July 25, 2004

While You Were Sleeping

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ALL EYES TURN TOWARDS BEANTOWN THIS WEEK, BUT "Workers lower a ground-based missile interceptor into its silo at Fort Greely, Alaska, on Thursday. The interceptor was installed in Alaska's Interior -- the first component of a national defense system designed to shoot down enemy missiles. Ten more will be installed by late 2005, launching the Bush administration's multibillion dollar system." -- Frontline Photos

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Turkish Ship To Enter Philadelphia
Jul 25, 2004 10:19 am US/Eastern
PHILADELPHIA (AP) A Turkish ship is now being allowed to enter the Port of Philadelphia, days after a bomb scare led authorities to send it to the Delaware Bay.

Authorities found no explosives and the ship's captain was later charged with making a false statement. Police say he told them there was a bomb on board that was set to explode.

The F-B-I says the 46-year-old became agitated during a Coast Guard inspection. The ship was turned around and held at a safe anchorage point near Bowers Beach on the Delaware Bay.

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The Los Angeles-class attack submarine Dallas departs Souda Bay Harbor, Crete, on Monday following a brief port visit. The Dallas is home-ported in Groton, Conn., and currently is on a routine deployment. Frontline Photos
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Not to worry. We're sure to get a winner one of these days.

Posted by Vanderleun at July 25, 2004 11:42 AM
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Is that a Dry Deck Shelter on the Dallas? If so, doesn't that imply they've got SEALs onboard? Odd, if that's a "routine" deployment

Posted by: Ben at July 25, 2004 4:11 PM

Yes, that's a DDS on her back. SEAL boats do deploy routinely you know. Since all the dedicated SEAL boats (Polk, Kamehameha, some fasties) are gone, we have to make do with 688's modified to carry DDS.

Posted by: Derek L. at July 27, 2004 2:54 PM

Well, you learn something new everyday - I was under the impression that DDSs were attached on an as-needed basis, for actual missions. Does that mean that the Dallas is cruising around with SEALs onboard, or the DDS is there "just in case"/for training?

Posted by: Ben at July 27, 2004 4:28 PM

It's expensive (~$50-60,000) and intensive (a bunch of guys and anywhere from two days to a week) to remove or change out the DDS. So the force has to trade off the ship's performance hit with the big drag on it against having to put the thing on in a hurry (and what if the shelter is there when you are here?).

My old boat kept 'em on almost all the time. It depends. Check or search my site for way too many details on DDS and SSN.

Posted by: Chap at July 31, 2004 9:27 PM