North Korea and Recent Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig Sinking Theory

In the rush of news items this past weekend dealing with the Times Square Bomber being captured, the recent Deepwater Horizon sinking and the conspiracy theory that somehow a North Korean merchant vessel delivered a mini submarine to the Gulf of Mexico to sink a South Korean built oil rig in the ongoing Korean War.

Yes, I said ON Going Korean War.

The fighting might have ended in 1953, but recently, the North Koreans stated that they still consider themselves to be at war with South Korea and the United States of America.

I have been following this interesting bit of theory over on my other blog, The Shanks Dimension and here is the links to the three articles that I blogged about.

1. April 21, 2010. (http://www.theshanksdimension.com/2010/04/north-korea-sunk-south-koreas-ship-last-month/).

2. April 23, 2010. (http://www.theshanksdimension.com/2010/04/interesting-theory-oil-rig-was-attacked-not-an-accident/).

3. May 1, 2010. (http://www.theshanksdimension.com/2010/05/deepwater-horizon-target-of-north-korea-special-ops-service/). This last link is the one that I have begun to update with new information that I can dig up whenever possible. It also includes information that has not been included in other reports such as I found a picture of the supposed mothership. Also, I looked into the possibility of a Iranian/terror link. This is only my theory right now-no other evidence to support it yet.

Let me also state right now. While this possible attack has I admit, grabbed my attention like nothing else this year; it is still possible that this is just a tragic industrial accident - pure and simple. Eleven people died in this accident. But this conspiracy theory is also a warning to all nations who operate off shore oil rigs. Terrorists view them as targets. Better protection in the form of off shore naval patrols. Of undersea patrols by our own navy will be needed in the future.

While I have never been a serving member of our military, I have been a follower of policy, tactics, and hardware for all of our military branches. Our Navy has Cold War blinders on and the only submarines they want to operate is Nuclear power. There has been a small minority that has expressed a desired for 'conventional' power subs for littoral operations.

May I suggest that this is now the time for the U.S. Navy to have its own version of the Sang-o class mini submarine. A mini sub with a crew of 12-20, four torpedoes externally loaded since the purpose of this design is only close to shore patrol to protect our sea lanes of communication and oil rigs in this example.

If you have the time to click over and read them, and thank you.

UPDATE (May 7, 2010): Articles by Terrence Aym, Shelly Barclay, and Bruce Tyson on Helium.com-

(http://www.helium.com/items/1822086-possible-north-korean-attack-on-deepwater-horizon-oil-rig).

(http://www.helium.com/items/1826209-bps-emergency-oil-dome-may-save-gulf-of-mexico).

Timeline of events by Shelly Barclay-(http://www.helium.com/items/1824652-gulf-of-mexico-oil-spill).

Possible North Korea target: Deepwater Horizon oil platform by Bruce Tyson (http://www.helium.com/items/1822296-possible-north-korea-target-deepwater-horizon-oil-platform).

USS Independence - The Tri-Hull Monster of the Gulf!

The 418-foot long USS Independence is one of two prototype ships for the Littoral Combat Ship contract. This one was built by the General Dynamics consortium. And it went out on a little cruise into the Gulf of Mexico this week.

Most striking feature of this ship is it's tri-hull configuration. But both ships (Independence and the Freedom built by Lockheed Martin) both have water thruster propulsion. And with this latest test, the Independence reached 52 mph! Impressive for a ship of this size. That's 45 knots for you Navy types out there! And it was doing so in 6 to 8 foot swells and against a headwind of 30 knots. And the USS Independence did this for a sustain rate of speed for four hours. Normal cruising speed for normal warships is suppose to be in the 30-35 knot range.

Both ship designs use very powerful diesel engines plus gas turbines for that extra boost of speed. (I have to wonder if the skippers of these ships will start calling this "Warp Speed" when they have the throttle pushed to the wall?). Both the Independence and its competitor - the USS Freedom, have shallow drafts that let them get in closer to shore than regular naval vessels.

Main mission selling point by both companies right now seems to be pointing out how these ships can go up against the pirate threat. Whether its Lockheed Martin or General Dynamics that ultimately wins the contract - the U.S. Navy will have 55 of these speedy ships. Expected costs per vessel is in the $220 million dollar range.

This class of ship has multiple mission modules that can support anti-submarine, mine sweeping, or traditional surface warfare. Both designs have helicopter flight decks on the stern to operate helicopters.

From this blogger's personal opinion, I hope that the Navy goes with the USS Independence. I wonder if John Paul Jones is looking down from Heaven and saying, "That is a fast ship going in harm's way!"

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Ref. WAVY.com news, October 22, 2009. AP news article by David Sharp (http://www.wavy.com/dpp/military/military_ap_mobile_New_warship_tops_out_at_over_50_mph_20091022).

Reaganite Republican Resistance.blogspot.com article "The Navy's New Pirate Vaporizer" (http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com/2009/10/navys-new-pirate-neutralizer.html)