換防或補位？USS Emory S. Land (AS 39)

換防或補位？USS Emory S. Land (AS 39)

【Comment】

ㄏㄏㄏ，大軍未發糧草先行。Emory S. Land是第一艘 Land 級潛艇母艦5月9～20日駐紮佐世保軍港，24日下午進橫須賀軍港，搶了第七艦隊旗艦藍嶺號的船位。過去在此駐防的是第二艘 Land級潛艇母艦 USS Frank Cable (AS-40)。而這艘Frank Cable則是於1996年先退役，後重新服役來接替舊的 Hunley 級的 USS Holland (AS 32)。

若AS 39接 AS 40是例行換防，小事。若是補位，就要問 AS 40 哪裡去了？

牽制中國？美潛艦支援艦現蹤菲日◎自由（2013.05.27）http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2013/new/may/29/today-int8.htm

〔編譯林翠儀／綜合報導〕中國在東海及南海持續的軍事威嚇，已讓美國不得不出動航母及潛艦牽制？繼日前中國媒體報導，美國派遣核動力航空母艦尼米茲號戰鬥群前往南海亮相之後，日本媒體也傳出美軍潛艦支援艦「藍德號（Emory S. Land）」先後在菲律賓及日本長崎佐世保基地現身。

中國環球時報日前報導，常駐日本佐世保的核動力航母尼米茲號，本月十五日結束與日韓海上軍演後，突然進入南海巡弋，雖然美國軍方表示，這是例行的海上維安任務，不過由於中國和菲律賓因為南海的「仁愛礁」海域僵持不下，中國解放軍海軍北海、東海、南海三大艦隊，當時正在南海一處海域舉行多兵種大規模演習，因此時機十分敏感。

日產經新聞報導，本月十二到十三日出現在日本沖繩久米島海域的中國潛艦，其實正在追蹤尼米茲號行蹤，這艘中國潛艦十九日也曾出現在沖繩南大東島海域。

對中國而言，尼米茲號戰鬥群的確具有巨大威懾力，但美方在四、五月間，除尼米茲號外，還出動部署在關島的潛艦支援艦「藍德號」，美國有兩艘潛艦支援艦，潛艦支援艦就是核動力潛艦的母艦，活動範圍和行動目的向來被視為最高機密。藍德號約二萬三千噸，也是美國洛杉磯級核動力攻擊潛艦的母艦，比日本搭載直升機的最大型護衛艦「日向號」一萬四千噸，幾乎大了一倍。

報導中引述日本軍事記者世良光弘的說法指出，為防止中國強奪釣魚台、擴大南沙群島的領有權，美軍出動核潛艦似有採取兩邊作戰的徵兆，對中國加強牽制。

History of USS EMORY S. LAND (AS 39)

http://www.as39.navy.mil/history.htm

The keel was laid for USS EMORY S. LAND (AS 39) on March 2, 1976.  She was launched on May 4, 1977, after being christened by her sponsor, Mrs. Sarah H. Long and was delivered to the U.S. Navy on March 2, 1979.  LAND was placed in commission on July 7, 1979.  To construct a ship this size required 12,500 tons of steel along with 142 miles of electric cable and 30 miles of piping.

USS EMORY S. LAND was the first of the Navy’s newest class of submarine tenders, designed (but not limited) to support Los Angeles class fast attack submarines.  The ship is able to provide nearly any service a submarine or surface ship may require.  To accomplish this she has an engineering plant similar to that of a small town, in addition to various maintenance repair, fabrication and service shops.

In September 1980, LAND deployed to the Pacific Fleet to provide services to the Indian Ocean Battle Group.

In July 1986, she operated as Officer in Tactical Command of four U.S. ships and five foreign ships in transit from the Virginia Capes operating area to New York Harbor, where she participated in the International Naval Review and Fourth of July Statue of Liberty Rededication ceremonies.

EMORY S. LAND operated as the tactical communications platform for Submarine Squadron EIGHT and SIX to work both with and against a surface combatant group in August of 1987.

In 1988, she deployed for 182 days, and steamed 26,011 nautical miles and circled the globe.  Port visits during this voyage included Lisbon, Portugal; Naples, Italy; Port Said, Egypt; Muscat, Oman; Fremantle, Australia; and Rodman, Panama.  During the 92 days she was anchored in the North Arabian Sea, she tended the surface combatants of Joint Task Force Middle East and Carrier Battle Groups operating in the North Arabian Sea.

In July 1993, LAND served as the Commander, Submarine Group TWO flagship during a port visit to Boston, Mass. and was host ship for a visit by the Commander-in-Chief, Russian Northern Fleet, and three visiting Russian warships.

On April 6, 1999, USS EMORY S. LAND set sail from her homeport of Norfolk en route to La Maddalena, Italy, to relieve USS SIMON LAKE (AS 33) as the Navy’s forward-deployed tender in the Mediterranean Sea. LAND provided unmatched ship repair support to the Fleet during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, and conducted a three month deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.

In 2005 and 2006, LAND departed La Maddalena, Italy for a new homeport of Bremerton, Washington where she completed a Docking Phased Maintenance Availability and the first-ever Navy-Military Sealift Command (MSC) hybrid crew conversion.  The hybrid crew concept combines the seamanship talents of Sailors and Civilian Mariners.  Unlike other ships operated by MSC, LAND remains a USS naval vessel under the command of a U.S. Navy Captain.

Following completion of the ship’s yard period, LAND set sail on June 14, 2010 bound for yet another new forward deployed homeport of Diego Garcia, as part of the Defense Global Posture Realignment. During this 61 day, 10,000 mile voyage, the ship made port calls in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Guam, and Singapore.  When operating from Diego Garcia, LAND’s mission is to provide an expeditionary maintenance capability to fast-attack submarines and guided missile submarines operating in the U.S. FIFTH, SIXTH and SEVENTH Fleet areas of operation.

EMORY S. LAND and her crew of Sailors and Civilian Mariners stands at the ready to support the U.S. Submarine Force and Surface Fleet in keeping the tip of the U.S. Navy spear sharp in support of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Maritime Strategy and the Global War on Terrorism.

LAND has earned the Navy Unit Commendation Award, three Meritorious Unit Commendations, eleven Battle “E” awards, four Navy Expeditionary Medals, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and the NATO medal.