Close-up of US Army logistics support ship setting up floating dock in Gaza to deliver aid

Close-up of US Army logistics support ship setting up floating dock in Gaza to deliver aid

Wednesday, March 20, 2024 14:31 PM (GMT+7)

Not only the navy, the US army also has its own fleet of ships to transport soldiers and combat equipment including landing ships, tugboats, barges... Among these, the logistics support ship USAV Frank S. Besson is participating in building a floating dock to bring aid to the Gaza Strip.

US President Joe Biden announced in his State of the Union address on March 7 that the US plans to build a floating dock on the Gaza coast to provide more food, water, medicine, etc. The temporary dock is a US project to support Palestinians living in the war zone. At least a quarter of the population in the Gaza Strip is facing starvation, the United Nations agency said. According to Business Insider.

Less than 36 hours after Biden announced the dock construction plan, the USAV Frank S. Besson departed from Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia on March 9 with equipment to build the Gaza port, according to Business Insider.

Two days after the Besson departed for the Mediterranean, four other US Army ships followed, carrying more materials for the dock, according to Business Insider.

In addition, four other ships will depart for the Eastern Mediterranean in April, including smaller landing ships such as USAV Monterrey, USAV Matamoros and USAV Wilson Wharf, commanded by the Besson-class USAV SP4 James A. Loux. According to Business Insider.

USAV Frank S. Besson is an amphibious ship with the function of logistics support, transporting goods to shallow docks or deserted coastlines thanks to its ability to create floating bridges. According to Business Insider.

At 83m long and with a deck area of ​​more than 930 m2, the Besson-class ships are among the largest in the US Army. According to Business Insider.

The Besson is capable of carrying up to 15 Abrams main battle tanks at a time, up to 82 20-foot shipping containers, a tugboat, or even a C-17 Globemaster aircraft. According to Business Insider.

In addition to transporting large quantities of cargo along major supply routes, the Besson-class logistics support vessel (LSV) is also capable of deploying weapons and vehicles to ports, inland waterways, and beaches. The ship is named after the first commander of the Army Materiel Command, General Frank S. Besson. A distinguished graduate of West Point, Mr. Besson became the youngest brigadier general in the US Army at the age of 34 in 1945, according to Business Insider.

Gaza's temporary floating dock is being created from 12-meter-long interlocking steel pieces and a 550-meter-long, two-lane causeway, according to Business Insider.

The plan is for ships to unload cargo and aid onto temporary offshore docks, and smaller military vessels to transport it to a temporary causeway to bring it ashore, according to Business Insider.

As a rule, US soldiers will not set foot on shore in this war zone, so they will stay on the pier, which is 250 - 600 meters from shore. According to Business Insider.

In total, the US Army has eight logistics support ships in operation, succeeding the Newport-class amphibious ships, the last of which was retired in 2002, according to Business Insider.

LSVs are multi-purpose vessels that can adapt to assigned missions. The helicopter variant, currently in service with the Philippine Navy, is capable of transporting and deploying helicopters and patrol boats. According to Business Insider.

With this model, in addition to patrol boats and interceptors placed at the stern, the LSV can also hide attack helicopters and transport firepower without being ostentatious. According to Business Insider.

Meanwhile, the semi-submersible LSV variant, the more common Besson-class vessel, can load and unload large floating cargo, patrol boats, land vehicles... to perform transport duties or provide a mobile dock for repair and maintenance. According to Business Insider.

The final type of LSV, the troop carrier, is used to efficiently deploy and relocate sailors and equipment. Equipped with canvas beds and separate docking areas, the troop carrier LSV can accommodate 144 soldiers and 6 officers, according to Business Insider.

Thanh Nha (According to ANTĐ)

Source: https://danviet.vn/can-canh-tau-ho-tro-hau-can-cua-luc-quan-my-dung-ben-noi-o-gaza-de-dua-hang-vien-tro-20240320143152419.htm