Sunday Links

The Photo is the Bourbon Oceanteam 101, an interesting design in the context of the Sea Base concept. Consider the current approach, the cranes are on the ship making the delivery of materials, not on the ship intended to operate as the pier. From an outside perspective, that sounds backwards to us. This ship is not as big as it looks, and is less expensive than you think. Remove all that oil gear and use your imagination. Do we think this design should be in the Sea Base? Not really, rather we use this as an example of how the pier should be the crane, because it allows for backwards compatibility to existing heavy lift vessels. Homepage here, specs here (PDF).

A quick history reminder, last time the M80 Stiletto was moved from one port to another the MSC did the work.

The Nimitz CSG currently on deployment to the Pacific is getting more escorts half way through its deployment. We observe it very rare for a CSG already on deployment to have escorts surged. Can't say we have seen this before, makes us wonder, what is going on in the South Pacific we aren't hearing about.

This is one of the most interesting blog ideas we have seen in awhile. Purpose is stated as follows.

This blog is made up of transcripts of Harry Lamin's letters from the first World War. The letters will be posted exactly 90 years after they were written. To find out Harry's fate, follow the blog!

Very cool.

Finally, the Destroyermen delivers an excellent update to their deployment. It comes off as that "welcome to the suck" naval style post that allows the reader to feel the rising anxiety and tension the crew feels as the ship enters the war zone. Well done.