AFPAK Solution #2: REAL Mobile Offshore Bases: Navygyrene racketeers fear!

[lgmmrm]

you say it is better than carriers, it'll take at least a week for it to get anywhere, we need a rapid-response force, speed is a little more important than size and capacity these days

[dynmicpara]

@lgmmrm FALSE. Getting somewhere in a hurry with a weak force that gets the crap beat out of it (USMC) or shot-down (USN-USMC) because its self-limited by the small size of its ships and narcissistic mentalities is no recipe for success...USAF cargo planes can parachute drop up to medium-sized tanks and their high performance land-based fighters can fly global distances with in-flight refueling; so there is no excuse to be weak as is the USN/Mc team is.

[FantasticBob7000]

Right out of 1984.

[ironfalcon100]

Sounds like a good idea, but what about modifying freighters for this task?

[dynmicpara]

@ironfalcon100 You are right. Container ships or obsolete double-wall oil tankers would make great sea bases, too but their runways would limit us to STOL aircraft. Do-able.

[lknkprkninflamesbest]

Can you move this, or do you have to assemble/disassemble this to move it?

[dynmicpara]

It moves at 7 mph when assembled.

[colopity]

youtube won't let me share this vid

[jpowell180]

Oceania needs Floating Fortresses ;)

Seriously, though - interesting concept - we could afford a few of these, but I wouldn't dream of eliminating the carrier force as we do need something to get to hot spots much quicker than these giant things can.

I could see a couple in the Persian Gulf area supplementing what we have there nicely.

[dynmicpara]

Can aircraft carriers operate C-130s, C-17s; deploy an Army Brigade of Paratroopers with M113 Gavins, Bradleys, Abrams tanks?

Don't be a smart ass and cite the stunt where a SINGLE C-130 landed and took-off from a CLEAR aircraft carrier flight deck. That doesn't count. A MOB is an actual floating sea air base. An aircraft carrier is a SHIP that can launch compromised plane types with lesser capabilities than land planes.

[Treblaine]

I imagine this would be most suited to large transport and bomber aircraft. But they usually have such long range that they can fly from bases in Europe/America/Asia to get to almost anywhere in the world. This may have some use in a Falklands scenario though normally politicians are able to borrow bases.

I do see an urgent need to make current carriers compatible (50% longer) with the short-ranged C-130 for amphibious assault as carriers are more for air supremacy than logistics.

Interesting.

[thegrandemperor]

I'm guessing that it will be nuclear powered??

[dynmicpara]

Good question. It doesn't have to be. Nor fossil fueled. Maybe if it were wind, solar and battery powered with fuel engines as back-ups it'd be "GREEN" enough for even liberal democrats to like it. Thanks for bringing this up!

[thegrandemperor]

I'm pretty sure if it's not nuclear, it's going to be battery or solar or both. I just can't imagine having those windmill things on it lol. Well, from what I see, it's benefits out-weigh the weaknesses. People may say it's too slow and has to take longer routes due to its size, but who cares when you can have a wing of aircraft overhead when troops are being dropped or sending supplies, etc.

[thegrandemperor]

Got another question. Can a MOB be made to launch amphibious landing craft??

Also, about the ability to seperate, I don't really support that, but I guess if you want to turn it into a group of amphibious warships its great.

Also even though using nuclear power might not be a good idea, i think 6 of the new reactors should put a MOB ahead of a carrier in terms of speed (plus radiation levels are lower) Being a target won't b a prob with a combo of laser, missile, CIWS defense.

[dynmicpara]

Great thinking! And yes, amphibious landing craft that are air cushion or shallow draft can have docking areas under the pylons of the MOB. Amphibious tractors like M113 AmphiGavins just need ramps going into the water and they can "splash" in and then drive to other ships, seaplanes or even all the way to shore if the MOB isn't too far away.

[thegrandemperor]

Reading the description obviously (sp?) shows you view on carrier design, but what do we do when we have a MOB?? I know that it's capable of carrying probably 200+ aircraft and has enough ability to handle an entire war theatre by itself, but do we just get rid of the carriers???

Another thing, do you think that five of these could handle force projection and defense in Europe and Asia???

[dynmicpara]

The 11 super carriers we have need to be placed in reserve and used sparingly and only grouped together so as to have a fighting chance to survive with air cover. The Navy's sail-around-the-world carrier racket needs to end as its making us go broke. Same to occupying Iraq with 138, 000 troops; 5 x MOBs on no one's soil to cause rebellion with 5 air-mech brigades is more than enough strategic reserve for the two regions you cite.

[thegrandemperor]

Fantastic then.

[YTMbrianpeppersND]

this is just a copy of the Floating Fortress from 1984

[dynmicpara]

So what if it is? Life is not some kind of damn competition to say "lookee here I did it first". Its a good idea so we should do it, PERIOD.

[anzac68]

...and the New World Order arrives with mobile offshore bases, anywhere they feel is required to influence and control those pesky rogue States. Of course, pumped up, patriotic and brainwashed Seppos (USA) will willingly man them, believing they are saving the world. (the movies say so, so it must be,...right?) Welcome to the Brave New World.

[rnizzydizzy]

haha, those dumb robots always think they are "making the world safe for democracy". They need to just change it to "making the world bleed for capitalist greed." "How can you say my four mansions are greed? I earned those!" says the CEO.

[dynmicpara]

Why we need to reform our military and get rid of the all volunteer/victims force/farce that is composed of weak ego people with no conscience, desperate for peer approval who do whatever the corporate government wants by restoring national service so ADULTS are in the ranks who will not go along with immorality and incompetence, then it's be safe to have military excellence with things like MOBs

[KlubMarcus]

Interesting concept. You are right, we should build a few just to try them out.

[DonMeaker]

Back during WWII a similar idea was proposed using ice mixed with sawdust, called "pycrete". Admiral King wasn't convinced it was strong enough, so Montbatten pulled his pistol and shot the stuff. Bullet bounced and grazed King's leg. 10 feet of Pycrete was proof against that era's largest torpedoes. putting cooling loops inside prevents melting.

[dynmicpara]

LOL, you are sharp, KBR Halliburton's modelers were either desperate or eccentric with some of their aircraft they placed on their HUGE MOB model...maybe the A-3Ds were a trial run before flying into the Pentagon remotely? Notice the F-4 Phantom taking off, too!

[youarthurhu]

Silver USAF B-66? (USAF version of A3D Skywarrior)