US Navy commissions anti-terror force unit

[big bad john]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NAVY_ANTI_TERROR_FORCE?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Navy commissions anti-terror force unit

By SETH HETTENA
Associated Press Writer

 
IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (AP) -- Six years after suicide bombers in an explosives-laden boat blew a hole in the USS Cole in Yemen, the Navy on Thursday commissioned its first active-duty unit with the job of thwarting a repeat of the attack that killed 17 sailors.

Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron Five will protect shipping lanes and U.S. forces overseas, defend harbors and provide port security with small, fast gunboats not seen since Vietnam. The squadron, expanding to 325 men and women, is expected to make its first deployment in 2007 to either Kuwait, South Korea or the Horn of Africa.

The squadron will deploy with a fleet of 18 aluminum-hulled boats equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers that can be loaded onto a C-17 transport plane and flown around the globe. In the water, they are capable of reaching speeds of more than 35 knots. Elements of the squadron can go ashore with a mobile sensor unit to provide surveillance of the operating area and relay communications.

Training scenarios include how to deal with a suicide bomber riding an explosive-laden Jet-Ski or in a fishing vessel, said Rear Adm. Donald K. Bullard, who oversees the squadron as head of a new Navy command for anti-terrorism and force protection.

On Oct. 12, 2000, two bombers rammed the Cole as it refueled in the southern Yemen port city of Aden. Besides the 17 killed, 37 American sailors were injured.

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[Ex-Dragoon]

It would be ideal if the CF followed on the US's lead in this, not likely though.

 

[Slim]

It would be ideal if the CF followed on the US's lead in this, not likely though.

I had my doubts when I saw the title of the thing without having read the thread...

However after reading the article I think its a great idea and would be more than applicable/doable/not rescourse intensive to the CF.

Even the CCG could eventually be trained up to handle those duties...Although in the CF the training is almost already present, whereas the CCG would have some real work to do to reach the point where they could handle those types of missins by themselves.

Certainly for Canadian port security it would be a good idea and frig the whole wheat/bran/sandlewearing/peace-happy crowd in this country who don't like the site of guns accompanying our protective forces.

Even to stop the illegal flow of stuff coming across the St Laurence river it would be worthwhile...

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Isn't this what the SEAL's do as well?

 

[Slim]

Isn't this what the SEAL's do as well?

NO

 

[tomahawk6]

The USN missing out on the action in Iraq/Afghanistan is creating a force to compete with the Marine Corps.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1447067/posts

 

[enfield]

I believe the ECG in the article, and the anti-terror security unit are seperate entities. Don't the USN Special Boat Units and Coast Guard Harbour Security Teams already cover many of the anti-terror unit's capabilities?

Still, the entire thing reeks of inter-service competition, especially this "Expeditionary Combat Group". "Marines" no longer do Naval force protection, and apparently aren't even the Navy's ground troops anymore. The USN feels a need to enter into the special operations sphere more than it already is, and compete with USSF and MEU(SOC)s. How many more ground troops does the Navy need? Its not about national security requirements, its about protecting the service - and that means upgrading the "product" to meet the current fad. Interesting that the USMC seems to be largely on the leading edge, with the other services trying to catch up.

We may bash our own unification, and it has had many troubles, but I'm glad we largely escape wasteful bureaucratic idiocy like this.

 

[big bad john]

In the Uk this is done by the "Fleet Protection Group RM" who do everything from Nuclear security to fleet protection.

The Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines is the only operational Royal Marines unit outside 3 Commando Brigade. The Group works through the Commander Operations Fleet to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet, and is responsible for a wide range of tasks worldwide in support of the Royal Navy.

FPGRM is based at the HM Naval Base Clyde, which is situated near Helensburgh on the West Coast of Scotland. The Group is over 500 strong and is made up of 3 rifle squadrons (O, R and S) plus an HQ squadron.

 

[Sherwood4459]

>>Still, the entire thing reeks of inter-service competition, especially this "Expeditionary Combat Group". "Marines" no longer do Naval force protection, and apparently aren't even the Navy's ground troops anymore. The USN feels a need to enter into the special operations sphere more than it already is, and compete with USSF and MEU(SOC)s. How many more ground troops does the Navy need? Its not about national security requirements, its about protecting the service<<

If the the US Navy can form "naval infantry", can the US Army form "ACBG" (Army Carrier Battle Groups)?