On February 23, the USNS Hershel "Woody" Williams ESB4 ship was officially handed over to the fleet at the Port of San Diego, California.
Almost all the resources reporting on this event focus on the size of this vessel, which is truly impressive. Hershel "Woody" Williams has a displacement of 78,000 tons, and in this parameter it is second only to the latest nuclear-powered heavy aircraft carriers of the Nimitz and Gerald R. Ford types, with a displacement of 100,000 tons.
This novelty of the US Navy is positioned as an expeditionary naval base (EMB). Let us remind you that this vessel is already the second one. The first - Lewis B. Puller (ESB-3) - was introduced to the US auxiliary fleet in June 2017 (launched in February 2014), but in August it was withdrawn from the auxiliary fleet and included in the US Navy in August last year. As a result, the “civilian” captain of the ship was replaced by a military man, and the crew members received the status of military personnel. Why Lewis B. Puller was not immediately included in the main composition of the Navy is not entirely clear, perhaps this was done in order not to draw undue attention to this very curious vessel.
The basis for the creation of expeditionary bases was the hulls of oil tankers, the so-called Alaskan class, especially durable, intended for navigation in areas with increased ice hazard.
It must be said that both expeditionary naval bases are unique not only in their size. They are designed to support combat operations of the US Armed Forces in low-intensity conflicts, and represent an actual military base with all the necessary infrastructure - ammunition, fuel and lubricants, and other resources, premises for a relatively comfortable deployment of the military contingent. Four CH-53 heavy transport helicopters and a landing barge capable of taking on board about 300 armed fighters are provided for its delivery ashore. The takeoff and landing site of the naval base is also capable of receiving the MB-22 Osprey tiltrotors used by the US Marine Corps.
This naval expeditionary base can be deployed, or rather relocated to any area of the globe where the United States intends to exercise its presence, and is there as long as necessary. To this we can add that this does not require the consent of local authorities, and it is incomparably easier to prevent an enemy attack (most likely by rebels or armies of the Third World countries) on a floating base located outside the territorial waters, and on the way of its supply, than on ground.
In fact, the idea of creating such floating bases was vigorously discussed at the Pentagon back in 1983, when the United States was forced to scale back its military mission in Lebanon, after terrorists managed to blow up the American Marines' barracks in Beirut.
Representatives of the Navy, speaking about these vessels, first of all mention their use for a "mine action", that is, the use as a base for work on clearing the water area from sea mines and other explosive objects.
However, today the Navy already has two such EMUs, and another is under construction. Even this number of "minesweeper bases" seems excessive, but the Pentagon intends to order several more of the same.
And this suggests that "mine action" is clearly not a priority for these ships.
Expeditionary naval bases will be able not only to provide the American military presence in all key areas for the United States at the same time, but also to quickly strengthen it.
At the same time, the capabilities of EMB, on which the Special Operations Forces groupings will most likely be located, can be significantly strengthened by joining them with universal amphibious assault ships of the Wasp type, as well as the expeditionary reloading ships-docks Montford Point and John Glenn. These ships have a large ramp that can be connected to any other ships, turning into a cargo dock, allowing transports to unload very large cargo on the high seas, regardless of fixed infrastructure.
The name of the lead vessel - Lewis B. Puller - became a quite definite allusion to the intended use of EMB. Lieutenant General Lewis B. Puller, who fought in Haiti and Nicaragua, is perceived in the United States primarily as a “hero” of the classic “banana wars”. And this circumstance, as it were, quite definitely hints at the forthcoming use of expeditionary bases.
We also note that the large sea-based exercises of the US Navy were relatively recently conducted not far from Liberia, off the coast of South-West Africa. That is, it is likely that EMBs can prepare to participate in the unfolding grandiose struggle for natural resources in Africa, where one of the main opponents of the United States is China, which today is vigorously developing the "black" continent.
As we can see, the United States, planning further global expansion, is seriously working to not only minimize losses and reduce financial costs, but also significantly increase the mobility of its troops. The ability to move across the world's oceans on a floating military base, according to American strategists, will surpass the mobile capabilities of the Russian Army, demonstrated in Syria, and very perplexed by the Pentagon.
It is also noteworthy that, according to American media reports, several PMCs have already shown interest in acquiring naval expeditionary bases, including the British Protection Vessels International and Solage Global, and even Northbridge Services Group registered in the Dominican Republic.
That is, the products of General Dynamics NASSCO may well be in demand by buyers other than the Pentagon.
