May 8, 2014
USS Blue Ridge confronts 2 Chinese warships in South China Sea
wantchinatimes.com
Photo of the two Chinese warships taken by the MH-60 in South China Sea region on May. 5. (Photo/US Navy)
The USS Blue Ridge, the command ship of the Seventh Fleet confronted two PLA Navy warships in the disputed South China Sea region on May. 5 according to the official website of the US Navy.
The report said the two Chinese warships were the Hengshui, a Type 054A frigate, and the Lanzhou, a Type 052C destroyer. During the confrontation, an MH-60 Sea Hawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 12 was dispatched from the deck of the USS Blue Ridge to take photos of the two Chinese surface combat vessels, four of which were uploaded on to the US Navy website for download.
Designed as one of the US Navy’s two Blue Ridge-class command ships, the USS Blue Ridge began its service with the US Navy back in 1970, it’s primary mission being to provide command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence support to the commander and staff of the Seventh Fleet stationed in the Asia-Pacific region. The ship is currently deployed to the US naval facility at Yokosuka of Japan.
With a range of 19,000 kilometers and a speed of 43 km per hour, the USS Blue Ridge plays a very crucial role in President Barack Obama’s Asia Pivot Strategy. In addition to two helicopters, the vessel also carries two Phalanx Close-in weapon systems, four 25 mm Bushmaster cannons, eight .50 caliber machine guns and Mark 36 Super Rapid Blooming Offboard chaff rockets. The USS Blue Ridge is operated by 52 officers and 790 soldiers.
No comments:
Post a Comment