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2026-07-23 Science & Technology
Mothership Sought By Navy For Southern Command Operations
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Posted by Skidmark 2026-07-23 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [826 views ]  Top

1 Sounds like a very important and few in number target.
Posted by DarthVader 2026-07-23 00:37||   2026-07-23 00:37|| Front Page Top

2 I know how ridiculous this sounds, but how about 'repurposing' something already in the inventory ?
Posted by Besoeker 2026-07-23 05:50||   2026-07-23 05:50|| Front Page Top

3 Beso, as sad as this sounds, there's no inventory.
Posted by ed in texas 2026-07-23 08:11||   2026-07-23 08:11|| Front Page Top

4 @3 and what is the condition of, if one exists, something surplus suitable to the intended mission.

As Ed stated, there isn't much surplus in the US or USNS reserves and how much will it cost to reactivate and convert and what is the remaining usable life span on such a vessel.
Posted by Chantry 2026-07-23 08:38||   2026-07-23 08:38|| Front Page Top

5 To be precise, it seems what they're looking for is similar to "Ocean Trader", a spec-ops support ship that converted from a Maersk freighter (look it up), but Ocean Trader is currently at Diego.
So they want another one.
Posted by ed in texas 2026-07-23 10:07||   2026-07-23 10:07|| Front Page Top

6 USS Zumwalt Set To Return To Fleet After Long Anticipated Hypersonic Missile Upgrade
Posted by Skidmark 2026-07-23 12:57||   2026-07-23 12:57|| Front Page Top

7 The Chinese type 076 "Sichuan" drone carrier is currently undergoing sea trials. Maybe the USN might contract to with them to get a few copies (since our shipyards couldn't handle the workscope)
Posted by Dopey Photch2701 2026-07-23 13:17||   2026-07-23 13:17|| Front Page Top

8 General Dynamics NASSCO is producing Expeditionary SEA BASES (ESB's) in San Diego, Converted From: Expeditionary Transfer Docks, or ESDs
Posted by Frank G 2026-07-23 14:30||   2026-07-23 14:30|| Front Page Top

9 Thanks Frank. I knew someone had to be on to it.
Posted by Besoeker 2026-07-23 15:04||   2026-07-23 15:04|| Front Page Top

10 We have a 28 foot pontoon in back of the cabin. Sadly only enough room for one helicopter.
Posted by Woodrow 2026-07-23 20:29||   2026-07-23 20:29|| Front Page Top

21:56  chris
21:54  chris
21:23 Anomalous Sources
21:23 trailing wife
21:01 Blossom Elmolush6088
20:47 Woodrow
20:44 Woodrow
20:43 Woodrow
20:31 Woodrow
20:29 Woodrow
20:27 Woodrow
20:21 Woodrow
20:16 Woodrow
20:14 Woodrow
19:58 Frank G
19:44 Lord Garth
19:29 Lord Garth
17:13 EMS Artifact
17:08 swksvolFF
16:57 swksvolFF
15:57 Chantry
15:53 SteveS
15:13 Besoeker
15:05 Besoeker
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