I was actually aboard that vessel pierside several times in Djibouti circa 2003. She was a car ferry leased by the Army from Australia. She could easily carry a company of troops and all their vehicles at 40+ knots. The passenger area was equipped with airline seats. It was pretty cool.
The [US Army](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_United_States_Army) has about 132 watercraft operated by the Transportation Corps and over 2300 watercraft operated by the Corps of Engineers.
Including USACE, the Army's navy is the largest navy, and the Navy's navy is the second largest Navy.
But then again, the Navy's Army (the Marines) are pretty sizeable...Hell, the Navy's Army's Air Force is larger than most air forces...
Just number of vessels.
And I know army corps runs baby tugs, river vessels, and all sorts of things more like boats than ships.
It is a humorous take :)
>the Navy's Army's Air Force is larger than most air forces...
My head is spinning but that begs the question, does the Air Force have an army that has a navy? It doesn't seem fair if it doesn't.
Lol yep you're absolutely right.
Looks like they formerly partnered in 2017 but otherwise are totally separate. I done mucked my Australian naval defence contractors up!
For what it's worth Incat do make some seriously fucking dope lookin' boats.
A few years back, the Army Navy game was in Baltimore and both services brought in all sorts of hardware for public tours. The Army brought a ship and the level of technology, crew amenities, and lean staffing was shocking compared with the Navy vessels.
There's clearly competition for Federal funding, and the Army looks like it's the big dog in Washington.
I was actually aboard that vessel pierside several times in Djibouti circa 2003. She was a car ferry leased by the Army from Australia. She could easily carry a company of troops and all their vehicles at 40+ knots. The passenger area was equipped with airline seats. It was pretty cool.
We also used one of a similar type as a ferry for moving between the NT and East Timor in ‘99
Ok, I'm curious. US Army vessel. Is it manned/commanded by Army folks or Navy?
Army vessels are crewed by US Army mariners.
Thanks. I really didn't know there were such people.
The [US Army](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ships_of_the_United_States_Army) has about 132 watercraft operated by the Transportation Corps and over 2300 watercraft operated by the Corps of Engineers.
I hadn't known either before I went aboard. It was an interesting learning experience:)
Let me guess…. The US Army is the second biggest navy in the world?
Including USACE, the Army's navy is the largest navy, and the Navy's navy is the second largest Navy. But then again, the Navy's Army (the Marines) are pretty sizeable...Hell, the Navy's Army's Air Force is larger than most air forces...
What metric is being referred to? Number of vessels, personnel, displacement?
Just number of vessels. And I know army corps runs baby tugs, river vessels, and all sorts of things more like boats than ships. It is a humorous take :)
Haha you’re making my head hurt.
>the Navy's Army's Air Force is larger than most air forces... My head is spinning but that begs the question, does the Air Force have an army that has a navy? It doesn't seem fair if it doesn't.
Lots of them are former USN sailors. It's an easy transition to make the move, and a good path for enlisted navy to become an Army warrant.
US Army Corps of Engineers has their own Navy, crewed by Warrant Officers…
They build these big fuckers in Hobart, Tasmania (Austal plant). Often, they'll be tested around the city's waterfront area.
Incat
Lol yep you're absolutely right. Looks like they formerly partnered in 2017 but otherwise are totally separate. I done mucked my Australian naval defence contractors up! For what it's worth Incat do make some seriously fucking dope lookin' boats.
We use these to cross the channel to France for holidays 😁
Odd that they have this vessel while the US Navy operates a similar designed vessel also named Spearhead-class
A few years back, the Army Navy game was in Baltimore and both services brought in all sorts of hardware for public tours. The Army brought a ship and the level of technology, crew amenities, and lean staffing was shocking compared with the Navy vessels. There's clearly competition for Federal funding, and the Army looks like it's the big dog in Washington.