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#27
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Mike Burleson
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Jun 13, 2005 14:25 PDT
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LEAD STORY
The Influence of SeaPower on Star Trek
At first glance of any episode of Star Trek, The Original Series (TOS-
which we will limits ourselves to here), naval comparisons are
immediately apparent. The ships, the uniforms, the ranks, and the
military atmosphere are all reminiscent of the sailor’s life. The show
has often been compared to the adventures of Horatio Hormblower, C.S.
Forester’s fictional British naval hero of the Age of Nelson. Like
Hornblower, Capt. Kirk and the crew of the starship USS ENTERPRISE
patrol and defend the Empire, in this case, the United Federation of
Planets, from those who wish them harm. There are 12 starships like
ENTERPRISE in the Federation “Starfleet”, just as 12 aircraft carriers
defend America today. In fact, ENTERPRISE was named after a famous US
carrier (CV-6) of WW2, and there is a nuclear powered USS ENTERPRISE
(CVN-65) currently in service. All 12 starships in Starfleet are named
after famous naval vessels. Capt. James T. Kirk, commander of the
ENTERPRISE, is Hornblower in the series. On his 5 year mission to
explore the galaxy, he is often the Federation’s sole representative
when encountering alien life. Like the captains of the age of sail, he
is an ambassador of goodwill, and a judge to interpret and dispense the
laws of his government when out of contact with headquarters. In the
latter role, Kirk frequently comes in conflict with the Prime Directive,
or non-interference in the alien cultures he encounters. The Captain has
been known to bend this rule in order to protect his ship and crew. In
one episode, “A Private Little War”, Kirk interferes to protect a race
from another people who have been armed by the vicious Klingon Empire.
This tale mimics America’s activities to support free people in Brush
Fire Wars of the Cold War. “The Ultimate Computer” is a futuristic tale
of naval maneuvers in space. The ENTERPRISE is pitted alone against 4
other starships, but is equipped with an advanced battle computer and
easily defeats her more numerous antagonists. This show tests the limits
of technology when the computer runs amok and actually attacks the
Federation ships, killing many crewmen. Recently, during the 2002
Millennium Challenge wargames, the US Navy was pitted against the
maverick General Van Riper, posing as a Mid-East dictator in the mold of
Saddam Hussein. Using fast attack craft armed with cruise missiles, Van
Riper defeats the larger ships of the American Fleet, before the games
were abruptly called off. An early episode, “Balance of Terror” recalls
images of the cat-and –mouse warfare between submarines and destroyers
during WW2. The ENTERPRISE, as the destroyer, is hunting a Romulan
warship which has destroyed several Federation outposts along a disputed
border. The Romulan “submarine”, in the guise of a bird-of-prey, is
literally invisible, thanks to an advanced “cloaking device” and nearly
impossible to detect. After careful stalking, and a clever ruse, Kirk
manages to destroy his quarry before it reaches the safety of home. In
another episode, a comparison can be made to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
“Errand of Mercy” is the story of a benevolent race called the
Organians, who are faced with an invasion by the Klingons. Kirk leads an
advance party to the planet to convince the seemingly helpless Organians
to accept Federation protection. The Organians refuse aid and are soon
occupied by the Klingons. Out in space the two battle fleets of the
Federation and the Empire converge, and universal Armageddon seems
imminent. It is then the purportedly helpless aliens prove they are not
so powerless and immobilize the two warring factions. Similarly
potential nuclear war was averted in 1962, when Russian missiles were
discovered in Cuba, by a US Naval blockade, and certainly the
intervention of a higher power. “The Doomsday Machine” details the
struggle with ENTERPRISE and USS CONSTELLATION against an alien weapon
of mass destruction. A rogue planet killer has badly damaged
CONSTELLATION and is headed for the populated sectors of the galaxy.
Using the wounded starship as a makeshift anti-ballistic missile, Kirk
manages to destroy the weapon. During World War 2, an elderly British
destroyer, HMS CAMPBELTOWN, was loaded with explosives and rammed into
the occupied German docks at St Nazaire. The subsequent explosion
wrecked the docks, and prevented its use by the fearsome battleship
TIRPITZ. Of course, the ENTERPRISE’ primary mission was to “seek out new
life and new civilizations”. This mission is comparable to that of the
explorers of the New World, from Columbus to Cook. Of course,
Christopher Columbus began the great Era of Exploration and Discovery,
but Capt. James Cook of Britain in 3 voyages in the 18th Century
provided detailed maps and charts, and found new species of plants and
animals. Throughout his travels in the Pacific, Cook also met many
unknown natives, which cost him his life in Hawaii in 1779. There are
numerous more examples of Sea Power in the voyages of USS ENTERPRISE,
too much to include here. Those given may give you an idea of how the
fighting fleets of old live on in these exciting tales of the far
future.
FACT: Throughout the French Revolutionary Wars of 1793-1815, the British
lost 4 ships-of-the-lines to capture. Their enemies in Europe lost 131.
*********
NAVY NEWS
Littoral Combat Ship Named-In the spirit of patriotism which has swept
the country in the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the first Littoral
Combat Ship has been named USS FREEDOM (LCS-1). The keel of the Navy’s
newest class of warships was laid on June 2 by Marinette Marine of
Wisconsin. Delivery of FREEDOM is expected in late 2006. Marinette is
teamed with Lockheed Martin to build a steel, semi-planing mono hull,
able to sail into coastal waters at high speeds. LCS missions will
include anti-mine, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare and the
ability to launch and recover the latest manned and unmanned vehicles.
Specifications for LCS is for a 3000 ton vessel which can reach speeds
of 50 knots. Range is 4300 miles at 20 knots. Up to 60 vessels may be
bought at a cost of $12 billion.
USS KENNEDY Reprieve- The aircraft carrier USS JOHN F KENNEDY (CV-67)
was scheduled for retirement as part of a Navy plan to reduce the number
of flattops from 12 to 11. After a public outcry, Congress has passed a
resolution to keep the 40 year old carrier for at least another year.
KENNEDY is one of 2 oil-fired carriers remaining in the fleet. On May 25
KENNEDY joined with 9 other vessels, including Coast Guard and a
Pakistani vessel, for Fleet Week. She is based at the Mayport Naval
Station in Jacksonville, Fl. The main argument for keeping the warship
in commission is the carrier’s utility ongoing War on Terror. The
Pentagon argues that the money saved by retiring the ancient vessel
would pay for newer warships which are also needed to rebuild America’s
defenses including the next generation aircraft carrier CVN-21.
Iraqi Corvettes Return-Two ASSAD class Corvettes ordered by the former
Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein will be returned to that nation’s legally
elected government. The vessels were ordered by Saddam in the 1980’s and
have been rusting at port since the Iran-Iraq War, when UN sanctions
were imposed. Four sister ships also built for Iraq were sold instead to
Malaysia. The ASSAD are well armed for their size, with 4 Otomat
ant-ships missiles and 8 Aspide surface–to-air missiles, along with a
landing area for a helicopter. Full load displacement is 750 tons. Iraq
previously received 5X28 meter patrol boats from Taiwan in 2004, and 6
home built AL-UBOOR patrol craft in 2005.
STRANGE SEA TALES
The Dreadnaught Hoax
The telegram from the foreign office galvanized the commander of the
British Channel Fleet into action. On February 10, 1910, the Emperor of
Abyssinia would arrive to inspect the pride of the Royal Navy, the
super-battleship HMS DREADNAUGHT. The group arrived promptly, welcomed
by a navy guard and band. It was an imperious ensemble complete with
bearded retainers and courtiers, all speaking a mysterious foreign
tongue. They were given the grand tour of the most advanced warship of
the day, from her massive 12 inch gun turrets, to her sophisticated
wireless radio and range finders. All the while the group fielded
questions through an interpreter, in their mysterious, unknown dialect.
After the tour was completed, the Emperor attempted to bestow military
honors on the DREADNAUGHT’s crew. It was soon discovered the “Emperor”
and his entourage were a group of London pranksters, including a bearded
Virginia Woolf (the future author), her brother Adrian Stephen, their
friend Horace de Vere Cole, and others. The disguised “royals” wore
makeup and false beards, and spoke a made-up language that was a mixture
of Greek, Latin, and Swahili. After the laughter stopped, questions
arose at the woeful state of British naval security, and changes
immediately were enforced. Woolf would later remark “I am glad to think
that I too have been of help to may country”. Cole was to have been
caned for his part in the prank, only to have his sentenced reprieved.
When two officers arrived to enforce the punishment, Cole argued they
should be caned for being fooled in the first place.
Fact: The English race-built galleons, which fought the Spanish Armada,
were based on fast Venetian galleys (galleass), minus the oars.
*********
BATTLESHIPS THAT CHANGED HISTORY
USS MAINE: Though tensioned had simmered for years over Spanish
atrocities in Cuba, the explosion of MAINE in Havana brought America
directly into conflict and set it on the path to world power.
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH: Britain’s first oil-fueled battleship needed a
reliable source of fuel, leading the Head of the Admiralty Winston
Churchill to buy controlling interest in the Persian Oil Fields, and
leading to Western involvement in the Middle East that persists to this
day.
SMS GOEBEN: After a daring escape from Allied warships in the
Mediterranean Sea, the German battlecruiser GOEBEN escaped to Turkey,
influencing that country to join the Central Powers in World War 1.
USS MISSOURI: At the dawn of the Cold War in 1946, MISSOURI sailed to
the Eastern Mediterranean to give aid and support to Greece and Turkey,
and deter Russian dictator Joseph Stalin’s designs on the Bosporus.
FACT: When the cruiser USS VINCENNES (CG-49) shot down an Iranian
airliner in 1988, killing 290 civilians, she was engaging up to 13
Iranian gunboats along with the frigate USS MONTGOMERY (FF-1082).
*********
NAVAL BIOGRAPHY
Commodore Edward Preble
Edward Preble was born in Portland Maine on August 15, 1761, the son of
a brigadier general who had fought with Wolfe at Quebec. At age 14,
Preble witnessed the cruelty of the Royal Navy first-hand, when his home
of Falmouth was burned to the ground during the Revolution. At age 16
young Preble left his father’s farm and signed on a privateer at
Newbury-port, Massachusetts. After this initial cruise, he was appointed
midshipman on the 26 gun Continental frigate PROTECTOR. This smaller
vessel proved herself against larger ships in several actions, only to
be captured. Preble and crew were imprisoned in the hellhole of the
British prison hulk JERSEY. Many were to die of disease and starvation
in the Royal Navy’s infamous prison ships, but Preble was lucky. After
only 6 months confinement, he was exchanged for a British officer. He
ended the war a lieutenant cruising off Maine, hunting privateers in the
12 gun WINTHROP. Following America’s independence, Preble settled down
to the life of a merchant mariner, where he was known as a stern but
fair-minded disciplinarian. He eventually became master of his own
vessel. In 1798 the US Navy was officially established, and Edward
Preble became an early recruit. Navy Secretary Benjamin Stoddert
recognized early the genius behind this complex officer and in 1802
refused Preble’s resignation for health reasons. A year later the
Secretary’s foresight bore fruit during the War with Tripoli. For years
the young American nation had suffered under tribute to the Barbary
pirates in the Mediterranean Sea. Merchant ships of all countries were
held in terror, but it was President Thomas Jefferson who intended to
end the cycle of extortion. Upon his arrival to the American blockade at
Tripoli (the pirate stronghold) Preble found his command to consist of
only 7 warships. Including of own CONSTITUTION (44 guns), there was the
ARGUS & SIREN (16 guns), the PHILEDELPHIA (36 guns), and the ENTERPRISE,
NAUTILUS, and INTREPID (12 guns). More than this, the force consisted of
the bravest, though undisciplined officers soon to be the first great
heroes of the US Navy. Famously known as “Preble’s Boys”, there was
Stephen Decatur, Captain William Bainbridge, Lt. Charles Stewart, James
Lawrence, Thomas Mcdonough, Isaac Hull, and David Porter. Under
Commodore Preble’s “nursery of the navy”, these young men would acquire
greater glory during the War of 1812. Preble immediately set out to form
these individual characters into a team, a true band of brothers.
Personal heroics would be subordinated by iron discipline and endless
drill. On October 31, 1803, the newly arrived commodore faced his first
crisis. Capt. Bainbridge managed to run PHILIDELPHIA aground off Tripoli
Harbor, and was immediately captured by the exultant pirates. A
frustrated Preble stated his officers and men should “had one and all
determined to prefer death to slavery” yet all 300 Americans were taken.
Undeterred, a plan was set in motion to destroy the grounded frigate,
before the enemy could refloat and make use of her. The daring Lt.
Decatur, in the ketch INTREPID, boarded and burned the stranded
PHILIDELPHIA with only one man injured. No less a person than Lord
Nelson described it as the “act of the age”. After this, Preble hoped to
free the American prisoners with a naval assault on Tripoli Harbor. From
the King of the Two Scicilies he borrowed mortar boats and 6 gunboats.
The first attack was made on August 3, 1804 with the gunboats. A
desperate hand-to-hand fight ensued and the enemy repulsed, but the
harbor was not taken. After a total of 4 assaults, the city remained in
Tripolitan hands. Reinforcements soon arrived, but also a new, less
aggressive commander. Instead of victory, a peace treaty was signed, and
Preble sent home to build gunboats for the navy. He died soon
afterwards, on August 25, 1807, at the age of 46. Though he failed in
his goal to take Tripoli, and defeat piracy, his greatest legacy was an
early father of the American navy, as well as immortal victories ahead
for “Preble’s Boys”.
*********
FACT: For siege warfare off shore, the sail navy utilized large ketches
fitted with mortars called “bomb vessels”.
SEA FIGHTS ON A SHOESTRING
Battle of Lissa
(The Austrians defeat an overwhelming Italian force in this first battle
between Ironclad fleets.)
On 20 July 1866, an Italian fleet attacked Austrians forts on the island
of Lissa in the Adriatic. The rising Italian state was hoping to take
advantage of the weakened Hapsburg Dynasty and form its own Empire. The
powerful Italian Navy, under the command of Count Persano, consisted of
12 new Ironclads and 22 other vessels. The Austrian fleet possessed only
7 Ironclads and 20 unarmored warships, but was commanded by the
aggressive and resourceful Admiral von Tegetthoff. Faced with some 200
modern guns against his 74, von Tegetthoff instructed his smaller
command “to dash at the enemy and sink him”, and to ram and sink the
poorly trained and led Italians where possible. The larger Italian force
immediately played into the Austrians plan when a gap opened in
Persano’s line. Attacking in a wedge formation, von Tegetthoff assaulted
the strung-out enemy formation. A fierce and confused melee ensued, with
the Italians striking the first blow. The new turret ram AFFONDATORE
struck the wooden 90 gun KAISER with 10 inch shells but failed to ram
her. Though wounded, the ancient Austrian two-decker attempted to smash
into the Italian Ironclad RE DI PORTOGALLO. Set afire, the KAISER limped
out of the fight, injured but defiant. The crucial moment came when von
Tegetthoff, in his flagship FERDINAND MAX, sighted the RE D’ITALIA which
was disabled by a shell hit. The Austrian Ironclad bore down on the
helpless Italian, striking her full amidships. When the FERDINAND MAX
reversed and pulled away, water gushed into the doomed vessel. The RE
D’ITALIA soon rolled over and sank, taking 622 men to a watery grave.
After losing another Ironclad, the PALESTRO, Admiral Persano had enough,
leaving the field to the Austrians. Casualties were comparatively light
for this early battle of the Ironclad Age: 682 Italians killed, 153
wounded, to the Austrians 28 killed, 138 wounded. The gunfire on both
sides proved woefully inaccurate, which became the rule for all navies
until the end of the century. The ramming of RE D’ITALIA was blown all
out of proportions by foreign naval observers, and for decades all new
armored vessels came equipped with ram bows. The ram’s only notable
achievement after Lissa was the sinking of HMS VICTORIA during peacetime
naval maneuvers, and HMS DREADNAUGHT’s sinking of a German submarine
during World War 1. Another notable action was the gallantry of the
Austrian KAISER, the swan song of the wooden ship of the line in naval
warfare. Lissa’s real claim to fame should be the superiority of a
smaller force over a larger enemy, when the lesser is ably led and
manned by disciplined crews.
FACT: In 1217 an English Fleet dumped bags of quicklime downwind of a
French fleet threatening Kent. The blinded Frenchmen were unable to
resist the English boarders and suffered great slaughter.
*********
SEA SITES:
Naval Weapons
http://www.navweaps.com/
Spanish American War Centennial
http://www.spanamwar.com/index.htm
US Navy Ships
http://psychcentral.com/psypsych/List_of_ships_of_the_United_States_Navy
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