Meet MV Ocean Trader — a one-of-a-kind shadowy Special Operations mothership literally designed to hide in plain sight 👀
Operating AIS dark, under commercial guise & hoisting false flags, it can launch drones, helos, boats, & SEALS.
Much is classified, but here’s what we know:
Operating AIS dark, under commercial guise & hoisting false flags, it can launch drones, helos, boats, & SEALS.
Much is classified, but here’s what we know:
MV Ocean Trader is not a commissioned vessel in the U.S. Navy, or owned by the government, but leased from one of the largest ship operators, & chartered by the Military Sealift Command.
MVOT was recently spotted in Bahrain by @n_morse9927, making a rare public appearance.
MVOT was recently spotted in Bahrain by @n_morse9927, making a rare public appearance.
https://twitter.com/ianellisjones/status/1819478463251636245
A decade ago, Special Operations Command began quietly converting a modern roll-on, roll-off cargo ship into a highly customized, cutting-edge, clandestine command center, mobile mothership, & forward sea base.
In 2014, @mercoglianos explained, “articles began to appear about the Navy obtaining a 'Big, Secretive Special Operations Mothership.' The story went, 'The U.S. Navy is quietly converting a 633-foot-long cargo ship into a secretive helicopter carrier with facilities for supporting a large contingent of Special Operations Forces and all their gear, including jet skis.'
Constructed in the Odense Steel Shipyard in 2011 for Maersk Line, it's capable of speeds of up to 21 knots. Her design is a common one in Europe, derived from the Flensburger roll-on/roll-of ships. She is a near sister ship to the four Point-class roll-on/roll-off ships chartered by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense in 2002.”
In 2014, @mercoglianos explained, “articles began to appear about the Navy obtaining a 'Big, Secretive Special Operations Mothership.' The story went, 'The U.S. Navy is quietly converting a 633-foot-long cargo ship into a secretive helicopter carrier with facilities for supporting a large contingent of Special Operations Forces and all their gear, including jet skis.'
Constructed in the Odense Steel Shipyard in 2011 for Maersk Line, it's capable of speeds of up to 21 knots. Her design is a common one in Europe, derived from the Flensburger roll-on/roll-of ships. She is a near sister ship to the four Point-class roll-on/roll-off ships chartered by the United Kingdom Ministry of Defense in 2002.”
“MV Ocean Trader has the capability to house a total of 209 special warfighting personnel, enough stores and provisions for 45 days of operations and the capability to refuel and replenish at sea, along with capacity to launch, recover, refuel, and resupply up to four small craft, including UAVs.
She includes a flight deck rated for day and night operation of Chinooks, Seahawks, Blackhawks, Kiowas, Apaches, Ospreys, Sea Stallions and Little Birds. There is storage and launch capability via the stern ramp for Zodiacs, RHIBs and jet skis.
The ship contains all the command and control and food services. A ship, forward deployed for over a year, can easily disappear amid an ocean filled with commercial shipping.” @mercoglianos
She includes a flight deck rated for day and night operation of Chinooks, Seahawks, Blackhawks, Kiowas, Apaches, Ospreys, Sea Stallions and Little Birds. There is storage and launch capability via the stern ramp for Zodiacs, RHIBs and jet skis.
The ship contains all the command and control and food services. A ship, forward deployed for over a year, can easily disappear amid an ocean filled with commercial shipping.” @mercoglianos
MV Ocean Trader has four launch & recovery bays located on the ship’s starboard side & embarks advanced vessels like the stealthy Combat Craft-Assault (CCA), @thewarzonewire reported. CCA boats are a popular platform for special operation forces to deploy with because they are fast, maneuverable, reconfigurable, designed to have a small radar and infrared signature, & — most importantly — easily deployable.
“This makes total sense as those efficient & compact remotely pilot vehicle systems are a favorite not just of the U.S. Navy, but also of special operators. The layout of the ship is also ideal for drone operations as its primary flight deck doesn’t have to be fouled during their launch & recovery evolutions, as is the case on many surface combatants & helicopter-carrying vessels.”
“This makes total sense as those efficient & compact remotely pilot vehicle systems are a favorite not just of the U.S. Navy, but also of special operators. The layout of the ship is also ideal for drone operations as its primary flight deck doesn’t have to be fouled during their launch & recovery evolutions, as is the case on many surface combatants & helicopter-carrying vessels.”
TWZ said there appears to be a launcher for Insitu drones on the ship’s stern flight deck area, & large communications arrays can also be seen. There is a .50 caliber machine gun mounted above the stern & another on the starboard side of the superstructure.
“But what’s most puzzling is how this modified ship that was already unique looking before SOCOM had a shipyard take a torch to it, which now includes large ports for launching small boats, a fairly massive hangar bay & a big block of an extension behind the bridge, was never photographed during its travels. And clearly, part of the idea behind Ocean Trader is that it won’t stick out too much from afar—a wolf in sheep’s clothing if you will.”
“But what’s most puzzling is how this modified ship that was already unique looking before SOCOM had a shipyard take a torch to it, which now includes large ports for launching small boats, a fairly massive hangar bay & a big block of an extension behind the bridge, was never photographed during its travels. And clearly, part of the idea behind Ocean Trader is that it won’t stick out too much from afar—a wolf in sheep’s clothing if you will.”
“MV Ocean Trader, along with Expeditionary Support Bases such as Lewis B. Puller and USNS Hershel “Woody” Williams and Spearhead-class Expeditionary Fast Transports, provides a unique capability to project military power afloat and ashore.
Ocean Trader’s commercial guise (like an auxiliary cruiser of old) provides stealth suitable for congested areas such as the Mediterranean or Baltic.” @mercoglianos
Ocean Trader’s commercial guise (like an auxiliary cruiser of old) provides stealth suitable for congested areas such as the Mediterranean or Baltic.” @mercoglianos
“The days of small radar signatures, applying special material to the hull, or suppressed sounds may just be giving way to the hoisting of false flags akin to the day of sail.”
Sources: @mercoglianos @n_morse9927 @Mar_Ex @thewarzonewire @NavyLookout
Pictures: David Kozdron, Fremantle Shipping News, Herve Dermoune, @WarshipCam
Pictures: David Kozdron, Fremantle Shipping News, Herve Dermoune, @WarshipCam
The last public sighting of MV Ocean Trader (that I can find) was at Pearl Harbor in September 2023.
https://twitter.com/WarshipCam/status/1704686636506775879
If you made it down here, you might enjoy this thread:
https://twitter.com/ianellisjones/status/1786552040459571248
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