San Diego Based Article?

[kalos72]

My groups is under the believe that an organized cantonment should be able to make 40-50's tech on a small scale by 2001. So some Mark 14's or something should be possible, albeit few of them to start.

[swaghauler]

Well like I said use during a landing or shore bombardment would be political suicide early in a war while after the nukes have been used there wouldn't be an issue unless someone wanted to use the land they just fired at. Against a Russian ship though I could see them pretty much devastating a target. Hit a Kirov Punches through a few decks. Then it explodes in a nuclear fireball. A single round could potentially be any ships killer. But the question is, are they contact detonated or Timed

Either one. You designate that when you arm the fuse. Low altitude air burst is the most effective method of generating a "Nominal Yield," but a ground burst would be more effective in damaging a bunker. Most naval engagements would use an airburst. Between the blast and secondary tidal/shock wave, there wouldn't be many survivors in a fleet hit by one. The "Nominal Yield" of an 8" airburst artillery round was around 20kt. A 16" round would probably do 50kt to 75kt.

[swaghauler]

Actually the Navy would probably just go into a Marina and seize speedboats and arm them and then make use of a superyacht or a small tanker to keep them fueled. Just bolt on a 50 cal and maybe a mortar and pack a few Stingers below decks. Easy almost ready made PT Boats. No torpedos though, but there another issue altogether.

I agree. They would probably just pull an Iran. Iran had speed boats (SeaRays mostly) with mines, SA-7s, and RPG-7's/Recoilless Rifles mounted on them. They did cause a number of problems for commercial shipping in the Gulf during the 80's.
Let's not forget that there are a number of large (50ft+) "Pleasure Trawlers" out there. The first one that comes to my mind would be the Grand Banks line of trawlers. These ships can only do 12 knots but they have an endurance of around 5000 Nautical Miles and a significant deck space. Just go to the Grand Banks website to see what one of these trawlers look like. There are hundreds of them just in the US alone. They could easily be used to support an "expedition."

[stormlion1]

I agree. They would probably just pull an Iran. Iran had speed boats (SeaRays mostly) with mines, SA-7s, and RPG-7's/Recoilless Rifles mounted on them. They did cause a number of problems for commercial shipping in the Gulf during the 80's.
Let's not forget that there are a number of large (50ft+) "Pleasure Trawlers" out there. The first one that comes to my mind would be the Grand Banks line of trawlers. These ships can only do 12 knots but they have an endurance of around 5000 Nautical Miles and a significant deck space. Just go to the Grand Banks website to see what one of these trawlers look like. There are hundreds of them just in the US alone. They could easily be used to support an "expedition."

I didn't want to say it but the Iranian Navy was what I was thinking of.

[rcaf_777]

Iranian Navy Boats and Navy Aircraft

[.45cultist]

Actually the Navy would probably just go into a Marina and seize speedboats and arm them and then make use of a superyacht or a small tanker to keep them fueled. Just bolt on a 50 cal and maybe a mortar and pack a few Stingers below decks. Easy almost ready made PT Boats. No torpedos though, but there another issue altogether.

Don't forget DEA, armed customs craft. The USCG would have been rolled into the navy like WWII.

[Targan]

The USCG would have been rolled into the navy like WWII.

Kind of. There's still an independent USCG in one of the Last Submarine modules, but most of their larger combat-capable ships have been taken by the Navy.

[rcaf_777]

Here are some chart in ref to the Iowa class I found them here

http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/military_service/

Good Info to life in US Navy 1980's to 1995

[swaghauler]

Here are some chart in ref to the Iowa class I found them here

http://web.mst.edu/~rogersda/military_service/

Good Info to life in US Navy 1980's to 1995

Nice post. Most people don't realize that your top speed in a "displacement hull" (planning hulls are different) is a function of waterline length. There is an inverse to this advantage though; Turning Speed/Area Required for Turns. This is why the real pirates of The Caribbean used smaller ships with shoal drafts. They would "out turn" the larger Naval ships and run for the cover of any nearby shoals. The larger Naval vessels could not enter the Pirate's strongholds due to their deeper draft.

[swaghauler]

Kind of. There's still an independent USCG in one of the Last Submarine modules, but most of their larger combat-capable ships have been taken by the Navy.

As far as I know, The Coast Guard has one very important mission in the event of war that would keep it "local." It is tasked with long range patrol, convoy protection and coastal ASW in the event of war.

[.45cultist]

As far as I know, The Coast Guard has one very important mission in the event of war that would keep it "local." It is tasked with long range patrol, convoy protection and coastal ASW in the event of war.

I'd give the DEA boats to the USCG then to free up assets or utilize any "Greybeards" amongst the locals.

[swaghauler]

I'd give the DEA boats to the USCG then to free up assets or utilize any "Greybeards" amongst the locals.

DEA doesn't have any boats that the Coast Guard can use. DEA boats are "undercover" seized pleasure boats. The Coast Guard provides "military capable" boats to ALL civilian LE. Coast Guard boats are small and designed for "heavy weather." This requirement precludes taking their boats for naval operations (they don't have the "legs," and there are no civilian replacements to use). The Coast Guard's larger cruisers (augmented by the "retired " Oliver Hazard Perry class Destroyers) would already be engaged in convoy escort to "deep water" where the Navy (probably using the 10 USN Reserve Perry Class Destroyers) would then take over. The one exception would be her Icebreakers. These are often called up for Navy service. The Coast Guard was already in a "reduced strength" condition in the early 90's. You couldn't cut much more from them without endangering their mandate to provide emergency assistance to commercial shipping/fishing.