Navy Ships Form First Line Of Missile Defense

choi

Lolita C Baldor, Navy Ships Form First Line Of Missile Defense. Associated Press, May 30, 2012.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=187208185

Quote:

"While most Navy cruisers and destroyers deploy for about 6-1/2 months, and then spend more than three years at home, the missile defense warships are spending up to 7-1/2 months deployed and get a bit more than two years at home between tours. The rigors of the more frequent deployments will hasten the wear and tear on the ships, increasing their need for maintenance and repairs and potentially shortening their usable lifespans.

"the guided missile cruiser USS Lake Erie sailed out into the Pacific and on Feb 20, 2008, launched a strike that blew apart a disabled U.S. spy satellite that was tumbling in orbit at more than 17,000 mph about 130 miles above the Earth. The actual target, Navy leaders said, was a spot on the satellite the size of a postage stamp. And the missile, traveling at about 30,000 mph, hit it directly, destroying the satellite's onboard tank of about 1,000 pounds of toxic hydrazine fuel.

My comment: There is no need to read the rest.