The
U.S. Navy has decided to maintain the USS Mahan (DDG-72 Flight II Arleigh
Burke-class destroyer) in the Mediterranean. The move aims at strengthenin
U.S. Navy presence in the region after new allegations of use of chemical
weapons in Syria. USS Mahan was originally to sail back to its home
port in Norfolk, Virginia. In total, four Burke class destroyers of
the U.S. Navy Sixth fleet are curretly deployed in the Mediterranean
waters: USS Gravely, USS Barry, USS Mahan and USS Ramage.
Each destroyer can potentially launch up to 90 Tomahawks Tactical Cruise
Missiles. Destroyers however usually deploy with a mixed loadout of
land attack missiles and SM-2 missiles for air defence.
Aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman left last week the Mediterranean
Sea, and joined the Red Sea through the Suez Canal but its air wing
would still be capable to reach Syria from the Red Sea. |
The
Pentagon's role is to provide the president all options to deal with
all eventualities said US Minister of Defense Chuck Hagel, refusing
any clarification on military means in question. The presence of four
destroyers does not mean that a decision to intervene was taken against
the Assad regime, he said.
This reinforcement would nonetheless help the military to act more quickly
if Barack Obama gave them the order. |
The
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Mahan (DDG-72)