Things just got a tad more interesting in the Persian Gulf area…
The aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower and its strike group, as well as an Ohio-class submarine, have entered the Middle Eastern waters of U.S. Central Command as concerns continue about a larger conflict erupting in the region as Israel’s war with Hamas grinds on.
Ike’s arrival also comes amid continued attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria that Pentagon officials have blamed on Iran-backed proxies.
Full article, HERE from Navy Times.
Further down in the article is an OBTW, with this little link…
https://twitter.com/CENTCOM/status/1721271207260033230
Now this is NOT a normal notification by any means…
The ‘position’ of any Ohio class boat is always classified unless it is inport, so the…warning is pretty plain. The question is, will anybody over there pay any attention?
And to throw one more wrench into the mix, there is a six ship Chinese surface group operating in the area also! From the South China Morning Post, HERE.
It’s getting just a ‘bit’ crowded over there, as that area is not all that big for large ship groups to be operating in.
As I posted on Free Republic, if you want to do saber rattling, an Ohio class boat is a damned big saber.
The Ohio class comes in two flavors. Ballistic missile subs mostly suited for launching nukes at distant cities and Cruise missile variants which can launch cruise missiles at many types of targets using both conventional and nuclear armed warheads. Question being which type did they just deploy. One type could be useful. The other type is a bluff…unless they are totally serious about starting a nuclear holocaust.
No reason that a ballistic sub would go into the Persian Gulf, imo. Doesn’t fit it’s mission or capabilities. So I think that we can infer…
Notice the shelter for a SEAL delivery vehicle on deck…
154 cruise missiles is an impressive load but the reload times are probably measured in months, not days regardless of how many they fire. And, can they target both land and sea targets? With the treaty limits that drove the conversion to SSGN I strongly doubt any nuclear-tipped cruise missiles are loaded, just conventional ones.
My boat carried Tomahawks in 1980 but I don’t remember if the FTs program them for both.
Stern Warnings!!!!
Seriously, what are these people? 6? It’s pretty damn obvious they have IQ’s less than their shoe size. Iran and China ignore stern warnings. The only kind of warning they ever listen to is sunk ships and bombed military bases.
Stern warnings indeed. Both sides know that the current admin doesn’t have the balls, the brains, or the resources to do anything.
Iran is, for the most part, a psychotic, devil worshiping theocracy. Stern warnings are ignored unless the warning is accompanied by Divine retribution. A nuclear warhead delivered via ICBM, preceded by an appropriate message in Farsi would likely suffice. The remaining Iranians can round up their camels, goats, and seraglio, then go live in Kuwait until the radioactivity dissipates.
China is a dictatorship, and a large one. They aren’t financially embarrassed (like the United States) and they don’t have a demented pedophile as their president. If you want China to pay attention, use some other country to set an example. Iran, maybe. Issue some orders to the Chinese leadership, and if the request is ignored, send a Chinese fleet to the bottom.
In both cases there will likely be some sort of retribution, but consider this; Iran would like to invade and destroy or enslave the entire country, but can’t due to a lack of resources and the very real possibility that retaliation isn’t good for their populace or economy. The Chinese might step up, and if they do then the fight’s on.
Who do we have on staff that’s able and willing (emphasis on able) to act as commander and chief and win this one?
Do the ChiComs have a sub attached to their surface group?
Iran operates a number of diesel electric boats.
It might be advantageous for an Iran/PRC engagement in those waters.
Sad news today. Hanger One Tustin MCAS burning. Arson not ruled out.
It seems everything at once is happening.
Who knows what will happen. I do not think Biden has the guts to do anything about the hits our men are taking in Syria, Iraq, or anyplace else. If the Chi-coms were smart they would move on Taiwan before 2024 election while do-nothing Biden is still in the presidency.
NRW- That it is!
All- Inference is that it is a SSGN not a BN…
R- Saw that, a true shame, but it was falling down anyway.