The SOUTHCOM Coaling Station

Sometimes a picture and caption tells a narrative and expands the imagination. Credit SOUTHCOM, these guys are being very creative. It almost has me looking forward to the return of Sea Fighter just to see what it can do when untied from its role as technology demonstrator for modularity.

We are always interested in operations involving small naval vessels, because whenever someone official begins talking about anything less than 9,000 tons, the Navy suggests it doesn't want to duplicate the efforts of the Coast Guard. We believe that argument lacks imagination, a characteristic that SOUTHCOM continues to demonstrate an abundance of in executing maritime strategy during peacetime.

This picture and caption gives the impression SOUTHCOM is using Guantanamo Bay in the role as a coaling station for the Stiletto. If it can be done at Guantanamo Bay for the Caribbean, we wonder why the same concept wouldn't work at Djibouti, Bahrain, or Ascension Island for other small, but longer range assets addressing peacetime challenges near those areas. Note, it doesn't have to be the M-80, as many comments have pointed out many times, the Asheville class was only twice this size.

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (June 11, 2024) Stiletto sits pier side during a refueling before conducting counter-illicit trafficking operations in the Caribbean. Stiletto is a one-of-a-kind, experimental vessel designed for high-speed special operative amphibious insertions operated by Army mariners assigned to the 7th Sustainment Brigade, 10th Mountain Division in Fort Eustis, Va. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nat Moger

And while we are pondering naval eye candy... this visual of Life Imitating Art is outstanding.