The news has been ignoring the crisis in the Ukraine...a crisis that will affect almost every person on this planet due to the impact that the economic sanctions on Russia will cause worldwide...and focused hard on the missing airliner.
So be it.
But in looking at the airliner incident one thing seems to have escaped the notice of everyone.
The Boeing 777 was carrying approx 300 people. An Airbus 380 can carry around 500+ as can a Boeing 747.
What happens if one crashes into the ocean and their are survivors?
Of course every ship in range will be dispatched to rescue survivors. Everyone will be doing there absolute best, regardless of nation or ethnic origin to save the passengers and crew. But are destroyers, cutters and merchant ships the best tool for the job?
No.
I contend that USN/USMC LHA/LHD's with attached Marine Units are best equipped to handle a downed large airliner at sea.
1. It has the helicopters to rescue people in the water at range.
2. It has LCACs that can travel rapidly to the scene that can rescue numerous people...perhaps the entire passenger list.
3. They have a fully stocked hospital, along with numerous beds and the personnel to treat the injured.
4. They can serve as an at sea base of operations for investigators to determine the cause of the accident and to recover pieces of the wreckage that are still afloat.
The USMC and USN should consider adding at sea rescue of large airliners to the MEU mission set. Yes its a unique mission but one day we're going to see a large airliner go down and passengers are going to be needing rescue. The big deck amphib is the best ship in the fleet to handle this occurrence.
