959 replies to this topic

[Mike K.]

Geez. That’s a nightmare scenario for a battleship.

But here’s the thing. Who is on such a vessel? Young, very fit and healthy individuals. Exactly the sort of group the tweens and know-it-all 20-somethings tell us are, like, practically immune to, like, the virus.

[Rob Randall]

^There aren't any US battleships any more.

[Bernard]

Last battleship in the world, the USS Missouri, was decommissioned in 1992.   

[Victoria Watcher]

battleships became obsolete. they specialized in firing ordinance (shells) at other ships or shore defences and targets.

jet planes basically made them too inefficient and expensive for what they delivered.

[Rob Randall]

That carrier has almost twice the crew a battleship used to carry. If a carrier were a BC town it would be about the 50th largest town, between Armstrong and Fernie in population.

[Mike K.]

Yes, it was said in jest.

But have read the responses I did some reading and now more know about battleships than I ever did before!

[Victoria Watcher]

"warship" might have been the better word to use.

 

https://youtu.be/xJo1WVTjaB0

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 26 March 2020 - 03:51 PM.

[Mike K.]

Is that link going to require me to pay my long lost uncle Bradley $700 for medical bills?

[Rob Randall]

The fallout from the US carrier infection continues to unfold. The acting Secretary of the Navy flew to Guam (at a cost of a quarter million dollars) solely to berate the actions of the captain in front of the crew. The captain retains strong support among the sailors and in fact several members of the ship's senior staff wanted to co-sign the letter but the captain refused, saying it was his responsibility alone. The acting secretary's crazy rant cost him his job once he returned to the mainland and now this morning it was announced the first sailor has died from the outbreak which started among the crew working on the ship's nuclear reactor.

 

So do you think the captain is a hero or a traitor?

 

I guess the local angle is what would be the best course of action if a Canadian ship found itself in this predicament. 

[Victoria Watcher]

Morale onboard the vessels participating in Operation Laser and those waiting to deploy has reportedly plummeted. Long periods of time spent at sea is, of course, standard for the navy, but The Capital has learned from multiple sources that the main cause of frustration for crews sequestered at sea is that the high-readiness training in which they are currently engaged is intense, strenuous, and viewed by sailors as unnecessary when the only reason they are at sea is to quarantine. 

 

According to one public affairs officer, “Canadian Fleet Pacific has adopted a rotation schedule for the Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels currently at sea … to allow sailors a pause from operations and to spend time with family while isolating at home.”

 

 

https://www.capnews....s-cfb-esquimalt

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 04 May 2020 - 08:18 PM.

[Mike K.]

Hmmm, something is a little off here.

Op Laser is not a vacation. These are members of the Forces we’re talking about, not a cruise ship crew. They know better than to whine about training while in the safety of local waters as the next time they’re at sea they could be engaged in an actual skirmish.

I can’t fathom that sincere military sources would say something like “the main cause of frustration for crews sequestered at sea is that the high-readiness training in which they are currently engaged is intense, strenuous, and viewed by sailors as unnecessary.” That’s literally the job of a sailor.

[jasmineshinga]

Just because it's their job, doesn't mean the stress can't get to them. Soldiers seem to prefer when there is a clear objective or enemy, where they can point at a potential threat and tell themselves "I am preparing, in case they attack first."

 

Drills for the sake of keeping themselves occupied, while contributing little to the threat which is looming over their families and country, are frustrating. One cannot shoot a virus, so practicing firing exercises is frustrating/exhausting and contributes to the generally high stress of being away from loved ones.

 

Even the military who are not Navy, and are here on the ground, are experiencing crippling depression and stress as they cannot see a way to HELP.

Edited by jasmineshinga, 05 May 2020 - 09:22 AM.

[spanky123]

^ Sailors do drills and exercises all of the time. They haven't fired a shot in anger at sea in a very long time.

[Mike K.]

We need them healthy, though, not sick with COVID and unable to perform their duty.

 

The helicopter crash has likely affected local seamen more than their training regimen, which is a major part of their job.

[Mike K.]

I guess the positive news is they're starting to rotate the ships for on-shore rests, so that will be a huge help and emotional support for the servicemen and members.

[jasmineshinga]

^ Sailors do drills and exercises all of the time. They haven't fired a shot in anger at sea in a very long time.

But they are usually reasonably assured of their home situation, and have somewhere to direct their focus. Right now there's nothing but thinking, drilling, worrying, waiting for your scheduled call home slot, and hoping your spouse can handle things while you're away without themselves getting ill.

 

The rotating rests are absolutely necessary, and I'm glad they are implementing.

Edited by jasmineshinga, 05 May 2020 - 10:04 AM.

[RFS]

That’s what they signed up for

[jasmineshinga]

Doesn't mean we should turn a blind eye to what stressors we can control. These young men and women are willing to take or give a bullet for their country (though many are so young I doubt they were looking at much beyond the paycheque and accomodations for a couple years), the least we can to is not break them mentally during peacetimes.

[Mike K.]

It’s not peace times, though, which is why they’re being sequestered at sea. They’re no good to their families or their country if they get their fellow seamen sick and infect an entire vessel. This is a once in a life time thing, and they’re getting sea pay (additional monies for being posted to a ship) at a time when millions of Canadians are facing large earnings reductions or job losses.

Even the Commodore is sequestered at sea.

[Mike K.]

Crews of Brandon, Whitehorse and Nanaimo will be rotating two weeks on patrol, and two weeks with family, and two weeks sequestered, so gone from home for four weeks at a time.

Saskatoon may join this rotation.

The majority of sailors in the task group are aboard Regina and Calgary, with Regina at high readiness for instant deployment. Both ships are scheduled to return to CFB ESQ. on the 8th if all goes well. Their crews would then head home for a break.

The Commodore is aboard Calgary.