By DemocracyRules
The ship is called the USS Carter Hall (lsd 50). It's important because of it's role in naval blockade duties in the Persian gulf. She appears on the right in this photo.
I don't know where she is or what she's doing right now.
USS Carter Hall is one of the many vessels attached to the Iwo Jima battle group, which specializes in amphibious and littoral engagements. The USS Carter Hall participates directly in blockade missions (there is nothing secret about any of this).
USS Carter Hall is a multi-role vessel that can be used for close support for stopping and boarding other vessels for cargo inspections. She was involved in practice blockade missions in Operation Brimstone, which just finished.
Relevant specs for the USS Carter Hall:
Length: 609 feet (185.6 meters)
Beam: 84 feet.
Displacement: 16,708 tons (16,976.13 metric tons) full load.
Speed: 20+ knots (23.5+ miles per hour).
Crew: Ships Company: 22 officers, 397 enlisted; Marine Detachment: 402 plus 102 surge.
Armament: Two 25mm MK 38 Machine Guns, Two 20mm Phalanx CIWS mounts and Six .50 cal. machine guns.
Landing/Attack Craft: Two
Landing Craft, Air Cushion.
These landing craft can also be used for boarding operations. The aft landing deck also handles marine helicopters of any size.
As I said earlier, actual "kinetic" engagements are not likely to be imminent. Once blockade vessels are in place, most cargo ships carrying goods that are subject to blockade will not even sail towards Iran. They will ship safer cargoes to other destinations.
More later. The next that we are likely to hear about a blockade will be in mid-August, when Iran starts whining about not receiving any gasoline shipments.
Pro Patria
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