Stoner

7 CSGs in one area - truly awesome.
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US plans huge show of force in Pacific

Seven aircraft carriers to move within striking distance of China; Taiwan forces slated to join in drill.

The United States is planning a massive show of force in the Pacific Ocean near China to register a point with Beijing.

In an exercise codenamed Operation Summer Pulse 04, it is expected to arrange for an unprecedented seven aircraft carrier strike groups (CSGs) to rendezvous in waters a safe distance away from the Chinese coastline - but still within striking distance - after mid-July.

This will be the first time in US naval history that it sends seven of its 12 CSGs to just one region.

What the numbers mean:

ONE aircraft carrier is sent to a trouble spot as a reminder of US presence. This was done several times in the past, when tension was high in the Taiwan Strait.

TWO carriers show serious concern, as was the case when China test-fired missiles over the strait in 1996.

THREE OR FOUR are sent in combat situations - as in the Gulf War in the early 1990s and the recent Iraqi war.

Sending SEVEN carriers in peace time to the same region is unprecedented. The US plan to do this after mid-July, in the Pacific Ocean near China, is a message to Beijing for its threat to use force to stop Taiwanese independence.

Full story

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Asim Aquil

Ack, I doubt the US would involve itself, by doing anything else other than supplies.

The US wouldn't want to open a front in such a dangerous zone for Taiwan. But the indications are all proving so. Moving troops from S. Korea to Taiwan, if I'm not mistaken there were some statements that the US WILL want in in any conflict over Taiwan.

This cannot be good for Pakistan either. MNNA or not, we'll be forced to take a stand against the US. At least diplomatically. If the US asks India to launch a front on onto China from the South, China might ask Pakistan to keep India 'busy', effectively throwing the Peace process that has progressed so far down the drain. Now we'll have 4 Nuclear capable, missile capable nations Duking it out. Middle East might want to get funky, Israel would help the US stopping the Arabs from doing so. North Korea, gets involved, the British might too. The French and the Russians can go either way. I'm not predicting a WW3 scenario here, but... just saying that there are too many intermingled alliances.

I doubt the US would want to take on the Chinese all on their own. I mean they can still win, but the nuke scare is always there, plus from what I've seen, Americans want to win wars, losing close to nothing. Battle with China would be ugly all on their own. So the US's first choice for an alliance would be India. And consequently China's would be Pakistan.

So all in all I think, the US might try to stop the conflict, but when it does spark off, it'll leave and then afterwards come back and take on China, diplomatically.

Btw, Any pics?

Jay

Posted by Rudra in BR:



impressive

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bodybag

Few Russian made or French exocet rockets would finish this show in no time.

Ray

This will be an interesting exercise to watch.

7 CSG is indeed a formidable force.

The US knows how to look after itself and its interests and there is no requirement for Indian support.

In fact, the connection of South Asia is not understood. I don't think we should see too much in the US exercise, except that it is China and Taiwan centric.

In so far as a 'few Soviet made or French anti ship missiles' being capable of taking on the ships like a home run, I am afraid naval manoeuvres are not a Can Can dance to mesmerise the missiles to home on to the ships. The flotilla will ensure such a thing does not happen and if it does, to take necessary action to neutralise the effect and continue proceeding on the mission.

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Jay

Really?

Then why is China hell bent in building purchasing new naval assets? A couple thousand Exocets will take care of the US/TW forces right?

bodybag

All those humongous, incredibly expensive and very very vulnerable aircraft carriers should be removed from the service ie. scrapped as soon as possible.They just cost too much to maintain and stuff.One AC needs tens of ships to support it and also Frigates ,submarines,destroyers etc. to defend it.This is simply waste of assets on a grand scale.
One tacticall nuke will take care of all the junk.
I agree one one thing -all those ships are really good show.

Asim Aquil

Mobilizing these AC into forward positions in case of an attack would take 30 days. Don't you think if China attacks Taiwan would be seized in less than 30 days?

One tactical nuke will attract another. So nukes would come into play only if the action goes on well beyond 4-5 months.

Confed999

Nothing can provide constant, non-nuclear, firepower like an Aircraft Carrier. Without one, your fighters couldn't support your troops on the battlefield.

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bodybag

I don't see taiwan fighting with mainland china, never.
One exception :foreign power influencing, meddling with the taiwanese .

Confed999

There is often a CG in/around Japan. Japan is hours away.


Also, the stats of our Nimitz class carriers state a speed of 30+ knots, the circumfrence of the earth is about 25,000 miles, so, by the numbers alone, the longest it could take for a carrier to get there would be: (25,000 miles / 2) / (30 knots X 24 hours) = 17 days 8 hours and 40 minutes

Anon

"Ack, I doubt the US would involve itself, by doing anything else other than supplies."

It is US law that the US Military MUST assist Taiwan if attacked. Not should, not could, but MUST.

The US could have 4 CVBGs off the coast of taiwan in less than 15 days from a standing start.

Anon

"One tactical nuke will attract another. So nukes would come into play only if the action goes on well beyond 4-5 months."

Any nuke tossed at a US Warship will cause the utter destruction of the launching nation less than an hour later.

That my friend, is a fact.

PLAN would not last 5 days against the USN in a condition of unrestricted naval warfare.

cateyes

For a small country, 7 CGs may be an impressive force, but not for Countries like Russia or China.

How many battle airplanes can one CG send out to perform attacks at regular basis, how many are needed to protect itself? against SUBs?

How long can a CG maintain its battle state? Pilot stress, equipment maintainence, logistics...

You put all these together and find even all CGs of US will not make big threat to huge countries just by themselves. Anyway, Us never fights any war just with CGs since WWII, not even with Kosov, they still need airbases, which play bigger roles than any CGs, but not that impressive.

cateyes

Seems you never read that law before. Actually it can be explained in many ways, which is very ambiguous.

By "ambiguous", I mean Us can choose either enter the war or not. It's not a "must" thing, not like NATO treaty's wording.

By that time, the real battle maybe finished already. From my knowledge based on past research, China will use the decisive force in the first strike to Taiwan, including netron and microwave bombs. Don't know what these CGs will be used for.