I should hope you would not expect the crew or the ships to be at sea the whole duration of a deployment. Yokosuka serves the US Navy in the Western Pacific much like San Diego does in the Eastern Pacific. The days of occupation for the personnel there ended way back. Without a home port in the Western Pacific, a tour with the 7th fleet would be hell for the crews. Ships do need down time, resupply time. Fresh vegetables don't often come by a fleet supply ship. Frozen chicken and can shit does. Oh yes, recombined milk! Damn! Who invented that crap?
WTF? I am sorry Denny, there is no other way to break the news. You are full of shit, either Obtuse or Clueless., hard to tell.
Marzy, how long San Diego to japan for the 7th? I mean, the thought, for me at least, is we don't need to be there anyways. So the off chance we will be needed is a pretty crap excuse for the cost.
The way we do things now isn't relevant. You assume we must drive our boats in the west Pacific all the time. I assume we don't AND SHOULDN'T.
Well vote for Hillary Denny. She hasn't got a fucking clue what to do with a Destroyer either. She had two at sea within about 14 hours of Benghazi and she never thought to ask them to aid either. Damn! What a thought, turn your Navy into the friggin coast guard and save some fuel. I truly find the comments here to be unbelievable.
There are thousands of miles to cruise within our territory. Guys can stay at sea for days, weeks, or months to practice. Knowing what to do with a destroyer? How about not putting Americans or foreigners in harm's way? Let the Saudis defend themselves, etc. A destroyer can accompany a carrier just as easily off Pearl Harbor as it can off Honshu.
So what are you going to do? Whip up some boats on the cheap and crew them with fast learners ready to rumble when some one threatens your ass? Good luck with that! Naw, bull shit, save the crews the trouble, your dead already, just haven't heard Peter trying to get your attention. This is nuts!
Why the hell would even need a Carrier off Pearl? There is no one close to Pearl that we have treaty with. No Pirates near. Did you know Destroyers have more function that Escort duty? Heh, probably not. But I do see just a little what you have in mind. Let the world do what ever it will with the Sea, all we need is OUR coastal waters. Yeah man that will be a grand plan. Geez, I am out.
One last thought for the Naval Strategic thinkers here. Read The Six Frigates, a good history book about (of all things) US Naval history and its beginings. Then progress to The Influence of Sea Power Upon History by Alfred Mahan
One last thought, Sly's post about Sun Tzu is very much on target. We should have never prevented Japan from having a Navy, effectively destroying their Naval tradition after WWII. If we had let them function again after their surrender we would have a Naval Partner in the Western Pacific that would lessen the need for the US Navy in the region this day. Bad mistake, you don't whip up a Navy on demand when you need it.
China feels that a navy is an essential part of a modern military force and is spending billions on creating one.
And I wish that it were Japan (along with Korea) that was in position to object and prevent the Chinese from dominating and controlling the South China Sea. China is now claiming every island in the place their territory and thereby all the surrounding Sea. Some Navy will likely need to force international access be maintained. I think it is actually the heaviest route of commerce in the world now. Also the most Pirates (not new).
Actually it's the rare earth elements on the sea floor in that area is why China can not be allowed to dominate and control that area. They already control the vast majority of rare earth elements mined today and can cripple our military and economy if they withhold them.
Ahh, so we have 50k troops in Japan to protect the business interests of the american rare earth mineral consortium. See, that actually makes sense. Now, I wonder why we care so much about the middle east? I'm stumped.
Shit, when I post the link it automatically embeds the video. Google 60 Minutes Modern life's devices under China's grip? and it should take you to the site.
