Hi, Winds readers! This is Shelby "Murdoc" from Murdoc Online. Joe was kind enough to invite me to post once a week or so here at Winds of Change on military matters, so here I go.
Before I get started, though, I'd like to make sure that everyone realizes that I'm not in, nor have I ever been in, the military. My blog covers a lot of military technology and military news, but it's from the perspective of an outsider. And yes, as I'm an ardent supporter of the Global War on Terror, I get my fair share of "chickenhawk" messages. Bring 'em on.
As all eyes this week have been on Hurricane Katrina, I thought I'd make my first post here a rundown of the many US Navy ships involved, one way or another, down in the disaster-stricken region.
A collection of stories about Hurricane Katrina vs. the United States Navy. (Some of these links lead to various versions of the same releases. Many of them lead to specific stories on the ship(s) listed).
In Katrina's path:
USS Alabama (BB 60, ret.): Listing 8 degrees to port after her memorial park was devastated. This is pretty significant, as the ship actually sits on the bottom. The storm moved it. 18 park employees and their families rode out the storm aboard the ship and were stranded there. The park's aircraft pavilion was more or less wiped out, but the USS Drum submarine was undamaged. More here. Donald Sensing has a pic of TV news coverage.
USS Kidd (DDG 100): The new guided missile destroyer, nearing completion at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss., received a 4-foot gash in her hull but it was quickly repaired.
USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98): Also in Pascagoula but undamaged, the Navy has offered the destroyer as an operations center as the yard works to get back to work.
USS Stephen W. Groves (FFG 29) and USS John L. Hall (FFG 32): These two frigates set sail on the 26th to avoid the storm.
USS San Antonio (LPD 17): Also at the same yard, this nearly-finished amphibious assault ship was being used to provide food and shelter to Naval and contractor personnel.
Aiding the relief effort:
USS Bataan (LHD 5): This amphibious assault ship was in the Gulf and rode out the storm, then moved toward New Orleans. Her helicopters were among the first to begin plucking stranded residents out of harm's way. Follow the link for a great story. However, the crew isn't doing as much as they could, and they are eager for more. The captain says "But I can't force myself on people." There are apparently a lot of military units waiting to be called on to do more.
USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75): The carrier loaded up on fuel and will take aboard 30 to 40 Navy and Army helicopters to support relief operations. The Truman's crew wants to match or exceed the 90 missions a day that the USS Lincoln ran during tsunami relief in Indonesia. As we saw after the tsunami, the capability to generate 400,000 gallons of fresh water per day is a great asset.
Swift (HSV 2): The high-speed catamaran transport has also been dispatched to the area. Seems to me that the Swift's ability to navigate shallow water will be a major asset in the operations.
USNS Comfort (T-AH 20): This hospital ship with 250 beds will serve as a floating medical facility and headquarters and supply station for additional medical personnel. She's sailing from Baltimore and won't arrive until the 8th.
USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), USS Shreveport (LPD 12), and USS Tortuga (LSD 46): This expeditionary strike group will arrive in the area on Sunday from Norfolk, Virgina. (Link updated to a more informative story.)
USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8): This fast combat support ship from the Iwo Jima group is already in the area supporting the naval vessels on station.
USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41): Air-cushioned LCAC amphibious transports can operate off of this landing ship (dock), just like her sister the Tortuga in the Iwo Jima group. The DHS release linked to here says the Whidbey Island "will bring with it the capability to employ a movable causeway to the region" though I don't know what this means. (UPDATE: Commenter EagleSpeak says this is the JLOTS. Great find!)
USS Grapple (ARS 53): This salvage and rescue ship brings divers, rescue equipment, and lifting and towing capabilities.
USNS Mercy (T-AH 19): The Comfort's sister ship was not originally going to be deployed, but plans changed and the hospital ship, a veteran of tsunami relief, will now arrive around the 21st from San Diego.
UPDATES:
HMCS Athabaskan, HMCS Ville de Quebec, HMCS Toronto, and the CCGS Sir William Alexander: These Canadian ships (a destroyer, two frigates, and a coast guard icebreaker/tender) form "Operation Union" and will bring helicopters, divers, and tons of relief supplies to the area.
USNS Pollux (T-AKR 290): According to a comment at NRO, this fast sealift ship is "operating onboard dialysis equipment for the patients of a local hospital, providing diesel fuel for area hospitals' generators, and providing meals and berthing to relief workers". I've been unable to find any news reports about it, though the comment makes it sound like the ship might be in port. Exactly where is not clear. Anyone with more info is welcome to send it in.
USNS Bellatrix (T-AKR 288), USNS Altair (T-AKR 291), USNS Pililaau (T-AKR 304), USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR 300), and USNS Algol (T-AKR 287): These vessels, fast sealift ships and roll on/roll off ships, have been transferred from the Military Sealift Command to the 2nd Fleet to support Joint Task Force Katrina.
USS Gladiator (MCM 11), USS Scout (MCM 8), USS Cormorant (MHC 57), and USS Defender (MCM 2): These ships based at Naval Station Ingleside, TX, will use their mine hunting capabilities to locate and clear underwater obstacles. (The link is to a page that requires free subscription and doesn't really provide much more info.)
I'm sure that there are and will be more ships involved. If you have any info, email me or post it in the comments section and I'll try to update the post.
A moveable causeway is a mobile bridge. In other words, where a land route is needed into an area, a temporary one can be set up, capable of handling quite heavy vehicle traffic, assuming that the causeway can be brought to that spot.
Jeff: Yes, I'm sure you are right. What I'm not sure about is exactly what sort of "moveable causeway" this is and if it's something special for this operation.
The significance of the mobile causeway is that New Orleans has lost two bridges. One of the challenges of getting help into the city is getting into the city.
Apparently a sizable remnant of New Orleans citizens are refusing to be evacuated. That stubbornness will add greatly to the problems and expense of the relief operation.
Other than that, the response of the National Guard and active duty military has been dramatic. The contrast between military competence and Louisiana incompetence is incredible.
I think they should add another 10 billion in the Federal relief package and build more refineries here in America. After all the whole nation is feeling the gas prices go up as a result of Katrina. The President should have been quicker to act as well as the rest of our always fast acting and honest Governments around the world lol. I remember when gas was 89 cents a gallon and for 10 bucks you could get almost 11 gallons I put 10 bucks into today and got 3 gallons. I am only 27 years old so I am not talking about 1960, 70, or even 80 1990 just almost 8 9 years ago. But I guess navy ships are a start!!
Jerry, it's not the lack of money to build them that prevents more refineries from being built. It's environmental regulations and the five most important letters in American politics: NIMBY (Not In My Backyard). It would probably be more practical to make better use of our current refinery capacity by standardizing and reducing the number of gasoline formulations.
We'd probably better drop this subject for fear of threadjacking.
Good informative post...I did something similar in highlighting some of the aerial evacuations. Look foward to some of your insights in the future.
Regards,
MH
Thanks for the info! The Northern Command website has been down for over a day now, which doesn't speak well for somebody.
Back to the moveable causeway for a moment:
I'm guessing that its a standard sort of amphibious bridge. LSDs carry a bunch of small craft & crews that do multiple tasks, of which bridging is one. The LCACs are air-cushioned, so they can go through flooded areas without worrying about running aground, etc.
A lot of supply ships, I note. Would you know if any port facilities are open enough for them to dock, or will they be offloading via helo?
Scratch that: The LCACS would probably not go through the city itself, but beach, IIRC. Interesting ship to send...
Game wardens are being requested to take their amphibious boats down to help out in NO, from the surrounding state parks and waterways. Several, I understand, are footing the gasoline and transportation costs themselves.
I remember when gas was 89 cents a gallon and for 10 bucks you could get almost 11 gallons I put 10 bucks into today and got 3 gallons
Ah, that was a fool's dream my friend, the result of severe economic recession in Asia 'round 1997-98. I recall gas hitting 60c in Arkansas!
Heck, I can remember when (ca. 1970) gas was 36 cents. I drove a VW bug that got 36 mpg, so travel was a penny a mile.
Having been stationed aboard the Comfort's sister ship USNS Mercy(T-AH 19), I wanted to note a small mistake in your Comfort stats. She is a 1000 bed hospital ship with 12 operating rooms and the capability to manufacture freshwater and their own oxygen. She can also support up to and including CH-53 Helos.
Ryland: News reports indicated that "initially" the Comfort would have 250 beds available. I don't know if this means the ship will only be partially staffed or what. Also, "initially" seems to indicate that they're prepared to expand the number of beds if circunstances warrant.
Thanks for the comment and I'll try to keep an eye out for more info on the total.
The phib's are great for this, since they have the space for supporting people and carry small craft designed to be run aground.
I saw that, sorry. When they stop in Mayport, the additional staffing will put them at 500 bed level.
To add to the list of Navy contributions...
There's a Seabees unit that was already based in Gulfport, Mississippi when Katrina hit. They got flattened, but they're still in operation, deeply involved with cleanup and refugee relief. A minister of my faith (New Christian) is their chaplain down there, and he's been coordinating efforts between FEMA, the Navy, the Salvation Army, and a new faith-based relief organization called Charity In Action.
He's got a portfolio of shelters down there that all have plenty of refugees but NOTHING in the way of supplies. He has secure warehouse space and our first truck is rolling out of Pennsylvania tomorrow morning, along with a team of volunteer workers who will be doing light construction duty under harsh conditions for a week. More trucks and volunteers are on the way in coming days.
I've blogged this (with more details) over at GlennFrazier.com .
I hoope it's true, I've heard a few news reports that Carnival cruise lines had loaned 3 ships to house the hurricane victims. I might have to reconsider my distaste for cruises. That's nice.
Causeway info here. Used in "Joint Logistics Over the Shore" operations.
There are a lot of highly capable ships out there...
The news story on the Bataan is making me seethe with rage. There is no way on earth anyone can make the case that FEMA is doing its job.
I'm not blaming Bush -- the local and state authorities made king size fubars too -- but there's no way the feds get a pass when they tell a relief effort to turn back.
Some JLOTS info here.
Not sure where the causeways might be used, as I think the idea is to see if the piers in Biloxi and some of the other ports might be usable. See this post.
Swift has been offloading at Pensacola. Its high speed is an asset, but it does draw 12 feet.
Okay, one more causeway JLOTS note - Swift has been used with causeway sections, its own Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) capability and larger RoRo ships to move equipment rapidly to shore...see this Military Sealift Command site.
Great catch, EagleSpeak! I updated the post. Thanks!
To add to what Mac said in #18, the Seabees have 3 battalions in Gulfport (1, 7 and 133) and are moving 2 additional battalions (4 and 40) plus detachments from CBMU 202 and 303 and reserve Seabees. The press release estimates 3000 total.
For info on what the Seabees are doing, see the www.navfac.navy.mil homepage. Here is a direct link to news releases: https://portal.navfac.navy.mil/portal/page?_pageid=181,3465053&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL
I hope this works, it is very long.
USS Swift (HSV-2) is making logistics runs for ships in theater. Fuel, food, etc.
12 feet is still about half of what any other amphib requires. Most CO's don't like to go any closer than 30' and that's in well charted waters, there are probably lots of new uncharted hazards out there that will make CO's wet their pants.
(hitting something with your ship = career over)
Nicest thing about the HSV ships is they use jets similar to jet skis and are super maneuverable - no tugs required. I watched one spin in place (like a tank) at the naval base in Kuwait so that it could tie up bow pointing out to sea.
There are a handful of military systems that are almost tailor made for relief operations. One is the C-130 aircraft. All the rest are amphibs.
There's a startling omission in this list -- I didn't see Sean Penn's rowboat anywhere.
Robin -
The C-130's a great aircraft, and has been used in humanitarian missions darn near since the first one rolled off the assembly line. They don't land on water well, though, (well, at least not more than once per plane(grin)) and need about 3000 feet of runway for safety. Now that the NO airport's open, there's a place to land other cargo lifters with greater capacity.
J.
Very good, this is the first list of all the ships involved that I have seen.
One suggestion though, how about posting a quick link to the ship/system's home page, or a page with information on the ship/system's general characteristics? Globalsecurity.org is the homepage to a good site for this type of info, as are and all the assoicated service websites.
Just a thought.
JLawson, don't tell me you haven't seen the video of the C-130 on a carrier yet? ( grin )
A link to C-130 carrier tests, just so no one thinks I am telling sea stories.
Shout out to the boys from ACU-2 down there doing our thing, and all my shipmates from ACU-1 who voulenteered to go.
And LCU has a deep draft of 8 feet... an LCAC dosn't have a 'draft' per-se... and an LCM has about 6' when its super-heavy... I know cause I work with all three. So it's very plausable that you'll see these boats in plenty of tight spots... and we're the tanks of the sea, we're made to run a-ground (beach) hard so underwater obsticles prolly wont be a reall big issue.