The Carl Vinson Group's display of military hardware is hopefully increasing the pressure on China to be more creative in restraining North Korea's nuclear and missile test march toward nuclear blackmail of:
- South Korea
- Japan
- US forces in the region, and
- (I hope not) other regional country targets.
Military Hardware
Near North Korea (NK) the Carl Vinson carrier group, to which Japanese destroyers have been added, is an interesting development which prompts many questions.
The Carl Vinson Group probably/currently consists of Arleigh Burke Destroyer Squadron 1 (USS Stockdale, USS Sterett, USS Gridley,USS Higgins, USS Benfold andUSS Russell.) It also may consist of destroyers USS USS Michael Murphy,USS Wayne E. Meyer and missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain.
One SSN or two (with Tomahawk land attack missiles) would normally accompany the Carl Vinson Group. To enhance the option of a first or second strike of Tomahawk SLCMs onto NK targets a US Ohio SSGN might also be on hand in the region. Submarine fired Tomahawks all have the advantage of a greater element of surprise because they can emerge from unexpected undersea launch points.
US B-2 stealth bombers and F-22s could also use stealth early on to "take out" NK anti-air and other key facilities.
The aircraft on Carl Vinson itself and destroyer launching Tomahawks would be better suited as follow on launch platforms for a wide range of targets that no longer are defended by radar and SAMs.
I assume the Japanese destroyers (perhaps Atago and/or Kongo Aegis SM-3 classes) are not just involved in “joint drills”, or symbolic power projection. The US cruisers and destroyers in the Carl Vinson Group and the Japanese destroyers are likely Aegis SM-3 (?) equipped. This would make them important, mobile, Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) platforms that could participate in shooting down NK missiles.
How China and NK react are crucial issues.
1. Even though China may see NK as a problem child does China still think NK is valuable as a
buffer zone preventing SK and US ground forces advancing north to the Chinese border?
2. If so how might China react to the current US and Japanese naval actions?
3. If NK fires even test missiles could South Korea (SK), the US or Japan shooting them down
indicate to NK that NKs nuclear missiles might be useless in future.
4. Might such percieved NK missile ineffectivenes tempt NK use nuclear tipped missiles first (on
less provocation) while they are still effective?
less provocation) while they are still effective?
5. Alternatively iff US, SK and Japan fail to shoot down an NK test missile/missiles might this signal
to NK that NK nuclear tipped missiles probably would get through and be effective?
to NK that NK nuclear tipped missiles probably would get through and be effective?
6. Might an NK approach of destroying ABM defences in SK using NK artillery or NK cruise
missiles decapitate SK/US ABMs including THAAD? and
7. Does NK have a chance that one of its ballistic missile submarines could move close enough to
the continental (48 States) US to fire an SLBM (say at San Francisco, LA or San Diego?).
Even North Korea's long tested Rodong (or Nodong) missiles have sufficient 1,500km range to reach all of Japan.
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Highly relevant Youtube (dated 8-9 April 2017) about the Carl Vinson carrier group approaching the Koreas.
Pete