gemerson

Some interesting stuff bubbling-up out there today. Enjoy the updates! Summary to follow ... 26 May USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY ends port visit to Guam, now heading for Indonesia for her first mission of PP12. USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON, together with ships of its Carrier Strike Group, departs homeport Yokosuka (Japan) to begin its 2012 patrol. 28 May CHINA – Source: NIPmail Deep sea research ship XIANGYANGGHONG 09, with embarked manned submersible JIAOLONG, set out from Qingdao for attempt at Mariana Trench 7,000-meter dive. JAPAN – Source: NIPmail Japanese navy training squadron (KASHIMA, SHIMAYUKU, MATSUYUKI) arrives at Subic Bay, Manila (Philippines) for a scheduled visit until 01 Jun. 29 May CHINA – Source: NIPmail Photos suggest another (overall fourth?) TYPE 056 corvette under construction at Huangpu shipyard. (rmks: Another update to the HUCE DB) COLOMBIA – Source: NIPmail Colombian authorities impounded a homemade semi-submersible sea craft capable of transporting up to 5t of drugs … designed to be unmanned and be quietly tugged by another vessel or vessels to its destination … found alongside a go-fast boat capable of carrying another 10t of drugs … just outside Pacific port of Buenaventura. IRAN – Source: NIPmail Iran has completed 4-year domestic overhaul and mid-life upgrade and re-launched KILO-class submarine TAREGH (acquired from Russia in 1992) … all systems repaired with locally-made replacements. (rmks: It will be interesting to see how successful they were on the refit. It will gauge their ability to build something larger than a mini-sub) NORWAY (NATO) – Source: NIPmail (New) NATO ASW exercise “Dynamic Mongoose 12” starts off the south-western Norwegian coast … until 06 Jun … 4 submarines (GER, NDL, NOR), 4 surface ships (FRA, GER, OTC in Norwegian frigate FRITJOF NANSEN) and 11 aircraft . RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Search and rescue vessel IGOR BELOUSOV, under construction at Admiralty Shipyards in St. Petersburg (since 2005), will be equipped with two ARS-600 two-seat submersibles, designed to perform an array of functions, including search, rescue and salvage of submarines in distress. +++ Navy spokesman: “Strategic missile submarines of a new generation (BOREJ class) will join the Pacific Fleet in 2014 … the Northern Fleet in 2012”. (rmks: Obviously the reporter had a rough night of medicinal vodka use before writing the story. Hey its easy to hit the 2-key instead of the 4-key. Earlier plans saw BOREJ first-of-class YURI DOLGORUKIY to join Pacific Fleet in 2012) +++ Black Sea Fleet NANUCHKA (MIRAZH, SHTIL) and TARANTUL (IVANOVETS, R-239) missile boats conduct live missile firing exercise. SOMALIA – Source: NIPmail Al-Qaeda linked al-Shabaab insurgents claim to have fired artillery and anti-aircraft guns at two foreign warships that came in close to the key rebel port of Kismayo … “forcing them to withdraw at speed”. (rmks: NATO nor EU NavFor confirm incident. If it happened, ships were probably on a recce mission (hopefully to apply a dose of raid in the form of a naval gunfire mission). As usual, no pirate were harmed in reporting this story) SYRIA¬ – Source: NIPmail Local Press RUMINT: Russian arms ship PROFESSOR KATSMAN did not unload weapons shipment at Tartus (Syria) but “quietly slipped out of the port”. (rmks: I wonder if the Russkies decided not to supply Assad, for fear of getting political egg on their collective face) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TRAFALGAR class submarine TIRELESS has returned to sea after completing an 18-month refit … sister boat TRENCHANT has begun similar yard period. USA – Source Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) +++ Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers confident fire-damaged submarine MIAMI can be repaired, but the Navy says it'll be “several weeks” before there's any word. +++ Amphibious assault ship MAKIN ISLAND completes visit to Hong Kong, continues transit for home port San Diego. USA (INDONESIA) CARAT 2012: Frigate VANDEGRIFT moors at the Port of Surabaya (Indonesia) marking the beginning of the Indonesian phase of CARAT 2012. 30 May RUSSIA Zelenodolsk (Gorky) starts construction of new major (“1st rank”, 3,000t) patrol ship OKEAN, built for Border Guard Service to replace KRIVAK-III and IVAN SUSANIN class ships … in Northwest Pacific and Arctic / near Arctic waters. (rmks: Likely to be part of the Russkies Arctic force)

Aren't you being a little rough on the little reprehensible, bottom-feeding, efite member of lowest level of the food chain. Next time tell how you really feel. Just between you and me, I'm glad my cable package doesn't have MSNBC or CNN (it would be nice to have Fox News, but that's beside the point).

Obviously, this Tupelov's entry into the market to compete with Boeing's P-8 Poseidon. It'll be interesting to see if it will be at Eurovaval (in Paris) in October of this year.

After the long weekend, there's lots of naval-related news to update. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 22 May USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT arrives at Walvis Bay (Namibia) for a two-day port visit … the first US Navy vessel port-of-call here since 1999. 23 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Bab el Mandeb: Three skiffs with probable pirates on board (weapons sighted) approach merchant vessel in the Bab el Mandeb strait … ship manages to avoid being hijacked. (rmks: As usual, no pirates were injured in the reporting of this story) USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) LPD 18 NEW ORLEANS arrives in Hong Kong (China) for a port scheduled visit (rmks: part of MAKIN ISLAND Amphibious Ready Group, on return transit from Middle East deployment to home port San Diego). 24 May AUSTRALIA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Frigate BALLARAT completes a 5-day visit to Shanghai (China) with a “Passex” with Chinese frigate ANQING. BALLARAT now heading for South Korea for first ever joint naval exercises … starting on 27 May off Jeju Island with 10 warships participating … focus on ASW. CHINA – Source: NIPmail Chinese navy training vessel ZHENGHE ends two-day visit to Djibouti to continue around-the-world trip … next stop Taranto (Italy). INDIA (RUSSIA) – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Second TALWAR-mod class frigate, TARKASH, departs Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) for a first round of sea trials. NORWAY – Source: NIPmail The Norwegian government likely will decide the future of its submarine force by 2015 or 2016, when it will either buy new vessels or conduct a second upgrade of the ULA class boats. PORTUGAL – Source: NIPmail Submarine TRIDENTE sails from Lisbon for Norfolk (USA) … to participate in multi-national exercise “War of 1812 – Fleetex” (19-29 Jun) … first ever Atlantic crossing of a Portuguese submarine. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ GEPARD class frigate DAGESTAN has conducted live missile firing (new Kalibr-NK system) during “first stage of sea trials” in the Black Sea … crew is preparing the warship to move to the Caspian Sea for the final stage of the trials. +++ The Russian navy reportedly plans to order a second Project 11711 IVAN GREN class landing ship … only afterwards decide on series production of more. (rmks: Hard to tell if this is legit or the vodka version of the story) USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) +++ SAFE Boats is to build a new class of patrol boats for the Naval Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) … intial batch of five 85-ft Mark VI patrol boat with option for another six (ultimately 48 planned) … supplanting and replacing existing craft such as the 68-foot Mark IV and 34-foot SEA ARK patrol boats. +++ Final keel section of CVN 78 GERALD R. FORD lowered into place at Huntington Ingalls - Newport News … ship now more than 75 percent structurally complete … on schedule to launch in 2013 and delivery in 2015. 25 May AZERBEIDJAN – IRAN – Source: NIPmail According to Azeri media, six Iranian navy warships conducted exercises “very close to the Azeri sea borders” … “as if demonstrating a real threat”. (rmks: amid more recent reports on “deteriorating relations”) CANADA – Source: NIPmail Irving Shipbuilding has launched the first of up to 12 new Mid-Shore Patrol Vessels (MSPVs) for the Canadian coast guard. (rmks: Look for add’s to the DB soon (hopefully)) RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Even though MoD and United Shipbuilding Corporation failed again to agree final terms for five new BOREJ class (Project 955) strategic nuclear submarines, (rmks: preliminary) contracts reportedly signed … more negotiations on final price for the BOREJ boats by 2015. THAILAND (USA) – Source: NIPmail CARAT 2012: Closing ceremony at Sattahip for Thailand phase of this year’s CARAT series. USA – Source: NIPmail Two days after dock landing ship NEW ORLEANS, amphibious assault ship MAKIN ISLAND also berths at Hong Kong (China) for a scheduled visit. (rmks: MAKIN ISLAND Amphibious Ready Group on return transit from Middle East deployment to home port San Diego) 26 May SYRIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Cargo vessel PROFESSOR KATSMAN (owned by a Maltese firm, which itself is owned by a Cypriot company that is owned by Russian firm) reportedly about to arrive at Tartus (Syria) with a major weapons load for the government. (rmks: until now, there is no internationally binding, i.e. UN-declared arms embargo on Syria and the Russkies have never been known to quibble about selling their wares to tinpot dictators in MENA) +++ A Venezuelan oil tanker is returning to Venezuela from Syria with a cargo of naphtha, after delivering badly needed diesel, as Western sanctions have caused shortages. (rmks: Ditto the above for Chavez) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail RFA ARGUS (helicopter/hospital ship) has sailed for the Caribbean for exercises and standby-duty for disaster relief in the upcoming hurricane season. 27 May NIGERIA – Source: NIPmail The Nigerian Navy has successfully completed construction of a locally made vessel, the first of its kind in the West African subregion … the “31-m Seaward Defence Boat” will be commissioned 01 Jun, when also construction of second boat is to start. PIRACY – Source: IMO Update At its latest meeting in London, the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has agreed to an “Interim Guidance” to private maritime security companies … covering professional certification, procedures, selection & training of personnel, deployment, management of arms and ammunition. (rmks: Its about bloddy time. Now authorize the issuance of letters of marque) 28 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Patrol boat ARARAT intercepts a suspected asylum seeker boat carrying 88 people north-west of Christmas Island. +++ Police in Sri Lanka have arrested 113 people about to sail for attempting to migrate illegally to Australia. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail United Arab Emirates; A pipeline being built by the UAE to pump most of its oil exports from east coast terminals bypassing the Iran-threatened Strait of Hormuz, will become operational in June. ITALY – Source: NIPmail The Italian navy completes annual two-week MCM exercise “Italian Minex 12” … in the Tyrrhenian Sea … NATO SNMCMG2 participating. PAKISTAN – Source: NIPmail Chinese-built, newly commissioned fast missile craft AZMAT arrives Colombo (Sri Lanka) for a scheduled visit on her transit voyage from China to Pakistan. PIRACY – Source: IMO Update +++ Somalia: Police in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland arrested 11 pirates and among them a leading figure. (rmks: By the time your reading this, he probably will have already been released) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Japanese destroyers IKAZUCHI and SAWAGIRI visit Colombo (Sri Lanka) for a last logistic stop enroute the Gulf of Aden … will relieve destroyers MURASAME and HARUSAME, on duty since end of February. (rmks: And the cockaroaches (excuse me, the pirates will quake in fear … not) RUSSIA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Zvezdochka repair shipyard “this year” will complete upgrades/repairs of submarines VERKHOTURYE and NOVOMOSKOVSK (both DELTA-IV) as well as KILO-class submarine KALUGA … KALUGA refloated on 26 May. SOUTH KOREA – AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Both navies begin two-day anti-submarine warfare exercise “Haidoli Wallaby” … off Jeju island … participants include Australian frigate BALLARAT and up to ten ROK Navy vessels, among them destroyer SEJONG DAEWAN. (rmks: part of BALLARAT’s four month deployment through Southeast and East Asia) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA - USA - NORWAY - USA (Aug) – Source: NIPmail Navies of Russia, USA and Norway will hold maritime interdiction operations and search and rescue exercise “Northern Eagle 2012” in the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea in August … involve Russian destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a US Navy ARLEIGH BURKE class destroyer and Norwegian coast guard ship NORDKAPP as well as naval aircraft and helicopters. (rmks: previous “Northern Eagle” held in 2004, 2006, and 2008).

Amen and amen! The media in general are all a bunch of molly-coddling, sunshine patriots, filled with weasel words. In the food chain, they rank at or near the level of pond scum. I stand corrected, pond by nature stinks and doesn't have a choice in the matter. Members of the media on the other hand, make the daily choice to stink when they behave in the manner of MSNBC, CNN and others.

Although the Iranians are good at workarounds for many other systems and they have a submarine industry (with their IRGCN mini-subs) in its infancy stage, only time will tell if they are able to successfully modernize the Tareq class of Russian-made Kilos. Paint me ekeptical at this point.

The odds of Russia allying with any of the Baltic states is a 1 (it's closer to .00000001, but for the sake of your question I'll make it a 1 - extremely slim due to existing animosities). An alliance between TUrkey and Israel is also a 1 (although they enjoyed very good relations in the past, they are currently on the outs due to the Palestinian issue). One possible alliance that is very plausible (about a 6 to 7) is the EE forces of the BlackSeaFor (Romania and Bulgaria) joing Ukraine, in coming to the aide of Georgia, if Russia were again to try sme shenanigans. Turkey would likely sit things, because they are in NATO and to prevent hostilities from entering the Med (an utlerior motive would be to enter the power vacuum after the hostilities are over with). A NA alliance could be a likelihood (about a 6 to 7), buillt on the Muslim Brotherhood foundation. The newly formed Egyptian and Libyan governments stand with Algeria and Morocco to oppose European expansionism (perceived from businesses trying to capitalize off of market and business development by European companies after the dust settles from the various Arab revolts). Mgellis - There is fodder here for numerous scenarios. Thanks for letting me think utside the box.

Greetings, Is there any chance the naval inventories of smaller forces can be added to the HUCE database? These forces would help to fleshout the South America, Sub-Saharan Africa and the smaller forces in the GUIK and WestPac battlesets. Adding these smaller units would make generating a broader range of scenarios possible. If numbers and names need to be plugged into an Excel spreadsheet to be incorporated into the DB, send me a template of the Excel workbook and I'b be more than happy to plug int the numbers and text to help the community in developing a better gaming experience. Best regards!

The operation against Iran will be short , swift and surgical. Gas prices will go through the roof and Islam in general will be split over the event. Shia factions globally will call for Jihad and we could see an up-swing in terrorism, as revolution that makes the 2011 Arab Spring looks like a peace march sit-in takes place. The Sunni will begin quashing and squashing the Shia's. The UN will blame all of this on the US. As the dust settles a new power structure will coalese around the Central Asian republic (known as the stans), led by Turkey, which backed the US in the recent dust-up. Turkey is neither predominantly Shia or Sunni and they are currently one of the most moderate muslim nation around and they have a pretty robust ecnomy going. Many analysts see them as an up and coming power player in the foreseeable future. Mgellis, I'm hoping you're taking note, 'cause you've got fodder here for numerous scenarios just from this thread.

Yeah, that too! The Stone mockumentary, would make it all our fault.

Old WWI bombadier's say ... when your over the target, you'll receive the most flak. Obviously, they have no ligit arguments so they are relying on liberal tactics - sling mud. Godspeed Dave, knock their freaking socks off!

I think the Russkies would understand us relandscaping one Iranian city and turning it into a parking lot, but turning Tehran and several other cities into uninhabitable plains of glass would cause them to enact the mutual defense treaties they signed with Iran in the 1990s and retaliate in kind. Additionally, the rest of the Islamic world would be thrown into turmoil. Although most other Muslim countries hate Iran because they are Shia, like the Russians the Sunnis would accept one city being turned into a parking lot, maybe even two (they are Shias of course). Nuking Afghanistan into the mix would be perceived as a general attack on Islam. If you want a freaking Jihad, I think nuking Iran and Afghanistan would cause one. Muslims have a keen sense of justice, but if they smell a general assualt on Islam (regardless of branch), their blood will boil. I agree with Tony, the UN would move at warp speed to condemn us - we are always the bad guy. NATO countries would cancel liberty privileges for US troops on their soil and restrict them to their bases. Meanwhile the Eurozone economy truly meltsdown, as the oil stops flowing from the Middle East. I think China would sieze the opportunity to expand its reach and throw its weight around WESTPAC - power abhors a vacuum. With the US focusing on battling the Islamic wolves at the door, China would naturally begin feeling its oats. North Korea would also see this an an opportunity to reunify the Korean Penninsula. I could go on and on - the possibilities are endless. Man, you see how much havoc one terrorist nuke causes!

LCS (both flavors) is just another fine example of DC pork barrel politics, using the fine men and women of our navy as lab rats. The Danish tried this same experiment with ther Flying Fish multi-purpose vessels and where are they all right at this moment ... decommissioned and awaiting some poor shlubs to buy them off the secondary market. LCS is like ther meringe on some wierd and fetid cream pie - it sure looks nice, but it ain't got a lot of substance and oh by the way, I don't think I want to take a bite of it. They look cool, but I don't think they can fight. neither is out-fitted with an SSM (oh yeah, mission modules - weasel words for costly bells and whistles). By the way, did anyone remember to mention one flavor is made from aluminum? As Hagel once profoundly stated, "History teaches that mankind learns absolutely nothing from history." Does anyone remember what happened to the USS Stark? It got hit by an exocet and the resulting fire melted a portion of the superstructure. That would make for really inspiring feed - we base them in Singapore and when China starts feeling their oats. China launches a whole bunch of their Saccades and if there are Independence class LCSs in the US task group responding, we could be watching them burn to the waterline, as the all aluminum design melts. I look at naval design for a living. From the start I knew LCS was a bad idea. Seeing the current political wrangling confirms my beliefs. At this point, I dismount my soapbox.

Did a check of various sources and found it is likely there to track the upcoming Iranian satellite launch. Here's the source: http://www.space.com/15824-iran-launching-...-satellite.html (rmks: I personally think this is another test of its three-stage missile. I don't know of any satellite payloads that weigh-in at 50kg (110lb), which seems kind of puny to me - even for a warhead mock-up).

Hi guys, Just read some interesting tidbits about Chile's modernization of its Type 23 frigates. A NIPmail piece (August 2011) shows that in mid-2011 they contracted with BAE Systems for an update to the Tracker Type 911 surveillance radar and Thales Underwater Systems for the addition of their 2087 towed-array sonar. The radar tweak is nothing really significant, but from an ASW standpoint, the frigates didn't previously have a towed array. This would give them quite a capability update and expand their capability. This might be benefitial, from a scenario design perspective.

Greetings everyone. Hope everyone on the board is have a great Thursday. Lots of interesting stuff happening. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 22 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIP mail China has deployed more ships to Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea … five Chinese government ships - up from three - and 16 fishing boats now in the area. (rmks: Things are heating-up) 23 May CHINA – Source: NIP mail Aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG departs Dalian to begin 7th phase of sea trials. (rmks: Brad’s analysis yesterday is a very good way to look at this. Check it out … http://harpgamer.com/harpforum/index.php?s...t=0#entry36516) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIP mail Reportedly (Philippine media) now “79 Chinese fishing boats” at or near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Gulf of Oman: Pirates in “several skiffs” reportedly attacked US-flagged cargo ship MAERSK TEXAS … northeast of Fujairah (Oman), just having passed the Strait of Hormuz … onboard security team “returned fire” … Iranian navy and Australian frigate MELBOURNE respond to distress call … pirates fled the scene. (rmks: Spray a little Raid and the cockroaches scatter. Lest I forget, no pirates were harmed in reporting this story. (Drat)) INDIA (RUSSIA) – Source: NIP mail Russian Sevmash has postponed first sea trials (scheduled on 25 May) of future Indian aircraft carrier VIKRAMADITYA (ex-ADMIRAL GORSHKOV) to “early June” … allegedly due to “poor weather”. (rmks: sounds like a good excuse. A long time ago, I learned the definition of an excuse … a lie with a reason) RUSSIA – UKRAINE – Source: NIP mail Russian Black Sea Fleet and Ukrainian navy start bilateral exercise “Fairwater Mira 2012” … in Sevastopol … until 25 May … command post exercise with live elements (11 ships/boats and a number of aircraft participating) … focus on humanitarian assistance and search & rescue. 24 May USA – Source: NIP mail Fire on board LOS ANGELES class submarine MIAMI …while at Portsmouth (Maine) Naval Shipyard for maintenance and upgrade … four people injured (none hospitalized) … reactor not operating and not affected … no weapons on board. (rmks: This has gotta suck)

Very cool photo and interesting, lesser-known news item. Thanks!

Outstanding piece by V.D.H.! I am so sick of the mamby-pamby experiement the US armed forces in general and the US Navy in particular has been subjected to over the last two-decades. Making efficency changes is very benefitial (these go along the line of diversity of intellect). Cultural and now bio-diversity are not only sought after they are worshipped. In reading the daily news of global navies, I could care the flip less that the CNO or MCPON gives a ra-ra speech celebrating whatever skin-color is celebrating a special month. I want them delivering a speech to inspire, something along the lines of George C. Scott in the opening moments of Patton. I've been joking about the pirates in my daily NNSotD pieces. After reading today's diversity piece, I've had the ligh bulb moment about why the cockroaches (excuse me the pirates) have now become so prevalent in the 21st century. You want to know what the answer is (at least I think it is) ... They do not fear the navies arrayed against them. Until the USN and other significant democratic countries navies espouse excellence over diversity and they operate like forces to literally be feared, piracy will continue to proliferate and the cocroaches (excuse me the pirates) will continue to laugh at the puny efforts being undertaken to oppose them. I'll dismount my soapbox now.

Excellent points. Thanks guys!

Wow, outstanding response! Gives me a lot to think about, concerning a potential BRICS series I'm working on. Thanks.

Thanks for the quick turnaround, Brad!

Although I have years of experience with Harpoon (dating back to PNP days), I am a mere padawan when it comes to scenario design. I have toyed around with the thought, but lately have begun making notes concerning a series of scenarios. One issue I struggle with is using the mission clock in the design editor. Could one of our resident Jedi Masters provide some insights? Does the clock work on a scale of the hours in the scenario or does the mission clock trigger the event X-hours after the beginning of the scenario? Also, when you create your scenario, do you typically script a timelne for the engagement? I just want to design some realistic situations and not over-engineer the process. Thanks!

It 'obviously' a family day cruise for ChiCom officials, navy brass and their families, as the CNO last year said a Chinese aircraft carrier doesn't pose a threat. Humor aside, the OpTempo of the Chinese shows, they are serious about working the kinks out of the system and I would expect to see them (within the next year), conducting an initial set of touch-and-goes with the carrier-capable aircraft that are being built.

Good Wednesday morning! Ah, its another wonderful work-from-home day for this Naval Analyst (hope that didn't sound like glouting). Here is your NNSotD. Summary to follow ... 21 May LEBANON (UNIFIL) – Source: NIPmail Brazilian frigate LIBERAL has replaced sister ship UNIAO as flag ship of the UNIFIL Maritime task Force. RUSSIA (SYRIA) – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Black Sea Fleet destroyer SMETLIVIY will remain stationed off Syria … to counter “an enhanced presence of NATO warships” (rmks: Read that obvious ship-counting off the coast of an ally by UNIFIL off Lebanon's coast) … additionally Russian Sigint-vessel Kildin (rmks: They are still RUSSIA and what would they be without AGI's slinking around task groups), tanker Iman and repair ship Amur PM-138 deployed off Syria and in port Tartus. 22 May CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Training ship ZHENGHE arrives at Djibouti for a two-day-long in-port rest and replenishment. (rmks: Just another liberty stop on their magical mystery tour) +++ Hudong shipyard (Shanghai) has launched the first new Project 056 corvette. (rmks: I sense another DB update coming) INDIA – Source: NIPmail Russian Yantar shipyard confident to be contracted for building another three TALWAR-mod class frigates for the Indian navy … prepared to start construction as early as this year. (rmks: Since the Indians can't do the work themselves, is what was edited out of the story) IRAN – Source: NIPmail The number of Iranian crude vessels passing through the Suez Canal has dropped by 5-6 percent this year … although Egypt has not joined EU/US sanctions and will continue to allow Iranian vessels to use the Canal even after July. (rmks: What was that saying about birds of a feather ...) PHILIPPINES – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) During a ceremony at Charleston (South Carolina, USA) the Philippine navy takes over decommissioned USCG cutter DALLAS … reportedly will be renamed RAMON ALCARAZ … stripped of most weapon systems ahead of transfer. PIRACY (should be renamed the comics section) – Source: IMO update United Arab Emirates: Ten Somalis who hijacked the UAE ship ARRILAH in April last year and were apprehended in a rescue operation, have been sentenced to life in prison by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of First Instance. (rmks: That's gotta suck. I've seen UAE prisons from the outside and they didn't look all that appealing. Wonder what the Emirates time off for good behavior policy is?) RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail The Russian navy has ordered a first lot of modernized antisubmarine helicopters Ka-27M … no details on numbers or delivery dates. USA – Source: NIPmail Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Guam for a last scheduled stop before starting her mission. 23 May USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) The CARL VINSON Carrier Strike Group returns to San Diego, ending its regular 6-month deployment. (rmks: Welcome home GOLD EAGLE)

Yeah you're right about that.