11 US Ships pass through Suez

[BigRed389]

Never done it so I didn't know, thanks. Either way the ships going through at the same time doesn't necessarily mean they were together, maybe they are just 'friends with benefits'.

Gotcha. The canal groups ships coming through into convoys, which aren't that big anyway, 11 sounds about right for typical size. Considering they normally take extra measures (liaison officers) to coordinate with warships transiting through, it makes sense that to do it all at once for convenience.

And the bit about "thousands of soldiers" seems played up as well. There are already thousands of Egyptian Army troops specifically stationed to protect the Canal, and in some spots, if you're paying attention, you can see groups of tanks, and other armored vehicles in various spots.

 

[Bevo16]

Isn't that what Drudge is supposed to do? Or is it Tom Clancy?

Both of them. One sells ads, the other sells books about rogue Soviet missile submarines.

For some reason your earlier paragraph made me think of that scene from "Hunt For Red October" where the Soviet Ambassador was talking with the Cheif of Staff.

 

[Pugs]

And the bit about "thousands of soldiers" seems played up as well. There are already thousands of Egyptian Army troops specifically stationed to protect the Canal, and in some spots, if you're paying attention, you can see groups of tanks, and other armored vehicles in various spots.

And they like it when you hit golf balls off the flight deck at them. Trust me

 

[Floppy_D]

That you? vvv

'Bout seven years ago, it would have been.

There are already thousands of Egyptian Army troops specifically stationed to protect the Canal, and in some spots, if you're paying attention, you can see groups of tanks, and other armored vehicles in various spots.

Yup, we had armored vehicles pacing us on the road adjacent, the whole transit. We stopped for a while in ... what was it... the Dismal Lake, or Dismal point? I remember there was a large (I think) Group 3 merchant beached up on the sand, hundreds of yards from the water. I'm sure there's a story on how it got there.

 

[HeyJoe]

The canal groups ships coming through into convoys, which aren't that big anyway, 11 sounds about right for typical size. Considering they normally take extra measures (liaison officers) to coordinate with warships transiting through, it makes sense that to do it all at once for convenience.

I've "done the Ditch"* so many times since it was a novel thing in early 80s that it wasn't a novelty anymore (it was closed for years following one of the many Arab-Israeli conflicts in which it was mined) and we slept through most of it. You do end up "marshalling" at Southern or Northern end until they group you together as described above.

080923-N-4236E-269 SUEZ CANAL, Egypt (Sept. 23, 2008) The guided-missile destroyer USS Ramage (DDG 61), the amphibious dock landing ship USS Carter Hall (LSD 50) and the guided-missile destroyer USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) transit the Suez Canal. Ramage, Carter Hall and Roosevelt are deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Chad R. Erdmann/Released)

070601-N-1467R-004 SUEZ CANAL (June 1, 2007) - The amphibious dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and amphibious transport dock USS Shreveport (LPD 12) follow the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) while transiting the Suez Canal to depart U.S. Naval Central Command area of responsibility. Bataan, commanded by Capt. Rick Snyder, left her homeport of Norfolk, Va., Jan. 4. on a regularly scheduled deployment as the flagship of the Bataan Expeditionary Strike Group in support of maritime operations. Maritime operations help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts in regional nations’ littoral waters. Coalition forces also conduct maritime operations under international maritime conventions to ensure security and safety in international waters so that commercial shipping and fishing can occur safely in the region. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Pedro A. Rodriguez (RELEASED)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

As memory serves we also marshaled in the center somewhere too as we took the whole battle group through. After hitting the Red Sea I remember going into GQ. The brain is a bit foggy with it being so long ago. The beer probably isn't helping either.

 

[BigRed389]

As memory serves we also marshaled in the center somewhere too as we took the whole battle group through. After hitting the Red Sea I remember going into GQ. The brain is a bit foggy with it being so long ago. The beer probably isn't helping either.

'Bout seven years ago, it would have been.


Yup, we had armored vehicles pacing us on the road adjacent, the whole transit. We stopped for a while in ... what was it... the Dismal Lake, or Dismal point? I remember there was a large (I think) Group 3 merchant beached up on the sand, hundreds of yards from the water. I'm sure there's a story on how it got there.

As always, Wikipedia saves the day:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SuezCanal-EO.JPG

You marshal at the northern/southern entrances to form the convoy like HJ said. The big lake in the middle is the passing area, the Great Bitter Lake, where the convoys anchor if they're designated to give way. It does help visualize if you look over the charts for it...~16 hours is a long time to be building a mental picture.

Definitely pays to be on the air side for stuff like this. 2 of my buddies actually ended up port/re-port (no breaks) for one of the transits due to a fuck up by the SWO. The skipper also stayed up for the whole thing. RHIP/RHIR can bite hard.