Destroyer USS John Finn Performs First Taiwan Strait Transit of 2024
JANUARY 24, 2024 11:25 AM
USS John Finn (DDG-113) performed the first Taiwan Strait transit of the 2024 calendar year on Wednesday.
“The ship transited through a corridor in the Strait that is beyond the territorial sea of any coastal State,” U.S. 7th Fleet said in a statement. “John Finn‘s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the United States’ commitment to upholding freedom of navigation for all nations as a principle. No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms.”
The destroyer sailed from the north of the strait to the south, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.
The transit comes two and a half weeks after Taiwan’s presidential election, in which the island elected Lai Ching-te of the Democratic Progressive Party, which has ruled Taiwan since 2016. Lai has been the vice president under President Tsai Ing-wen since 2020.
John Finn, a Flight IIA Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, is part of the forward-deployed naval forces in Yokosuka, Japan, having moved to its new homeport in March 2023. The destroyer is part of Commander, Task Force 71 (CTF-71) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15.
The U.S. periodically conducts Taiwan Strait transits, which China’s military frequently protests. In November, U.S. guided-missile destroyer USS Rafael Peralta (DDG-115) and Royal Canadian Navy Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ottawa (FFH-341) moved through the strait while monitored by Chinese ships and aircraft. The People’s Liberation Army at the time said the U.S. “hyped up” the transit.
The U.S. also conducts P-8A reconnaissance flights through the strait, which receive protests from China. In July, China’s Ministry of National Defense said the U.S. “hyped publicly” a P-8A transit through the strait, USNI News reported at the time. The U.S. Navy last publicly disclosed a P-8A flight through the Taiwan Strait in early December.
Chinese ships and aircraft consistently operate around Taiwan. As of 6 a.m. local time on Wednesday, five People’s Liberation Army Navy ships and seven PLA aircraft were operating around the island, according Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense.
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The Des Moines Class Cruiser – The Greatest Heavy Cruiser
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War History online proudly presents this Guest Piece from Chris Knupp
Determining what would have been the greatest heavy cruiser would be a challenging task. Very successful designs were put to sea by a variety of nations. However, there was one cruiser that was born from all cruisers before it. This class of warship took the lessons from World War 2 and was designed around them. The vessel I speak of is the Des Moines class cruiser. A little-known cruiser due to its late introduction, the Des Moines found itself overshadowed by the emergence of ship-launched missiles. Despite serving for almost 25 years, their capabilities are largely unknown. What makes these ships the greatest heavy cruiser designs and how were they developed as such?
The Design
USS Newport News (Des Moines class) alongside USS Boston (Baltimore class). The Larger size of the Des Moines class is evident, especially her larger turrets.
USS Atlanta 1891
The second USS Atlanta was a protected cruiser and one of the first steel warships of the “New Navy” of the 1880s. In some references she is combined with Boston as the Atlanta class, in others as the Boston class.
Atlanta was laid down on 8 November 1883 at Chester, Pennsylvania by John Roach & Sons; launched on 9 October 1884; sponsored by Miss Jessie Lincoln, the daughter of Secretary of War Robert Todd Lincoln and granddaughter of President Abraham Lincoln; and commissioned at the New York Navy Yard on 19 July 1886, Captain Francis M. Bunce in command
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Atlanta_(1884)
Tempéte (French Coast Defense Ship, 1876), right center, and Redoutable (French Battleship, 1876), left center, moored off Brest navy yard, France circa the late 1870s or early 1880s. In the distance, beyond Tempéte’s stern, are a Colbert class battleship, with a Victorieuse class armored cruiser off its port side.
| NH 74894: Note the French sailor in the foreground, leaning on what appears to be an old cannon partially buried for use as a bollard. The original print is in an Office of Naval Intelligence album of French warship photographs. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation, Washington, D.C. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. | |
| Date | between 1876 and 1910 |