Seven ships — including the aircraft carrier Carl Vinson — are or have orders to get underway in anticipation of humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti, according to Navy officials.Do good, and do well.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Wednesday afternoon conveyed to U.S. Southern command that providing humanitarian relief “is a very high priority for the president and for this department,” said Geoff Morrell, Pentagon press secretary. The secretary said the Defense Department would do its best to provide “anything and everything they need, be it personnel, equipment, lift, whatever it may be,” as quickly as possible.
The defense secretary has not signed any deployment orders as of Wednesday evening, Morrell said, adding that the Joint Staff was working on manning requests.
UPDATE: More on the way.
The amphibious assault ship Bataan and dock landing ships Fort McHenry and Carter Hall will get underway this afternoon from Hampton Roads to conduct humanitarian relief exercises in preparation for Haiti relief efforts, Navy officials said.22 MEU - I know those guys .... perfect.
Together with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, the force will total more than 3,600 sailors and Marines.
From what I have heard about the condition of the docks at PaP - the Gator Navy and its MSC buddies will wind up saving thousands of lives as that will be the only way to help out beyond what little ramp space is available there for aircraft. Inland? Fugetaboutit - only one way to do it; and it is on the way.
UPDATE II - Electric Boogaloo: No one does it better ..... or for that matter, no one else can do it at all.
About 100 Seabees are gearing up for disaster relief operations in earthquake-stricken Haiti, and are expected to leave by Saturday morning, according to Navy officials.Oh, in case you didn't know - the UN has almost 10,000 people in Haiti ... hear much from the UN? Thought not. This requires both action and leadership - something you are not going to get from the UN.
More than 80 Seabees are from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7, based in Gulfport, Miss. They currently are prepping 690 short tons of cargo, which includes more than 40 pieces of civil engineer support equipment for road clearing and debris removal. Initial indications are the air detachment will be in Haiti for approximately six months.
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Another 14 Seabee divers from Underwater Construction Team 1 will deploy Friday from Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, Va. They will inspect waterfront facilities such as piers and docks as part of efforts to help get relief supplies into the earthquake-ravaged nation, according to Seabee spokesman Daryl Smith.
....
The Seabee divers will deploy with other Navy divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 2 and Naval Sea Systems Command, and engineers from Naval Facilities Engineering Command.
FSF-1 Sea Fighter is, coincidentally, just coming through the ditch on her way to home base..she 'could' be one of the first USN assets on scene and provide a huge lift capability for the rest of the fleet assembled. In both directions..people out and supplies in.
ReplyDeleteA unique oportunity..but perhaps one that will not be taken advantge of and I could see a number of reasons why not.
I would think the first things needed are potable water and helicopters. Ships can provide that, but I don't think replacing the flash distillers with Reverse Osmosis units will be a good thing in this case. All the crud in that water will clog RO membranes quicker than you can replace them. Flash distillers can make the water, and those ships that still have them will be invaluable. Also, the big decks have the medical capability. Don't think FSF-1 can bring much of any use to this.
ReplyDeleteIn short: Gators and any other ships that still have flash distillers.
FSF is a floating science project. Really doesn't bring much to HA/DR.
ReplyDeleteI was referring simply the capabnility of FSF-1 to operate as a transport between ships and shore. Cavernous mission bay, shallow draft and all that. FSF-1 is no more a 'science project' than are either of the LCS' or even the HSV/JHSV..although she is lacking an organic ramp capability.
ReplyDeleteCNN reports USS Carl Vinson is going to bring many needed helicopters, taken aboard at Mayport.
ReplyDeleteIMHO 3 things also top priority:
getting airport fully operational to receive aid
urban rescue teams - seen some of them packing into C-17 in California, also at CNN
mobile hospitals - because of few hospitals that were there even before quake, many are damaged, and number of wounded people is probably into thousands or even more.
At this scale of damage FSF 1 is too small craft to make difference probably.
Question for those with HR experience: What will be the primary and secondary means of moving 'stuff' and people from the assembled fleet and shore? mostly all helos? Landing craft?
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen any helos yet...and surely havent seen the Vinson (it would fill up most of the northern sky outside our shop).
ReplyDeleteThey need water, dozers to plow paths through the debris, I'd say getting infrastructure up and running, but unlike, say Guam, the roads were out, the electricity was nominal, etc. They need earth movers to dig out bodies and reduce spread of disease.
ReplyDeletePit, indeed:
ReplyDeletehttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/haiti_earthquake_aid
No surprise there, I suppose. I'm sure the ever-helpful US news media, who just had to be there right away, brought in enough supplies to be self-sufficient.
Bill:
ReplyDeleteHelos (and all aircraft) are best for high priority, but not so great for tonnage moved.
Ships, especially big ships, and particularly repair ships, which we mostly don't have any more, are best for high capacity on site support. A ship can bring, support and maintain many helos; a helo can't do much without a good base (like, say, a big ship).
Mike boats are great, if rough and ready, ship to shore passenger, vehicle and cargo ferries (the term of art is "lighters") where the piers don't exist or are damaged (if the piers are in good shape the ships go alongside one, if they don't draw too much water to get there, which is generally preferable).
Once a shuttle of cargo ships is established (term of art is "pipeline is opened"), ships bring 95% of the cargo, as a rule of thumb. Aircraft focus on people and small, light, high priority cargo, which constitutes the other 5%.
In this case, it should take about a week to get everything in high gear. Which is why search and rescue and medical folks and cargo should get the high pri.
This one is going to be bad. Security should be with or just behind the S & R and Med flights.
Absolutely right. I was on the ground and responding when the Azores quake hit on New Year's day of '80. That was bad enough. In Haiti, a large portion of the survivors will likely die because of the loss of medical infrastructure, drinking water, and shelter. Disease, infection, and exposure will likely kill more than the quake did initially.
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, folks ought to take a VERY long, hard, objective look at what happened, the difficulties for responders, etc, because WHEN the terrorists light of a nuke in some US City, we're going to have to deal with all of these same issues, on a likely even larger scale.
And I said "when", not "if", because I believe it's going to happen, and probably sooner than anyone suspects.
Sorry... that guest post above was from me. I forgot to log in again. Sigh.......
ReplyDeletecross-posted from New Wars are my comments about the Sea Figher (and you all know I am an admirer). The Sea Fighter is .....
ReplyDeleteNOT such a good ship for this evolution – why? Because the ship is non-self-sustainng. That’s a technical term meaning it has NO means to move cargo off the ship other than by helo (for which its has NO M&R support). Such a ship needs a ramp (side or stern), a crane for non-rolling lifts and, some capability to make the runs over and over again.
Sure small shallow draft fast ships might help IF the port facilities in Port au Prince were intact and functioning like a modern port. But to date all I have heard is the port is damaged. BTW JHSVs would be ideal for this evolution IF they could use a reatively nearby port such as GITMO or Roosevelt Roads (mostly deactivated).
The Navy would be much better off spot chartering the two fully functional Hawaii SuperFerrys sitting idle in Norfolk. They can transport more passengers and rolling stock, but once again delivery depends on port facilities. HSFs do not have extending stern ramps (short ones) but the Seabees could easily construct one.
cross-posted from New Wars:
ReplyDeleteBill as you and I know there are many ferry services which have HSVs with extending ramps, and there are others which employ an interface barge at either end. There is no reason why an INLS pontoon or the like can’t be used in Port au Prince. If the piers are gone then an Elevated Causeway can be set up.
That is why I am also suggesting a round robin service from either GITMO (immediately) or RRds (after activation). The later with its deep water port and airfield can serve as a great transhipment point for all the reconstruction maerials which will come along later. In the meantime, use HSV and inter-coastal ships which can get into PaP and send in the Seabees to rebuild the port’s facilities. (Because airlift cannot do all the transportation or for long – there is a war on!)
HSFs are also a short term solution, the long term solution is partially at hand.
I see the ascendency of the JHSV coming! They are already being counted as part of amphib ship groups.
Latest rumor is the the T-ACS cranes ships may get activated to work as interface in PaP harbor. That will take some time since they are in ROS-5 plus they would need a Cargo Handling Battalion. see link below
http://www.msc.navy.mil/inventory/ships.asp?ship=76
MSC has a chartered offshore petroleum distribution system ship that can deliver fuel from up to eight miles offshore. It can also deliver water. An MPS can sit pretty far out in the harbor to make and pump water. I don't know if the system is on an available MPS?
ReplyDeleteQuay wall collapsed, cranes are sitting in the water. Port is a mess as I look at pics of the current situation.
ReplyDeleteThe USCGC FORWARD, USCGC MOHAWK and USCGC TAHOMA are already on scene. The TAMPA and OAK are on the way.
ReplyDeleteLeeSea:
ReplyDeleteAgree on all your good points. Thanks.
I gaarronnteee that the most needed combat support units will come from NECC i.e. the ACB, ACU, CHB sailors skills and gear will be essential in getting all those materials ashore. Before long folks will know what INLS means and all its variations: barge ferry, elevated causeway, warping tug, powered pontoons. I just hope the USN can muster up enough personnel and pontoons to make the evolution successful?
ReplyDeleteleesa is correct, NECC is sending along with the SEABEE Airdet ,MESF Boat/Security Dets and a C2 element, and a couple of MCAT and COMCAM det's, MDSU is on PTDO so we'll have to see on them. We are waiting on any plus ups of the RFF at this time for further NECC FOrce support. Needless to say the ole phone has been ringing off the hook aorund here, hell NETWARCOM even gave me a call =-O
ReplyDeleteIn addition to helping from the Navy side, help from the personal side.
ReplyDeleteAmong many, these do great work:
http://www.crs.org/
http://www.foodforthepoor.org/
<span>It may be worth remembering what happened to the USN in that part of the world a century ago...</span>
ReplyDeleteAt three in the afternoon of 29 August 1916, the 14,500-ton armored cruiser Memphis and the 1177-ton gunboat Castine were riding gently, anchored in the open roadstead off Santo Domingo, capital city of the Dominican Republic. Rear Admiral Charles F. Pond, for whom Memphis was flagship, and a recreation party were ashore and the remainder of the ships' officers and crews were engaged in normal duties. Far away somewhere in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea, a seismic event had already generated a powerful tsunami, or tidal wave, as such things were then termed. One of the two ships would barely escape its effects, while the other would be driven ashore a complete wreck. More than forty men would lose their lives.
<span>
Also caught up in that incident was the plucky little ship Castine.
Here is a good book about it.</span>
Sid,
ReplyDeleteYou have to call in on Sunday for Midrats. email me your phone number and we'll put you at the head of the line for questions.
how to provide security against the masses... going to be some dark days ahead for our folks.
ReplyDeleteLife is precarious and society is just as precarious. If there was no United States, then whom?
No, however ABLTS is carried on each MPSRON. 10,000 feet of 6 inch hose and 10,000 feet of 4 inch hose per system.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/ablts.htm
http://www.appletonmarine.com/hosereel.htm
my nephew is a SW1 in NMCB7. I am gonna ssee if he is going.
ReplyDeletefor comparable disaster almost exactly century ago...
ReplyDeletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Messina_earthquake
note the naval rescue effort by lead naval power atm...
buried in a SOUTHCOM prerel about the Vinson was this:
ReplyDelete<span>Other ships on the way to assist in the operation are the dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall (LSD 41), the cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), the frigate USS Underwood (FFG 36), the rescue and salvage ship USNS Grasp (ARS 51) and the oceanographic survey ship USNS Henson (T-AGS 63). Additionally, several auxiliary ships from the Military Sealift Command (MSC) are en route and will provide fuel and supplies to sustain the Navy force at sea throughout the operation.</span>
to include the USNS Big Horn
I have the understanding that other vessels at a "nearby Naval base" are on standby as well.
ReplyDeleteRegardless, MTH, I wish him safety. Can Do!
ReplyDeleteOops, that guest was me. BTW, I'm in and out of G-port often.
ReplyDeleteLT B,
ReplyDeletethanks. Looks like he is not going yet. Sustainment will happen and he will probably go in a month or so.
will pass on to him.
to the list below add two T-AGS Sumner oceanographic? survey ship which hopefully have their HSLs onbd?
ReplyDeleteBad timing on the sea fighter part, "huge lift capibility" Like what an air ship lift capacity, whisking admirals from one side of the island to another, please. Lets not put any more burdens on the troops.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I must have dropped into the yawning maw of a bad joke, Lets see; Ill carry in two pallets of MREs and take away the entire State Department staff, that haven't already fled. Well, that is a win win situation from the lean sigma six point of view.