atomic war would only "damage" Iran, but obliterate Israel. We're all open for suggestions out here. The leadership of Iran thinks the Apocalypse will raise a great Imam for his people.

He’s built a special road in the capital for the Imam to arrive on. Rafsanjani, currently considered a “moderate,” once declared that an atomic war would only “damage” Iran, but obliterate Israel.

We’re all open for suggestions out here.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9065 ER Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:05:08 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9065 Far be it from me to make excuses for the Iranians, Tom, but you have to admit, they really do have every reason in the world to be paranoid. Far be it from me to make excuses for the Iranians, Tom, but you have to admit, they really do have every reason in the world to be paranoid.

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9064 TB Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:56:06 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9064 There may not be war, but a lot of things in Iran seem to be spontaneously blowing up. There may not be war, but a lot of things in Iran seem to be spontaneously blowing up.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9061 ER Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:07:06 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9061 Fear not, war clouds may be gathering up yet. Although we've heard some small talk here of bombing Iran, I learned that it is a huge public debate in the Israeli government and press right now, with the public opinion polls split 50-50 on whether they should go to war or not. That is news that has not been emphasized much here. If you consider the timing of the UN Iran nuke report, the Pakistan shituation, the Syria news (a big ally of Iran) and the seizing of the Brit embassy, I wouldn't be surprised if somethng wasn't up in SW Asia. In fact, if our fleet is INDEED withdrawing, it may be because we're sending a message to Israel that they can expect no help from us if they strike and it all goes South. But you can trust our government's reports of fleet movements as being pretty accurate. With satellite surveillance these days, you can't hide ship movements any more. They are like pieces on a chessboard, everybody can see exactly where they are. Fear not, war clouds may be gathering up yet. Although we’ve heard some small talk here of bombing Iran, I learned that it is a huge public debate in the Israeli government and press right now, with the public opinion polls split 50-50 on whether they should go to war or not. That is news that has not been emphasized much here.

If you consider the timing of the UN Iran nuke report, the Pakistan shituation, the Syria news (a big ally of Iran) and the seizing of the Brit embassy, I wouldn’t be surprised if somethng wasn’t up in SW Asia. In fact, if our fleet is INDEED withdrawing, it may be because we’re sending a message to Israel that they can expect no help from us if they strike and it all goes South.

But you can trust our government’s reports of fleet movements as being pretty accurate. With satellite surveillance these days, you can’t hide ship movements any more. They are like pieces on a chessboard, everybody can see exactly where they are.

]]> By: bowser https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9058 bowser Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:36:44 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9058 I'll stand by what I said, AND, and allow that what may be happening is long delayed maintenance and retrofitting occurring as Iraq winds down. If that is the case, TB and STRATFOR both deserve an apology from me. (Obsequious grovel here.) I apologize. I’ll stand by what I said, AND, and allow that what may be happening is long delayed maintenance and retrofitting occurring as Iraq winds down. If that is the case, TB and STRATFOR both deserve an apology from me.

(Obsequious grovel here.) I apologize.

]]> By: ER https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9056 ER Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:08:53 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9056 My ship spent half of the 13 months I was aboard underway, half in port, and that period fell between two major yard periods, where she spent months getting overhauled in drydock. Ships are high maintenance items, although it varies from type to type, and I don't know if technology has changed the maintenance schedules one way or the other. Also, a major capital ship like an aircraft carrier may have a different maintenance schedule than her many escorts, or the fleet train that keep them supplied on the line. Some stay at sea for long periods, so they spend correspondingly long periods at the dock, refitting and giving their crews a rest. The longest I ever spent on wartime patrol was during the Pueblo Crisis, when we were underway for 56 days before a boiler casualty forced us to go back to Japan. I was told we had broken a record for days at sea for our class ship (Coontz Class Frigate). Our average cruise on the gun line or SAR duty was about two weeks. If I had to guess, I would say our long wars in the MidEast have left the fleet exhausted and way behind on maintenance. And after 10 years, a substantial portion of the ships were probably retired and replaced. My ship was scrapped after 35 years of service, during which time she had undergone several major upgrades. Much longer than that and they cost more to maintain than a new one costs to operate. Now that things are winding down, I wouldn't be surprise that there is a lot of catching up going on. It's been a long time since I was in the NAV, and I don't keep up as well as I should, but my guess is that ship deployments and refits are probably not reflecting any particular anticipated actions in the near future. Stand down, Bowser. Strike below. <img src="http://www.angelfire.com/ca2/gormady/Dewey3.jpg" alt="Dewey " /> My ship spent half of the 13 months I was aboard underway, half in port, and that period fell between two major yard periods, where she spent months getting overhauled in drydock. Ships are high maintenance items, although it varies from type to type, and I don’t know if technology has changed the maintenance schedules one way or the other. Also, a major capital ship like an aircraft carrier may have a different maintenance schedule than her many escorts, or the fleet train that keep them supplied on the line.

Some stay at sea for long periods, so they spend correspondingly long periods at the dock, refitting and giving their crews a rest. The longest I ever spent on wartime patrol was during the Pueblo Crisis, when we were underway for 56 days before a boiler casualty forced us to go back to Japan. I was told we had broken a record for days at sea for our class ship (Coontz Class Frigate). Our average cruise on the gun line or SAR duty was about two weeks.

If I had to guess, I would say our long wars in the MidEast have left the fleet exhausted and way behind on maintenance. And after 10 years, a substantial portion of the ships were probably retired and replaced.

My ship was scrapped after 35 years of service, during which time she had undergone several major upgrades. Much longer than that and they cost more to maintain than a new one costs to operate. Now that things are winding down, I wouldn’t be surprise that there is a lot of catching up going on.

It’s been a long time since I was in the NAV, and I don’t keep up as well as I should, but my guess is that ship deployments and refits are probably not reflecting any particular anticipated actions in the near future.

Stand down, Bowser. Strike below.

Dewey

]]> By: TB https://habitablezone.com/2011/12/01/wheres-the-fleet/#comment-9053 TB Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:30:07 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=5699#comment-9053 Serious question. I didn't know. Others here might. Serious question. I didn’t know. Others here might.

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