What do US Navy ships do on deployments?

scubasniper

Float...for the most part.

Mr. Smith

Basically, the "patrol" accomplishing various missions that don't really mean anything. Some boats do humanitarian aid runs while others are just do joint tests with other countries naval fleets. Basically though, not a whole lot...........

blusafe1

ME: O-1 surface warfare officer 1.5 years in

I had a 7 month deployment on USS Tarawa. We visited Singapore; Dubai, UAE; Mina Salma, Bahrain; and Perth and Hobart, Australia. The last two ports haven't seen Navy in a while, so we were there and did some WW2 memorial ceremonies and basically showed the flag. Australia loved us. Don't underestimate the strength of good PR. "Showing the flag" is essential to power projection, something prosperous nations have done since the dawn of commerce. We also tag teamed with Kearsarge to provide Bangladesh humanitarian aid after Cyclone Sidr. They named it Operation Sea Angel II, in honor of the 1st one in 1991 when Tarawa was there. Pretty cool when you stop to think that my ship was there TWICE to help out.

In the Persian Gulf we did do a ton of MSO. But we also collected lots of signal intelligence and conducted flight ops. Carrying the Marines, we were basically an emergency crisis "boots-on-the-ground" force (although no crisis happened). We also chased pirates (that's becoming a hot topic now). Yes, the deployment for the most part was incredibly boring. We floated and trained, but in essence the entire military is standing the "watch," waiting for that next crisis.

We also did a Panama Exercise. Basically that's a huge joint exercise involving dozens of countries. They flexed their command and control skills and we did a lot of mine exercises. It was a big PR ride. We brought high ranking civilian and military officials from all countries for tours onboard the task force flagship (us!).

Right now there are two subs doing ICEX. They're cruising around in the Arctic conducting research.
http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/03/navy_icex_040609/

Lake Erie shot down a decaying satellite about a year ago, providing an important operational test of the ballistic missile defense system.

You can see on the news that Bainbridge is stalking the pirates holding the American captain hostage.

Some ships do RIMPAC, one of the biggest exercises in the world based out of Pearl Harbor. They cruise around for 3 weeks and do all these evolutions such as detect-to-engage targets, ballistic missile defense, amphibious raids, formation steaming, etc.

I have a friend who's basically going on a South Pacific pleasure cruise. His ship is leaving for 5 months hopping around a bunch of islands and Australia showing the flag and doing ceremonies.

Humanitarian deployments are becoming popular too. Large amphibious ships and hospital ships are cruising around Southeast Asia delivering aid and helping build community projects.

Answer your question? We do a ton of stuff besides "float." You just have to see the big picture.

e w

They waste billions of taxpayer dollars, which is what every branch of the government does.

Vittorio

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