Episode 23

PHIBRON 3, USS America (LHA-6)

Straits of Malacca

Captain Lensten was a career naval officer.  Coming from a Navy family, he had never wanted to do anything else besides be in the Navy.  Being accepted to Annapolis at eighteen has been one of the greatest moments of his life. One of only two times he had ever seen his father, a retired master chief, cry.  It had not sat well with him that the ‘phibs had been largely ignored thus far into the war.  Aside from the highly successful F-35 strike, the “gator navy” as was sometimes called, hadn’t done much.  Their recall to Pearl Harbor had come as a disappointment until he had gotten his current mission brief.

As the commander of Amphibious Squadron Three (COMPHIBRON3), he was ultimately responsible for all the ships in the squadron but not her marines.  This close working relationship between amphib commanders and their Marine counterparts was as old as the concept of an amphibious ship.  Like transports, the ‘fibs main job was to get the Marines to the fight and to support them.  Unlike an aircraft carrier, they weren’t normally considered a “strike” asset.

However, their current mission was something PHIBRON 3 could do well, even if it wasn’t on their normal mission profile.  Many years ago, it was the revenue cutter’s job to perform maritime patrol and interdiction.  Now, it was a bit more complicated.  Today, the mission was to close the Malacca straight.  Doing that would be VERY unpopular with the locals and would likely cause some unrest.  Having a Coast Guard cutter try to close the straight was just an invitation to Chinese air strikes or local intervention.

Thus, the very powerful PHIBRON 3 and an escort of four destroyers had been given the mission.

While stopping or even boarding a freighter was no great challenge, responding to the inevitable military response from China or other local powers was a different matter entirely. At about 2,500 miles from Diego Garcia and about the same distance from Australia, the ability to support the ARG by air was slight.  This meant that while they had a good supply chain and plenty of consumables, they were largely on their own when it came to fighting power.   They did have some patrol coverage from P-8’s from Diego Garcia and Australia, but there was no way a tactical aircraft could get that far on their own.  With the attack on the Vinson, there were no other friendly air assets in the vicinity.

“Sir, the Malays are calling again, asking for my commanding officer.”

“Thanks, Jim.  Tell them the same thing.  We are operating in international waters enforcing a ban on Chinese shipping.”

“Yes, sir.  I already did.  They seem to think we’re encroaching.”

“I am sure they do and we probably are.  Nothing for it.  Warn them to stay clear.”

“Aye, aye sir.”

Having a couple of thousand pissed off marines ready to attack pretty much anything that got in their way had a way of encouraging people to stay clear.

Not everyone had gotten the message yet, however.

“Chinese vessel, This is the United States Navy vessel to your port side.  Stand to and prepare to be boarded.”

“US Military, you have no legal right to board our vessel.”

“Chinese vessel, stand to.  This is your last opportunity to comply.  Shut down your engines immediately.”

The sailors staffing the CIC looked to their captain.  So far, the boarding actions had gone well.  International crews wanted no argument with the US Navy.  This ship, however, was Chinese flagged and an intelligence said the crew was mainly comprised of Chinese nationals.

“She’s not stopping sir.”

“Thank you petty officer. I see that.  Air boss, let’s get a couple of Zulus over there to convince him.”

The AH-1Z “Viper” attack helicopter was the latest in a very long line of attack helicopters going way back to Vietnam and the original “Huey” that had carried so many Marines there. Also known as Cobra Zulus, they were tried and true.  Not fancy, but they got the job done.  Moving up to the “flight bridge” Lensten took a pair of binoculars from the watchstander there.  He could see a pair of the narrow helicopters flying in formation to the huge cargo vessel.

While one of the helicopters orbited, the flight lead brought his helicopter and it’s very ominous looking forward mounted machine gun level with the bridge of the huge cargo vessel.  Flying backwards, he was able to maintain enough speed to “hover” over the ship even though it was moving at ten knots.  Even if you didn’t know anything about military helicopters, the machine gun and hellfire missiles hanging off the stubby wings of the attack helicopter were tough to miss.  These marines meant business.

“US Navy, this is an illegal action.”

A new voice joined the radio conversation.  “Chinese vessel, I really don’t give a fuck.  I say again, stand to.  Stand to or we will fire.  Do not test me sir; you will not enjoy the experience.  This is the US Marine corps speaking and we don’t bluff.”  It took all of Lensten’s will power not to laugh outright.   Major Lingborne was a “marine’s marine.”  A Mustang, he had been a Sergeant when he went into OCS and everyone agreed he was as tough as they came.  

“US Navy, do not fire, we are shutting down our engines.”

“Confirmed sir, she is slowing.”

Sometimes, it took a Marine’s touch.  Lensten walked down to CIC where the Major was holding fort.  “Major, I believe we can begin boarding operations.”

Although impounding a single ship was not going to make a dent in the Chinese economy, the complete curtailment of any oil or other goods into China would have a catastrophic effect. China’s economy was largely driven by exports and her domestic oil production was not nearly enough for her needs. Thus, the sea was a vital lifeline. A lifeline that could be interrupted.