"Guy Alcala" wrote in message
. ..
"John S. Shinal" wrote:

Thanks, Errol and Guy.

News reports last night featured the Admiral in charge
speaking about the relief flights and mentioned 30 helos operating
already, but didn't say if they were flying off of ABRAHAM LINCOLN or
BON HOMME RICHARD - I'll assume the numbers are at least correct if
incomplete.

Tentative roster based on members of WESTPAC 2005 :

CVN 72 USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN obviously can operate a lot of helos

But presumably only has her normal HS squadron aboard, i.e. 10 or so
SH/HH-60s.

CG 52 USS BUNKER HILL listed as 2 SH-60B
DDG 69 USS MILIUS potential 1 SH-60B
FFG 43 USS THACH listed as 2 SH-60B
LHD 6 USS BON HOMME RICHARD listed as 35-40 helicopters
LPD 6 USS DULUTH potential 4 helos
LSD 47 USS RUSHMORE potential 4 helos

15th MEU listed as 12 CH-46E, 4 CH-53E, 3 UH-1N

snip

Just to be clear, the 42-45 helo capacity listed for LHAs/LHDs like the
BHR is their maximum spotting capacity in CH-46 equivalents (CH-46s are
1.0 spotting factor ea., AH/UH-1s are 0.4 ea., CH-53Es are 2.5 ea., I dont
know what the Harriers are) not how many they're actually carrying. She
is carrying the reinforced marine medium helicopter squadron that makes up
the 15th MEU's Air Combat Element, i.e. the 19 tranport/utility helos you
list above (plus the 4 Cobras and 6 Harriers) for the15th MEU. IIRR
there's also a pair of UH-46 or MH-60 utility birds for Vertrep/SAR, that
are considered separate from the MEU's ACE.

Duluth and Rushmore probably don't bring any extra helos - they have the
_capacity_ to carry some, but these are normally helos deployed to them
from the MEU's ACE complement, not extras.

Don't discount the possibility of other aircraft being flown into the region
to join them on-station; I heard this morning that the US military plans to
increase dramatically the number of helos that will be operating in the
region (to well over 100); it may make sense to use the CVN and LHD in the
"lillypad" role. USAF Blackhawks have already appeared after being flown in
by C-5/C-17.

Brooks


Guy