U.S. Navy in Vietnam, Part 2: Incompetence Multiplied $$$, Skilled Actions Beg for Resources

Note the USN did have factions within it that properly adapted to modern war; the co-operation of U.S. Army O-1 Bird Dog observation aircraft with rear-seat spotter to control USS Canberra 8 inch cruiser guns to effect TACTICAL naval gunfire support; however this level of combat power didnt threaten the carrier racket so it was allowed to occur. We do not have Airborne Forward Air Controllers (AFACs) today to control either land or sea-based artillery nor fighter-bombers as the UAV madness persists resulting in rebels in Iraq/Afghanistan to stay on the loose causing trouble.

http://www.geocities.com/usarmyaviationdigest/grasshoppersmustreturn.htm

Fortunately, the Navys innovations with small Swift boats (think Senator John Kerry) and PBR plastic boats with waterjets has continued with the SEALs and special boat units. Not shown (and not exploited anymore) was the P-5 Marlin SEAPLANES that could patrol thousands of miles of waterways and then DO SOMETHING about it (fire rockets, drop bombs, land search party in small boats etc.) if they spotted a suspicious vessel:

http://www.combatreform.org/p6mseamaster.htm

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• usn
• vietnam
• war
• conflict
• riverine
• afac
• cas
• naval
• gunfire
• battleships
• cruisers
• destroyers

[Contrajoe]

Why didn't we bring back the Des Moines class for Vietnam service?

[dynmicpara]

@Contrajoe We did use some 8" gun cruisers in Vietnam.

[Contrajoe]

@dynmicpara How did those compare to the battleship New Jersey?

[dynmicpara]

@Contrajoe Not as powerful but moot point; only the 16" Iowas have any chance of being called back to duty.

[Contrajoe]

@dynmicpara Is that realistically possible?

[dynmicpara]

@Contrajoe YES, two of the Iowas are still in preserved status for return to duty last I checked.

[oldsailor1945]

@Contrajoe I visited USS Wisconsin at Nauticus in Norfolk about a year ago. I believe we were told that Wisconsin still belongs to the navy but is on indefinite loan to Norfolk. Wisconsin was equipped with modern missiles and I think it may have been used in the first Iraq war. The old battleships require so many men, so much fuel and so much money to operate that I doubt they will ever be back in combat....just my personal opinion.

[kblackav8or]

The BB's aren't going to come back again. The Navy has shelved any number of other ideas that would match their range and firepower. With the Navy being least popular of the military services with the public these days there just isn't pressure or current need to bring them back or an equivalent capability. The acquisition system is entirely broken anyway.

[Contrajoe]

@dynmicpara I really hope they come back. According to a NavyTimes article, Wisconsin was given to Norfolk, but Iowa is still in navy possession. I distinctly remember a congressional mandate requiring two Iowas be retained, but if only Iowa is still the navy's, then wouldn't that mean the navy is going against congress's wishes?

[ubuibiok]

*****