USS Canberra ? WDYT?

Warrigal

Warrigal

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Location
Sydney, Australia
I'm not sure that I like this idea. Please think about it and let me know your thoughts.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act...-be-named-after-canberra-20180224-h0wkzp.html

The newest American navy vessel will have a touch of Australia on board, if only in name.During a joint press conference in Washington DC with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, US President Donald Trump announced the US Navy's new warship will be named the USS Canberra.
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It appears that there was another ship of that name decommissioned over 40 years ago.

The USS Canberra will be an Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship, and will replace its former namesake, which was decommissioned in the 1970s.

It is only the US navy vessel to be named for a city outside of the US.
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Would it be appropriate to name one of our customs vessels the HMAS Washington?
 

I think that this is a wonderful tribute both to the original Australian ship that our first U.S.S. Canberra was named after, as well as the distinguished history of our ship of that name.
According to the U.S.S. ship’s history, it was originally going to be named the Pittsburg, but was named after the HMAS Canberra that was lost in the battle of Savo Island; so it was an act of respect and honor to the Australian ship, and to the country itself.
By naming another ship in honor of both of the earlier ones, it again reaffirms that friendship which exists between our two countries.
If we lost one of our battleships during a war, and Australia name one of theirs in honor of the American one, I think that would be fine, too.

http://hmascanberra.com/history/usscanberra.html
 
I was going to say it seemed odd, but HappyFlowerLady's explanation changed my mind.

Thanks, HFL. :D
 

I would prefer that the US military stick with names that have some patriotic symbolism to the American people.

As far as what Australia and other countries should do, I would leave that up to them.
 
We have had a succession of ships named the Canberra.
Currently HMAS Canberra is a Light Aircraft Carrier/Landing Helicopter Dock.
I find it confusing to say the least that US also has a ship named the Canberra.
 
Aunt Bea said:
I would prefer that the US military stick with names that have some patriotic symbolism to the American people.

As far as what Australia and other countries should do, I would leave that up to them.
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To tell the truth, this makes me very uneasy. I have a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I understand the original gesture but why repeat it? It feels like flattery and I am very wary about what the flattery might be for. It wouldn't have anything to do with wanting Australia to take part in freedom of navigation exercises in the Sth China Sea, would it?

US President Donald Trump said he would love the Australian Navy to join the United States in freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea.

Australia has previously diplomatically avoided directly participating in the exercises, which represent statements against China's incursion into the international waterways and crucial maritime trade routes.

Asked if the United States would like to have Australian naval ships join the exercises, Mr Trump was effusive.

"We would love to have Australia involved and I think Australia wants us to stay involved," he said.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop last week said US warships, positioned in Darwin as part of the building US presence in Australia's north, could conduct freedom of navigation exercises from there. But she again stopped short of advocating a direct role for Australian ships, something which would irritate Beijing.

Read more: http://www.afr.com/news/donald-trum...south-china-sea-20180223-h0wkwc#ixzz582EiK5Vk
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Please, please don't turn this into a partisan political argument.
 
Please, please don't turn this into a partisan political argument.[/QUOTE]

Ok. Sometimes a gesture is a way to open the door for cooperation aka a deal.
 
Turnbull, as far as I know, was in Washington to try to persuade US to look again at the TPP. As for military co-operation we already have US troops on 6 monthly rotation near Darwin and joint military/naval exercises in the Coral Sea.

I think we draw the line at poking China in the eye with a sharp stick by challenging them in the South China Sea.

As for a deal, we do have a treaty that says we will come to each other's aid if either country is attacked. It does not cover taking pre-emptive action or provocative military exercises.
 
Warrigal said:
To tell the truth, this makes me very uneasy. I have a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I understand the original gesture but why repeat it? It feels like flattery and I am very wary about what the flattery might be for. It wouldn't have anything to do with wanting Australia to take part in freedom of navigation exercises in the Sth China Sea, would it?



Please, please don't turn this into a partisan political argument.
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I'm not sure why you are admonishing me not to make this a political argument, I really don't care what the motivation was.
 
Sorry Aunt Bea. I had no intention of admonishing anyone.
I was just expressing my feelings of concern.
I've had a good sleep since and I am more settled now.

I was also concerned that, because my link referred to the US president, it might be construed as a political thread.
Sometimes it feel like walking on eggshells because things can get out of hand so quickly but I meant nothing personal.
 
I've heard there are plans for laying the keel of the USNS Marty Feldman.

You know how the USNS Bob Hope plays "Thanks for the Memories" when they leave port?

The Marty Feldman will play "I've Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts".

I hope the UK isn't offended. ;)
 
Aunt Bea said:
I would prefer that the US military stick with names that have some patriotic symbolism to the American people.

As far as what Australia and other countries should do, I would leave that up to them.
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I'm inclined to agree with Aunt Bea.
 
Warrigal said:
To tell the truth, this makes me very uneasy. I have a very bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I understand the original gesture but why repeat it? It feels like flattery and I am very wary about what the flattery might be for. It wouldn't have anything to do with wanting Australia to take part in freedom of navigation exercises in the Sth China Sea, would it?



Please, please don't turn this into a partisan political argument.
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I can't imagine why the name of a ship should make anyone uneasy.
 
Butterfly said:
I can't imagine why the name of a ship should make anyone uneasy.
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I agree. I will try to tread very carefully here, but it seems likely that if the naming of the ship had occurred during the Obama Administration, there would be no worries. In fact, there may have been cheers.

Since it has been brought up already, I'd like to point out that Communist China has been building artificial islands on top of sand bars in the South China Sea and turning those islands into military bases, complete with surface-to-air missiles, huge radar stations and airstrips stocked with attack aircraft. It should be further noted that those artificial islands are 750+ miles away from the Chinese mainland and smack in the middle of a major waterway used by all nations.

Now, China is claiming the surrounding waters as "their" territory. This incursion into previously neutral waters is a direct provocation. I do not expect it to happen tomorrow, or even a decade from now, but sooner or later Communist China will find a pretext for grabbing islands belonging to The Philippines.

Such a land grab, like they did in Tibet, will occur when the United States has her hands full elsewhere or during a weak, left leaning, American administration. I see chilling parallels between what is happening in the South China Sea and the land grabs of Nazi Germany during the 1930's, prior to WW2.

Western nations think in terms of the next decade or two. Communist China thinks in term of the next century or two.
 
Flattery makes me uneasy, regardless of who sits in the Oval Office.
Apparently Theresa May has agreed to allow UK naval ships to join the US ships exercising right of navigation.
I would prefer that Australia sit this one out but we probably won't.
 

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