NYT: The Ponce Floating Base Steps Up U.S. Presence in the Persian Gulf

I'd say the U.S. Navy owns and Operates it for the U.S. DoD (?)

Or maybe it's some sort of Seal or Force Recon forward base ?

(Of course,even with a magnifying glass these old Mark Ones miss a lot.)

What I can't "See" on deck P.+S. are a couple of these:

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

There's one on the forecastle, above the row of life raft containers.

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Just say "NO" to Ethanol - Drive Diesel

Mitchell Oates
Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club

If that vessel has to shoot, the United States is in serious trouble. It's a hotel and supply depot, not a warship.

Ponce was changed from USS to USNS. In which deck and engineering duties are handled by contractors while CIC and communications and weapons systems are manned by naval personnel. The captain and a handful of officers are commissioned in the USN.

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"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Mark Twain

Could use a paint job...

I thought we were getting out of the Middle East?

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
2003 Honda Odyssey (for the wife & 4 kids) 1999 GMC Suburban 1500 SLT (245K+ miles) 21' SeaRay Seville Mid-cabin (summer escape pod)