Newspaper reports military mum on destination of 6-ship convoy

Newspaper reports military mum on destination of 6-ship convoy

www.stripes.com

In a brief news conference, Navy Capt. Jonathan Padfield said he had not been told the ships’ destination, the Union-Tribune reported. Padfield said the deployment was a regular rotation, and the group was going as the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group.

(visit the link for the full news article)

On board were Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which took part in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, the 2003 invasion of Iraq, 2004 tsunami relief efforts in Indonesia and additional tours in Iraq, according to the report.

I could not find any supporting articles, but one must take notice when you read the 2nd paragraph of the above excerpts. They left from San Diego on Sunday -- 5500 sailors.

And to all the poo-pooers... I'm not "crying wolf" here... just keeping my eye on him.

www.stripes.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

[edit on 5/7/2008 by RabbitChaser]

Good find Rabbit Chaser.

That's an invasion force, and the fact that we're not being told where they are heading, means they don't want someone in another country to figure it out either.


Problem is, who are the US currently after? Too many potential targets to count.

Keep an eye on this everyone. We may just be facing yet another war the people wanted nothing to do with.

... or it could be something as simple as a relief effort. But I can't see it being Burma... they need supplies more than anything else, not a military led relief effort... and especially not THIS late.

[edit on 7-5-2008 by johnsky]

Would think that if it was a relief effort for either the volcano in Chille or for the recent cyclone damage the US would announce the intentions to drum up feel good support. Although announcing where that many soldiers are heading at any one time may not be good opsec even for a relief mission.

I read in the Wall Street Journal about two months ago that this was going to be SOP for the forseeable future. Seems that the Chinese have supposedly decommisioned a few of they're subs and they might have 'decommisioned' them to a few nasty folks that might use them to sink our ships. Might be a prudent move to keep our guys alive on the way to where ever they are headed. Hope its just an exchange of manpower and not another invasion. We'll see!
Zindo

Either way, the true nature of the mission is not something they would want to let out.

Even the fact that there is that much acknowledgement of pertinents such as how many sailors and what they have been used for in the past seems a bit of a faux pas.

I'm thinking relief efforts or support for upcoming expectations due to the relief efforts.

If we see contingencies from several different locations... then you may want to start to worry.

The article says there are 3 amphibious assault ships, a cruiser and two destroyers - plus helicopter support. Does anyone really think we'd send a convoy of assault ships and destroyers to HELP someone..?

Originally posted by ZindoDoone
and they might have 'decommisioned' them to a few nasty folks that might use them to sink our ships.

That is a very good point.

It has been mentioned here a number of times that an old diesel electric and a nuke warhead (and we can pretty much put money on the fact some are missing!) would be the best way to sink an aircraft carrier - one suicide mission with a small crew and the US would look very different in the worlds eyes.

I think the SOP is prob a good idea in this case, no point in telling everyone your complete plans all the time.

reply to post by mythatsabigprobe


Well....

US Navy ships, including an amphibious assault ship with helicopters and US marines, are standing by off Thailand awaiting permission to join relief efforts in cyclone-hit Myanmar, the Pentagon said Tuesday

link

Edit to make link bigger



[edit on 7-5-2008 by Grailkeeper]

assault ships are useful platforms for relief efforts. the destroyers would be there for the protection of the group. on another note, look for the us navy to be involved in something in africa soon, thats all i can say

Originally posted by zoso28
look for the us navy to be involved in something in africa soon

Somalia, perchance?

S.

i was using a little inside info, but just found out the u.n. passed a resolution the foreign navies could penetrate somali waters for the purpose of patrols and bustin pirates. this involves the u.s. and french navies.

reply to post by johnsky


Its not an invasion force. Well, I guess anything is possible, but consider the ship involved. The Peleliu is a Tarawa class amphibious assault ship. The standard crew compliment is around 3,000 sailors and marines. Add in 5 more ships to the task force of varying types and 5,500 men doesn't sound ominous. More mundane than anything.

www.fas.org...

Originally posted by mythatsabigprobe
The article says there are 3 amphibious assault ships, a cruiser and two destroyers - plus helicopter support. Does anyone really think we'd send a convoy of assault ships and destroyers to HELP someone..?

Amphibs are crammed with helicopters and troops. Helicopters are used to ferry supplies to people on land. The grunts are there to do work to relief work.

I think the Amphibs also have large hospital facilities on board.

Originally posted by zoso28
i was using a little inside info, but just found out the u.n. passed a resolution the foreign navies could penetrate somali waters for the purpose of patrols and bustin pirates. this involves the u.s. and french navies.

Your "inside info" is a little off.

The HOA ships are from the Atlantic Fleet, the Pac ships would have to travel to far to get on station.

Nothing to see here folks, just another normal deployment of Naval Assets. Find something else to waste your time on.

I know the big bad Americans could not possibly help. Actually that is what this is, it part the relief effort, perhaps the secrecy is due to the Burmese governments stand on things. LOL also all of you military experts lol. thats a pretty crappy invasion force.

Of course no one will show us in a good light, we actually went there to wait for them to let us help so we didn't have to take more time traveling after getting approval.

I think in this case the war criers should man up and admit that some of our men and women in the Navy are actually there in the best interest of the world. (at least in this case)

reply to post by COOL HAND


actually my inside info doesnt involve the group of ships the thread involves, it applies to another group already in the gulf, so real close. i just thought maybe this group might be either going to somalia, or to burma.

Originally posted by zoso28
actually my inside info doesnt involve the group of ships the thread involves, it applies to another group already in the gulf, so real close. i just thought maybe this group might be either going to somalia, or to burma.

What kind of inside info are you talking about? I have seen nothing in the news that would lead me to believe that there is anything more than the usual going on over there.

What do you know that we don't? Inquiring minds want to know.

i know that part of the nimitz group that was in the persian gulf is headed to africa and i know that piracy is out of control off the somalian coast and i know that the u.n. passed a resolution that foreign navies(mainly france and u.s.) could enter somali waters. put 2 and 2 together and it equals bad times for the pirates. just do a little research on any news site and it becomes obvious what is going on

Heh, I had read a few posts before I got the 'mum = secret' bit. I'm a tad slow today - I thought a soldier's mother managed to get onboard to check up on her kid

Burma makes the most sense so far. I'd want more than 5,500 people if I were going to invade a country, unless it was very small.

Even if they're not part of the relief effort (latest count had 80,000 people killed in one single area), they might be protecting other ships carrying food and aid.