NVA was battle hardened last time, but the Viets haven't managed next to the Red Dragon without a sense of superiority. Like the Finns versus the Bear, the Viets hit above their weight class against Dragons
True, but the PLA today can grind Vietnam down without fear of any third party channeling the Vietnamese advanced weapons and supplies. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would work.
If you think they can ever penetrate that far into Vietnam you are kidding yourself. Plus, if you think they will waste there time on that target with no objective central to their aims, same deal.
Time for some Winkin Blinken deplo-magic and entice the neighbors to the left and right to welcome the USN back in. Duh, wait a minute, maybe possibly hopefully it will turn out better than his work with the IDF-Hamas "disagreement" but with him being all that we have all bets are off. Since the Vietnamese loathe the Chinese, we should be able to get SOME kind of semi-perm foot back in the door. Start with Paparo, and buy more mines. And I'm sure this reinforces the Aussie's decision on SSNs.
Sure doesn't help facilitate things when, as a key position of our Foreign Policy, we shove the LGBTWIA-xyz-supercalifragicexpialodotious Agenda down potential host nations' throats that have large Muslim populations...
When you have respected NatSec "Smartest People in the Room" turn into Walking Dead style, Trump Deranged Zombies claiming MAGA is a bigger threat than Hamas...
That's who you should be asking.
And no, I'm not a fiercely loyal MAGA guy, its your Swamp Critter peeps 'occupying' the warrens and cubicles of the DC - Chesapeake Bubble who can't tolerate legitimate political debate.
Dictating the culture of (prospective) allies is a sole-hyperpower type of move. But will we wake up to that truth and respond appropriately? Not while we still have the option of pretending otherwise, methinks.
I saw Sal express his dislike for profanity, except when truly justified, in a comment on here recently. My vocab rubs towards the colorful as a default, so when on the Porch I try to restrain myself unless absolutely necessary.
Restraint has been a constant and wearisome effort for me as our profession can make the weak-minded prone to colorful excitations. I catch myself sounding like a Soprano sometimes, but sans the Jersey accent, thankfully. Though I never filed a VA claim since retiring in 1991 I wonder how receptive they'd be to colouritis voce orbicularis oris. It's a thing. Like MEK, TCE, Agent Orange exposure or a gunshot wound. Has to be worth 25%.
"Hey, guys, has anybody else noticed the sudden influx of Chairman Xi brand bicycles with the heavy duty cargo racks? They're all over the place in Kuala Lumpur."
I suspect that the new base will accomodate the largest container ships (> 24,000 TEU) and supertankers (VLCC, ULCC > 250,000 DWT) as well as the largest warships. China know what the USA and UK seem to have forgotten is that the Navy and Merchant Marine go hand in hand.
Yes, they are pretty weak ships structurally. Incendiary munition of some kind might be best. Fire beyond their capacity to fight should be pretty easy.
My second ship, USS John Young (DD-973) ended its life as a torpedo target. The first I knew about it was when I saw the photos. As I was part of the commissioning crew, the event hit me as well.
Couldn't find the crew size of a 24,000 TEU vessel, but the below video is instructive. A 22 man crew for a "typical" container vessel. That's about the manpower of 2 repair lockers on a DDG. Let's scale up to a 24,000 TEU from a typical Maersk container vessel(~17,000 TEU) and call it a 32 man crew. Who'd want to be DCA on that ship? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xumcG8FvH7k&ab_channel=JoeFranta.Ship
You can’t. It’s SOS and abandon ship for CIVMARS is high threat areas. If we’re going to operate in mercantile standard ships in high threat areas, we may need to include a DC party or two alongside force protection.
I can remember when SIMA's were the ultimate training billet for mid-career (E-5/E-6 Navy) to work with experienced federal civilians in the ship maintenance trades. The skills they learned at the SIMA could never have been acquired anywhere else. That was then, this is now.
I never miss an opportunity to demand meaningful shore duty for the Navy. SIMAs are what we should be shooting for. Good work, good hours, and skills that transfer over to the fleet.
The Navy needs good shore duty, where folks can rest and recharge while still accomplishing meaningful, necessary, work.
China builds a base in Cambodia because Viet Nam’s coast will never be available. Viet Nam is a traditional enemy that has fought the Chin Empire for two thousand years and won more than they lost. They are not afraid of war with China. If America were not a headless corpse, the Vietnamese would make a great ally. There are many others who would stand with us, as well. But alliances require some level of trust. I don’t think world leaders believe they can trust the US right now.
Not just alliances that require some level of trust. Any chance of making peace in Korea or the Middle East or Europe died in a storm pipe west of Sirte.
Sid makes a great point elsewhere in these comments about the disservice our zealotry around cultural compliance (specifically re: lgbtqia2faxyz+) does to achieving our political aims.
I don’t see a realistic scenario where we self-regulate and reorient to our new reality in time to matter. Anyone got a reason to be optimistic that we, the reasonable people in the broad middle, will find the balls to order our pols to wise up and cut the nonsense *before* the consequences of all their pandering comes fully home to roost?
That base looks to be in a defendable place. It doesn't look like combat ships could get in there to sink Chinese vessels. All they need to do is mine the area.
Looks like those Belt and Road initiatives are working out just fine, doesn't it?
The also received about $300M in foreign aid in the last three years. Good work when you can get it. That includes $14M for "cooperative threat reduction from DoD." Xi laughs.
This combined with the Sri Lanka port gives the PRC base access on either side of the Malacca Strait. Biden should remember this during his grip and grin with Emperor Xi this week.
Perhaps we should make a deal with Vietnam...I seem to recall a pretty good port in Cam Rahn Bay
And then the PRC will decide Vietnam will make a good site of for 'Short Victorious War' which our 'elites' would blame on the US.
NVA was battle hardened last time, but the Viets haven't managed next to the Red Dragon without a sense of superiority. Like the Finns versus the Bear, the Viets hit above their weight class against Dragons
True, but the PLA today can grind Vietnam down without fear of any third party channeling the Vietnamese advanced weapons and supplies. It wouldn't be pretty, but it would work.
They wouldn't bet on that right now, and they'd be right.
There is always a difference between warriors defending their home and family, and invading armies.
If you think they can ever penetrate that far into Vietnam you are kidding yourself. Plus, if you think they will waste there time on that target with no objective central to their aims, same deal.
Why ally with a failing power. They can align themselves with their old friends, the Russians, and not suffer sermons about "HuMaN rIgHts".
Did you ever bomb it back in the day?
LOL, no. Cam Rahn Bay is in what we used to call S. Vietnam.
And I was too young (I joined the US Air Force just after Vietnam).
My brother Daniel was an F105 pilot, and frequently attacked Haiphong. Until he got shot down over Thud Ridge. RIP, Old man.
D'oh. I posted that at work in between test events. Eventually we blew something up, mostly unexpectedly. Got Haiphong confused with Cam Rahn.
RIP, Daniel.
Time for some Winkin Blinken deplo-magic and entice the neighbors to the left and right to welcome the USN back in. Duh, wait a minute, maybe possibly hopefully it will turn out better than his work with the IDF-Hamas "disagreement" but with him being all that we have all bets are off. Since the Vietnamese loathe the Chinese, we should be able to get SOME kind of semi-perm foot back in the door. Start with Paparo, and buy more mines. And I'm sure this reinforces the Aussie's decision on SSNs.
Sure doesn't help facilitate things when, as a key position of our Foreign Policy, we shove the LGBTWIA-xyz-supercalifragicexpialodotious Agenda down potential host nations' throats that have large Muslim populations...
https://www.state.gov/lgbtqi-human-rights/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CIt%20shall%20be%20the%20policy,LGBTQI%2B%20persons%20around%20the%20world.%E2%80%9D
"Advancing the Human Rights of LGBTQI+ Persons Around the World"
How does it feel to know millions of your tax dollars are spent around the world promoting cultural marxism.
In just under a year you'll have an opportunity to put a stop to it.
Lets see if America does.
You mean our upcoming presidential "election," I trust
Yes 100% correct.
And it looks like (hopefully) you’ll have more than 2 options.
Whatever happened for shooting for democratic elections and peaceful transfer of power
Andy, where in the above statement did I ever advocate stopping that process?
For starters...
Ask our revered political leaders that question
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2023/10/06/hillary-clinton-maga-cult-extremists-donald-trump-house-republicans-amanpour-cnntm-vpx.cnn
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/twitter-files-reveal-trump-ban-came-after-michelle-obama-others-pressured-company
When you have respected NatSec "Smartest People in the Room" turn into Walking Dead style, Trump Deranged Zombies claiming MAGA is a bigger threat than Hamas...
That's who you should be asking.
And no, I'm not a fiercely loyal MAGA guy, its your Swamp Critter peeps 'occupying' the warrens and cubicles of the DC - Chesapeake Bubble who can't tolerate legitimate political debate.
https://news.yahoo.com/viral-video-republican-poll-greeter-124600357.html
This is so darn spot-on.
Dictating the culture of (prospective) allies is a sole-hyperpower type of move. But will we wake up to that truth and respond appropriately? Not while we still have the option of pretending otherwise, methinks.
C'mon, Colonel. You know it's so damn spot-on. I've heard preachers use that word in church, so it is no expletive.
I saw Sal express his dislike for profanity, except when truly justified, in a comment on here recently. My vocab rubs towards the colorful as a default, so when on the Porch I try to restrain myself unless absolutely necessary.
Restraint has been a constant and wearisome effort for me as our profession can make the weak-minded prone to colorful excitations. I catch myself sounding like a Soprano sometimes, but sans the Jersey accent, thankfully. Though I never filed a VA claim since retiring in 1991 I wonder how receptive they'd be to colouritis voce orbicularis oris. It's a thing. Like MEK, TCE, Agent Orange exposure or a gunshot wound. Has to be worth 25%.
It's as if the State Department isn't actually good at communicating to foreign audiences
"He" is somewhat easy on china ( can't imagine why) Maybe Hunter can shed some light on the Big Guys soft spot for ying yang ping pang.
No cause for worry. We hold the invulnerable fortress of Singapore with battleship guns pointing out at the Strait of Malacca.
"One if by ship, two if by sea." No cause for worry, to be sure, Pete. Intel has it covered
"Hey, guys, has anybody else noticed the sudden influx of Chairman Xi brand bicycles with the heavy duty cargo racks? They're all over the place in Kuala Lumpur."
I suspect that the new base will accomodate the largest container ships (> 24,000 TEU) and supertankers (VLCC, ULCC > 250,000 DWT) as well as the largest warships. China know what the USA and UK seem to have forgotten is that the Navy and Merchant Marine go hand in hand.
24,000 TEU ships make pretty large targets. Just sayin'...
Would a SM-6 even put a dent in one?
Torpedos would probably be the only option.
Yes, they are pretty weak ships structurally. Incendiary munition of some kind might be best. Fire beyond their capacity to fight should be pretty easy.
For A Ro-Ro you won't even need that much. Every car on board has some gasoline in it unless it's an EV in which case you have nothing to worry about.
EV’s are even more inflammable!
A torpedo would be my first choice.
MK 48 and break the keel. Now we know our torpedo influence detonators work.
My second ship, USS John Young (DD-973) ended its life as a torpedo target. The first I knew about it was when I saw the photos. As I was part of the commissioning crew, the event hit me as well.
Couldn't find the crew size of a 24,000 TEU vessel, but the below video is instructive. A 22 man crew for a "typical" container vessel. That's about the manpower of 2 repair lockers on a DDG. Let's scale up to a 24,000 TEU from a typical Maersk container vessel(~17,000 TEU) and call it a 32 man crew. Who'd want to be DCA on that ship? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xumcG8FvH7k&ab_channel=JoeFranta.Ship
You can’t. It’s SOS and abandon ship for CIVMARS is high threat areas. If we’re going to operate in mercantile standard ships in high threat areas, we may need to include a DC party or two alongside force protection.
Navy Armed Guard redux?
Pretty much. We already put armed self defense Mildets on MSC ships, so the general capability exists.
Another harsh lesson we will be forced to relearn, with interest.
I believe that is well within the land based cruise missile range of Singapore. Getting out of the bay would be a problem.
" I want a new carrier pier and drydock."
Hell, I'd settle for SIMA's and floating drydocks.
I can remember when SIMA's were the ultimate training billet for mid-career (E-5/E-6 Navy) to work with experienced federal civilians in the ship maintenance trades. The skills they learned at the SIMA could never have been acquired anywhere else. That was then, this is now.
I never miss an opportunity to demand meaningful shore duty for the Navy. SIMAs are what we should be shooting for. Good work, good hours, and skills that transfer over to the fleet.
The Navy needs good shore duty, where folks can rest and recharge while still accomplishing meaningful, necessary, work.
Didn't they invade Vietnam already and were sent back with their tails between their legs??
(Holiday in Cambodia intensifies)
China builds a base in Cambodia because Viet Nam’s coast will never be available. Viet Nam is a traditional enemy that has fought the Chin Empire for two thousand years and won more than they lost. They are not afraid of war with China. If America were not a headless corpse, the Vietnamese would make a great ally. There are many others who would stand with us, as well. But alliances require some level of trust. I don’t think world leaders believe they can trust the US right now.
Not just alliances that require some level of trust. Any chance of making peace in Korea or the Middle East or Europe died in a storm pipe west of Sirte.
Sid makes a great point elsewhere in these comments about the disservice our zealotry around cultural compliance (specifically re: lgbtqia2faxyz+) does to achieving our political aims.
I don’t see a realistic scenario where we self-regulate and reorient to our new reality in time to matter. Anyone got a reason to be optimistic that we, the reasonable people in the broad middle, will find the balls to order our pols to wise up and cut the nonsense *before* the consequences of all their pandering comes fully home to roost?
I don't think our pols see any need to pretend to listen to us at all anymore. They know we are not the ultimate arbiter of their power.
That base looks to be in a defendable place. It doesn't look like combat ships could get in there to sink Chinese vessels. All they need to do is mine the area.
Looks like those Belt and Road initiatives are working out just fine, doesn't it?
Why would a ship ever need to approach a harbor for an effective strike in this day and age? Why even have a ship involved?
Does the US/Malaysia/VIetnam/Indonesia have enough mines to take this base out of play if necessary?
Does the Cambodian Navy have minesweepers/hunters or are the Chinese going to station those resources there?
Some interesting USN/USMC history at Koh Tang Island SW of the Cambodian Ream Naval Base back in May 1975. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayaguez_incident https://thediplomat.com/2018/06/leave-no-man-behind-the-truth-about-the-mayaguez-incident/
The also received about $300M in foreign aid in the last three years. Good work when you can get it. That includes $14M for "cooperative threat reduction from DoD." Xi laughs.
This combined with the Sri Lanka port gives the PRC base access on either side of the Malacca Strait. Biden should remember this during his grip and grin with Emperor Xi this week.