Sam LaGrone--USNI's best find in years--has a piece up today entitled "Taiwan to Simulate Chinese Carrier Attack in Upcoming Training Exercise". The story raises for me the important--but somewhat underplayed--question of Taiwan and submarines.
The Bush Administration's first go at a Taiwan arms deal included eight diesel submarines. This, at a time in which China's carrier program was naught but a gleam in Admiral Liu Huaqing's eye. Exactly how they intended to carry out this part of the proposal was unclear, as the US does not build diesel submarines--at least as warships--and those who do in the world would be unlikely to sell them to Taiwan because of fear of alienating China.
Thirteen years later, Taiwan's quest for submarines continues, with the US having done virtually nothing to move the deal along even as China has put its first carrier to sea with plans for several more in the near future.
As I've written here and elsewhere, China's carrier program is NOT aimed at the United States, but at our friends and allies in the region. Taiwan is one of those friends. The United States should follow through with its plan to help Taiwan obtain submarines, either by building them here or by helping Taiwan to build them there. China must understand that every time Liaoning or her future sisters puts to sea, there is a good chance that it is being trailed by a submarine capable of sinking it, US or otherwise. The more of our friends in the region that possess the wherewithal to accomplish this task, the more risk the PLAN must take into account.
Update: I should have known Jim Holmes from the Naval War College would have already written about this!
Bryan McGrath
Friday, April 25, 2024
Monday, April 21, 2024
Saturday, April 19, 2024
Military Sealift Command: Flexible. Forward. Seapower.
| Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14) conducts a replenishment-at-sea with Royal Australian frigate HMAS Toowomba (FFG 156). (U.S. Navy photo by Master Capt. Rollin J. Bellfi/Released) |
To get a better idea of the variety and importance of this force, allow me to highlight three ongoing missions, in three different theaters, using three completely different platforms. In the far reaches of the southern Indian Ocean, a handful of international ships continue a wide-ranging search for any trace of missing Malaysia Air flight 370. Keeping these ships moving and fed is USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14). This sort of underway replenishment combat logistics mission is MSC's bread and butter, with dozens of similar operations occurring around the globe every day and night.
In the Mediterranean, another MSC ship is deployed for a unique and historical mission - to dispose of Syria’s chemical weapons. MV Cape Ray, part of the Transportation Department Maritime Administration’s Ready Reserve Force, departed Portsmouth in late January. The ship has spent most of its deployment pier-side in Rota while Syria stalls in fulfilling its UN-mandated obligations to aggregate the stockpiles at Latakia for transport and neutralization at sea. Whether or not the ship will ever get to execute its intended mission remains to be seen. Nevertheless, the fact that this operation was able to spin up so quickly and embark the U.S. Army’s chemical neutralization equipment demonstrates the agility of our heavy sealift ships.
Along the volatile west coast of Africa, USNS Spearhead (JHSV 1) and her joint training teams are deployed for Africa
Partnership Station (APS), conducting maritime security capacity building,
and exercises. The ship has even embarked African coast guards and navies for real-world fisheries enforcement operations.
Although APS deployments have been happening for several years, this marks
the first trial of the concept using the new Joint High Speed Vessel. Eventually 10 JSHVs will become part of MSC’s sealift fleet, conducting a wide range of logistics and combat support missions. From everything I’m hearing, they are
already being fought over by the geographic combatant commanders.
At this point, I should brag on my fellow citizen Sailors. Two of the missions I've mentioned couldn't happen without the dedication of Navy Reservists on extended active duty. While the ships themselves are operated by the MSC's civil mariners, reservists make up a significant portion of the mission teams aboard Cape Ray and Spearhead, to include some key leadership positions. Reservists are also part of USS Ponce's mission in the Arabian Gulf. Naval operations are often come-as-you-are affairs, and there are no better folks at rapidly and seamlessly partnering with the MSC for operational pick-up games than our reserve Sailors.
When considering long term budgets and acquisition plans, our capital combat ships are extremely important. But the flexibility and strategic reach of our military sealift force is what makes us a global naval power. The above ships represent just a small part of the MSC's inventory. Other vessels are prepositioned around the world to support major contingency operations. Still others support salvage, submarine rescue, or special operations missions. Time after time, MSC has demonstrated the ability to get equipment to the fight and sustain our warfighters.
Any opinions expressed in the preceding post are those of the author alone and not representative of the U.S. Navy or any other organization.
Monday, April 14, 2024
Sunday, April 13, 2024
ID Contributor Guest on MIDRATS
I spent an enjoyable hour with Commander Salamander and Eagle One on their weekly internet radio show, MIDRATS. We talked a good deal about carriers, the importance of the Navy, and what the future might hold.
Listen here if you like.
Bryan McGrath
Listen here if you like.
Bryan McGrath
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