Iran Is Freaking Out Over The Second US Carrier On Its Way To The Gulf

[bananas]

Source: Business Insider

The U.S. sent the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise on its way to the Persian Gulf March 12 for one final foray into the field before its ceremonious decommissioning.

Reports out today by the Associated Press say the U.S. is deploying the aircraft carrier amid the "rising tensions with Iran," but the ship has been on its way to meetup with the Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain for over three weeks.

What comes as a bit of a surprise, however, is the Iranian report put out Saturday through its Mehr News Agency, saying that Tehran is demanding the Enterprise halt its passage into the Strait of Hormuz, and report to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp's Sepah station.

Iran says that while it's there, the ship's commander will answer Revolutionary Guard questions and wait until it receives official permission before entering the area.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/iran-is-freaking-out-over-the-second-us-carrier-on-its-way-to-the-gulf-2012-4

[Zorro]

1. Ha ha

Thanks for the chuckle.

[Diclotican]

2. bananas

bananas

The Straits of Hormuz er recognized as an international water - and as such can not Iran stop, or halt naval ships transit true the area... As long as the navel ship doesn't spy on Iranian military installations when she travel true the straits it i snot much the Iranian military can do - and should do when USS Enterprise is traveling true the straits This is as much of a "show of flag" on the iranian side, as an command to USS Enterprise to stop sailing into the persian gulf.. I doubt Iran will risk a shooting war with USS Enterprise and its escort...

Diclotican

[slackmaster]

3. International waters are international

Tough shit, Iran.

[think]

4. Let's hope we didn't send an aircraft carrier that is ready to be decommissioned

over there because it is the most expendable. The choice to send the USS Enterprise is disturbing on many levels.

[hack89]

12. The 5000 crew members are not expendable.

Carrier deployments are scheduled years in advance - there was no specific choice made to send her now.

[FarCenter]

13. The 5000 crew members would be a causus belli

You need a reason to go to war.

"Remember the Maine" was the slogan to start the Spanish American War.

There were several obsolete battleships sunk at Pearl Harbor, which was a powerful incentive for the US to go to war with Japan.

[hack89]

19. I think 5 would be a causus belli to this administration. nt

[amandabeech]

41. Not all the battleships were considered obsolete at the time.

Remember, the Navy did not completely understand that the naval strength in WWII would be shown in flat tops rather than battleships.

In addition to the battleships, the Japanese sunk many smaller, but necessary ships like destroyers and mine layers. They also
destroyed most of the Army-Air Corps on the ground where they were bunched together to more easily protect them about sabotage, and many facilities and munitions.

At the end of the war, of course, the flat top was the king of the surface sea, and may still be in that position today despite the development of other surface ships meant to fight flat tops and planes. Submarines are also a front line craft.

[bvar22]

66. There are only two types of Naval ships in the 21st Century:

1) Submarines

2)Targets

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. Yes, deployments are planned in advance ...

but diversions happen.

When the CIC says "jump" ...

[hack89]

17. Can anyone show that Enterprise was diverted? nt

[FarCenter]

20. This is the current carrier locations

http://www.gonavy.jp/CVLocation.html

[hack89]

21. Looks like a standard East coast carrier deployment.

they all go to the ME unless something pops up in the Med.

[damyank913]

46. My thoughts also...

Maybe this is routine. Ships relieve other ships when the deployment is complete. AT least that's how it was when I was in the Navy. Perhaps it's changed.

[think]

30. Yes I agree the crew members are not expendable and I hope I in no way implied that.

This carrier was specifically deployed due to tensions with Iran and was not part of the normal deployment:

US Navy deploys 2nd aircraft carrier to Gulf
The warships will also patrol strategic oil routes
Updated: Monday, 09 Apr 2012, 11:40 AM EDT
Published : Monday, 09 Apr 2012, 6:29 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy said Monday it has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf region amid rising tensions with Iran over its disputed nuclear program...

Full article:
http://www.wlfi.com/dpps/military/us-navy-deploys-2nd-aircraft-carrier-to-gulf-wd12-jgr_4133642

Hopefully all this will be routine and uneventful.

[kestrel91316]

25. Word.

[Posteritatis]

45. Carriers aren't expendable, full stop.

Seriously, even by the standards of the decade-long "we're gonna attack Iran any minute now!" conspiracy theorizing, this thread's going in ridiculous directions.

[MrBig]

54. Agreed, n/t

[Baclava]

59. completely ridiculous notion - a carrier is never alone - they have their own battle group

nothing comes close to them - they are well protected

the subs are there too


USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Battle Group

[Codeine]

62. Sigh. nt

[earthside]

5. Less convinced there won't be war.

If the Enterprise does not enter the Persian Gulf it will be a good sign that the U.S./Israel are practicing restraint and are willing to avert war.

If the Enterprise sails into the Gulf and the U.S./Israel get belligerent about "international" waters, well, that will raise tensions.

I am increasingly worried that a strike that leads to war with Iran is becoming more likely as the Obama administration increases the temperature on the rhetoric about Iran's alleged nuclear weapons program.

A war with Iran will crash our economy, raise oil prices a hundred bucks a barrel, invite a legitimate military response from Iran, provoke Shiite anger worldwide ... in other words, we'll have a real catastrophe on our hands.

By the way, this is the USS Enterprise's last deployment; she is scheduled to be decommissioned on December 1 of this year. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Enterprise_(CVN-65) )

[CAPHAVOC]

9. Drill everywhere.

All it will take is one Sunburn Missile in the side of a Supertanker and the Hormuz will close for a good while. Gas will blow by 10 bucks if that happens. It will not open until we can eliminate all the missile sites hidden on the Iranian Coast. Drill everywhere.

[OnlinePoker]

27. Doubt it

During the Iran/Iraq war, 500 ships (including U.S. warships) were attacked either by missiles or mining in the Gulf and the oil kept flowing.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

43. I don't think that this drilling will do what you think it will do

We could drill everywhere we're able to drill, at full capacity, and I believe that's still a drop in the bucket compared with what we get from the Middle East, Canada, and Venezuela.

[jimlup]

34. Thanks for a bit of sanity in the stream of platitudes.

A little sane analysis might be helpful here. I think this is a troubling sign as well. It may only mean that the Administration is concerned about the probability of an Israeli strike and that they are taking steps to insure regional stability as a contingency. I seriously doubt that the Administration is itself contemplating a strike.

I think Israel will see the irrationality of a such a strike but they may not. Hard to gauge with Netanyahu as PM.

[annm4peace]

6. how much gas and tax dollars is this costing ?

the US people don't want the US Government to continued harassing of Iran.

Call your Senators and tell them to stop harassing Iran and threatening attacks.

MSNBC had on a guy pushing the propaganda of Iran is a threat. It is sick.

who profits who dies?

the 1st to die in sanctions, war, and occupations is women.

[L0oniX]

16. +1

[BadtotheboneBob]

7. the ship's commander will answer Revolutionary Guard questions?

... not very likely. Nor does it take Iran's permission to pass through the straits. That's international waters and free passage for all is legal. I'm not rooting for military action against Iran, mind you. Not at all. Just stating the obvious.

[leftyohiolib]

8. headline in nov: iran declares war by sinking the uss enterprise

[Swede Atlanta]

10. Yeah right......

While I do not believe Iran is as militarily impotent as Iraq was before our unlawful invasion of that country, I also do not believe Iran is a match for a U.S. aircraft carrier. I firmly believe the U.S. Navy is fully capable of protecting the Enterprise wherever it is not only because of the sophistication of the technology and weapons aboard but also the skill and capability of our armed men and women.

[CAPHAVOC]

15. They have 400 Sunburn Missiles. Maybe even more. Deployed on the coast. Hidden.

We can not defeat the Sunburn 100% of the time. These are good quality anti-ship missiles. A Carrier is vulnerable to them. Especially at close range. A Supertanker is a sitting Duck.

[Becka2515]

23. Not likely

It will be a cold day in the netherworld before we will allow an AC within range of any sunburn missle.

[OnlinePoker]

29. If they're going through the Straits of Hormuz, they're in range

Sunburn's range is estimated to be 150 km.

[Becka2515]

33. They wont go into the Straits...

If the situation is anything close to war they will stay out and bomb the crap out of them from the outside.

[CAPHAVOC]

35. Some say they do not have any

I would not bet the ranch on that. Supertankers are an easy target.

[hack89]

31. No they don't - pure internet myth.

pull the sting on that particular "fact" and you end up at a couple of conspiracy sites.

[HooptieWagon]

64. Wouldnt surprise me if US knew location of every sunburn

We probably have 2or3 satellites daily taking pictures of Iran. Plus the destroyers have serious anti missle capabilities. Irans threat is probably just chest thumping for internal consumption. Even they wouldnt be stupid enough to take on a carrier group.

[leftyohiolib]

42. i was thinking more like gulf of tonkin

a ruse used to go to war

[Angleae]

40. And if they did, they'd be nothing more than a smoking crater by dec.

The Iranian military has no chance against the US.

[Arkana]

11. Yeah, the day the Enterprise submits to Iran's "questioning"

is the day lollipops rain from the sky and unicorns cavort around shitting rainbows.

[Becka2515]

24. I almost peed my pants laughing at that.

nt

[hibbing]

38. heheheehe

Hey,
Thanks for that one, I had to read it several times because each time it made me laugh more!

Peace

[bitchkitty]

18. That headline reads like something a teenager would write.

OMFG! Iran is freaking out!!

[Purveyor]

26. +1

[snooper2]

28. +2

[lib2DaBone]

22. I thought there were 3 carriers in the Gulf? What about the VInson?

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/navy_legacy_hr.asp?id=146


Deployable Battle Force Ships: 282
Total Ships Underway: 104 (37% of total)
Deployed Ships Underway: 64 (22% of total)
Attack Submarines Underway: 33
Other Underway: 40 (14% of total)
Total Ships Deployed/Underway: 148 (52% of total)
Ships Underway
Aircraft Carriers:
USS Enterprise (CVN 65) - 5th Fleet
USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) - 5th Fleet
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) - 5th Fleet
USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) - Pacific Ocean
Amphibious Assault Ships:
USS Essex (LHD 2) - 7th Fleet
USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) - Atlantic Ocean
USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) - 7th Fleet
USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) - Atlantic Ocean
USS Makin Island (LHD 8) - 5th Fleet

[MADem]

32. That's a hoot. They keep that shit up and the world will start calling it "The Arabian Gulf"

which will delight the House of Saud no end!

What idiots the Iranian government can be--this kind of shit is what makes them laughingstocks.

[BadtotheboneBob]

47. The Arabs already do... The Persians are not amused

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf_naming_dispute

[MADem]

49. Don't I know it.

It's why the politically careful thing to call it is simply "the gulf" -- saves a lot of pissing/moaning.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

36. It is due for decommissioning in 2013

this ship has been in service for 51 years but lets hope that the GOP won't arrange a false flag we don't want sailors to be killed.

[Becka2515]

39. CVN-80

I hope the Name the next AC after the Enterprise, CVN-80 I think. They've run out of good Presidents to name them after. Seeing as how the President will prolly be still in office when its put to sea I doubt they will name that one after him.

[Angleae]

51. Don't hold your breath.

The last carrier not to be named after a politican was commissioned in 1975 (1977 if you don't consider Eisenhower a "politican&quot . Congress has become more involved in each carrier, not to mention other classes, in order to get their political favorites on them.

[Becka2515]

53. I cant see

Well they would name the CVN-80 after a President so I dont see any good ones left that they could name it after. They could name it after Obama (which would just tickle the right) but he'd have to be out of the office he is now in for them to do that. I just wish they'd name it after the Enterprise or some other cool name from the 40's

[Angleae]

61. Their definition of "good" president is vastly different from anyone elses.

How else do you think we got USS George H.W. Bush. Also they don't have to limit it to presidents (USS Carl Vison, USS John C. Stennis).

[MADem]

50. It went through RCOH* in 1990.

It's not falling apart at the seams or unsafe in any way. It's simply less efficient than it could be, given advances in technology and shipbuilding. If we were in an austerity situation or wartime footing, it could serve for another decade easily.

*RCOH: Refueling Complex Overhaul--they essentially pull the thing apart and rebuild it.

Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) is a process for refueling and upgrading nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the US Navy. The nuclear reactors that power some aircraft carriers typically use up their nuclear fuel about halfway through their desired 50-year life spans. Because carriers can last so long before being retired, they are refueled and refurbished with an RCOH to extend their usable lifetime. At the same time a ship is refueled, it is given a complex overhaul in which broken or worn parts are repaired or replaced and systems are modernized. The modernization typically includes an upgrade of ship’s combat systems and warfighting capabilities, its internal distribution systems are upgraded, and allowance is made for future upgrades over the ship’s remaining operational service life. Given the size of an aircraft carrier and the number of systems and subsystems it has, an RCOH is extremely complex, costly (several billion dollars), and time-consuming. Each RCOH is planned to take almost three years.[2][3][4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refueling_and_Overhaul#Refueling_and_Complex_Overhaul

[Fozzledick]

37. "Speak softly but carry a big stick."

As diplomatic and economic pressure on Iran for a negotiated back-down continue to increase.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

44. my guess is that this is bluster for a domestic audience

It's just posturing--think in terms of Steve King, or Darryl Issa, or any other GOP blowhard who comes to mind. They talk tough for their constituents, but they're just making noise.

[Volaris]

48. I find this funny on a WHOLE other level....

a ship named Enterprise is aggravating the natives....

The Trekkies can take it from here....

=)

[Typical NYC Lib]

52. Wouldn't You?

[unionworks]

55. "You may fire when ready, Gridley!"

[IDemo]

56. Do they read DU?

This seems to be a recurring theme - carrier headed to Gulf, Armageddon imminent.

[legin]

57. How would you feel ?

if China deployed 25+ carriers plus 200 support ships, a few miles off the coast of New York.

Seeing how 1 carrier group is probably good enough to take out the Iranian navy and the aircraft on the carrier could majorly dent the Iranian airforce.

[Adsos Letter]

58. They're decommissioning the Enterprise? Man, I am getting old. n/t

[polly7]

60. It seems obvious that any country in Iran's situation would freak out.

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/880404/what_we_don%E2%80%99t_know_about_washington%27s_iran_policy/#paragraph3

[Codeine]

63. "Freaking out" is just the sort of nomenclature that inspires journalistic respect.

Jeeeebus.

[HooptieWagon]

65. I dunno, seems pretty accurate reporting to me

Since the govt of Iran is on a serious acid trip if they think the Enterprise is going to report for questioning.