I knew it. When we heard about the disaster, I said to Lee, "Hmm, betcha the Major is heading their way". Hate to say this, for I don't wish anyone "BAD", but why the hell should we help them, when all they do is piss and moan about the United States and throw tantrums and banter around with hateful banners and protests and wish us ill-will. Then they turn around and want our assistance??????

I Suppose it should foster good will, but it may be for only those in the affected area. Who knows. Hasn't helped in the Middle East.

Here are some pictures of us leaving. We got here today but are unsure as to what we are going to do specifically.These are pictures from the ship we are on - the USS Germantown (LSD-42).

Well, I'm back. And whereas the Marines that went to the Philippines did hand out a lot of food and USAID packages, we did not get the opportunity. By the time we were tasked, the ships came down from mainland Japan, we embarked, and got to the Leyte Gulf, there was no desire to send us ashore. We did act as a "Lily Pad" for our Ospreys (using a ship's landing pad to refuel an aircraft to extend range). Also, about half of the Ospreys used in the operation were from our MEU. As for the ground forces that came down on the ships, however, we weren't used - to the chagrin of us all. Oh well, sometimes it's not in the cards. Here are some other pictures I took:

The CWIS anti-air weapon

Launching the RIB

Being a Lily Pad

Rainbow

Loading a 7-ton truck and a "Water Bull" onto an LCU from the stern gate of the ship.

The waters look so gorgeous. Great pic of you with rainbow in the background. Cool ship, how large is it?

It is certainly smaller than my usual ship.

According to Wikipedia:

USS Germantown

Displacement: 11,496 tons (light)

16,396 tons (full)

Length: 610 ft (190 m)

Beam: 84 ft (26 m)

Draft: 21 ft (6.4 m)

Propulsion: 4 Colt Industries, 16-cylinder diesel engines, 2 shafts, 33,000 shp (25 MW)

Speed: 20+ knots (37+ km/h)

Boats & landing

craft carried: 5 LCACs

Troops: Marine detachment: 402 + 102 surge

Complement: 22 officers, 391 enlisted

Armament:

2 × 25 mm Mk 38 cannons

2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS mounts

2 × Rolling Airframe Missile

6 × .50 caliber M2HB machine guns

Ah, thanks for the info. I always try and picture it in my head.

And your usual ship is? The RIB Looks great, I'd like to ride such boat on the Rhine

D you have some data of it?

Christoph

Old topic, I know, but in answer to your question:

General Characteristics, 11 meter Naval Special Warfare RIB

Propulsion: Dual Caterpillar 3126 DITA, 6 in-line cylinder diesel, turbocharged, aftercooled.

Length: 35 feet 11 inches (11 meters) (Overall, inflated tube).

Beam: 10 feet 7 inches (3.2 meters) (sponson inflated); 8 feet 9 inches (2.6 meters) (deflated).

Displacement: 17,400 lbs, (7,892 kilograms).

Draft: 2 feet 11 inches (0.9 meters).

Speed: 40+ knots (nautical miles per hour) (64 kilometers/hour).

Range: 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers).

Crew: 3 and a SEAL squad.

Armament: M60 7.62mm machine gun, MK19 40mm, M2 .50 cal. machine gun.

http://www.navy.mil/...0&tid=2200&ct=4

Thanks so much! Wow, So Impressive!

Jean

Sent my lame poem to The Major today. It's his BDAY!!!

Hey, hey, hey, it's your birthday today.

Hey, hey, hey, you can have it your way (well if you go to McDonalds)!

Hey, hey, hey, sending you all the best.

Regardless of your position, be it near east or west!

LOL. Happy birthday, M1

Happy birthday!

Hey everyone! Thanks for the birthday wishes! A special thank you to Marion for special poem! Hallmark must be missing a card writer (ha, ha!)

So sorry for my late reply as I was actually in Korea on a family vaction at the time. I was also unplugged for the most part and only had a Kindel for some internet what-should-we-do-tomorrow type of stuff. Otherwise, I was off the grid. That was a vaction in and of itself. It would certainly suggest it to anyone.

So Korea was pretty cool. I will have some pictures to show here in a bit - just give be some time.

Also in the news, I am checking out of the MEU officially. It was a good tour, but being gone so much is a drag and it is time to go do something else. So it is off to the 1st Marine Air Wing (here on Okinawa) I go. I'll tell you about that as I get over there.

Thanks again for the birthday wishes.

Wow, big step leaving the MEU. Hey, time to move on. Ya, it would be a drag after a while. Would be okay if you were still single, but having a wife and two growing boys, well...

Can't wait to hear more about Korea and seeing the pics.

All the best,