gemerson

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Here’s the first evening edition of the NNSoTD. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 08 February RUSSIA Black Sea Fleet MOMA class intelligence vessel RFS KILDIN has ended a (probably Syria-related) several month Mediterranean deployment, passing the Turkish Straits enroute home port Sevastopol. THAILAND (multinational) US Navy MSC ship USNS CAPT. STEVEN L. BENNET (T-AK 4296) completes cargo operations at the port of Chuk Sa Met (Thailand), delivering 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force cargo ahead of upcoming multinational exercise “Cobra Gold 2013”. 11 February CHINA Internet-published photos suggest 4th Type 052D (LUJANG-III) destroyer under construction. PHILIPPINES The Philippines has asked Japan for a US$110M loan to purchase 10 patrol boats for its coast guard another source: Japan prepared to donate the boats with transfer to start from April. (rmks: Perhaps the US could work a deal out to cover the damage caused by the Life on the Reef Affair) PIRACY Keystone Kops (aka, Anti-Piracy Forces) Update: Belgian navy frigate BNS LOUISE-MARIE has ended her operation off Somalia in support of EU operation “Atalanta”, heading home … had joined EU NavFor on 23 Nov. (rmks: After doing absolutely NOTHING to curb the piracy problem) RUSSIA (SYRIA) “Source” alleges during recent Mediterranean exercises, Baltic fleet landing ships RFS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN delivered “military export goods” to Syria. (rmks: Makes sense. The Russkie have a history of dealing with the Syrian despots – both father and son) RUSSIA With a three-month delay, corvette RFS MAKHACHKALA (Proj 21630) finally has been adopted by the Caspian Sea Flotilla. SAUDI ARABIA Saudi Arabia is looking into buying patrol boats worth 1.5 billion Euros from German shipbuilder Luerssen. (rmks: That quite a boost for the German shipbuilder) USA +++ Destroyer USS GRAVELY (DDG 107) departs Norfolk for her maiden deployment to the 6th Fleet area of responsibility … participate in Ballistic Missile Defence operations. +++ Amphibious assault ship USS BOXER has been hosting exercise “Iron Fist 2013” off the coast of California … from 04 – 15 Feb … involves elements from 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and Japanese army. 12 February NORTH KOREA North Korea has conducted its third underground nuclear test … South Korea on alert for another possible follow-on test … USA, Japan and South Korea “discuss possible reactions” … UNSC to convene for emergency meeting. (rmks: They forgot to add … where absolutely nothing of significance will be accomplished to correct the problem with the DPRK)

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. I don’t know about y’all, but the Emerson Clan had a great weekend. It was good to be refreshed with some wonderful fellowship with likeminded friends. As the new week starts, I am preparing to start work with Boeing. In light of this, NNSoTD will be shifting to an evening edition. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 05 February BELGIUM Support vessel BNS GODETIA sails from Zeebrugge on a four-month deployment to West Africa … visit Senegal, Benin, Congo and Gambia to support local navies (maritime capacity building) and deliver humanitarian goods … from 22 Feb until 28 Mar join US Navy Africa Partnership Station program. 06 February INDIA First test-launch of a submarine-based version of the Brahmos anti-ship missile now scheduled in March … from an underwater platform. (rmks: Initially had been planned in autumn 2012, and then “by year end.” This once again illustrates India’s tendency for making vast claims, but falling flat in the execution phase. Good to know they work though. Looks like there will be some additional updates to the old database in the coming weeks) PIRACY West Africa: Suspected Nigerian pirates attack and board British-flagged bulk carrier M/V ESTHER-C while sailing on open sea off the Niger Delta … abduct three (out of 12) crew members and leave the scene. (rmks: The cockroaches (excuse me, pirates) will probably will ask for ransom. This is their usual MO. Here again I ask, where are the Keystone Kops when you need them) SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) A boat carrying 54 illegal migrants heading for Australia was intercepted by a SLN fast patrol boat just 12 nm after departing the coast. 07 February CHILE Submarine SIMPSON departed US Naval Station Mayport after a three-month stay to return to homeport in Talcahuano (Chile) … participated in Diesel Electric Submarine Initiative (DESI) and bilateral exercise CHILEMAR IV with the U.S. Navy. 08 February FRANCE Helicopter carrier FS DIXMUDE returns to Toulon ... had transported troops and vehicles destined for Mali operation “Seral” to Dakar (Senegal). INDONESIA The Indonesian navy will build “naval base12” in Sorong, Papua … third base in Papua (base 10 in Jayapura, base 11 in Merauke) … primarily aimed at increasing regional maritime security and curb illegal fishing. RUSSIA OSCAR-II class submarine RFS SMOLENSK will complete a refit and be re-commissioned into the Russian navy this year. USA +++ Budget Woes: The US Navy has delayed four-year refueling complex overhaul (RCOH) of aircraft carrier USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN because Congress has not passed a bill providing the required US$1.5B … had been scheduled to transfer from Norfolk naval base to Newport News Shipbuilding next week. (rmks: We don’t have funds for RCOH, but we do waste money on useless junk for the overpriced tinkertoy program (aka, the LCS program) +++ The US Navy has “no requirement” to replace its four OHIO class submarines modified to carry cruise missiles and special forces … the boats will patrol until nuclear fuel is spent in the mid-2020s, then be phased out without successors. (rmks: Well, the Burkes can fill the gap for the cruise missiles. I wonder what we’ll use for SpecOps? I know, LCS. It’s the wondership, right!?) 09 February CHINA (Territorial Disputes) +++ With Japan: Chinese marine surveillance ship HAIJIAN 137 continue patrol in the waters surrounding the Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands. +++ With Japan: China vehemently denies that its warships locked radar on a Japanese navy helicopter and destroyer. (rmks: On 19 and 30 Jan) … accuses Tokyo of “deliberately spreading information to smear China’s image” … Japan mulls disclosing evidence. The interesting thing about stick-poking ops, the pokee has ESM that does an extremely effective job of recording F/C radar paints) ITALY Aircraft carrier ITS CAVOUR, destroyer ITS CAIO DUILIO and tanker ITS STROMBOLI arrive at Turkish navy base Aksaz for a scheduled visit until 12 Feb. PAKISTAN The Pakistan navy will deploy submarine KHALID (AGOSTA 90B) and fast missile craft JURRAT to Abu Dhabi … participate in upcoming IDEX / NAVDEX exhibition (17-21 Feb) PHILIPPINES The Department of National Defense is looking at equipping three AugustaWestland AW109 naval helicopters, ordered in Dec 2012 and due for delivery in 2014, with anti-submarine gear to further enable them detect intruders in Philippine waters. USA Life on the Reef Update: Second SMIT Salvage crane vessel, JACKSON 25, set to arrive on scene from Singapore around 15 Feb … bad weather prevents first crane vessel SMIT BORNEO from finding safe anchorage near stricken USS GUARDIAN … start of salvage work delayed.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Busy day preparing for a much busier weekend. Hope everyone has a great weekend. NNSoTD will continue during the evening on Monday. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 01 February PIRACY Keystone Kops (Anti-Piracy Forces (KK)) Update: South African navy frigate SAS AMATOLA sails from Simon’s Town to resume anti-piracy operation “Copper” (suspended since Sep 2012) in the Mozambique Channel … initially proceed to Maputo (Mozambique) to conduct training with Mozambique boarding teams. (rmks: As usual, fat lot of good it will do) 05 February RUSSIA Eastern Command forces, incl. Pacific Fleet warships, have begun “large” joint exercises at the Kurile islands … one focus on search & rescue. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Black Sea Fleet destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY returns to home base Sevastopol. 06 February CHINA During a visit to the Lanzhou Military Area Command, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has called for "expanding and deepening" the military's combat preparedness … senior military official: adopt "real combat criteria" in military training. (rmks: Read that more sticking poking exercises) IRAN (related) Group-of-Six and Iran have agreed on another round of talks to be held on 26 Feb at Almaty (Kazakhstan). (rmks: Whoppee! Another lovefest, for the religion of peace. They will likely discuss the last planned rounds for jihad) PIRACY KK Update: French offshore patrol vessel FS L’ADROIT has joined multinational CTF-151. (rmks: I’m sure the pirates are quaking in their sandals) West Africa: French product tanker GASCOGNE, hijacked on 03 Feb off Abidjan (Ivory Coast), has been freed ... cargo of 3,000-tons diesel fuel siphoned off somewhere in the Niger Delta … two of the 17 crew sustained injuries during their ordeal … security forces reportedly did “not attempt to locate the ship due to safety concerns for the crew.” (rmks: Once again I ask, “Where are the KK’s when you need them?) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Black Sea Fleet missile cruiser RFS MOSKVA has returned to home base Sevastopol. RUSSIA +++ DELTA-IV class submarine RFS VERKHOTURIYE has returned to operational service with the Northern Fleet … following overhaul and modernization at Zvezdochka shipyard (Severodvinsk). (rmks: Redelivered to the Russian navy on 30 Dec) +++ The Caspian Sea Flotilla has been conducting a series of exercises with new mobile coastal missile system “Bal” … at the Adanak (Dagestan) test site … Kh-35 (SS-N-25/Sizzler) missiles with a range of up to 120 km … capable of up to 32 missile salvoes … system entered the Caspian Sea Flotilla in late 2011. SPAIN “Farewell ceremony” off Rota marks end of operational life for aircraft carrier SPS PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS … ship now proceed to Ferrol for official decommissioning (and - most probably - subsequent scrapping). USA +++ Gloom and Dispair Update: “Facing budget uncertainty”, SecDef Panetta has ordered aircraft carrier presence in the Persian Gulf / Arabian Sea curtailed … deployment of USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, scheduled to start on 08 Feb, “indefinitely delayed” … HST Carrier Strike Group will remain at the US coast, but ready to deploy on short notice if needed. (rmks: Though largely a result of automatic spending cuts, what better provocation do the Mullahs needs to start stirring things up in the region)) Life on the Reef Update: SMIT Salvage (Singapore) has been tasked with salvage operation on the stricken USS GUARDIAN … US$25M contract awarded … while the official contract (probably for administrative purposes) runs through “December”, the US Navy expects the salvage to be completed by April. +++ The US Coast Guard has exercised a contract option to purchase the service’s 18th HC-144A Ocean Sentry (CN-235) maritime patrol aircraft. 07 February CHINA (Territorial Disputes) Japan (update): Incidents on 19 and 30 Jan took place some 100-150 km north of the Senkaku (Diaoyu) Islands, where China has positioned warships as possible back-up for paramilitary China Marine Surveillance vessels intruding into Japanese waters around the islands. Incident on 19 Jan involved a JIANGKAI-I class frigate which trained a fire control radar on a JMSDF SH60 helicopter operating from destroyer OONAMI (111); on 30 Jan a JIANGWEI-II class frigate shone a fire control radar on JMSDF destroyer YUDACHI (103), but did not aim associated gun. Chinese government outright denies the incidents. (rmks: Of course they do) CHINA Update: North Sea Fleet task group (QINGDAO, YANTAI, YANCHENG) concluded “patrols and training missions” in the South China Sea … now set to head out to West Pacific again. IRAN (related) Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected a US offer to negotiate one-on-one on Tehran's disputed nuclear program “so long as Washington continues to impose sanctions on Iran.” PAKISTAN The Pakistan Navy has established a Joint Maritime Information and Coordination Centre (JMICC) … at Qasim Manora naval station (Karachi) … provide “horizontal linkages” between various agencies involved in the maritime sector. RUSSIA – JAPAN Two Russian Su-27 fighter aircraft said to have violated Japanese airspace near northernmost main island of Hokkaido for just over a minute … Japan scrambled F-2 interceptor aircraft … Japan protested, Russia denied. (rmks: Russian Eastern Command forces since 05 Feb have conducted “large” joint exercises at - disputed - Kurile islands) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Baltic Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ships RFS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN pass the Turkish Straits into the Black Sea … heading for Novorossiysk to offload naval infantry and equipment embarked for the exercises. TUNISIA – ITALY Tunisian navy commander, Admiral Mohamed Khammassi, visits Italian naval base Augusta … talks on possible acquisition of two second-hand Italian MINERVA class frigates. USA +++ Destroyer USS BARRY departs Naval Station Norfolk for a several-month Ballistic Missile Defense deployment in the US 6th Fleet area of responsibility. +++ Africa Partnership Station: After completing a 10-month deployment, HSV-2 SWIFT is heading home … since July, 2012, conducted 38 port visits to Africa and 15 to Europe, circumnavigating the African continent.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Well, it’s hump day once again. Some interesting news in today’s summary concerning the Russkie Mistral deal. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 28 January FRANCE (USA) French destroyer FS CHEVALIER PAUL has joined the US Navy’s USS JOHN C STENNIS Carrier Strike Group, currently operating in the Persian Gulf / Arabian Sea … afterwards, from 16 Feb – 07 Mar, participate in Qatar-hosted multinational exercise “Gulf Falcon”. 05 February CHINA (Territorial Disputes) Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands: In two recent (19 Jan, 30 Jan) incidents in the East China Sea, Chinese warship(s) “illuminated” a Japanese naval helicopter and a Japanese destroyer with fire control radar … could be first incidents involving regular navy ships of both countries … Japan lodged official protest with Beijing, which (until now) has refused to comment. (rmks: Okay folks this is serious escalation. Painting an active fire control radar at a warship is internationally regarded as “hostile act” and there are a number of navies which instantly would have “responded.” It seems the ChiComs have moved from stick-poking to cattle-prodding, to see what kind of results they get. Let’s hope it not of the anti-ship missile variety) INDIA In 2013, the Indian navy may expect delivery of seven carrier-capable MiG-29K/KUB aircraft from Russia … part of 29 aircraft contract placed in 2010; first 4 of which delivered in Dec 2012. IRAN (related) International reinsurers informed Indian insurance companies that US/EU sanctions to not stop at just importing Iranian crude but also apply to facilities processing this crude … could pose serious problems for Indian refineries. Since the start of 2013, Iran has taken delivery two new VLCC tankers from Chinese shipyards … another three new vessels had arrived in recent months … each with capacity of 2 million barrels of oil. NIGERIA Gunmen ambushed an Indian-owned oil barge under military escort in the Niger Delta region, killing two soldiers and one crew member before being repelled. (rmks: Local press is declaring this rebel-related activities; however, one must remember 99% of the rebels are of the cockroach (excuse me, pirate) variety. Just thought you would like to know) PORTUGAL With no funding for replacement, the Portuguese navy is planning to retain its Super Lynx Mk95 helicopters in service until about 2030. RUSSIA DepPrimeMin Rogozin claims Russian fuel not compatible with French MISTRAL helicopter carriers’ engines. (rmks: Rogozin has turned out to be an outspoken critic of the MISTRAL acquisition project) USA The fifth littoral combat ship (LCS 5 MILWAUKEE) will be the first to be driven by new high-power density waterjets. (rmks: Whoopty-freaking-doo. Yet another over-priced add-on to a completely useless naval platform. As you can tell, I’m a big fan of LCS) 06 February SOLOMON ISLANDS 8.0 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami which – according to initial reports - has caused casualties and damage to infrastructure at the Solomon Islands. (rmks: developing story. The quake occurred near one of the remote Islands in the chain) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS QATAR (multinational) (16 Feb) Qatar will be hosting multinational exercise “Gulf Falcon” scheduled to be conducted from 16 Feb through 07 Mar.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Howdy everyone. Hope your Tuesday is going well. Here are the big naval happenings today. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 03 February PIRACY Gulf of Guinea: Luxembourg-flagged, French-owned tanker GASCOGNE (17 crew) hijacked on roadstead off Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … probably steered towards Niger Delta to have its cargo of 3,000-tons gas oil siphoned off. (rmks: Where are the Keystone Kops when you need them?) 04 February BANGLADESH First Chinese-built Large Patrol Craft carries name DURJOY (P 811); second boat currently on transfer voyage, reportedly named BNS NIRMUL. BELGIUM French Socarenam has won the tender to build two new 52-m offshore patrol vessels (RDS Ready Duty Ships) for the Belgium navy … to be delivered by early 2015 … improved and larger variant of French customs boat BNS KERMORVAN. FRANCE +++ Already in December, Chantier Bernard has delivered the first of four new 12-m patrol craft to French customs … DF-61 based at Lorient. +++ First FREMM type frigate, FS AQUITAINE, successfully conducts first live Aster 15 missile-firing. INDIA (RUSSIA) Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) has completed factory tests of third TALWAR (Batch 2) class frigate INS TRIKAND … ship now to start acceptance trials in the Eastern Baltic, operating out of Baltiysk naval base. PIRACY +++ Gulf of Guinea: One sailor reportedly shot as pirates failed in attempt to hijack a ship off Lagos (Nigeria). (rmks: Once again I ask, where are the Keystone Kops when you need them?) +++ Keystone Kops (Anti-Piracy Forces) Update: Oh, here they are ... Russian Northern Fleet task group (RFS SEVEROMORSK, DUBNA and ALTAI) arrives at the Gulf of Aden … commence anti-piracy operations with escorting ice breaker VITUS BERING through the Bab el Mandeb. (rmks: As usual, no near any pirate activity. Speaking of which … no pirate were harmed in any of these stories. BLAST IT ALL!) NORTH KOREA (related) Ahead of a suspected imminent North Korean nuclear test (possibly two devices), South Korea has placed its armed forces on alert. RUSSIA Third STEREGUSHCHIY class (Proj 20380) corvette RFS BOYKY completed main system tests in initial sea trials … moved from Northern Shipyard (St. Petersburg) to Baltiysk naval base, for second-stage sea trials set to commence in March. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Black Sea Fleet landing ships RFS AZOV and SARATOV as well as tanker IVAN BUBNOV pass the Turkish Straits, returning to the Black Sea. USA +++ The US Navy has revised its overall fleet size requirement from 313 to 306 ships … reflecting modified operational requirements, not the ongoing budget crisis … one of the changes is a reduction in the 55-ship littoral combat ship requirement to 52 ships. (rmks: Which are about as useful as screendoors on submarines) +++ Life on the Reef Update: Civilian crane barge SMIT BORNEO has arrived near Tubbataha Reef to assist in salvage (dismantling) of grounded USS GUARDIAN … another (larger) crane barge expected to arrive “anytime soon” … both coming from Singapore.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Too bad for the 49'ers. Here are some very interesting naval updates. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 09 January BANGLADESH (Already on 09 Jan) Steel cutting ceremony for two 1,330-ton (90m) corvettes for the Bangladesh navy at Chinese Wuchang shipyard, with Bangladesh navy chief attending. (rmks: Likely to be variant of new Chinese TYPE 056 corvette) 29 January USA As part of the USS KEASARGE Amphibious Ready Group´s current COMPTUEX, marines of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit conduct an amphibious beach raid exercise on Camp Lejeune (Atlantic coast). (rmks: Work-ups for upcoming Mid-East deployment) 01 February CHINA Update: The North Sea Fleet task group (QINGDAO, YANTAI, YANCHENG) passed east of Taiwan and entered the South China Sea through the Bashi Channel (Luzon Strait). (rmks: Still no word on support ships) EGYPT With unrest continuing at Port Said, Ismailia and Suez, the Egyptian armed forces are maintaining shipping services through the Suez Canal which is a “controlled military zone.” IRAN (related) India may barter tea for Iranian crude oil. SEYCHELLES India has provided the Seychelles with a Dornier 228 maritime surveillance aircraft … license-built by Indian HAL. USA +++ As Congress still hasn't passed a Defense Appropriations Bill for this year, the US Navy has to operate on last year’s numbers … dealing with a more than a US$4B shortfall in its operations budget by cancelling ship and aircraft maintenance, and reducing operations. +++ US Navy officials are directing all ship crews to "exercise caution" when using digital nautical charts supplied by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in coastal areas. (rmks: I thought the digital charts were fine, as was reported soon after Life on a Reef saga began. This is likely the closest thing to a retraction your likely to see) 02 February AUSTRALIA Japan reportedly “considers” sharing sensitive submarine technology … namely air-independent propulsion (AIP) system of SORYU class submarines … for Australian navy COLLINS class replacement program. (rmks; It looks like an Aussie Collins replacement program may be firming-up) BANGLADESH Bangladesh Navy has begun constructing a submarine base "in the south of the country” … for two (probably Chinese) submarines that will join the fleet by 2016. (rmks: They may join the fleet, but they obviously won't be an integral part for a loonnngggg time) UNITED KINGDOM BAE Systems at Portsmouth has completed construction of forward island (Upper Block 07) for future aircraft carrier QUEEN ELIZABETH … ready for shipping to Rosyth. USA +++ Life on The Reef Update: Bad weather has delayed the arrival of a craneship from Singapore at Tubbataha Reef for removing USS GUARDIAN … damage to the reef now said to have spread to at least 4,000 square meters … US Navy has briefed the Philippine coast guard on its plans to dismantle the ship on site. +++ The Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) will be introduced to the fleet in 2017 … to be deployed from Littoral Combat Ships … two main components: an unmanned surface vehicle, and an acoustic and magnetic mine-sweeping system towed behind it. (rmks: What's the old adage about throwing away good money after bad?) +++ Completing a six-month maintenance period, aircraft carrier CARL VINSON has begun sea trials off California. (rmks: Go forth and do well, Gold Eagle) 03 February CHINA The Chinese navy has officially been invited to join US-hosted multinational exercise RIMPAC 2014 … and send warships to Australian fleet review in October … Beijing has not formally responded yet. (rmks: What the heck?! That's like asking the foxes to help guard the hen house) CHINA (Territorial Disputes) Japan: Japanese government vows “to defend” disputed Senkaku (Diaoyu) islands from threats by China, after a series of confrontations that have raised the risk of an armed clash … endorsed a budget bill partly aimed at beefing up coastal and marine surveillance in the area. (rmks: Here's a scenario for you ... What would happen if China and Japan came to blows after a continued series of Chinese incursion become aggressive AND the US sits it out, primarily because of the amount of debt, China holds over its head. What do you think would happen?0 SRI LANKA Sri Lanka’s navy rescued 138 Bangladeshi and Myanmar nationals from a sinking fishing vessel off the island’s eastern coast. THAILAND About 145 Rohingya boat people, predominantly male illegal migrant workers heading for Malaysia, have ended up off Thailand when they ran out of food or water. USA +++ Life on The Reef Update: According the Philippine Coast Guard, salvage ops of USS GUARDIAN may have to wait until March, due to seasonal weather. +++ The HARRY S. TRUMAN Carrier Strike Group has ended training exercise COMPTUEX and returned to Naval Station Norfolk. (rmks: Work-up for upcoming scheduled Mid-East deployment to start “this spring”; JTFEX to follow soon) 04 February PIRACY +++ Japan: The government will submit a bill to the Diet that would allow foreign security contractors aboard Japanese-flagged vessels to carry firearms … warning shots will be permitted but firing at people will not, unless in self-defense. +++ The Keystone Kops (Anti-Piracy Forces) Update: The Russian Pacific Fleet task group with destroyer RFS MARSHAL SHAPOSHNIKOV, about to be relieved by approaching Northern Fleet task group with destroyer SEVEROMORSK, will make 5-day port visit to Port Victoria (Seychelles), starting 07 Feb … afterwards proceed to Daressalam (Tanzania) for another visit … then probably head for home. SOUTH KOREA – USA South Korean and US forces have begun three-day joint naval exercises … east of the Korean peninsula in the Sea of Japan … one focus on anti-submarine warfare … ROK Navy contributes ten ships incl. submarines, US Navy has deployed cruiser USS SHILOH and submarine USS SAN FRANCISCO. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (FRANCE) (08 Feb) French STX shipyard at St. Nazaire plans official keel laying ceremony for first of two Russian MISTRAL class helicopter carriers to be held “on Friday” (prob. meaning 08 Feb) … RFS VLADIVOSTOK to be delivered in 2014 … Russian navy chief Adm Chirkov to attend event. (rmks: Construction of modules already began last year)

That's the downside to national pride, it sometimes get costly in the procurment of useless systems.

From a logical perspective, I know. But we are talking small, Slavic country national pride here.

Ukraine has no need of a 'Slava' with the relatively small coastline that they have, so it makes sense to sell that. Having visited Ukraine in 2011 and sampling the geo-political climate in Sevastopol, I can see why Ukraine would maybe want something with considerable teeth. They are viewed as redheaded step-children by the Russians and the Russkies consider their fleet as insignificant. Floating the idea of the purchase is more of a face-saving measure. Their reputation is on the line and maybe having a CG could raise their status, regardless of whether they can actually operate the thing. If you know what I mean. Although to be honest, you'd have just as enough anti-ship punch with a squadron of missile boats or a batch of Fulcrums. I know what you're talking about, but you gotta understand something from their perspecive ... We'll have a CRUISER!

Ukraine has no need of a 'Slava' with the relatively small coastline that they have, so it makes sense to sell that. Having visited Ukraine in 2011 and sampling the geo-political climate in Sevastopol, I can see why Ukraine would maybe want something with considerable teeth. They are viewed as redheaded step-children by the Russians and the Russkies consider their fleet as insignificant. Floating the idea of the purchase is more of a face-saving measure. Their reputation is on the line and maybe having a CG could raise their status, regardless of whether they can actually operate the thing. If you know what I mean.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. If everything goes according to plan, I will have employment by day's end. If I do, the publishing of the NNSoTD will switch to an evening version (US Pacific Time) instead of the morning posting it has been. Some interesting news in today installment. Be careful this weekend and go 49'ers. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 29 January INDIA Refurbished KILO class submarine INS SINDHURAKSHAK sails from Russian Zvezdochka shipyard (White Sea) for her home transit … current reporting suggests submarine indeed following the Northern Sea Route (through the Arctic) … accompanied by Russian ice breakers RFS DIKSON and KAPITAN CADAEV. 30 January CHINA First of four LUJANG-II class (052C) destroyers built at Jiangnan shipyard commissioned … named CHANGCHUN (150). RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Baltic Fleet landing ships RFS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN have returned from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean to join final phase of multi-fleet exercise. 31 January BELGIUM Procurement of two new patrol vessels (Ready Duty Ships) formally initiated (some data: 52 x 9.3 x 3.38m, 448-tons, 2 MTU 2880 kW, 21 knots, 1 remote controlled .50cal machine gun, 2 RHIB). (rmks: Belgium navy website does not give any details on contracts nor time table). (rmks: Belgium like many European navies, is regressing to a small regional EEZ force) CHINA +++ Update: The North Sea Fleet task group (QINGDAO, YANTAI, YANCHENG) has passed the Miyako Strait, heading into Western Pacific. (rmks: While previous tasks groups used to sail in company with support ships, this time the three combat ships seem to be on their own … could indicate only short deployment or later rendezvous with a support task group, possibly from another fleet) +++ Guangxi Zhuang Region has ordered three 1,000-ton class fishery law enforcement cutters … contracts apparently to Xiamen Shipbuilding. (rmks: More fodder for sticking-ops) IRAN (related) +++ Shipments to Asian customers, namely China and India, seemed to help in rebound of declining oil exports … rose in Dec 2012 to 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), up from .9 million bpd in Sep … still down from average 2.2 million bpd before European sanctions took effect, but likely to encourage Tehran in its belief that it can “tough out” the sanctions. +++ The US will target companies that help disguise Iranian oil shipments to skirt sanctions. +++ Iran has officially informed the IAEA that it plans to use more modern uranium enrichment centrifuges at its Natanz plant … could enable Iran to refine uranium faster than it can at the moment. (rmks: Ain't sanctions great! About the only ones who don't know they have more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese is the current US administration) MALDIVES With US assistance, the Maldives has established a Maritime Surveillance System to monitor and identify vessels operating inside territorial waters. PIRACY +++ The Keystone Kops (Anti-Piracy Forces) Update: The Netherlands and Sri Lanka officially agreed to have Netherlands armed vessel protection teams embark/disembark merchant ships at Sri Lankan ports. +++ Gulf of Oman (Update): Amateur video published on the Internet allegedly depicting recent incident (28 Jan) … shows an Iranian navy armed security team in gun battle … apprehending nine pirates, claiming to have killed another six … state media had reported the VPD action “forced the pirates to flee the scene.” (rmks: Some doubts that video actually shows this incident; state media spoke of VLCC tanker, video footage suggests a smaller container ship … also: why would a VLCC stop to have pirates arrested … video, however, leaves no doubt that Somali pirates were arrested, whenever or wherever that may have been) UNITED KINGDOM Britain published a ₤159B long-term (2012-2022) defense equipment spending plan … aimed at reversing decades of mismanagement, but doubts remain … includes all major naval programs (2 aircraft carriers, development of TYPE 26 frigates, completion of TYPE 45 program, 7 ASTUTE class submarines, development of new SSBN, F35 and drone aircraft, Wildcat helicopters … for the first time includes 4.8 billion pounds to cover “cost variations.” (rmks: I wonder what the Brit analogy to the vodka version would be? This is obviously the pre, pre, pre-preliminary version of the plan) USA Life on the Reef Update: While minesweeper USS GUARDIAN remains stuck on Tubbataha Reef, the US Navy has decided to scrap and dismantle her on site … “damage beyond economical repair.” (rmks: What a sad end to a fine ship)

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. It's a small, but interesting update today. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 29 January RUSSIA Vympel (Rybinsk) has delivered new project 1496M1 tug MANATEE to the Border Guard Service at Vladivostok. (rmks: press statement gives “serial number 904”, associated image shows 604. Slight error, but we're all comrades here) 30 January CHINA A North Sea Fleet task group with destroyer QINGDAO and frigates YANTAI and YANCHENG departs Qingdao for exercises in the West Pacific … to operate in Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea, Miyako Strait, Bashi Channel and east of Taiwan … conduct “more than 20 types of exercises, including maritime confrontation, open-sea mobile combat, law enforcement missions and open-sea naval commanding” …. prior to sailing for the open Pacific, task group conducted a “four-hour maritime confrontation drill in the Yellow Sea” with another task group. (rmks: At least the ChiComs are honest about the fact they plan to do some stick-poking ops) FRANCE Destroyers FS DE GRASSE (last remaining TOURVILLE class ship) and FS GEORGES LEYGUES will be decommissioned “this year” (rmks: no dates given yet) … to be replaced by first two FREEM frigates FS AQUITAINE and NORMANDIE. (rmks: Depending on their overall age and condition, they could find their way onto the secondary market. Any guesses on who potential takers may be?) IRAN IRGC naval forces (Pasdaran Sea) start three-day exercise “Fath 91” … in third naval zone (northern part of Persian Gulf) … two groups to act as mock enemy and friendly forces … practice rapid deployment in crisis, protecting shipping lanes, and special operations. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Upon completion of exercises, Black Sea Fleet ships heading for Limassol (Cyprus) for a port visit … Northern Fleet task group (RFS SEVEROMORSK, DUBNA and ALTAI) has entered the Suez Canal, heading for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden … relieve Pacific Fleet anti-piracy task group with destroyer RFS MARSHAL SHAPOSHNIKOV. SINGAPORE Local ST Engineering has been awarded contract for designing and building (at ST Marine Benoi yard) of eight new vessels for the Singapore navy. (rmks: 75-m corvettes to replace FEARLESS class from 2015) THAILAND Thai navy intercepts two boats carrying nearly 350 illegal Rohingya migrants from Myanmar … provided with food and water, then sent back out to sea … part of government policy to stem the influx of illegal Muslim Rohingya migrants. UKRAINE – RUSSIA Negotiations on sale of Ukrainian SLAVA class missile cruiser UKRAINA to the Russian navy still going on with “no agreement on price” yet. (rmks: This sale is a good indicator of the overall condition of the Ukrainian fleet ... which is sad. They can't upkeep the units, so they are trying to sell-off the overhead)

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Once again, hump day is upon us. Some interesting morsels of naval news for your Wednesday. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 28 January CHINA New paramilitary China Rescue ship BEI HAI JIU 101 commissioned at Yantai China Rescue base. (rmks: Three cheers for the ChiComs) FRANCE (MALI) One week after sailing from Toulon, helicopter carrier FS DIXMUDE (escorted by Aviso LE HENAFF) has arrived at Dakar (Senegal) to disembark 500 GTIA (Joint Tactical Group) soldiers with 140 vehicles who will continue over-land towards Mali to join national operation “Serval”. INDIA Goa Shipyard holds keel-laying ceremony for the second of six new OPV to be built for the Indian coast guard. IRAN During a “special conference on sea mines” held at Bandar Abbas the IRGC displayed its latest achievements in sea mine production, mine-planting and mine-sweeping. (rmks: “International” event with, however, no other participating nations named. Talking about your masturbatory, self-gratification social events. Of course, the cat's out of the bag on the Mullahs mining capabilities) USA In preparation for a Mid-East deployment scheduled to begin this spring, the USS KEARSARGE Amphibious Ready Group (KEARSARGE, USS SAN ANTONIO and CARTER HALL) with Marines from 26th MEU kicks off Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the US East Coast. (rmks: Walk softly and carry a big stick, to quote TR) 29 January AUSTRALIA Asylum seeker boat heading from Sri Lanka for Australia shipwrecked off Java (Indonesia) … at least two people drowned; twenty survivors. INDONESIA Contracts signed with China for C-705 anti-ship missiles to be installed on the 16 KCR-40 (CLURIT class) missile boats currently being acquired … missile delivery expected in 2014. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Final two-day phase of exercise has begun in Mediterranean and Black Sea … no details given. THAILAND US Lockheed Martin prepared to offer a variant of its Littoral Combat Ship as contender for the Thai navy’s new frigate project. (rmks: This one will be interesting to watch. The Thais got burned by the ChiComs once, let's see if they get taken to the cleaner by LM on their overpriced tinker-toy) TURKEY Thales has delivered the first of three CASA CN-235 maritime surveillance aircraft under the Meltem II programme … will be operated by the Turkish Coast Guard from Izmir Air Base. USA Life on the Reef Update: Grounded minesweeper USS GUARDIAN looks set to become a complete loss … several compartments flooded, most of the fiberglass cover on port side has delaminated and come off … too badly damaged to be pulled from the reef … to minimize further environmental damage the salvage plan aims to “dismantle the ship, safely remove individual sections without causing the release of harmful materials” … operation expected to take more than a month to complete … destroyer USS MUSTIN on scene as flagship to salvage operation … US Navy salvage tug USS SALVOR arrived on 27 Jan … two floating cranes to arrive from Singapore by 01 Feb. (rmks: As I said last week ... Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Adversaries in the region (read the ChiComs), will see this as another example of how hollow the US Navy is, when it can't even handle getting a ship ungrounde) 30 January RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Naval exercises in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea coming to a close ... General Staff: latest activities included flights of long range strategic bomber aircraft over the Baltic Sea and the Norwegian Sea. (rmks: Media coverage of this “largest naval exercise in decades” has been very scarce with rather vague, more often even conflicting official press releases. This is to the Russkies benefit, as it leaves their overall capabilities vieled in the eyes of the general public. Most of the world will still see them as a second-rate naval force, when their capabilities are improving by dribs and drabs)

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. How's your week going so far? There are several mighty interesting tidbits in today's news that could be used in scenario design. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 28 January EGYPT Greek-owned ship M/V ISLAND OF RHODES reportedly fired at by unknown persons at the port of Port Said …no injuries … ship immediately left the port … while Greek embassy seems to confirm incident, chief of Suez Canal Authority denies it … “navigation movement in the Suez Canal is normal and is fully secured” … security measures tightened with elements of navy, 2nd and 3rd field armies, border guard and the Ministry of Interior employed. (rmks: Could possibly be a spillover of protests that are occurring throughout the country. It's interesting they are taking place at this critical chokepoint) INDIA The Indian navy is planning to procure more than 120 Naval Multirole Helicopters (NMRH) … total value nearly €5B … already holding a competition for procuring 16 multirole helicopters in which European NH-90 and American Sikorsky S-70 are in the race. (rmks: If they pull it off (an that's a big 'IF' due to their current economic condition, I'm betting on the S-70. The NH-90 has been having a lot of problems of late and the Indians are likely to go with a platform that is stable and reliable – which the NH-90 isn't) IRAN (related) +++ Update: Iran has dismissed media reports of a major explosion at the Fordo underground enrichment plants as “Western propaganda designed to influence the nuclear talks.” (rmks: So far there has been no credible “confirmation of alleged incident. Not saying it didn't happen. It took them quite a while to finally admit they had been the victim of cyber attacks, when they occurred) +++ State media report Iran “recently” launched space rocket with monkey into orbit “and returned it safely” … US protesting violation of UNSC resolution … technology may be used for military purposes (development of nuclear-capable ICBM). (rmks: This smacks more of propaganda than the above update. However, if it's true (and it could be, because they had previously successfully launched a three-stage missile that made it into space), don't you just love the awesome effect the sanctions are having on the Mullahs – they are able to put a monkey into orbit. I wonder what the animal rights wack-jobs have to say about that one) ITALY Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi (chief of Italian fleet) replaces Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli as chief of Italian navy. NETHERLANDS New patrol ship FRIESLAND sails from Den Helder for the Caribbean first operational deployment of a HOLLAND class patrol ship. PIRACY +++ Gulf of Oman: Iran navy claims to have rescued an Iranian oil tanker from an attack by two pirate skiffs, appr. 20 nm off Masirah (Oman) … “forced the pirates to flee the scene”. (rmks: Unconfirmed by other sources. For the record: the Iranian navy seems to never ever have pursued nor apprehended pirates, but there are firsts for everything. No pirates were harmed reporting this story ... BLAST IT ALL!) +++ Keystone Kops (Anti-Piracy Forces) Update: French frigate FS COURBET scheduled to sail from Toulon “next week” for the Horn of Africa … with Estonian navy security team embarked … support EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta” until May. (rmks: Oh my goodness, the French are coming ... said no pirate ever) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Ships conduct “combat training in the Mediterranean Sea” … firing artillery, anti-aircraft and anti-submarine weapon systems (RFS MOSKVA and SMETLIVIY live missile firing against sea and air targets) … simulated combat with enemy surface ships and submarines … search for and destroy floating sea mines … thwart terrorist attacks … RFS MOSKVA, SMETLIVIY, SEVEROMORSK, AZOV and SARATOV conduct air defense scenarios. (rmks: No word that RFS AZOV and SARATOV had been at Tartus, Syria. No activities whatsoever reported in Black Sea) RUSSIA +++ “Novosti” reports former navy commander Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky (sacked by former DefMin Serdyukov), has been offered the position of Deputy Chief of the General Staff. (rmks: Unconfirmed. He obviously has gotten back into Czar Vlad's good graces) +++ Russian navy in Vladivostok signs acceptance certificate for new hydrographic survey vessel RFS VICTOR FALEEV … will be commissioned into Pacific Fleet “in near future”. YEMEN (IRAN) Yemeni authorities have seized a dhow loaded with a “substantial” quantity of explosives, weapons (incl. Iranian-made anti-air missiles) and money … indications that Iran was smuggling the military contraband to Houthi rebels inside Yemen. (rmks: Once again I say – Don't you just love how he sanctions are working for (excuse me) against the Mullahs) USA +++ Amphibious assault ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD in Okinawa to embark Marines of 31st MEU. (rmks: on Spring Patrol to 7th Fleet area; proceed to Thailand for exercise “Cobra Gold” scheduled from 11-21 Feb) +++ Expeditionary Strike Group 3 and 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade began exercise “Dawn Blitz 2013” aboard amphibious assault USS BOXER in port San Diego… two-phase exercise focusing on an “Amphibious Task Force conducting the planning and execution of Naval Task Force operations in a non-permissive environment and a large scale amphibious assault” … first (synthetic) phase pier-side in port; second (at-sea) phase to take place in June. +++ Life on the Reef Update: After defueling, grounded minehunter USS GUARDIAN had her tanks filled with sea water to keep her stable on the reef … dry food stores and the crew’s personal effects removed. 29 January AUSTRALIA The Navy’s remaining Sea King helicopters (withdrawn from active service in Dec 2011) will be sold to Aerospace Logistics (ASL) … to be used to “sustain and support capability of international military and search and rescue fleets.” (rmks: Should mean ASL will sell them on)

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Hope everyone had an enjoyable weekend. Minus the clouds and rain, things were really great in the PacNorWest. Here are some naval news nuggets to jump-start your week. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 25 January INDONESIA The MoD took delivery of third locally made KCR-40 CLURIT class fast missile boat … KRI BELADAU (643) … first two boats KRI CLURIT (641) and KRI KUJANG (642) … 4th will be delivered in November, with 12 more to follow by end 2014. PIRACY Mauritius: French frigate FS SURCOUF hands over 12 suspected Somali pirates to Mauritian authorities for prosecution … apprehended on 05 Jan in the Somalia Basin, after failed attack on cargo vessel TUPI MAIDEN. (rmk: They forgot to include – and were immediately released back into society, to continue their pirate ways. No pirates were harmed in any way, reporting this story ... BLAST IT ALL!) RUSSIA Zelenodolsk shipyard has started construction of 5th modified BUYAN class (Project 21631) missile corvette … to be named RFS SERPUKHOV. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Northern Fleet task group with destroyer RFS SEVEROMORSK finalizes preparations for anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa … practice boarding and freeing hijacked ship (role taken by tanker DUBNA) … after end of exercises (rmks: 29 Jan?) proceed towards Suez Canal. TAIWAN Delivery of 12 P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (from US) to start this year, with the last aircraft to arrive by end 2015. UNITED KINGDOM First gas turbine installed in new aircraft carrier HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, under construction at Babcock’s Rosyth shipyard. USA +++ Life on the Reef Update: Malaysian tug M/V VOS APOLLO managed completely defueling minehunter USS GUARDIAN, still stuck on Philippine Tubbataha reef … while originally only its bow was on the reef, waves have now pushed the entire hull onto it … “hull penetrations in several places, and a significant amount of water inside the ship” … use ship-borne cranes and heavy-lift vessels to remove the ship from the reef and put it on transport ship or barge … two special ships contracted, on their way from Singapore. +++ Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2013: First phase (four days) of this year’s CARAT kicked off with the Timorese navy at Port Hera naval base (Timor Leste) … focus on in-port training … US sent Fleet Antiterrorism and Security Team (FAST), Coast Guard Maritime Training Branch, and Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion. +++ During a ceremony at San Diego, frigate USS CURTS has been decommissioned. (rmks: Thanks for your service '38-Special'. The ship is a likely candidate for the international secondary market) 26 January ARGENTINA Following the pier-side sinking of decommissioned destroyer APA SANTISIMA TRINIDAD, the defense minister has ordered the navy chief to immediately sack the officer in charge of Maintenance and Arsenal as well as the head of the Decommissioning Group. (rmks: Yeah, its obviously a poor statement of your qualifications, if a mothballs unit turtle pierside on your watch) AUSTRALIA Frigate HMAS ANZAC returns to home base in Sydney, completing six-month (started 16 Jul, 2012) deployment to the Middle East (national operation “Slipper”) EGYPT Suez Canal authority says shipping is proceeding as usual, while witnesses reported that staff suspended work at Port Said port. INDIA Ceremony of signing the transfer and acceptance act of refurbished KILO class submarine INS SINDHURAKSHAK at Russian Zvezdochka (Severodvinsk). On 29 Jan, the submarine will start its long journey home … according to Russian sources will sail the “Northern Sea Route”, escorted by Russian icebreakers. Indian paper, however, speaks of “North Sea route” (around Britain) with escort by an icebreaker. (rmks: Northern Sea Route during Arctic winter does not make much sense for non-nuclear submarine with a crew not accustomed to under-ice operations) PIRACY Nigeria: Five Indian sailors kidnapped on 17 Dec from product tanker SP BRUSSELS off the Niger Delta have been released unharmed … probably after ransom was paid. (rmks: If the exterminators properly dealt with the cockroach infestation, we would be paying ransoms. The pirates would know that line of work doesn't pay. Once again, no pirates were harmed reporting this story. THIS IS REALLY GETTING FRUSTRATING!) RUSSIA +++ DepPrimeMin Rogozin criticizes MISTRAL acquisition …” won’t be able to operate in temperatures below -7°C”. (rmks: Obviously an indicator of where they want them to operate, as the pacific doesn't usually get that cold) +++ Russia will submit its final Arctic territorial claims to the United Nations by the end of the year. (rmks: This should be an interesting read) 27 January INDIA Submarine-launched medium-range ballistic missile successfully test-fired from submerged (50 m) launch platform in the Bay of Bengal … indigenous Sagarika / K-15, now formally christened BO5 … to become main weapon of nuclear submarine INS ARIHANT. (rmks: India is one step closer to getting boomers) IRAN (related) +++ Some media report a strong explosion occurred at the Iranian Fordo nuclear enrichment facility … “a few days ago” … claim sizable portion of the underground plant destroyed, with some 190 people trapped inside. (rmks: Don'tcha hate it when that happens! Although unconfirmed, this providential accident will likely setback the Mullah's plans for a peaceful nuclear weapon) +++ Iran has officially banned all crude oil and gas exports to the 27 EU states. (rmks: With the EU sanctions (if you want to call them that) already in place, there will be no practical effect. Purely a symbolic act, designed to reflect anger over economic pressures on Iran) RUSSIA Icebreaker RFS ROSSIYA underway from Murmansk to the Baltic … until April assist shipping in Gulf of Finland … could be “last voyage” ahead of being laid-up. TAIWAN (USA) A US congressional group paid a rare visit to a Taiwan naval base, raising speculation about efforts to revive a US deal to provide the ROC Navy with eight submarines. (rmks: It's likely the US will broker the deal with an international builder, as the United States isn't building conventional subs) UNITED KINGDOM The first production-line Wildcat shipborne helicopter to be delivered to the Royal Navy has made its maiden flight at Yeovil (Somerset) … AgustaWestland to supply 62 Wildcats to the MoD in the next two years … to replace Lynx. 28 January FRANCE Nine surface combatants begin this year’s first quarterly readiness exercise “Gabian” … until 01 Feb off Toulon … Italian frigate ITS LIBECCIO to participate. USA Life on the Reef Update: Salvage experts are working on reinforcing shipwrecked minehunter USS GUARDIAN’s hull with Kevlar lines … reduce strain on the ship due to wave action and prepare it for later removal from the reef … two contracted heavy-lift ship-borne cranes set to arrive by 01 Feb (coming from Singapore). UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS TURKEY (Aug) Turkish navy commander, Admiral Murat Bilgel, set for retirement in August, 2013.

Yeah, I'm thinking the US economy will be soon following suit. Thanks for the update.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. It's amazing how fast the week passes. Lots of interesting updates today. Hope they are able to tide you over until Monday. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 23 January USA Life on the Reef Update: Chartered Malaysian tug M/V VOS APOLLO has arrived at grounded mine hunter USS GUARDIAN … attempts to rig lines to defuel the vessel failed due to rough sea. 24 January AUSTRALIA HMAS OCEAN PROTECTOR intercepts suspected asylum seeker boat with 106 people onboard … southeast of Ashmore Islands … about 350 asylum seekers since the start of the year. BANGLADESH Prime minister attending commissioning of first domestic (Khulna shipyard) patrol boat BNS PADMA (P-312) … announces upcoming procurement of submarine(s) but gives no number nor origin. (rmks: Said to be negotiating with China) CHINA Paramilitary China Marine Surveillance (CMS) reportedly to receive an additional 11 decommissioned vessels of Chinese navy (modified or rebuilt into ocean surveillance ships) and – over the next five years – may expect up to 36 newly built ships. (rmks: The ChiCom motto like the old Soviets ... Reuse and Recycle – Never Reduce) DENMARK The Danish navy abandons its three ice breakers HDMS DANBJOERN, ISBJOERN and THORBJOERN … put up for sale … private companies to take care of ice breaking in Danish waters. (rmks: Once again, oh how the mighty have fallen) INDIA Aircraft carrier INS VIKRAMADITYA has had her malfunctioning boilers fixed … new sea trials scheduled in June. ITALY The Italian navy completes three-day exercises … 22-24 Jan in the Gulf of Taranto … 12 ships incl. aircraft carrier ITS CAVOUR, (re-designated) helicopter carrier ITS GARIBALDI and both new HORIZON class destroyers ... focus on maritime air operations, helicopter-borne amphibious assault, and maritime security operations. LIBYA French Sillinger will deliver up to 50 fast patrol craft / interceptors to the Libyan armed forces … a variety of RHIBs ranging from 3,8 to 12 m, among them 12 type 1200 RIB UM (11.6m). NORWAY Kongsberg Defence Systems plans development of an encapsulated submarine-launched variant of its Joint Strike Missile. (rmks: That will be interesting to see) RUSSIA New STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette RFS BOIKY - with support of an icebreaker - relocated from Northern Shipyard to Kronshtadt … eventually move on to Baltiysk for second round of sea trials … had completed initial sea trials in Nov 2012. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Exercise in the EastMed continues with participating ships practicing defense against small high-speed craft (anti-terror), boarding and searching ships, rescue operations and transfer of humanitarian aid … air defense exercises with missile and artillery firing to follow. THAILAND The government has formed a committee to negotiate with China on purchase of three frigates … Beijing reportedly has offered three Type 054T (variant of 054A JIANGKAI-II?) frigates “at a very low rate.” (rmks: It's interesting the Thais are going back to the ChiCom trough for a second time after being burned on the last deal they had with them on the Naruseans, which were pieces of junk. Obviously they don't abide by the old business adage "fool me once, shame on you – fool me twice, shame on me") USA +++ Life on the Reef Update: Minehunter USS GUARDIAN remains stuck on Philippine Tubbataha reef … has “several breaches in the hull” … too badly damaged to be towed … "will have to be lifted off onto another ship or barge to leave the area" … two contracted heavy-lift ships from Singapore scheduled to arrive around 30/31 Jan. +++ Amphibious assault ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD sails from home port Sasebo (Japan) for Spring Deployment to 7th Fleet area of operations … will include exercise “Cobra Gold” with Thai forces. (rmks: Third ship from the ARG to sail … will meet up with USS GERMANTOWN and TORTUGA, already underway) VENEZUELA For the record: A photo circulated in the Internet allegedly shows new Venezuelan coast guard vessel PG-61 PAGAN (Damen Stan Patrol 4207). This image is a fake (!), “photoshopped” from Wikipedia image of British Customs vessel VIGILANT. (rmks: Say it ain't so! Hugo's boys would NEVER fake something. Said I with my tongue firmly implant in cheek) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS UNITED KINGDOM (Apr) Admiral Sir George Zambellas will take over as First Sea Lord from April, replacing Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope.

Hi Silent, Thanks for the input. What's the overall shape of the Vanguards? Obviously they are not war-weary or worn-out. Much like the Ohios, they have been properly cared for. What's your ballpark on how much longer they could last.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. I don't know what is happening at your abode, but in the PacNorWest, the cold season is full bloom at the Emerson Clan's humble abode. Some very interesting tidbits today, enjoy these updates! Summary to follow: 22 January PAKISTAN Contracts signed with Turkish STM for construction of a logistic support ship (fleet tanker) … STM to provide design and material kits for ship to be assembled at Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works … no further details given. (rmks: It seems SSM (the Turkish Defense Materiel Ministry and parent organization of STM) can boast of another feather in its cap. It would be interesting to see a scenario series where MENA is being led by Turkey, against Europe and the west) 23 January ARGENTINA Decommissioned (2004) missile destroyer APA SANTISIMA TRINIDAD, moored at the Puerto Belgrano naval base, which a few days ago had been reported taking on water, now has capsized and sank pierside … “burst pipe” said to have flooded the ship. (rmks: Okay, they've known about the flooding for several days and they did squat. I think this may be an indicator of how well the Argies conduct DC and upkeep ... which ain't great!) BANGLADESH US PacFlt Commander, Adm Haney, on recent visit: the US will transfer recently de-commissioned USCG cutter JARVIS (HAMILTON class) to the Bangladesh navy later this year … 16 more DEFENDER class security craft about to be handed over to Bangladesh coast guard. (rmks: Man, does it seem to you, that little Bangladesh is on a major build-up? They are procuring ChiCom gear and now they are purchasing US ships off the secondary market) IRAN The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy (IRGCN) has designed a standard vessel for relief and rescue operations … the vessel will be mass-produced in next Iranian year (which starts on March 21). (rmks: Its likely to be a small craft to operate in coastal waters within the Persian Gulf and will likely be capable of supporting other IRGCN ops like minelaying and other various and sundry Islamic "relief" operations. By the way, the sanctions have to be working stupendously well, for the Mullahs to be designing yet another ship class ... don't you think?) RUSSIA First three series DJUGON class (Project 21820) hydrofoil landing craft currently under construction at Yaroslavl shipyard … RFS DENIS DAVYDOV due to be launched in Jun/Jul 2013 for delivery in fall; RFS RIMSKY-KORSAKOV to be floated out in Sep/Oct 2013, RFS MICHMAN LERMONTOV to follow in 2014. UNITED KINGDOM Chief Secretary of the Treasury: Britain should reconsider continuous at-sea deterrence when replacing its nuclear-armed VANGUARD class submarines … "like-for-like" replacement not financially realistic. (rmks: Its refreshing to see someone who is realistic about economic situation Britain is in. I wish someone in the US bureaucracy would be as bold) USA +++ With helicopters embarked, amphibious assault ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD now ready to sail from home port Sasebo (Japan) and join the two dock landing ships of her ARG in Spring Deployment to the 7th Fleet area of operations. (rmks: Fair thee well, guys and gals) +++ (Update): Mine hunter USS GUARDIAN remains stuck on Tubbataha reef … has begun to take on water … US Navy salvage ship USS SALVOR to arrive on 24 Jan; civilian Malaysian tug M/V VOS APOLLO en route … salvage operation may last up to two weeks, weather permitting … before trying to lift the vessel from the reef, 56,000 l fuel have to be siphoned off. Analysis of Digital Navigation Charts has found location of the reef given some 8 nm off; more “significant” errors (up to 4 nm) found off the coast of Chile, however, the US Navy now has declared the DNC “safe.” (rmks: Boy I'm relieved the Navy has made such a bold command decision. I wonder if they are going to exonerate other OODs and COs when they run aground someplace else? Or does everyone now have to do mental math, to compensate for the 4 to 8nm gap. As I said before, oh how the mighty have fallen) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS BANGLADESH (Mar) Two German Dornier Do 229NG surveillance aircraft will be delivered in March 2013.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Hope everone has an enjoyable hump day. Enjoy these updates! Summary to follow: 21 January FRANCE (MALI) Although the conflict in Mali is landlocked, far from any coast, the French navy is involved in operation “Seral” … Atlantique-2 MPA flying reconnaissance / targeting missions … helicopter carrier FS DIXMUDE sails from Toulon with embarked elements of a “Joint Tactical Group” (incl. battle tanks and armored vehicles) … likely to unload in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). (rmks: Holy crap! Head for the hills, the French are coming ... said no Muslim extremist, EVER!) FRANCE FREMM type frigate FS AQUITAINE sails from Brest for a four-month operational trials cruise around the Atlantic (North Africa, Latin America, Caribbean, USA and Canada) … initial exercise off the French coast with destroyer FS GEORGES LEYGUES and support ship FS SOMME. LEBANON (UNIFIL) Brazilian frigate COSTITUICAO takes place of sister ship LIBERAL with UNIFIL Maritime Task Force (MTF), while LIBERAL has arrived back home in Rio de Janeiro. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Two landing ships (rmks: Probably Baltic Fleet FS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN) conduct amphibious assault landing (with combat helicopter support) in the Black Sea, near Novorossiysk … afterwards, ships heading for “their bases.” (rmks: If it was a question of logistics or operability, the ships could have pulled into Sevastopol. Obviously the 'dump-and-run' indicates a lack of total mission commitment by the Baltic Sea Fleet in the overall operation) 22 January CHINA (Territorial Disputes) After “exhausting almost all political and diplomatic avenues for a peaceful negotiated settlement with China,” the Philippines plans to bring its maritime dispute with China (rmks: In the South China Sea) to the United Nations’ international tribunal for arbitration. (rmks: That's how to take care of the situation, bring it to the UN. Hey, let me kow how that works out for you guys. In the meantime, the ChiComs still continue to push their weight around, because they know the UN will do NOTHING) NETHERLANDS During ceremony at Den Helder, HOLLAND class patrol ship HNLMS FRIESLAND officially commissioned into service … next week begin first operational deployment to the Caribbean. PIRACY West Africa: Pirates release Nigerian-owned Panama-flagged tanker M/V ITRI, hijacked on 17 Jan off Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … entire cargo of 5,000 t jet fuel discharged while crew had been locked-up. (rmks: I wonder how much the cockroaches (excuse me, pirates) got for all that JP-5? Oh, I almost forgot ... No pirates were harmed reporting this story. BLAST IT ALL!) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) First phase of “largest naval exercise in decades” saw Black Sea Fleet missile cruiser RFS MOSKVA and destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY in port Limassol (Cyprus) for “replenishment, cultural program and exercise serials’ planning” … only today heading back to sea. SYRIA (related) Russian Dep. Foreign Min: “No full scale evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria planned.” TAIWAN The ROC Navy conducted a “readiness exercise” off its southern port of Kaohsiung and into the Taiwan Strait … practicing ASW and lead-through … participants included three frigates, a submarine and two former US Navy OSPREY class minehunters. USA +++ Update: Minehunter USS GUARDIAN remains stuck on Tubbataha reef, with “conditions worsening” … expect surge of northeast monsoon with stronger winds and heavier seas … Philippine authorities have fined the US Navy for “unauthorized entry” of the vessel into the protected marine preserve. +++ Huntington-Ingalls is proposing a variant of the SAN ANTONIO class dock landing ship as new multi-mission platform for e.g. ballistic missile defense and other “specialized missions.” (rmks: Why the heck are we building BMD LPD's? What the heck are the Arleigh Burkes we shell out a couple of billion each for? Would somebody please STOP this flipping madness)

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Well, it still foggy in the PacNorWest and the Guardian is still stuck on the reef – just another typical Tuesday. Hope everyone has a great day. Enjoy these updates! Summary to follow: 17 January PIRACY West Africa: (rmks: Just when you thought the cocroaches (excuse me) actions were in decline) Pirates seize Nigerian-owned Panama-flagged tanker M/V ITRI … off Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … 16 crew, carrying 5,000t jet fuel … weighed anchor and put to sea where contact has been lost. (rmks: No pirates were harmed reporting this story ... Where are the supposed "Anti-Piracy Forces" when you need them?) 18 January USA Off Norfolk, amphibious assault ship USS KEARSARGE has begun work-ups, ahead of deployment scheduled to begin later this spring. 19 January PIRACY (And speaking of the vaunted "Anti-Piracy Forces") Keystone Kops (KK): 12th Chinese anti-piracy task group (YIYANG, CHANGZHOU, QIANDAO HU) returns to Zhoushan, ending deployment. USA Dock landing ship USS TORTUGA at Okinawa, embarking elements of 31st MEU … for upcoming exercise “Cobra Gold” with Thai forces. (rmks: Part of the USS BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group) 20 January PIRACY +++ KK: The 24th Iranian anti-piracy task group has deployed from Bandar Abbas … composed of frigate SABALAN and supply ship KHARG … operate “at least three months”, with forays announced to the Mediterranean and South East Asia. +++ KK: Netherlands navy frigate HNLMS DE RUYTER sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … support EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta” … new naval helicopter NH-90 embarked for first ever operational deployment. (rmks: As usual, they are all talk and ZERO action) 21 January ARGENTINA Decommissioned (2004) missile destroyer APA SANTISIMA TRINIDAD, moored at the Puerto Belgrano naval base, at risk of sinking pier side … “due to a breakdown in the hull". CHINA Chinese websites report Russia has agreed to sell Beijing a total of 36 Tu-22M3 Backfire naval bombers … once in service with the Chinese naval air forces the Tu-22M3 will be known as “H-10? (rmks: It is likely this is the the ChiCom equivalent of the vodka version, as it is currently unconfirmed) GERMANY During a ceremony at the Rostock-Warnemuende naval base, the German navy commissions TYPE 130 corvette FGS OLDENBURG. IRAN – OMAN Iranian and Omani naval forces will hold joint rescue and disaster relief exercise in Iranian territorial waters off Bandar Abbas (Iran) … Omani navy landing ship NASR AL-BAHR already berthed at the port … the two countries signed a security agreement in August 2009. (rmks: What is that old adage about strange bedfellows?) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) +++ Exercise continues with two regional focal points in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea … first phase - deployment to specified areas and replenishment - completed … second (two-day) phase focus on force protection (anchorage) and anti-terror operations +++ Overall command by GenStaff (Dep CGS ColGen Alexander Postnikov) … Dep naval commander RAdm Leonid Sukhanov embarked in MOSKVA, operating in the Eastern Mediterranean +++ Participants include 23 ships and three submarines (official: “one diesel and one nuclear sub in the Mediterranean, one diesel sub in the Black Sea”), 25 aircraft and helicopters, aircraft of Long Range Aviation Command, 4th Air Force and Air Defense Command, and Southern Military District. +++ Task force around missile cruiser RFS MOSKVA operating in the Eastern Mediterranean +++ Baltic Fleet landing ships RFS ALEXANDER SHABALIN and KALININGRAD embarked naval infantry at Novorossiysk to prepare amphibious landings at the Black Sea coast near Rajevski. USA +++ Update: Growing anger in the Philippines amid reports that Tubbataha marine park rangers had radioed the USS GUARDIAN to advise it was nearing the reef, but the ship captain just told them to "raise their complaint with the US embassy” … shortly afterwards, the ship ran aground where it has remained solidly stuck. +++ The US Navy has to make do with TICONDEROGA cruisers it wants to scrap (but hasn't been permitted yet) but also can't afford to fix or upgrade because of budget stalemate … USS ANZIO, VICKSBURG and COWPENS currently operating at diminished levels and with minimal staffing, able to do some local tasks, but not suitable for deploying overseas. +++ In its current configuration, the US Navy's future airborne mine countermeasure MH-60S helicopter is unable to tow the minehunting sonar or minesweeping system forming part of the Littoral Combat Ship. (rmks: What has happened to my beloved Navy?) 22 January SYRIA (Related) The Russian government is sending two planes to Beirut (Lebanon) to evacuate Russians who fled from Syria … first such effort since the Syrian uprising began in March 2011. (rmks: It's always a bad sign when the rats start fleeing the ship, as it takes on water)

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Surprisingly, it was a rather busy weekend! Congrats to the 49'ers and Raven in winning their conference championships and advancing to the superbowl. Hope everyone is able to enjoy a little time of on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Here are some navy highlights from around the globe to help get your day started. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 17 January SOUTH KOREA The ROK Navy has commissioned frigate ROKS INCHEON, type ship of new FFX class frigates … currently three batches planned: Batch I six ships similar to INCHEON, Batch II another eight somewhat modified ships, Batch III planned for the future. 18 January AUSTRALIA Defense Minister: “… Explore the possibility of cooperation over mutual design work for the British Royal Navy’s new TYPE 26 Global Combat Ship … design could meet the needs of also the RAN.” (rmks: The on-again/off-again saga of the Type 26 reminds me of a soap opera. Hopefully, the relationships will not be as sappy, incestuous and/or perverse) PIRACY India: Nearly a year after the arrest of two Italian marines (rmks: Read that - embarked security team on Italian cargo vessel) on charges of killing two Kerala fishermen, the Indian Supreme Court rejected Italy's plea for quashing the case … at the same time ruled that Kerala government had no jurisdiction to prosecute the foreigners and ordered their trial by a Union government constituted special court. (rmks: The bureaucratic wheels keep on spinning) RUSSIA Three-weeks after roll-out from Sevmash building hall, third BOREJ class submarine RFS VLADIMIR MONOMAKH has been put to water … immediately afterwards starting first pier-side mooring tests. (rmks: It is likely with this commissioning, the last of the Typhoons will go into mothballs) SOUTH KOREA South Korea plans to deploy 50-60 Israel-made Spike guided anti-tank missiles to the islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong … close to border in the Yellow Sea … guard against potential attacks from the North. (rmks: That is likely to serve as burr under the DRPK saddle. Spike is a light anti-tank missile that producer Rafael has been developing for a variety of applications including naval warfare) UNITED KINGDOM The Royal Navy has formally taken delivery of submarine HMS AMBUSH, second ASTUTE class submarine. (rmks: Walk softly and carry a big stick AMBUSH) USA Update: Efforts to free grounded mine hunter GUARDIAN on high tide not successful … all 79 crew members temporarily evacuated to nearby support vessels USNS BOWDITCH (T-AGS 62) and MSV C-CHAMPION … faulty digital map, providing “erroneous digital chart data” may have contributed to the grounding. (rmks: This is likely going to kick-up dust with the boys at L-3 Communications, the supplier of the USN's digital displays) 19 January CHINA (Territorial Disputes) +++ After Chinese fighters tailed Japanese warplanes near the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands recently, Japan says it may fire warning shots and take other measures to keep foreign aircraft from violating its airspace. (rmks: This is called upping the ante and usually never results in anything good) +++ After a ten-day lull, three Chinese patrol ships (probably CMS) have entered waters near Senkaku/Diaoyu islands … ignore Japanese coast guard demands to leave. (rmks: Back to sticking-poking ops, which will result in even more ante-upping) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) The “largest naval exercises in the past few decades” in the Mediterranean and Black Sea has officially begun … involve task forces from Black Sea, Northern and Baltic fleets (rmks: PF no longer mentioned), strategic bombers, tactical aircraft, air defense units, paratroopers and naval infantry … “focus on interoperability of task forces from several fleets while on a mission in a far-off maritime zone” … continue until 29 January with over 60 scenarios, including anti-submarine warfare missions, missile and artillery firing, simulated beach landing and convoy escort missions. For the record: MoD statement mentions the following surface combatants as participants: RFS MOSKVA, SMETLIVIY, YAROSLAV MUDRIY, SARATOV, AZOV, KALININGRAD, ALEXANDER SHABALIN. RUSSIA Russia is planning to construct shipbuilding and ship-repair facilities on the Black Sea coast to ensure proper maintenance of its civilian and military fleets in the region. (rmks: Most former Soviet shipbuilding infrastructure in Black Sea in today’s Ukraine – who is not on good relations with its former master. Having Russian-specific facilities will allow for faster (relatively speaking when it comes to Russkie shipbuilding technology) turn-around and will free-up existing yard space for Ukraine to ramp up production, supporting its fleet) USA +++ Update: Strong waves have dislodged grounded minehunter USS GUARDIAN from her original position and pushed her further into the coral reefs … “situation is worse” but still no signs of oil slick … US Navy / Military Sealift Command ships USNS BOWDITCH and M/V C-CHAMPION remain on station; two contracted private tugs (TRABAJADOR and ?) on scene … destroyer USS MUSTIN and salvage ship SALVOR enroute … Philippine navy / coast guard has deployed frigate RIZAL, support vessel MANGYAN (?) and patrol boat LOMIBAO … PCG commandant has ordered the deployment of anti-pollution marine vessel CORREGIDOR to help control eventually possible oil spill. +++ Ahead of its upcoming deployment to Singapore, Littoral Combat Ship USS FREEDOM (in San Diego) is being painted with a four-color “camouflage” look. (rmks: It's interesting that the USN is repainting this over-priced lemon, thinking it will add teeth to its abilities. I'm sorry I sound pessimistic about its mission prospects, but I have never been a fan of the LCS program) 20 January BANGLADESH Blogger: BN navy spokesman (in a video) has claimed “submarine deal finalized”, with delivery in 2016. (rmks: Its estimated the boats will come from China, but no details. The ChiComs have been the BN's primary naval systems provider over the last couple of years. It makes sense – the stuff is cheap and it keeps the supply chain for support and logistics short) PAKISTAN – SAUDI ARABIA Sea phase of bilateral exercise “Naseem-al-Bahr X” concludes with live missile firing from Pakistan navy P-3C Orion (Harpoon) and Saudi frigate MAKKAH (MM-40 Exocet) … Pakistan navy participants finally named as frigates SHAMSHEER and ZULFIQAR, fast patrol boats ZARRAR and KARRAR, and tanker NASR. RUSSIA Yaroslavl Shipyard has begun construction of third DUGONG class (Project 21820) landing craft … lead boat built by Volga Shipyard. USA Flight operations on the F-35B (STOVL) variant suspended for precautionary reasons after a problem was discovered with the fuel-hydraulic system. (rmks: Once more the F-35 is proving to be another over-priced lemon program) 21 January INDIA Just one month after taking delivery from Goa Shipyard, the Indian navy will commission patrol ship (NOPV) INS SARYU, first of four new 105-m “coastal surveillance ships” … three sister ships to follow by end 2014. USA Update: Latest photo shows minehunter USS GUARDIAN shifted from her original position, now abreast to waves … situation “complicated” … US Navy specialist team and naval divers arrived at Palawan … … environmentalists fear that salvage operations might lead to exacerbate damage to the reef.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend. Science fair projects with the kids await me. Enjoy the time off and see you again on Monday! Summary to follow: 18 January BANGLADESH The Bangladesh navy completed 16-day exercise “Sea Thunder 2013” … a total of 57 ships/boats participated … first-time live firing of C-704 anti-ship missile from former British CASTLE class patrol corvette BNS DHALESHWARI. (rmks: Hopefully the DB guys have updated the HUCE and ANW db's with this info) CHINA +++ Two new TYPE 903 FUCHI class fleet tankers TAI HU (889) and CHAO HU (890) have begun sea trials. +++ PLA naval aviation participated in “recent” East Sea Fleet live-firing exercise far out in the East China Sea … “dozens of J-10 fighter jets … organized into ten formations … target more than a 1,000 kilometers away … under ECM conditions.” (rmks: It looks like the ChiComs are getting ready for the time when their stick-poking becomes serious) INDONESIA Defense Minister: “… Intend to procure three frigates from Great Britain” … team to go to UK soon … technology transfer to enable domestic yards building more such ships. (rmks: No further details, but BAE might have a customer for their TYPE 26 “global combat ship”) POLAND Polish navy deliberating procurement of more NSM coastal defense missile systems from Norwegian Kongsberg. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) +++ General Staff “source”: Baltic Fleet landing ships RFS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN in Novorossiysk loading munitions, which will be brought to Tartus (Syria) (rmks: UNsure if the recipient is the Syrian and Russian forces based there, or both) +++ Black Sea Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ship RFS AZOV heading for Tartus (Syria). Northern Fleet task group (RFS SEVEROMORSK, DUBNA, ALTAI) completes port visit to Souda Bay (Crete(Greece) +++ Speaking of the NF - Before heading for Souda Bay, Northern Fleet task group (RFS SEVEROMORSK, DUBNA, ALTAI) had spent three days at the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. (rmks: Likely during the holidays) RUSSIA Rosatom has launched tenders for (first) two Project 22.220 nuclear powered ice breakers … delivery in Jun 2019 / Dec 2020 …”largest and most powerful in the world” … operate in ice up to 3 meters … to work in the mouths of the Siberian rivers and along the Northern Sea Route. USA Update: Minehunter USS GUARDIAN ran aground at the Tubattaha Reef, an internationally protected (World Heritage Site) marine sanctuary … well marked in sea charts and outside all usual shipping routes … boat had completed a visit to Subic Bay and was enroute (unnamed) next port … meanwhile, 72 out of 79 crew members transferred to a support vessel … US navy (MSC) salvage team underway.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Some interesting development occurring in MENA (Middle East – North Africa) that bear keeping an eye on. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 14 January USA The USS HARRY S TRUMAN Carrier Strike Group departs Norfolk to begin its composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) … preparing for upcoming regular Mid-East deployment ... German frigate FGS HAMBURG plus Canadian frigate HMCS VILLE DE QUEBEC and supply ship PRESERVER operating with the CSG. 15 January UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 23 frigate HMS SOMERSET returns to sea for the first time in nine-months, following an extensive modernization. 16 January IRAN (related) +++ Notwithstanding current sanctions (rmks: which ain't working to begin with), Iran plans to sign long-term oil export contracts with Chinese refiners. +++ IAEA delegation for talks in Tehran … one issue reportedly access for inspectors to Parchin military site. (rmks: I predict a snowflake has a better chance of surviving in Hades, before talks about access begin) PIRACY +++ General: IMB annual report: Attacks fell to 75 in 2012 from a record 237 in the prior year … while the number of hijacked ships fell by 50 percent to 14, the threat of vessel seizures remains as pirates are still seeking targets. (rmks; Don't get your hopes up, the current economic situation has finally caught up with the pirates. If things turn around, you'll see the numbers begin to up-tick again) +++ Keystone Kops ((KK) aka Anti-Piracy Forces): The 23rd Iranian anti-piracy task group (JAMARAN, BUSHEER) is to complete its six-week deployment “next week” … 24th group (composition not yet known) preparing to deploy for a total of three-months, with forays to the Mediterranean as well as South East Asia. (rmks: Since when was piracy a problem in the Med? I'm not a genius, but something tells me there are other reasons for this deployment) +++ KK: RAdm Duncan Potts (UK) hands over operational command of the EU NavFor (exercised from Northwood, UK) to RAdm Robert Tarrant (UK). (rmks: Huzzah! Another on-paper command. I wonder how effective it will be in dealing with the cockroaches – excuse me pirates.) NOTE: No pirates were harmed in reporting any of these stories ... BLAST IT ALL! RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Black Sea Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ship RFS AZOV once again passes the Bosporus towards the Mediterranean. (rmks: Only on 8 Jan had passed the Turkish Straits northbound. My goodness, the Russkies are a busy lot) USA US Navy AVENGER class mine hunter USS GUARDIAN has run aground on a coral reef in the Sulu Sea, appr. 80 nm east-southeast of Palawan (Philippines) … no injuries, no indications of a fuel leak, but for the time being remains stuck … crew working to "determine best method” of safely extracting it. (rmks: What is happening to my Navy?) 17 January NATO NATO standing mine counter measure task group SNMCMG-1 re-assembling after winter break at Gdynia (Poland), with Polish navy taking command … composition: ORP XAWERY CZERNICKI (Poland, flag); BNS BELIS (Belgium); FGS WEILHEIM (Germany); HNLMS URK (Netherlands); HNoMS HINNOEY (Norway); ORP CZAJKA (Poland). UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (end Jul) Sevmash at Severodvinsk plans formal keel laying ceremony for third YASEN (Proj 855M) class nuclear submarine on the occasion of this year’s navy day (end Jul).

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Hump day is here. Here are some naval updates to help you through the day. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 14 January ARGENTINA Logistic support ship APA BAHIA SAN BLAS sails from Puerto Belgrano for Antarctica … besides resupplying Argentinean research facilities also provide support for the reconstruction of Brazilian Antarctic Station Comandante Ferraz (bringing along materiel and some 95 Brazilian personnel) 15 January CHINA (Territorial Disputes) +++ In the ongoing conflict over the Senkaku / Diaoyu Islands, the Japanese coast guard in the long term will increase its presence at the island group … additionally deploy patrol vessel JDS KUROSE (PM 35) in August and patrol ship JDS CHIKUZEN (PLH 06) in October. +++ As part of a “program to map China’s territorial islands and reefs,” China plans geographical survey of Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea. (rmks: As the old saying goes – Give them an inch, they will take a mile. What better way to exacerbate things, than by bring in survey equipment. Instead of letting the embers in the fire die dowm, the ChiComs are dumping a gallon of high-test on the fire) IRAN (related) A loophole in an Indian insurance scheme has allowed Iran's state-run tanker company NITC to bolster oil exports by chartering a vessel insured by India's state-run firms. (rmks: Man, I really love how the sanctions are working) PIRACY Japan: In the first case prosecuted under Japan's 2009 antipiracy law, two Somali men have appeared in Tokyo District Court … may be imprisoned from five-years to life … in March 2010, had attacked but failed hijacking Japanese-owned tanker M/V GUNABARA … taken into custody by US forces and handed over to the Japanese coast guard. (rmks: This will be interesting to watch. Wow, a case is finally going before a real judge) SOUTH KOREA The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announces purchase of eight AW159 Wildcat naval helicopters from AgustaWestland … deliveries over two-years starting in 2015. (rmks: First Wildcat export sale; beats US competition. Sikorsky is probably not having a good board room morning. These choppers will likely deploy on the Dokdo class) THAILAND The prime minister has instructed Thai navy commander Surasak Rounroengrom "to head off” the influx of Rohingya migrants (from Myanmar/Bangladesh). More than 840 Rohingya migrants have been rounded up in three raids over the past week. UNITED KINGDOM Fleet tanker RFA WAVE KNIGHT sails from Portland for a several-month deployment to the Caribbean … conduct counter-drug operations, but also prepared for humanitarian aid and disaster relief. USA +++ Commander Naval Surface Forces, VAdm Copeman, warns of readiness drop-off … don't have enough sailors, training, or spare parts to keep up with operational demands … amid shrinking budgets may need to sacrifice ships to ensure the other ones are fully manned and equipped. (rmks: How the mighty have fallen. It's a sad day when my navy starts resembling that of our British cousins) +++ Dock landing ship USS GERMANTOWN departs home base Sasebo (Japan) for Spring Deployment to the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility … joins USS TORTUGA which already sailed on 14 Jan … both belong to USS BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group, with the amphibious assault ship itself to follow soon. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS INDIA (28 Jan) Upon completion of overhaul / modernization, Russian Zvezdochka (Severodvinsk) will hand back KILO class submarine INS SINDHURAKSHAK to the Indian navy on 28 Jan.