Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Is There A Naval Arms Race In The Indian - Pacific Oceans?

In this file photo, amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), left, amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), and amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) transit the Indian Ocean, May 8. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist John Lill)

Battle For The Pacific: Naval Arms Race In The China Sea -- Toronto Star

ABOARD THE USS CARL VINSON—U.S. navy Capt. Rick Labranche streaks across the horizon at 1,000 kilometres an hour in his F-18 Hornet strike fighter.

It has been 12 minutes since a catapult slung Labranche’s plane from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and Labranche is preparing to drop a pair of 225-kilogram bombs into the Indian Ocean’s two-metre swells.

Labranche checks his radar and scans the blur of blue below. Before he can release his payload on this practice run, he needs to make sure no one is within 16 kilometres.

There’s no telling whose fishing trawlers, research vessels or submarines are plying these waters.

Read more ....

My Comment: A good summary on what is happening in Asia.

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