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I see that the Reagan carrier strike force sailed from Japan to Korea a couple days ago. Accompanying the Reagan are the cruiser Shiloh and the destroyers Barry, McCain, McCampbell, and Mustin. Those five ships have 506 missile launching cells. When the cruiser and three destroyers of the Vinson strike group are included, the total is 916. It seems reasonable that 30% of those cells are loaded with Tomahawk cruise missiles, with the majority being loaded with missiles meant to shoot down aircraft, or in some cases, ballistic missiles. If so, the nine ships would be carrying about 275 Tomahawks.
The SSGN Michigan appeared in South Korea several weeks ago, and it probably is still in the area. Its twenty-two converted missile tubes can carry 154 Tomahawks. And although the official notices did not mention attack subs, at least one of them, with twelve Tomahawks on board, usually accompanies a carrier strike group. If these three submarines--one SSGN and two SSN's--are included, the U.S. warships near Korea are probably carrying a total of about 450 Tomahawks, each carrying a bomb of roughly 1,000 lb.
The Vinson strike group has been deployed since January, and it will probably need to be replaced soon. The most likely replacement is the Nimitz strike group, which several weeks ago completed the final phase of exercises--the COMPTUEX--designed to work the ships, crews, and aircrews up to combat readiness. A carrier group usually deploys four to six weeks after completing its COMPTUEX. The Vinson group is on the small side, but the threat from North Korea was less serious in January. It is reasonable to expect the Nimitz, if it sails for Korea, to be accompanied by a cruiser and at least as many destroyers as the four accompanying the Reagan. It might even take along all six in its destroyer squadron. And there are three more destroyers at Yokosuka which could, if needed, join the Reagan within a couple days.
I think these movements put in place the naval part of a force which could, in a surprise attack, cripple North Korea's air defenses, destroy its ballistic missile facilities, and maybe even decapitate its government. I doubt the F-35 is quite ready to be involved, but the B-2 and F-22 would both be suited to attacking North Korea while its air defenses were still intact. The F-22 is usually thought of as the world's best air superiority fighter, but it could also be used as a small "stealth" bomber carrying the 250-lb. "small diameter bomb" (SDB}.
If two of the five operational F-22 squadrons were used, their forty aircraft could carry 320 SDB's; adding a third squadron would raise that total to 480. One obvious target for the SDB, whose wings allow it to be launched as far as fifty miles from its target and glide to it, would be front-line North Korean jets parked under concrete shelters. B-2's, which can carry 500 lb. bombs as well as the 2,000 and 5,000 lb. types which would be needed if a wide range of targets were to be attacked, have usually flown bombing missions right from their home base in Missouri. They would not necessarily have to move to forward bases, then, to launch a surprise attack. The F-22's, though, with their far shorter range, would probably need to strike from bases in South Korea, Japan, or Okinawa even if they were refueled. It will be interesting to see if F-22's are flown into bases in the region as North Korea's provocations continue.
I want to make clear that I hope the U.S. never needs to defang North Korea with a huge aerial blitz. But I am sure the only thing which impresses Kim Jong Un is a credible threat of more force than North Korea can defend against. I think that moving the right U.S. air and naval forces into positions where they presented a believable threat of an overwhelming surprise attack that would leave the U.S. free to follow it up by attacking military targets throughout North Korea from the air, day after day, would do wonders to sober that nation's military leaders. They know their soldiers and tanks would do them very little good, once the U.S. had destroyed their air defenses, imposed a naval blockade, and was destroying hundreds of targets every day with bombs. Machine guns, howitzers, and tanks are useless against guided bombs dropped from 40,000 feet.
The SSGN Michigan appeared in South Korea several weeks ago, and it probably is still in the area. Its twenty-two converted missile tubes can carry 154 Tomahawks. And although the official notices did not mention attack subs, at least one of them, with twelve Tomahawks on board, usually accompanies a carrier strike group. If these three submarines--one SSGN and two SSN's--are included, the U.S. warships near Korea are probably carrying a total of about 450 Tomahawks, each carrying a bomb of roughly 1,000 lb.
The Vinson strike group has been deployed since January, and it will probably need to be replaced soon. The most likely replacement is the Nimitz strike group, which several weeks ago completed the final phase of exercises--the COMPTUEX--designed to work the ships, crews, and aircrews up to combat readiness. A carrier group usually deploys four to six weeks after completing its COMPTUEX. The Vinson group is on the small side, but the threat from North Korea was less serious in January. It is reasonable to expect the Nimitz, if it sails for Korea, to be accompanied by a cruiser and at least as many destroyers as the four accompanying the Reagan. It might even take along all six in its destroyer squadron. And there are three more destroyers at Yokosuka which could, if needed, join the Reagan within a couple days.
I think these movements put in place the naval part of a force which could, in a surprise attack, cripple North Korea's air defenses, destroy its ballistic missile facilities, and maybe even decapitate its government. I doubt the F-35 is quite ready to be involved, but the B-2 and F-22 would both be suited to attacking North Korea while its air defenses were still intact. The F-22 is usually thought of as the world's best air superiority fighter, but it could also be used as a small "stealth" bomber carrying the 250-lb. "small diameter bomb" (SDB}.
If two of the five operational F-22 squadrons were used, their forty aircraft could carry 320 SDB's; adding a third squadron would raise that total to 480. One obvious target for the SDB, whose wings allow it to be launched as far as fifty miles from its target and glide to it, would be front-line North Korean jets parked under concrete shelters. B-2's, which can carry 500 lb. bombs as well as the 2,000 and 5,000 lb. types which would be needed if a wide range of targets were to be attacked, have usually flown bombing missions right from their home base in Missouri. They would not necessarily have to move to forward bases, then, to launch a surprise attack. The F-22's, though, with their far shorter range, would probably need to strike from bases in South Korea, Japan, or Okinawa even if they were refueled. It will be interesting to see if F-22's are flown into bases in the region as North Korea's provocations continue.
I want to make clear that I hope the U.S. never needs to defang North Korea with a huge aerial blitz. But I am sure the only thing which impresses Kim Jong Un is a credible threat of more force than North Korea can defend against. I think that moving the right U.S. air and naval forces into positions where they presented a believable threat of an overwhelming surprise attack that would leave the U.S. free to follow it up by attacking military targets throughout North Korea from the air, day after day, would do wonders to sober that nation's military leaders. They know their soldiers and tanks would do them very little good, once the U.S. had destroyed their air defenses, imposed a naval blockade, and was destroying hundreds of targets every day with bombs. Machine guns, howitzers, and tanks are useless against guided bombs dropped from 40,000 feet.
