The USS Harry Truman is ‘steaming’ through the Suez Canal with 5,000 sailors and Marines along with ten other US Warships
The rules are changing very quickly. The US has sent the warships into the canal to presumably meet the Iranian flotilla sailing towards Gaza with ‘humanitarian aid’. Presumably, the US plans to enforce the Israeli plans to inspect the flotilla for contraband such as weaponry and rockets.
The Iranian news site Hamsayeh.net reported, “The move might be in connection to U.S. self-inflicted embargo against Iran aimed at inspecting Iran bound ships for suspected goods related to the country’s nuclear program.”
Another battle on the high seas may involve one, and possibly two, Lebanese vessels that are aimed at challenging Israel’s sovereignty over the Gaza coastal waters. Hizbullah, gearing up for a reaction to a possible clash between the Israeli Navy (pictured) and the Lebanese boats, has delayed rocket units near Lebanese ports, according to unofficial military sources.
Israel requested that Egypt refuse passage through the Canal, but Egypt refused the request; however, it closed the canal for the safety of the soldiers and marines to all other traffic and to fishing.
One day prior to the report on Saturday, Voice of Israel government radio reported that the Egyptian government denied an Israeli request not to allow the Iranian flotilla to use the Suez Canal to reach Gaza, in violation of the Israeli sea embargo on the Hamas-controlled area.
International agreements require Egypt to keep the Suez open even for warships, but the armada, led by the USS Truman with 5,000 sailors and marines, was the largest in years. Egypt closed the canal to fishing and other boats as the armada moved through the strategic passageway that connects the Red and Mediterranean Seas.
Has our Pres found his stones and realized that Iran is not an ally and Israel has been a trusted ally for decades or is this just a show to try and defuse a situation?
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Its been confirmed that a drone has sent Muhammed Ali Hamadi to the land of the virgins yesterday. There’s been a run on virgins lately.
By the way Skookums, you’re on a roll today!
I’m not doing as well as the drone squad. Yippee! I hope they don’t run out of virgins. 😛
This transit makes no sense. You don’t need a Carrier to enforce a blockade, and in fact, you really don’t want a Carrier anywhere near this… its a Destroyer/Cruiser action.
Alternate read… just spitballin here… Truman only deployed a bit over a month ago… so no reason for them to clear the Mid East UNLESS Israel is about to hit the Iranians, and we want our Carrier out of the War zone when Iran goes nuts.
THIS is dangerous development, with thoses brainwashs in the game. 🙄
Skookum you presumed wrong. And Israel has already caved in on the blockade of Gaza. And now that Iraq is best friends with Iran (since we were so nice as to remove Iran’s biggest enemy) Iran will have a much easier time closing off the oil in the Straits of Hormuz
SKOOKUM: did you read?RAHM EMANUEL TO QUIT WHITEHOUSE. bye
Johnny, I have presumed wrong many times; but at least I offer some semblance of backup for suppositions. I must go to the airport in a few minutes, unless you are using psychic abilities, please share your sources. I am pressed for time.
Hmmm… Truman and 10 other warships.
10 more warships is larger than a standard battlegroup nowadays isn’t it? (been out of the loop for a few years since I retired…).
Are there Amphibs with the group?
Ms Bees, thanks for the heads up. As an amateur sailor, there is one steadfast rule when a boat is going down, rats always desert a sinking ship.
@Romeo 13–maybe you want your carrier backing up some subs in the Indian Ocean?
It doesn’t make sense for this to be “to clear the Mid East”. The easiest way to do that in the Med is to head west. You would only go through the Suez if you had some compelling reason to be in the IO or Persian Gulf.
@Patter
I don’t think this is a military decision, so much as a political decision.
“IF” a CSG was in the Indian ocea, and Israel hits Iran… Iran would strike at that battle group with Sunburns… forcing us into the confrontation.
Yeah, we’d flatten them… but Obama does not want to do the right thing and get involved…. he’s too busy working on his Golf handicap and going to baseball games.
@Dave
Once shooting starts… the Suez will no longer be used by the USN… its too easy to hit a ship in those constricted waters. Thus the Truman moving to the Med gives Obama a plausible reason NOT to get involved.
Its the way Obama thinks…
Its also instructive that the report is Carrier plus 10 combatants… as a normal Group is a Carrier, and then 4-5 Cruiser/Destroyers … a sub or two… and a Supply ship…
“IF” the report is accurate… it was not only the Carrier Group… but a DESRON as well… which is about everything we have in the Gulf/Indian Ocean…
@Romeo13
The Truman Strike Group is steaming from the Med into the IO, not the other way around…
http://www.debka.com/article/8862/
And the Truman Strike Group is “up to twelve surface ships and submarines”, which fits this report of 11 ships nicely.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/batgru-75.htm
My bust…. from what the origional post said… it sounded like the Truman was steaming through the Suez towards the Med, to help enforce the Israeli embargo…. which as I said, made no sense…
This makes a lot more sense… and is nothing special at all… they are just getting on station.
LOL… been there… done that… Got the Sea Service Ribbons…
Isn’t it a bit unusual for a Norfolk-homeported CSG to deploy to IO via Suez? In my experience, east coast deploys to Med, west coast deploys to IO. Been through the Suez myself, once, but that was in response to a crisis.
@Dave
It all depends on the Carrier rotations… like whose in the Yards and such… but in the last few years (from what I hear from my buddies) its become much more likely for East Coast ships to deploy to the IO.
Seems to me it should be about RimPac time too… isn’t it held in June/July of even numbered years?
And with the NORKS blowing up ships in their part of the world… I’d bet the West Coast Carriers are a bit busy right now…
You’ve got to wonder. This story, which has been denied by the Saudis, dates from June 14:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article7148555.ece
Uh, sorry. Make that date above June 12.
My error, I read the original article several times to determine the direction, but if you read the article, it is an Israeli article that seems to have been written by someone who uses English as a second language. I thought it was a hot story and ran with it, who knows what will happen in the next few days, it may become a very hot story. Skook.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe the CVN Truman is headed to the Persian Gulf to replace the CVN Eisenhower. Isn’t this a regular rotation of the ships, both of which are based in Norfolk Virginia? I believe we discussed this here when she first sailed.
Truman Strike Group Deploys
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=53495
“…NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) — The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HST CSG) deployed May 21 for a six-month deployment, to the 5th and 6th fleet areas of operations, in support of maritime security operations…”
“…The deployment is part of an on-going rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations and operating in international waters around the globe, working with other coalition maritime forces…”
“According to eyewitnesses, the U.S. battleships were the largest to have crossed the Canal in many years, Al-Quds reported.”
Oh bull. US CVNs of the Nimitz Class regularly transit the Suez Canal. Carrier Strike Group 10 includes; the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75; Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3; Destroyer Squadron (CDS) 26; the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60), and guided-missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81), USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), USS Ross (DDG 71) and German Frigate FGS Hessen (F221). I believe there was at least one German Frigate in this group as reported by Haartz.
wardogs
ARE THEY the ships that had a parking place in JAPAN before it was cancelled by the new leader?
No, ilovebeeswarzone, The US base is staying and the Prime Minister resigned.
Jostling Begins Among Hopefuls to Lead Japan
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704875604575281292285208862.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
The HST CSG is based out of Norfolk, VA.
wardogs
Knowing how this administration works, the eleven US warships were sent there to make sure the one Isreali warship doesn’t harm a hair on any Arab that deserves it.
WARDOGS: hi, thank you, and good day to you. bye 🙄
WARDOGS: THEY did not fool around too long to get him out, is’nt it a fews tricks to learn from them. bye 🙄
savage24: hi, ISRAEL military has learn a good lesson, at the cost of their casualtys. their strategy will be diffrent this time, but IRAN better not cross them, because the AMERICANS will side with ISRAEL on their own initiative,I am pretty sure, hope ISRAEL feel the same confidence as me. bye 🙄
Now that we’re all clear on who is heading where, it occurs to me there was another carrier that was recently deployed, maybe, toward the Koreas, although it was denied by the Pentagon. I think it was leaving the west coast but can’t remember the name.
Should Israel decide to take out Iran’s nuke facilities, will our forces support an Israeli action or will Obama support his muslim brothers and have the Navy attack the Israelis? Should Obama give such an order, will the Navy have the guts to defy him? We are living in troubling times.
The problem with virgins…. especially 72 of ’em. They never stay virgins. These martyrs are only 72 strokes away from an eternity with 72 nags. Serves the dumasses right.
Who said the Carriers were obsolete?? I seem to recall someone on the site saying that the Carriers were not needed any longer. lol
American battle group accompanied by several Israeli ships and one German cruiser. Very interesting combination.
The German vessel, FGS Hessen, is a Sachsen Class (F124) air defense frigate for the German Navy but under US command as part of interoperability operations with the Carrier USS Harry S. Truman. She is deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility.
I was only aware of one Israeli warship transiting the canal with this Strike Group and have no information whether it was actually a part of the group.
Strike Force 10 had just left a 3 day theater security operation in the Med with NATO officers and assets from the British Royal Marines, French Navy, and Turkish Air Force off of Italy before heading for the Red Sea.
Strike Force NATO Team Embarks Truman for Interoperability Assessment
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2010/06/mil-100601-nns08.htm
It would be interesting to know if the Israeli vessel (or vessels) just used the Egyptian closure of traffic in the Canal for the US Strike Force transit, or were an actual part of it.
wardogs
Romeo13 writes: “You don’t need a Carrier to enforce a blockade, and in fact, you really don’t want a Carrier anywhere near this… ”
You misunderstand. The Harry Truman isn’t there to defend Israel, but to threaten them. I’m convinced that Obama is on the side of Iran in this battle.