A seaplane base to operate a half dozen ShinMaywa Industries US-2's that the US should purchase from Japan would be nice as well. The east lagoon abuts the island on the atoll with the airfield.
For the acquisition cost of a few US-2s (let alone the operating costs) we could bribe these islands' population with equal to their annual income for decades. Such thinking is why we lose wars and China is creeping forward unopposed. We are obsessed with fancy toys as magical solutions. They are obsessed with incremental results.
Wolei is ~6.5 miles wide on its main east/west axis, and between ~1.3 and 3 miles wide north/south. Think of a peanut lying on its side.
Ulithi Atoll is yuuuuuge. ~22 miles long on its north/south main axis, and between 12 miles east/west (up at the top) narrowing to ~3 miles as you move down. Think of a pizza slice pointing south.
As even a casual observer can discern... If one cares to discern such things... Chinese have an entire industrial sector devoted to dredging and building islands and installing structures/fixtures upon those islands. Trained/skilled people, specialized vessels & equipment, supply chains for everything from concrete & steel to weather/climate-appropriate equipment. Plus, a wide variety of planning cells, because it all requires extensive planning & logistics.
And as you note... USA cannot even send the Navy Band to play a few tunes at the HS grad ceremony.
Good Luck with this so-called "Great Pacific War"-thing to which we occasionally refer.
In 1995 or 1996 (can't recall which), our cutter USCGC BASSWOOD was sent to Ulithi on behalf of the Navy (can't recall the official OPERATION ________ name for annual soft power visits) to deliver supplies and attend the high school graduation. It was a gorgeous atoll, the locals were impeccably hospitable, and the food was delicious.
Guam has four patrol boats and a buoy tender at Apra Harbor these days, and PBs have been to Wolei recently.
Imagine the utility we'd get out of a few more PBs in Micronesia. We could home port one at Yap, one at Palau, one at Pohnpei, and one at Saipan. I don't think PATFORSWA is quite as important these days, and they have six PBs in Bahrain. Take four of theirs.
Add two retrofitted cargo ships (call them Medium Endurance Cutters if you must) at Guam, and use them as tenders or mother ships for MULEPATs with an accompanying PB or two way out in our EEZ wherever the activity is warranted.
Aerial patrols can be run out of Anderson AFB on Guam, using aviation detachments of Coasties forward deployed with an HC-130J from Hawaii, or any Navy P-8 squadron available.
I agree the Chinese shouldn't build a military installation there. But...they didn't. They certainly are looking to leverage and influence etc etc. but they aren't getting access there to base planes or missiles or ships. Now, you may say "next steps"...that may never come and certainly I don't think they are inevitable. It may be WE end up using the strip thanks to the Chinese refurbishing it for us with their money! Would THAT be playing Go? Go didn't work out too well as a strategic ideation for the Japanese in the end.
If you want to defend Guam, stop decommissioning Ticos and base them around Guam (perform extended maintenance and repairs) and keep those AEGIS systems and VLS tubes in use for a few more years, at the least.
For some reason I'm picturing that long scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" where the knight is running right at the guards with his sword drawn while the guards...watch him coming right at them. "Hey......"
You can hear that click of the ratchet and easily visualize that the bitter end of that rope is attached to a garrote. What is so hard about growing a taro crop and doing drainage for a runway?
The Coast Guard is helping the Compact of Free Association states with fisheries enforcement. Three 154 foot patrol craft in Guam and probably three more coming.
I wish either the USCG or USN would look at that production line in Lockport for what it is. Our largest current multi unit per year ship production line. We could grab another of the slightly larger, proven Damen patrol hulls to get a bit more range, endurance, and potential payloads. I looks at the FCS 5009 specifically. Its yacht support hull is stretched another 4 meters. All sizes that Lockport can still build.
Wake up call for Rubio and Hegseth. Unfortunately most of our Admirals and Generals seem to be having difficulty refocusing on real threats after making climate change, equity, and bio fuel acquisition their priorities.
Way to buzzkill Sal. You interrupted my joy over the North Korean destroyer launch…
that was a thing of beauty was it not? Would have been better if the ship folded in half revealing it was just the world's largest mock-up. Sadly I see about 215 people getting put in a field as it is hit by MLRS fire for this hose up....
Even if the airfield's initial justification is framed around local FSM development needs (which are genuine for remote islands and IMO the more likely reason for this development), China's doctrine of military-civil fusion means any such strategically located infrastructure inherently offers dual-use potential. The airstrip could still become a node for ISR, communications, or uncrewed systems, complicating U.S. situational awareness. https://ordersandobservations.substack.com/
In the event of a war with China, China probably can already make Guam untenable. Hawaii will probably be our closest base that is even relatively safe. Nor will this island be safe for Chinese to occupy.
USAF is wanting to reactivate Johnston Atoll. Purpose is a "science fair" project (Rocket Cargo Vanguard) to test landing of logistics cargo spacecraft (not so sure about the practicality, but whatever). The usual suspects are up in arms.
"“To introduce this highly destructive activity that has a track record of just going along with disastrous consequences is a horrible thing,” said David Henkin, Earthjustice attorney.
“SpaceX has already been blowing up its rockets next to a national wildlife refuge in Texas so moving that to Hawaii’s neck of the woods is something that Earthjustice is going to fight tooth and nail,” he added."
Tropical islands would be a great place for some Guard/Reserve engineering projects. And a couple of corvettes and a tender.
Maybe a Light Attack wing and some tankers on that new runway the Chinese have so nicely built?
A seaplane base to operate a half dozen ShinMaywa Industries US-2's that the US should purchase from Japan would be nice as well. The east lagoon abuts the island on the atoll with the airfield.
6 is an..... optimistically low number. Or buy 6 to tide us over until we get a production facility built on the Lakes?
For the acquisition cost of a few US-2s (let alone the operating costs) we could bribe these islands' population with equal to their annual income for decades. Such thinking is why we lose wars and China is creeping forward unopposed. We are obsessed with fancy toys as magical solutions. They are obsessed with incremental results.
Red Horse & SEABEES
Red Horse: already in theater, resurrecting the old airfield on Tinian.
SeaBees: even closer, with a whole battalion always deployed at Camp Covington on Guam.
Ulithi has a massive lagoon, which hosted either Task Force Five or Task Force Three during refit cycles. How large is this atolls’ lagoon?
Wolei is ~6.5 miles wide on its main east/west axis, and between ~1.3 and 3 miles wide north/south. Think of a peanut lying on its side.
Ulithi Atoll is yuuuuuge. ~22 miles long on its north/south main axis, and between 12 miles east/west (up at the top) narrowing to ~3 miles as you move down. Think of a pizza slice pointing south.
As even a casual observer can discern... If one cares to discern such things... Chinese have an entire industrial sector devoted to dredging and building islands and installing structures/fixtures upon those islands. Trained/skilled people, specialized vessels & equipment, supply chains for everything from concrete & steel to weather/climate-appropriate equipment. Plus, a wide variety of planning cells, because it all requires extensive planning & logistics.
And as you note... USA cannot even send the Navy Band to play a few tunes at the HS grad ceremony.
Good Luck with this so-called "Great Pacific War"-thing to which we occasionally refer.
Re Cleo Paskal's LinkedIn article:
“Ninety percent of success in life is just showing up.”
― Woody Allen
In 1995 or 1996 (can't recall which), our cutter USCGC BASSWOOD was sent to Ulithi on behalf of the Navy (can't recall the official OPERATION ________ name for annual soft power visits) to deliver supplies and attend the high school graduation. It was a gorgeous atoll, the locals were impeccably hospitable, and the food was delicious.
Guam has four patrol boats and a buoy tender at Apra Harbor these days, and PBs have been to Wolei recently.
https://www.pacom.mil/Media/News/News-Article-View/Article/3316904/us-coast-guard-delivers-4500-lbs-of-supplies-to-federated-states-of-micronesia/
Imagine the utility we'd get out of a few more PBs in Micronesia. We could home port one at Yap, one at Palau, one at Pohnpei, and one at Saipan. I don't think PATFORSWA is quite as important these days, and they have six PBs in Bahrain. Take four of theirs.
Add two retrofitted cargo ships (call them Medium Endurance Cutters if you must) at Guam, and use them as tenders or mother ships for MULEPATs with an accompanying PB or two way out in our EEZ wherever the activity is warranted.
Aerial patrols can be run out of Anderson AFB on Guam, using aviation detachments of Coasties forward deployed with an HC-130J from Hawaii, or any Navy P-8 squadron available.
I agree the Chinese shouldn't build a military installation there. But...they didn't. They certainly are looking to leverage and influence etc etc. but they aren't getting access there to base planes or missiles or ships. Now, you may say "next steps"...that may never come and certainly I don't think they are inevitable. It may be WE end up using the strip thanks to the Chinese refurbishing it for us with their money! Would THAT be playing Go? Go didn't work out too well as a strategic ideation for the Japanese in the end.
If you want to defend Guam, stop decommissioning Ticos and base them around Guam (perform extended maintenance and repairs) and keep those AEGIS systems and VLS tubes in use for a few more years, at the least.
Checkmate by creeping pawns.
While the DC centric MICC/State/FP/Aid etc complex becomes more obsessed with top down everything every day.
Indeed... The DC Complex understands everything except geography, logistics, and strategy.
For all their junkets, boondoggles, and travels... They should "get out" more often.
For some reason I'm picturing that long scene from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" where the knight is running right at the guards with his sword drawn while the guards...watch him coming right at them. "Hey......"
You can hear that click of the ratchet and easily visualize that the bitter end of that rope is attached to a garrote. What is so hard about growing a taro crop and doing drainage for a runway?
We used to know how to do soft power.
Soft power is first derivative of hard power.
https://cdrsalamander.substack.com/p/the-us-navy-is-sleepwalking-into
"Thomas
May 13
I don't know where you read that State was "begging PRC involvement in SW Pacific Island states." Some lunatic conspiracy website?"
Well, let's see if The Porch will start being labled a lunatic conspiracy site.
The Coast Guard is helping the Compact of Free Association states with fisheries enforcement. Three 154 foot patrol craft in Guam and probably three more coming.
Four already, I thought?
Still three. All the most recently commissioned FRCs are going to Alaska. Wikipedia has been good at keeping track of progress. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentinel-class_cutter#Ships
I wish either the USCG or USN would look at that production line in Lockport for what it is. Our largest current multi unit per year ship production line. We could grab another of the slightly larger, proven Damen patrol hulls to get a bit more range, endurance, and potential payloads. I looks at the FCS 5009 specifically. Its yacht support hull is stretched another 4 meters. All sizes that Lockport can still build.
That suffers from passing the Common Sense Test.
Wake up call for Rubio and Hegseth. Unfortunately most of our Admirals and Generals seem to be having difficulty refocusing on real threats after making climate change, equity, and bio fuel acquisition their priorities.
Way to buzzkill Sal. You interrupted my joy over the North Korean destroyer launch…
Our current bunch of Admirals couldn't find this place on the map even with google earth. Not relevant, they would say.
that was a thing of beauty was it not? Would have been better if the ship folded in half revealing it was just the world's largest mock-up. Sadly I see about 215 people getting put in a field as it is hit by MLRS fire for this hose up....
Even if the airfield's initial justification is framed around local FSM development needs (which are genuine for remote islands and IMO the more likely reason for this development), China's doctrine of military-civil fusion means any such strategically located infrastructure inherently offers dual-use potential. The airstrip could still become a node for ISR, communications, or uncrewed systems, complicating U.S. situational awareness. https://ordersandobservations.substack.com/
watch for a new improved radar system gifted to the Noble Peoples of the FSM by their Asian brothers
Not unlike that Chinese "astronomical observatory" in Argentina.
I'd say blame Biden, and heck any island is a target for a lot of different ordinance.
In the event of a war with China, China probably can already make Guam untenable. Hawaii will probably be our closest base that is even relatively safe. Nor will this island be safe for Chinese to occupy.
USAF is wanting to reactivate Johnston Atoll. Purpose is a "science fair" project (Rocket Cargo Vanguard) to test landing of logistics cargo spacecraft (not so sure about the practicality, but whatever). The usual suspects are up in arms.
If'n Earthjustice is a'gin it then I 'muss be 'fore it.
https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/05/27/militarys-plan-rocket-testing-johnston-atoll-raises-alarm/
"“To introduce this highly destructive activity that has a track record of just going along with disastrous consequences is a horrible thing,” said David Henkin, Earthjustice attorney.
“SpaceX has already been blowing up its rockets next to a national wildlife refuge in Texas so moving that to Hawaii’s neck of the woods is something that Earthjustice is going to fight tooth and nail,” he added."
The atoll is 700 nm from Pearl. That is not in Hawaii's "neck of the woods."