gemerson

Wow, Tony you are committed! I was only going to check it out from the library.

Good review, makes me want to see the movie even more ... when it comes out on DVD!

Happy Tuesday! Its another day to excel. On that note, here is your NNSotD. Enjoy!! Summary to follow ... 17 May CHINA – Source: NIPmail During her cadet training cruise, training vessel ZHENGHE has reached the Gulf of Aden … conducts small exercise with frigate YANTAI currently employed in anti-piracy operations. (rmks: Probably looking for future customers for its wares, among the pirates). 21 May CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Taiwan’s intelligence chief says that China plans to build two indigenous conventionally-powered aircraft carriers … construction slated to start in 2013 and 2015, respectively, with delivery dates of 2020 and 2022. (rmks: This would contradict persistent rumors that construction already began in 2011 at a new shipyard near Shanghai and of course, like the last CNO said, “We have nothing to worry about China developing an aircraft carrier capability (Navy League Sea-Air-Space, 2011)). +++ Obviously at least two (possbily a third) new 1,500-ts TYPE 056 corvettes under construction … one each at Hudong (Shanghai) and Huangpu (Guangzhou) … launch at Hudong reportedly imminent, with commissioning this year. (rmks: More adds for the DB) INDIA (RUSSIA) – Source: NIPmail Conflicting reports on start of first sea trials of aircraft carrier future VIKRAMADITYA (ex-ADMIRAL GORSHKOV). While some sources claim Russian president Putin to attend first sailing on 25 May, others allege trials postponed by at least one week. (rmks: Me thinks it will be longer, knowing the wonderful quality of Russian naval design engineering) IRAN – Source: NIPmail Iran plans to build an oil terminal at Bandar Jask, outside the Strait of Hormuz, to ensure exports in the event of “Gulf shipping problems” … would be connected to the Caspian Sea port of Neka using a 1 million barrel a day pipeline IRELAND – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) The keel laying ceremony of the first of two PV90 class ocean patrol vessel took place at Babcock Marine’s shipyard in north Devon (previously owned by Appledore) … variant of the ROISIN class. OMAN – Source: NIPmail Oman has ordered eight C295 aircraft, including three for maritime patrol operations, from Airbus Military … first delivery due in 2013. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Anti-Piracy Forces: German frigate BREMEN has joined EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: And the pirates quake in fear … not! No pirates were injured in reporting this news item) QATAR – Source: NIPmail The Emirate’s coast guard (QGC) is seeking to procure 19 multi-role fast patrol craft in three size categories. TURKEY – Source: NIPmail British BAe Systems offer of new TYPE 26 frigate for the Turkish navy TF-2000 project rejected, leaving US Lockheed-Martin as only foreign bidder. (rmks: If BAE or LM is involved it will likely only be for the hull and engineering plant. Turkey will then complete the fitting-out with domestic electronics and weapons. Foot note - while TF-2000 project has returned to the agenda, formal acquisition process has not started yet) 22 May UNITED KINGDOM For the very first time in Royal Navy history, a woman (Cdr Sarah West) takes over command of a major British warship … frigate PORTLAND, currently in Rosyth. (rmks: Nelson is probably rolling over in his grave).

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Did anyone catch the eclipse yesterday? Sadly, it was raining and cloudy in the Pacific Northwest, so we missed it. Here’s what happened over the weekend. Summary to follow … 17 May USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) The US Navy awarded Raytheon a contract for low-rate initial production of new Standard Missile SM-6. 18 May CHINA – Source: NIPmail A Chinese frigate reportedly photographed operating a small unmanned helicopter that appears to be the Schiebel Camcopter S-100. (rmks: Actually it was likely the X-200, which is a ChiCom knock-off of the Camcopter). INDIA Second of three Russian-built (Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad) TALWAR-mod class frigate, TARKASH, ready to commence builder’s trials. ISRAEL (Gaza) New pro-Palestinian initiative “Gaza's Ark” plans building a boat in Gaza, using existing resources. A crew of internationals and Palestinians will sail it out of Gaza carrying Palestinian products for trading with international buyers. PHILIPPINES (CHINA) – Source: NIPmail After phone conversation with Philippine President Aquino, protesters abort their plan to sail to disputed Scarborough Shoals (South China Sea). PIRACY – Source: IMO update Somalia: Somali fisherman pleaded for international navies to halt air strikes on coastal villages after the EU Naval Force struck a pirate base for the first time … pirates cannot be easily identified, as they mingle with the fishermen, and some fishing boats were also destroyed in raid. (rmks: Hello, the fisherman ARE the pirates) RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail & RIA Novosti Yantar shipyard in Kaliningrad floats out new large landing ship IVAN GREN, under construction since 2004 …to be completed in 2013 … three more ships of this class under consideration. (rmks: Wonder of wonders, they finally got that honking bow door on the IG and it floated-out) THAILAND – USA – Source: NIPmail CARAT-2012: Thailand armed forces and US Navy / Marine Corps / Coast Guard have begun the Thai phase of this year’s CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training), a series of bilateral exercises of US naval forces with Southeast Asian navies … focussing on humanitarian assistance and disaster response. USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Amphibious assault ship MAKIN ISLAND arrives in Sepangar, Malaysia, for a port visit (rmks: They are on their home transit to San Diego, after completing Middle East deployment) 19 May INDIA – Source: NIPmail Frigate SHIVALIK and corvette KARMUK arrive at Haiphong (Vietnam) for a scheduled visit until 23 May. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea: A suspected pirate mother ship (dhow) has been reported operating in the Arabian Sea, approx 150 nm South East of Masirah (Oman). (rmks: No pirates were harmed in reporting this item) 20 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Patrol boat GLENELG intercepts a boat carrying around 175 suspected asylum seekers northwest of Christmas Island. PAKISTAN – Source: NIPmail The Pakistan Navy has inaugurated new Naval Strategic Force Command as the “custodian of the country's nuclear second strike capability” … with VAdm Tanveer Faiz becoming its commander … no info on what naval weapon systems or delivery platforms comprise Pakistan's second strike capability. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Gulf of Oman: Pirates “with several speedboats” attack Philippine cargo ship ROSITA … Iranian warships foil attack, “forcing them to flee the scene”. (rmks: Ditto, my 19 May rmks on the subject) 21 May PIRACY – Source: IMO update Anti-Piracy Forces: Danish multi-purpose ship ABSALON returns home, ending a 6-month deployment in support of NATO’s operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Did the pirates breathe a sigh of relief, I think not) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The MoD is set to announce initial design contracts for new submarines (SSBN) to carry Trident missiles. 22 May PHILIPPINES (USA) – Source: NIPmail During a ceremony in South Carolina, the US Coast Guard will officially transfer decommissioned High Endurance Cutter DALLAS to the Philippines. RUSSIA – UKRAINE – Source: NIPmail Russian Black Sea Fleet and Ukrainian navy to start bilateral exercise “Fiarwater Mira 2012” … in Sevastopol … until 25 May … command post exercise with live elements … focus on humanitarian assistance and search & rescue.

All Hands Stanby, the weekend is ahead! Some pretty interesting updates taking place, with some fodder for scenarios. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 15 May INDIA – Source: NIPmail With upcoming (2013) arrival of new aircraft carrier INS VIKRAMADITYA, the Indian navy is struggling to begin much delayed Phase IIA of expanding the strategic Karwar naval base in coastal Karnataka … now being sent to the Cabinet Committee on Security for the final nod. (rmks: If the Big-V is able to get underway, which will be significant – it will be interesting to see if successfully passes sea trials) IRAN – OMAN – Source: NIPmail The navies of Iran and Oman plan for a joint exercise … to be conducted at Bandar Abbas (Iran) … no details nor dates given. (rmks: This would make an interesting what-if scenario – what-if Oman’s government was overthrown by a pro-Iranian faction and they closed the SoH. What would be the reaction) IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail Japan may seek approval from parliament this month to provide sovereign insurance to tanker operators that import Iranian crude as European sanctions block access to private providers PIRACY – Source: IMO update Gulf of Oman: Pirates attack Panama-flagged cargo ship CRUISER HEILAN in the Gulf of Oman but break off when Iranian navy ship BEHREGAN responded to emergency calls and approaches. (rmks: No pirates were injured in reporting this story) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 45 destroyer DARING, currently operating in the Persian Gulf, conducted port visit to Jubail (Saudi Arabia) USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT arrives at Point Noire (Dem.Rep. of Congo) for theater security cooperation as part of APS 2012. +++ Aircraft carrier CARL VINSON arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) … on return transit from Middle East deployment to home port San Diego. (rmks: Welcome home Gold Eagle!) 16 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Frigate BALLARAT arrives at Shanghai (China) for a port visit and some low-level exercises with the Chinese navy … on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties with China. FRANCE – Source: NIPmail Mission “Jeanne d’Arc 2012”: Helicopter carrier DIXMUDE and destroyer GEORGES LEYGUES arrive at Cape Town (South Africa) for a scheduled port visit. GERMANY – Source: NIPmail The latest version of DM2A4 heavyweight torpedoes, Atlas Elektronik produced SeaHake mod4 ER (Extended Range) has set a new record range … achieving more than 140 km in a March test firing. MEXICO – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) EADS North America has delivered the fourth and final Airbus Military CN235-300 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to the Mexican navy PIRACY – IMO update General: The Seychelles agreed to accept for prosecution 11 suspect pirates captured by Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) on 11 May. (rmks: Likely they will get a slap on the hand and things will return to business as usual next week) SOUTH KOREA – Source: NIPmail South Korea has requested Foreign Military Sale of eight MH-60R Seahawk Multi-Mission Helicopters from the U.S. USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) +++ Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON completes five days of pre-deployment trials and returns to Yokosuka (Japan) to prepare for upcoming patrol. +++ Amphibious assault ship ESSEX and fleet tanker YUKON collide during replenishment at sea, some 120 nm off Southern California … due to an apparent steering malfunction aboard ESSEX … both ships able to continue; one injured, no fuel spill. Initial damage assessment on board ESSEX shows starboard aircraft elevator scraped and dented, railing bowed back the wrong way. A small section of catwalks crumpled, capsules holding lifeboats smashed, some guardrails split open. YUKON suffered structural damage to its flight deck, lifeboats and davits. +++ Aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE reported operating in the Persian Gulf. (rmks: Seems to have swapped stations with aircraft carrier ABRAHAM LINCOLN) 17 May INDIA – Source: NIPmail The Indian navy thus far inducted 15 Russian-made MiG-29K fighter jets … for carrier-borne operations. (rmks: Total of 45 ordered and will be used on the Big-V, if it ever gets underway) IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ South Korea is considering cutting its exports to Iran - mainly +++ steel, cars and electronics - to reduce the risk of payment defaults Japan's top oil refiner, JX Nippon Oil & Energy Corp, is not (yet) facing a problem paying Iran for crude imports, after a major Japanese bank froze transactions with Iranian banks on the order of a U.S. court. +++ OPEC experts: Iranian oil production, the backbone of the economy, fell by 12 percent in the first three months of the year and is likely to fall more. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail A fleet of fishing boats are sailing to Scarborough Shoal to reinforce the country’s territorial claim over the rich fishing ground, which is being claimed by China. (rmks: A Red-Sky-at-Morning moment ahead) SPAIN (USA) – Source: Jane’s Defence The planned signing of an accord over basing part of the US ballistic missile defence (BMD) shield for Europe in Spain (rmks: Rota) is being postponed. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Amphibious assault ship ESSEX returns to San Diego after completing 12 years as forward-deployed ship in Sasebo (Japan) … relieved there by sister ship BONHOMME RICHARD albeit with a crew swap (ESSEX crew still in Japan). ESSEX will participate in upcoming exercise “Rimpac” (29 Jun – 03 Aug off Hawaii, then start an extensive maintenance period at San Diego’s NASSCO. +++ The EISENHOWER Carrier Strike Group successfully completed a Composite Unit Training Exercise (COMPTUEX), held since 24 Apr off the East Coast of the United States from Virginia to Florida, in preparation for their scheduled combat deployment later this year. 18 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Patrol boat GLENELG has picked up another boatload of (68) suspected asylum seekers north-west of Christmas Island 19 May USA – Source: NIPmail The Navy will commission the newest SAN ANTONIO class amphibious transport dock ship SAN DIEGO (LPD 22) during a ceremony in San Diego, Calif. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS TAIWAN (Circa July 2012) Two former US Navy OSPREY class mine hunters to be formally transferred to the ROC Navy in July (another source: “second half of the year”), after completing refit. (rmks: Names are as follows - 1310 YUNG JIN, ex-USS ORIOLE, 1311 YUNG AN, ex-USS FALCON)

Overall, not a really slow news day. Interesting news in combatting piracy ... Believe-it-or-not, the anti-piracy forces actually combatted piracy - now that's news! (I know its hard for you to believe, heck I was shocked when I saw it, too) Summary to follow ... 14 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Patrol boat GLENELG intercepted another boat carrying more than 120 asylum seekers, bringing the number of illegal migrants caught this month alone to nearly 700. PERU (multinational) – Source: NIPmail At an opening ceremony in Callao (Peru), naval representatives from Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and the United States officially recognized the beginning of UNITAS Pacific (PAC) … will include live-fire exercises, a drone exercise, night time ship evolutions, tactical maneuvering, maritime interdiction operations, flight operations among other events and joint operations. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Somalia (update): attack on pirates’ base was at Handulle village, about 18 km north of Haradhere … destroyed nine speedboats, fuel depots and some arms … conducted by “helicopters operating from two ships” (still no details). (rmks: This from the "And Now For Something Completely Different File) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier ABRAHAM LINCOLN reported back in the Arabian Sea … having ended a “stint” to the Persian Gulf. 15 May AUSTRALIA – INDONESIA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) The Australian navy (patrol boats ARARAT and LARRAKIA) and the Indonesian navy (patrol boats KAKAP and TONGKOL) completed biennial patrol boat exercise “Cassowary” off Darwin. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail The navy's two hydrographic survey ships LEEUWIN and MELVILLE reportedly taken off survey work since last year and used to ferry asylum seekers to Christmas Island. (rmks: unconfirmed) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail In an attempt to defuse stand-off at Scarborough Shoals, both sides deliberate declaring a fishing ban to the area … thus allowing all deployed ships and fishing boats to withdraw without addressing territorial issues. (rmks: Which works in China's favor, as the Philippines don't get to use the area). CHINA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG ends another (6th) round of sea trials and returns to Dalian. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail LADA class submarine ST. PETERBURG completed major repair/maintenance period … conducting mooring tests in St. Petersburg until mid-June, then transfer to Northern Fleet for several-months tests of sonar system and other equipment as well as missile and torpedo firing … results will determine fate. SINGAPORE – Source: NIPmail After week-long fleet exercise, the six new anti-submarine S-70B Seahawk helicopters are declare fully operational. SPAIN – Source: NIPmail The navy has confirmed plans to decommission ANAGA class patrol craft GROSA (on 6 June) and GALERNA class submarine SIROCO (on 29 June). (rmks: Likely candidates for second-hand sale to an African or Asian regional navy) TAIWAN – Source: NIPmail Lung Teh Shipbuilding has been contracted with building the prototype of a new 450-ts stealth corvette … delivery in 2014 … after testing. (rmks: Thus eliminating possible design flaws) Additionally, another 11 ships planned to follow … main weapon systems to include 8 each HF-2 and HF-3 anti-ship missiles. 16 May PAKISTAN – Source: NIPmail During transfer voyage from China, new missile boat AZMAT arrives at Kuantan (Malaysia) for a scheduled port visit until 19 May.

09 May INDIA – Source: NIPmail Goa Shipyard signs contract for construction of six 105-m (2,400 ts) Offshore Patrol Vessel for the Indian coast guard … first steel cutting expected “within days”. 11 May USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier CARL VINSON now in 3rd Fleet area of operations … heading for home port San Diego to end deployment. (rmks: Gold Eagle is eastbound and down!) 12 May USA – Source: Naval Today (navaltoday.com) Southern Seas 2012: Frigate UNDERWOOD arrives in Callao (Peru), in preparation for upcoming multinational exercise UNITAS Pacific 53-12. 14 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail New cuts to defense budget will affect the RAN’s optempo, reducing number of days spent at sea. (rmks: Year of the axe continues to reap a bloody harvest) CHINA – Source: NIPmail Paramilitary China Marine Surveillance (CMS) plans adding 36 new vessels in 2013, seven of them displacing 1,500ts, 15 with 1,000 ts, the remainder 600 ts. (rmk: Me thinks I see database updates on the horizon) NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN has confirmed it will have to stop using up to two of its four new Inshore Patrol Craft due to lack of personnel. (rmks: Dittos from above) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ General: A London (UK)-based insurance broker reduces insurance costs to pay ransoms if vessels are hijacked by Somali pirates by up to 75% if ships employ private armed guards … may fall to about $4,500 from $15,000 for a large tanker’s single transit. (rmks: Finally, there are efforts being made at pest control) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Russian destroyer VIZE ADMIRAL KULAKOV starts anti-piracy operations, escorting first convoy from the southern Red Sea through the Gulf of Aden. (rmks: Will the Russians do something to control the problem … probably not) RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Almaz Antei hopes to complete testing of new Poliment-Redut ship-based air defence missile system by the end of this year … derived from land-based S-400 system with 9M96 (SA-21/Growler) missiles. +++ Far East shipyards reportedly to resume construction of large POMORNIK class amphibious air cushion vehicles. +++ Update: another “source” claims dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to the fire on submarine YEKATERINBURG (loaded with nuclear missiles). (rmks: Stand by, more such “reasons” to follow, including juggling puppies and punting kittens) SOUTH AFRICA – Source: NIPmail STX Finland (already on 04 Apr) has delivered new Antarctic survey ship AGULHAS II to the Ministry of Environment … serve also as supply ship and ice breaker … paramilitary use. TAIWAN – Source: NIPmail Five out of eight PERRY class frigates thus far have been refitted with new supersonic HF-III anti-ship missiles USA – Source: NIPmail Dock landing ships NEW ORLEANS and PEARL HARBOR (part of the MAKIN ISLAND Amphibious Ready Group) arrive in Phuket (Thailand) for a scheduled port visit. (rmks: on return transit from Middle East deployment) 15 May PIRACY – Source: IMO update Somalia: EU NavFor has conducted a first ever operation to destroy pirate equipment on the Somali coastline … implementing recently expanded rules of engagement … no details given yet. (rms: No pirates were harmed in reporting this story … as usual) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (30 May) – Source: NIPmail Northern Shipyard (St. Petersburg) rescheduled launching for third STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, STOYKIY, from 21 May to 30 May … for “organizational and technical reasons” (rmks: Ah, ya gotta love that wonderful Russian engineering!) USA (01 Jun) – Source: NIPmail Effective 01 Jun, the US Navy will create a new command that will be responsible for conducting high-level security near ports, providing protection for certain ships operating in coastal waterways and to sometimes take part in offensive combat. So called “Coastal Riverine Force” will be the result of a merger between Riverine Group 1 and Maritime Expeditionary Security Force.

Your right, the cockroach nests and support bases needs to be eliminated as well. Overall, these two-bit thugs need to be taught a costly lesson. I am reminded of Kurt Russell in the classic movie, "Tombstone": "I see a red sash, I kill the man wearin' it! So run, you cur... RUN! Tell all the other curs the law's comin'! You tell 'em I'M coming... and hell's coming with me, you hear?" Somebody needs to step-up and play Wyatt Earp with the pirates.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.

Another day, another NNSotD. Lots of stuff going on. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 01 May USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE … in the Arabian Sea … begins flight operations in support of “operation: Enduring Freedom,” with about 30 daily sorties over Afghanistan. (rmks: hopefully with several special deliveries of ordnance to the Taliban) 02 May USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier ABRAHAM LINCOLN has entered the Persian Gulf (no date given), starting a scheduled port visit to Manama (Bahrain). 04 May FINLAND – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) At Intermarine shipyard at La Spezia (Italy), the Finish navy has taken delivery and commissioned first new mine hunter KATANPÄÄ (40) … set to sail for future home port Turku (arrival end May). USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) LCS-3 FORT WORTH successfully completed acceptance trials, testing the ship's major systems and equipment in port and underway in Lake Michigan 05 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Anti-Piracy Forces: Former 10th Chinese anti piracy task group (rmks: HAIKOU, YUNCHENG, QINGHAI HU) returns to South Sea Fleet base at Zhanjiang, ending deployment which started on 02 Nov.. USA – Source: NIPmail 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE completes a port visit to Shihanoukville, Cambodia. 07 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Customs vessel TRITON intercepts another boat carrying 64 suspected asylum seekers … north of Ashmore Islands. CHINA – Source: NIPmail Photo suggests aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG sails from Dalian for another round of sea trials. (rmks: very short turn-around, obviously their version of SIMA is completing their shortlist of problem items that need tweaking) DENMARK (multinational) – Source: NIPmail The Danish navy is hosting multinational search & rescue exercise “Baltic Sarex 2012” … from 07 – 12 May off the Danish island of Bornholm … to feature also submarine crew rescue … 27 ships and 12 aircraft from 10 countries (Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, France, Russia, Finland, Sweden). Russian Baltic Fleet participating with SLIVA SB-921 salvage tug … Latvia deploys KA-14 ASTRA, Lithuania patrol boat AUKSTAITIS. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail Japan is considering a new law to provide sovereign guarantees for its ships to allow them to continue importing Iranian crude oil after EU sanctions come into effect in July. NAMIBIA – Source: NIPmail Photos show Chinese-built large patrol ship S-11 ELEPHANT … flag-decorated (rmks: no national flag yet) at Yangtze River shipyard. (rmks: hull/size look similar to PATTANI class built for Thai navy. Yet another ship exported from the Chi-coms yards. This means the quality problems in their production lines may have been fixed.) NORTH KOREA – Source: NIPmail More than 120 ships, including eight South Korean Coast Guard patrol boats, reported disruption to GPS navigation system signals … in the Yellow Sea … most probably intentional jamming by North Korean electronic warfare units … similar electronic attacks in March of last year, and in August and December of 2010 (rmks: What's that old saying about fruit not falling too far from the tree. So much for any hopes of a productive change in management). NORWAY (RUSSIA) – Source: NIPmail Frigate FRITJOF NANSEN arrives at Russian Northern Fleet main base Severomorsk for a visit … ahead of bilateral exercise “Pomor 12”, scheduled to start on 11 May. PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Anti-Piracy Forces: German frigate BREMEN sails from Wilhelmshaven for the Horn of Africa … replace combat support ship BERLIN in EU NavFor. RUSSIA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Just sworn in as president, Putin orders the government to ensure the development of the Russian navy in the Far East and Arctic zones … to “safeguard the strategic interests of the country”. (rmks: The Arctic could be good fodder, for some upcoming scenarios). RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail GEPARD class frigate DAGESTAN “ready to be commissioned” in the Caspian Sea flotilla “in summer” USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) In a rare honour for a living person, the Navy plans to announce it is naming a new (rmks: the first FLTIII ARLEIGH BURKE DDG-51) destroyer after Thomas J. Hudner, who earned the Medal of Honor in the Korean War for intentionally crashing his fighter plane in an attempt to save his wingman, the Navy’s first black pilot.

As I mentioned in the NNSotD, ya gott love Russian politics. Hey, at least they aren't bound for Siberia, right. The think theis a Czar Vlad's attempt to shore up his base among the military leadership. Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky is ethbically Ukrainian and not a Russian he could also be considered deadwood (headed for retirement anyway).

Hope everyone had a great weekend. Spent lots of quality time with the family. Here is your NNSotD. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 02 May BRAZIL Source: NIPmail Brazil has ordered four PAF-L (Patrullera de Apoyo Fluvial-Liviana) riverine light patrol boats from Colombian shipbuilder COTECMAR. USA Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier EISENHOWER and associated ships of Carrier Strike Group 8 continue composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) in the Atlantic Ocean off the US east coast … Spanish frigate BLAS DE LEZO and Brazilian frigate INDEPENDENCIA participate. 03 May JAPAN – CHINA Source: NIPmail Despite Japan Coast Guard warnings, two Chinese fisheries patrol vessels repeatedly entered the contiguous zone of the (disputed) Senkaku islands. (rmks: I think I predicted this last week, fancy that). USA Source: NIPmail +++ Austal USA holds keel laying ceremony for Joint High Speed Vessel FORTITUDE (JHSV 3) at its shipyard in Mobile, Ala., symbolically recognizing the beginning of ship construction. +++ The IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group has passed the Suez Canal enroute 5th Fleet area of responsibility. 04 May ALGERIA Source: NIPmail Jane’s: The Algerian MoD has ordered three large corvettes from China and two MEKO A-200 frigates from Germany - with an option for two more. (rmks: it seems the recession is past in Algeria) INDIA Source: NIPmail The recently approved 12th defence plan (read that - acquisitions planned in the next five years), lays emphasis on the need to develop "adequate stand-off capability" for "sea lift and expeditionary operations" and the ability to undertake military operations far away from homeland (rmks: thus postulating limited capabilities for “power projection”). ISRAEL Source: NIPmail During a ceremony at HDW shipyard in Kiel (Germany) the Israel navy formally takes delivery of first DOLPHIN-II submarine TANIN … boat to remain in Germany for several more months of trials and training. PHILIPPINES Source: NIPmail The United States will double military aid to the Philippines, which is engaged in a prolonged maritime standoff with China. PIRACY Source: IMO Update West Africa: Off Nigeria, pirates have freed gasoline tanker BW RHINE they hijacked last week while anchoring off Lome (Togo), after stealing some of the cargo … all 24 crew members safe. UNITED KINGDOM Source: NIPmail Helicopter carrier OCEAN sails up the River Thames into London to take part in a nine-day training exercise testing responses to any attack on the forthcoming Olympic Games. USA Source: NIPmail +++ General Dynamics at their Bath Iron Works delivers new destroyer MICHAEL MURPHY (DDG 112) to the US Navy … last DDG 51-class ship to deliver until the class restart ships begin delivering in fiscal year 2016 … commissioning ceremony to be held this October in New York. +++ The second AMERICA class amphibious assault ship LHA-7 will be named TRIPOLI. 05 May RUSSIA Source: NIPmail Zelenodolsk Shipyard starts construction of fourth Project 21980 GRACHONOK class “counter-terror boat”. USA Source: NIPmail +++ General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego christens and launches dry cargo and ammunition ship CESAR CHAVEZ (T-AKE 14) +++ In the Gulf of Aden, the IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) has relieved the MAKIN ISLAND ARG, deployed since Nov 2011 and now heading home for San Diego. 06 May CHINA Source: NIPmail Hudong shipyard launches new FUCHI class fleet replenishing ship. INDIA Source: NIPmail A four-ship task group of the Eastern Fleet is set to start an over two-month-long cruise to Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Shanghai in China … force composition: one each of RANVIR, SHIVALIK and KORA class, plus a replenishment tanker. PIRACY Source: IMO Update Gulf of Aden: The Yemeni coast guard has captured 14 suspected Somali pirates off the Socotra island. RUSSIA Source: NIPmail +++ On his last day in office, president Medvedev dismissed navy chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky (57) and named Baltic Fleet commander Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov to the post … no reasons given. (rmks: heads of army and air force also replaced (me thinks they didn’t support the new Czar, I mean President’s election aspirations – ya gotta love Russian politics) +++ Commissioning of first BOREJ class ballistic missile submarine YURI DOLGORUKIY, previously announced for June/July, postponed to October this year … second boat ALEXANDER NEVSKIY to follow in 2013 07 May AUSTRALIA Source: NIPmail Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts two boatloads of suspected asylum seekers near Christmas Island. One was carrying 103 passengers and two crew and the other had 138 people on board. PIRACY Source: IMO Update Somalia Basin: Pirates approach merchant vessel some 100 nm south of Socotra … ship manages to escape. (rmks I’m still awaiting for the news line – Ship fires on pirates and they flee in terror).

01 May CANADA – USA Source: NIPmail Canadian and US navies begin Exercise Frontier Sentinel 2012 … through 09 May … moving from Nova Scotia to the US Eastern seaboard … develop and validate procedures for a bilateral response to maritime homeland defense and security threats, with focus on mine-counter measures. 02 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Pacific Fleet task group (VARYAG, two UDALOY class destroyers, salvage tug) returns to Vladivostok after exercise with Chinese navy and subsequent port visit to Qingdao (China). INDIA – Source: NIPmail Newly commissioned TALWAR-mod class frigate TEG transfers from Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) to the Russian Baltic Fleet main base of Baltiysk. PIRACY – Source IMO Update +++ India: An Indian court orders release of Italian cargo ship ENRICA LEXIE, its crew and Italian navy marines who had allegedly killed two Indian fishermen (mistaken for pirates) off Kerala coast in February … on the condition that they should be available before the authorities within five weeks after receiving summons or notice. (rmks: investigation in the incident continues) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Chinese destroyer QINGDAO arrives at Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled port visit … taking a short break from anti-piracy operations. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Having passed the Suez Canal enroute anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, Russian Northern Fleet destroyer VZEADMIRAL KULAKOV also arrives at Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled port visit until 05 May. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ GD Electric Boat delivers 9th VIRGINIA class submarine, MISSISSIPPI, to the navy … “one year ahead of schedule and under budget” … to be commissioned in June. +++ After completing a port visit to Perth (Australia), aircraft carrier CARL VINSON has returned to the Indian Ocean. 03 May AUSTRALIA ¬– Source: NIPmail Despite defence cuts, the government has allocated AUD$214M for the next stage of the Future Submarine project. (rmks: And the soap opera continues) FINLAND – Source: NIPmail Mine layer POHJANMAA sails from Helsinki for annual cadet training cruise … this time to Falmouth (UK), New York (USA) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) … return on 18 June. GERMANY – Source: Jane’s Germany may become the first European nation to embark on integrating the Raytheon Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) onto its frigates. (rmks: Likely a step toward BMD for EU naval forces). INDONESIA – Source: Jane’s The Indonesian navy is considering a bid for three corvettes originally built in the UK for Brunei (NAKHODA RAGAM class) but refused to accept and laid up since. (rmks: BAEs has been trying to offload these suckers from their books for several years. Indonesia may, be ligit buyers. The boats were designed for similar ops and conditions) ISRAEL – Source: NIPmail Israel navy commander RAdm Rotberg and senior Defense Ministry representatives in Kiel (Germany) … reportedly taking delivery of first DOLPHIN-II submarine from HDW shipyard … boat to remain in Germany for several more months of trials and training. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail There are now 14 Chinese ships off Scarborough Shoals - four paramilitary (CMS/FLEC) vessels and 10 fishing boats. Philippines have coast guard vessel EDSA II, a coast guard SAR-vessel (SARV 002) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel MCS 3008 on station. PIRACY – Source: IMO Update +++ Somalia: Danish multipurpose ship ABSALON (NATO) releases 12 suspected pirates to the Somalia coast … detained on 11 Apr when rescuing a hijacked Iranian dhow … four transferred to the Seychelles on 28 Apr … no country willing the prosecute the remainder. (rmks: the will be operational with the cockaroaches by the next update, plying their ill-gotten trade) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Danish multipurpose ship ABSALON (NATO) ends support of NATO operation “Ocean Shield”, starts home transit. (rmks: And the pirates breath a sigh of relief (not)) RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Pacific Fleet former anti-piracy task group (ADMIRAL TRIBUTS, PECHENGA, MB-37) return to Vladivostok. (rmks: coming from Qingdao, China) +++ President Medvedev has appointed Chief of Staff / First Deputy Commander Pacific Fleet, RAdm Sergei Avakyants, new Commander Pacific Fleet. (rmk: He was likely one of the biggest contributors the Medvedev’s reelection) +++ Northern Fleet destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO has completed ASW and air defence exercises in the Barents Sea … work-up for upcoming bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” … scheduled from 11 – 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate SOMERSET has begun a nine-month docking period being undertaken by Babcock at Devonport – marking the first refit to be undertaken under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA) Class Output Management (COM) Phase 2 arrangements. USA (Multinational) – Source: NIPmail +++ Multinational ASW exercise “Arabian Shark 12” about to conclude in the Gulf of Oman … participants included frigate BADR (Pakistan), corvette HITTEEN (Saudi Arabia), frigate WESTMINSTER and TRAFALGAR class submarine (UK), destroyer STERETT and submarine PITTSBURGH (USA). (rmks: regular exercise for the past decade). +++ Update: it seems aircraft carrier CARL VINSON has not (yet) returned to the Indian Ocean region … reported in the Bass Strait off Melbourne (Australia) … 7th US Fleet area of operations. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY sails from San Diego to begin this year’s mission … after 48 hrs delay for repairs to propulsion system. 04 May LITHUANIA (Baltic States) – Source: NIPmail Exercise “Baltic Fortress” starts in territorial waters of Lithuania … units and ships/boats of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia participating … annual event (conducted since 2008) for “Baltron”combined Baltic Squadron with host countries rotating (last year Estonia) … Participants: KURSIS, SKLAVIS, JOTVINGIS (flag), ZEMAITIS, DZUKAS (Lithuania); VIRSAITIS, LODE (Latvia); no Estonian vessels mentioned. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS INDIA (06 May) – Source: NIPmail Newly commissioned TALWAR-mod class frigate TEG scheduled to leave Baltiysk (Russia) for maiden voyage to India on 06 May.

Yup, that be the one!

Here's the current NNSotD. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 27 April INDIA The prototype of the naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) successfully conducted its maiden flight from HAL Airport, Bangalore. (rmks: Likel to work with the P8i, when it comes online). Source: NIPmail. 28 April CHINA China is developing an electromagnetic catapult system for future aircraft carriers, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily claims. (rmks: Likely a knockoff of the the Brit EMALS). Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 45 destroyer DRAGON has been formally commissioned into the fleet. (rmks: Welcome to the fleet, yu have a big job ahead of you). Source: NIPmail. VENEZUELA At Spanish Navantia shipyard, the Venezuelan navy commissions PC-24 KARINA, the fourth and final POVZEE patrol vessel. Source: NIPmail. 30 April AUSTRALIA A key decision on whether Australia will buy next-generation submarines won't be made until late 2013 or early 2014 … funding options yet to be considered by the government. (rmks: This soap opera could be the fodder for a new reality show. I wonder what it could be called?) Source: NIPmail. CHINA +++ Destroyer HAIKOU and frigate YUNCHENG arrive at Hong Kong for a scheduled five-day port visit … on return transit from anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. (rmks: Chinese warships rarely visit the “special administrative region” Hong Kong) Source: NIPmail. +++ Aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG ends another phase of sea trials, returns to Dalian. Source: NIPmail. +++ Two frigates and an intelligence gathering ship sail through the Osumi Strait off Kagoshima Prefecture (Japan), heading into the Pacific. (rmks: Likely to poke their finger in the ee of collective Japanese policy, regarding their maritime claims dispute). Source: NIPmail. FRANCE Mission “Jeanne d’Arc 2012”: Helicopter carrier DIXMUDE and destroyer GEORGE LEYGUES arrive at Renuion for a 7-day port visit. (rmks: Cadet training cruise; before temporarily assigned to EU anti-piracy mission “Atalanta; also had conducted port visit to the Seychelles”). Source: NIPmail. INDIA As part of its efforts to augment the security of the strategically significant Lakshadweep archipelago, the Navy commissions new naval base, INS Dweeprakshak, at Kavaratti. Source: NIPmail. ITALY Schiebel Camcopter S-100 has become the first UAV to operate from an Italian navy vessel (frigate BERSAGLIERE). Source: NIPmail. PHILIPPINES The USA will help the Philippine navy improve its patrol capabilities but not take sides in territorial disputes with China. (rmks: Likely with the vaunted, yet highly inadequate LCSs). Source: NIPmail. USA Southern Seas 2012: Frigate UNDERWOOD completes Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMTUEX), now heading for Central and South America. Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy formally transferred ownership (under ship donation contract) of historic battleship IOWA to the non-profit Pacific Battleship Center. The ship's tow to its new permanent home at the Port of Los Angeles will commence 20 May 20 … formally to open as a museum on 04 Jul. Source: NIPmail. 01 May IRAN (sanctions) Source: NIPmail. +++ Indian state-run insurers have agreed to give limited cover to local ships for carrying Iranian oil. (rmks: Hmmm, wonder what the the co-pay on the coverage is?) Source: NIPmail. +++ Border Guard (read that IRGCN) units have begun major naval drill “Fajr” along the southern coasts in the Persian Gulf … practise “latest tactics in border protection and confrontation against illegal activities in territorial waters” … participating are provincial border guards units of Khuzestan, Bushehr, Hormozgan and Sistan and Balouchestan, and the marine patrol unit of Kish island. ITALY Source: NIPmail. +++ Italy still remains committed to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program despite announcing plans earlier this year to slash its purchase quantity more than 30 percent. (rmks: STOVL variant F-35B needed to replace Harrier on aircraft carrier CAVOUR) +++ Italian police intercepts 79 immigrants from Egypt and arrested 15 presumed people smugglers near the southern Sicilian port of Trapani. About 30 of the immigrants were travelling on a rubber dinghy, the others in a small fishing boat. PIRACY West Africa: A Singapore-managed product tanker (24 crew) with valuable gasoline cargo has gone missing and is suspected to have been hijacked by pirates while at anchor off Lome, Togo. (rmks: Will somebody please explain, why we let these cockaroaches continue to exist?). Source: IMO Update. THAILAND Swedish Saab has been contracted for upgrading aircraft carrier CHAKRI NARUEBET with the 9LV Mk4 latest generation command and control system. (rmks: Not that the will ever use it) Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM After cancellation of the Nimrod MRA.4 program, military planners are pushing for a replacement maritime patrol aircraft to be considered in the next strategic defence and security review in three years' time. Source: NIPmail. USA A study has found that procurement of new ballistic missile submarines SSBN(X) cannot be afforded under the ship construction spending budgets … first SSBN(X) is currently scheduled for FY 21, with 12 to be ordered by FY32. Source: NIPmail. USA Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY has to postpone departure from San Diego (scheduled for today) by some 48 hrs … mechanical trouble with propulsion system … set to start annual humanitarian mission to the South Pacific … 4 ½ month … military and civilian professionals from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan (also deploying landing ship), Malaysia, Peru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Thailand and the USA, along with non-government organizations and international agencies, will join and support this year’s mission. Source: NIPmail. 02 May RUSSIA Project 90600 harbor tug RB-42, built by Pella Shipyard (St. Petersburg), commissions into Baltic Fleet Auxiliary Ship Division at Baltiysk … seven tugs under order, with next to be launched this month. Source: NIPmail. USA Littoral combat ship LCS-2 INDEPENDENCE is scheduled to arrive at Naval Base San Diego, completing the maiden voyage to her homeport. Source: NIPmail.

Sorry, for the long hiatus. I was REALLY busy at work (which included a trip to DC for the Navy League's Sea, Air, Space Show at the gaylord Convention Center). Here's what's going on around the world. Summary to follow ... 19 April USA The first Joint High Speed Vessel, future SPEARHEAD (JHSV 1), completes builder’s sea trials off Mobile (Alabama). Source: NIPmail. 24 April USA The IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group passes the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean (rmks: Likely a routine deployment to the Middle East). Source: NIPmail. 25 April PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate ACONIT completes operations with EU NavFor, heading home. (rmks: deployed since 11 Feb, relieved by sister ship GUEPRATTE. I'm sure the pirates a quaking in their boots!) Source: IMO Update. 26 April CHINA Defense Ministry spokesman: “China's armed forces will work closely with fishery and maritime supervision agencies to jointly safeguard national marine rights and interests.” (rmks: read that, bull its neighbors Vietnam and Philippines) Source: NIPmail. CHINA – RUSSIA “Maritime Cooperation 2012”: Chinese navy and Russian Pacific Fleet complete exercises in the Yellow Sea and proceed back to port Dalian for post-exercise discussions … exercise officially ends on 27 Apr. Source: NIPmail. IRAN (Sanctions) Lloyd’s Register, a classification society that verifies the safety and environmental standards of vessels, has stopped assessing around 60 tankers and container ships owned by Iran’s NITC and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. (rmks: I bet the conspiracy theorist are a buzz over this one) Source: NIPmail. MALAYSIA The RMN plans acquisition of more submarines, however, due to budget constraints not in the near term. (rmks: me thinks the are DB updates here) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Source: IMO Update. +++ Kenya: All eleven pirates apprehended by French frigate NIVOSE (EUNavFor) back in May 2009 and transferred to Kenyan authorities were found guilty … now face 20 years imprisonment Anti-Piracy Forces. (rmks: don't worry with time off for good behavior, they should be out of circulation for about a week). +++ Russian Northern Fleet destroyer VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV completes a scheduled port visit to Souda Bay (Crete, Greece) … now heading for the Suez Canal. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Spanish supply ship PATINO arrives back home in Ferrol, ending her deployment in support of EU NavFor. RUSSIA Source: NIPmail +++ MoD confirms first YASEN class (Project 885) submarine SEVERODVINSK will complete all trials this year. Modified (Project 885M) KAZAN to be commissioned by 2015. Five more 885M to be built by 2021. +++ More than 20 warships, submarines and support ships of the Northern Fleet conduct exercises incl. live missile/gun firing in the Barents Sea … final inspection after winter training period. +++ Frigates NEUASTRASHIMIY and corvette SOOBRAZITELNIY serve as platform for Ka-27 pilots to practice ASW in the Eastern Baltic. SOUTH AFRICA With growing requirement to tackle regional piracy, the MoD pledges to increase the SAN’s budget. (rmks: This is interesting. We might see some movement on several projects that have been onhold, for financial reasons) Source: NIPmail. SYRIA Russia and Iran are helping Syria import fuel which it needs for heavy vehicles including army tanks. The shipments appear to be legal, as neither Russia nor Iran has signed up to Western sanctions barring such trade, and Moscow has blocked UNSC sanctions that would apply to all countries. Source: NIPmail. USA House Armed Services readiness subcommittee proposes legislation that would require the US Navy to keep cruisers COWPENS, ANZIO and VICKSBURG in service and upgrade them … USN planned to retire all three, along with the PORT ROYAL on March 31, 2013, and three more in 2014 to meet congressionally mandated budget cuts. (rmks: ahh, ya gotta love foggy bottom) Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy has contracted Northrop Grumman to develop, manufacture and test a new vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) … as successor to (recently troubled) Fire Scout. Source: NIPmail. USA Dock landing ship GUNSTON HALL (part of the IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group) in port Durres (Albania) for a scheduled visit. Source: NIPmail. 27 April AUSTRALIA – INDONESIA RAN and Indonesian navy complete their third Australian-Indonesian coordinated maritime security patrol, AUSINDO CORPAT 2012 … improve coordinated maritime security along the Australian and Indonesian shared maritime boundaries near Ashmore Island, the Provisional Fisheries Surveillance Enforcement Line (PFSEL) and the Australian Indonesian Seabed Line (AISBL) … started in Kupang (West Timor) on 16 Apr and then held in the waters between Australia and Indonesia from 19-27 Apr … Australia contributed patrol boat PIRIE and an AP-3C Orion aircraft, the Indonesian navy participated with PB-57 type patrol vessels KAKAP and TONGKOL and a CASA NC-212 aircraft. Source: NIPmail. INDIA During a ceremony at Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) the Indian navy takes over newly built frigate TEG … first of three KRIVAK-IV Batch 2 (Project 11356) frigates … TARKASH to follow in September this year, TRIKAND in July 2013. Source: NIPmail. NEW ZEALAND Hydrographic survey vessel RESOLUTION decommissioned from service at a formal ceremony in the Devonport Naval Base. Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS FINLAND (03 May) Mine layer POHJANMAA scheduled to sail from Helsinki for this year’s cadet training cruise … to Falmouth (UK), New York (USA) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) … return on 18 June. Source: NIPmail.

Sorry, for the long hiatus. I was REALLY busy at work (which included a trip to DC for the Navy League's Sea, Air, Space Show at the gaylord Convention Center). Here's what's going on around the world. Summary to follow ... 19 April USA The first Joint High Speed Vessel, future SPEARHEAD (JHSV 1), completes builder’s sea trials off Mobile (Alabama). Source: NIPmail. 24 April USA The IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group passes the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean (rmks: Likely a routine deployment to the Middle East). Source: NIPmail. 25 April PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate ACONIT completes operations with EU NavFor, heading home. (rmks: deployed since 11 Feb, relieved by sister ship GUEPRATTE. I'm sure the pirates a quaking in their boots!) Source: IMO Update. 26 April CHINA Defense Ministry spokesman: “China's armed forces will work closely with fishery and maritime supervision agencies to jointly safeguard national marine rights and interests.” (rmks: read that, bull its neighbors Vietnam and Philippines) Source: NIPmail. CHINA – RUSSIA “Maritime Cooperation 2012”: Chinese navy and Russian Pacific Fleet complete exercises in the Yellow Sea and proceed back to port Dalian for post-exercise discussions … exercise officially ends on 27 Apr. Source: NIPmail. IRAN (Sanctions) Lloyd’s Register, a classification society that verifies the safety and environmental standards of vessels, has stopped assessing around 60 tankers and container ships owned by Iran’s NITC and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. (rmks: I bet the conspiracy theorist are a buzz over this one) Source: NIPmail. MALAYSIA The RMN plans acquisition of more submarines, however, due to budget constraints not in the near term. (rmks: me thinks the are DB updates here) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Source: IMO Update. +++ Kenya: All eleven pirates apprehended by French frigate NIVOSE (EUNavFor) back in May 2009 and transferred to Kenyan authorities were found guilty … now face 20 years imprisonment Anti-Piracy Forces. (rmks: don't worry with time off for good behavior, they should be out of circulation for about a week). +++ Russian Northern Fleet destroyer VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV completes a scheduled port visit to Souda Bay (Crete, Greece) … now heading for the Suez Canal. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Spanish supply ship PATINO arrives back home in Ferrol, ending her deployment in support of EU NavFor. RUSSIA Source: NIPmail +++ MoD confirms first YASEN class (Project 885) submarine SEVERODVINSK will complete all trials this year. Modified (Project 885M) KAZAN to be commissioned by 2015. Five more 885M to be built by 2021. +++ More than 20 warships, submarines and support ships of the Northern Fleet conduct exercises incl. live missile/gun firing in the Barents Sea … final inspection after winter training period. +++ Frigates NEUASTRASHIMIY and corvette SOOBRAZITELNIY serve as platform for Ka-27 pilots to practice ASW in the Eastern Baltic. SOUTH AFRICA With growing requirement to tackle regional piracy, the MoD pledges to increase the SAN’s budget. (rmks: This is interesting. We might see some movement on several projects that have been onhold, for financial reasons) Source: NIPmail. SYRIA Russia and Iran are helping Syria import fuel which it needs for heavy vehicles including army tanks. The shipments appear to be legal, as neither Russia nor Iran has signed up to Western sanctions barring such trade, and Moscow has blocked UNSC sanctions that would apply to all countries. Source: NIPmail. USA House Armed Services readiness subcommittee proposes legislation that would require the US Navy to keep cruisers COWPENS, ANZIO and VICKSBURG in service and upgrade them … USN planned to retire all three, along with the PORT ROYAL on March 31, 2013, and three more in 2014 to meet congressionally mandated budget cuts. (rmks: ahh, ya gotta love foggy bottom) Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy has contracted Northrop Grumman to develop, manufacture and test a new vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) … as successor to (recently troubled) Fire Scout. Source: NIPmail. USA Dock landing ship GUNSTON HALL (part of the IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group) in port Durres (Albania) for a scheduled visit. Source: NIPmail. 27 April AUSTRALIA – INDONESIA RAN and Indonesian navy complete their third Australian-Indonesian coordinated maritime security patrol, AUSINDO CORPAT 2012 … improve coordinated maritime security along the Australian and Indonesian shared maritime boundaries near Ashmore Island, the Provisional Fisheries Surveillance Enforcement Line (PFSEL) and the Australian Indonesian Seabed Line (AISBL) … started in Kupang (West Timor) on 16 Apr and then held in the waters between Australia and Indonesia from 19-27 Apr … Australia contributed patrol boat PIRIE and an AP-3C Orion aircraft, the Indonesian navy participated with PB-57 type patrol vessels KAKAP and TONGKOL and a CASA NC-212 aircraft. Source: NIPmail. INDIA During a ceremony at Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) the Indian navy takes over newly built frigate TEG … first of three KRIVAK-IV Batch 2 (Project 11356) frigates … TARKASH to follow in September this year, TRIKAND in July 2013. Source: NIPmail. NEW ZEALAND Hydrographic survey vessel RESOLUTION decommissioned from service at a formal ceremony in the Devonport Naval Base. Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS FINLAND (03 May) Mine layer POHJANMAA scheduled to sail from Helsinki for this year’s cadet training cruise … to Falmouth (UK), New York (USA) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) … return on 18 June. Source: NIPmail.

I have been busier than a one-armed paperhanger. I am hoping to begin updates again next week. FWFS, Greg

Good confirmation. Interesting, have you seen that India wants to have as man as five nike boats by the end of the decade? Granted the IN overestimates and usually is pretty boastful. I just don't see the Russian handing over more of its subs, when they are beginning to fall on tough economic times and their sub program is not firing on all cylinders. What says the forum? FWFS, Greg