Use of “Mothballed†Naval Platforms to Create Semi-permanent Battle Islands and Staging Areas
Jose L. Delgado and Eviya Vitola
The idea of a Seaborne Mobile Operating Base was first seriously considered when the United States entered Operation Desert Shield in the 1990s. During the ramp-up to the conflict, the U.S. was forced to request the use of allied bases, which proved to be politically sensitive and a security challenge in the case of Saudi Arabia. Alternatively, operational, pre-positioned semi-permanent bases in international waters could potentially curtail the amount of time necessary to react to contingencies in hotspots throughout the world. This proposed base concept could have virtually unlimited capabilities, and if appropriately implemented could provide more than just a floating air strip, but a town-sized base.
http://smallwarsjournal.com/jrnl/art/use-mothballed-naval-platforms-create-semi-permanent-battle-islands-and-staging-areas
