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. Ah another Tuesday is upon us. Have a great day, everyone. Some interesting naval news nuggets. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 03 January DENMARK Defence Logistics Organization (FMT) has sold the three decommissioned NIELS JUEL class corvettes to Danish company … soon to be towed from Korsoer naval base to Lindoe for scrapping. 07 January AUSTRALIA Austal at its Henderson facility, launches the first of eight CAPE class patrol boats for Customs and Border Protection Service. (rmks: Press release does not give a name nor number for the large PB). 11 January USA After five-and-a-half years as a forward-deployed submarine stationed in Guam, submarine USS BUFFALO (SSN 715) departs for her new homeport of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii … third submarine to change-out in Guam in the last two years. The change-out comprised of CITY OF CORPUS CHRIST (SSN 705) with OKLAHOMA CITY (SSN 723), HOUSTON (SSN 713) with CHICAGO (SSN 721) and KEY WEST (SSN 722) with now BUFFALO. 14 January CANADA The federal government is soliciting proposals for how it might use biofuels to replace traditional diesel in Royal Canadian Navy vessels. CHINA (Territorial Disputes) Chinese authorities are planning to survey “all marine and island territories within Chinese territory” for marine resources … survey will begin sometime in the first half of this year, to be completed by Dec 2016 … statement especially mentions the South China Sea. (rmks: If its Tuesday, the ChiComs are poking their neighbors with sticks) FRANCE Offshore Patrol Vessel FS L’ADROIT is set to sail from Toulon for the Middle East region … showcase at IDEX/NAVDEX in Abu Dhabi (UAE) from 17-21 Feb … while in the region might also be employed in anti-piracy operations. INDIA (RUSSIA) Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) prepares third TALWAR (Batch 2) class frigate INS TRIKAND for first sea trials … started degaussing … delivery scheduled this summer. (rmks: Anyone want to bet, this actually happens) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) +++ Northern Fleet task group with destroyer RFS SEVEROMORSK, tanker DUBNA and salvage tug ALTAI arrive at Souda Bay (Crete) for a scheduled port visit until 18 Jan … embarked soldiers to conduct anti-piracy training at NATO facility. +++ Baltic Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ships RFS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN pass the Turkish Straits towards the Black Sea. SYRIA (related) A Saudi paper claims Syrian president Bashar Assad and family members living on board a Russian warship off the Mediterranean coast … protected by Russian forces … travels by helicopter to attend official meetings and receptions … experts: “report likely false”. (rmks: This is probably one of those typical Mid-East rumors, but in Syria's current situation, it may have a grain of truth. Ol' Bashar may have his family on one of those Russkie amphibs and very well could relocate there, if and when the black flag goes up) USA Sasebo (Japan)-based USS BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group (BONHOMME RICHARD, TORTUGA, GERMANTOWN) set to begin Spring Deployment to the 7th Fleet Area of Responsibility … participate in an Amphibious Integration Training (AIT) and Certification Exercise (CERTEX), in annual multinational combined joint exercise Cobra Gold (Thailand), and conduct various other exercises. USS TORTUGA already sailed from Sasebo, with BONHOMME RICHARD and GERMANTOWN to follow at a later date … Okinawa-based 31st MEU to be embarked. 15 January THAILAND The Thai navy has purchased Evolved Sea Sparrow (ESSM) air defense missiles from US manufacturer Raytheon … to be installed on two HTMS NARESUAN frigates, currently being upgraded. (rmks: This one will be interesting to see, if it get's pulled-off. US missiles on a ChiCom platform. Integration will be a bear, unless Raytheon is providing and open architecture CMS to go with the ESSMs)

1. That needs two boards? 2. Ultimately, Iran loses heavily in any military confrontion with the West - any damage it caused would be at the loss of pretty much its entire air force and navy. The game isn't frankly worth the candle for them. Sorry, I missed that one about the US, yesterday. Why two boards? One to investigate doing something and the second to provide oversight of the first board. Meanwhile, the problem never really gets solved. I may sound a little pessimistic, but that's how the politics game in the US is played.

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, the fun weekend was made bittersweet by the loss of the Seattle Seahawks to the Atlanta Falcons, on a bum call by the referees. On a more positive note, Thanks for boosting NNSoTD over the 11,000 views benchmark. Here are some interesting updates to begin your week. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 11 January RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) +++ Baltic Fleet task group with frigate RFS YAROSLAV MUDRIY and tanker LENA entered Valetta (Malta) for short replenishment visit … then continue to join Black Sea Fleet task group in the Eastern Med, for joint exercises (incl. ASW and night-time replenishment) +++ Northern Fleet task group with destroyer RFS SEVEROMORSK scheduled to visit Souda (Crete/Greece) from 14 – 18 Jan. (rmks: Sidebar ... the statement claims the SEVEROMORSK is already on a anti-piracy mission) +++ Coinciding with RFS SEVEROMORSK visit to Souda, “Russian naval infantry soldiers will visit the Souda NATO training center to get additional training”. (rmks: Either boarding teams embarked on RFS SEVEROMORSK or possibly Baltic Fleet landing ships RFS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN, which for ten-days have not being mentioned in any statements). +++ Black Sea Fleet landing ship RFS SARATOV has met with a generator failure … repairs underway in the Aegean Sea … rendezvous with RFS MOSKVA task group delayed. (rmks: That's gotta suck) RUSSIA +++ Second BOREJ class submarine, RFS ALEXANDER NEVSKIY, to be delivered to Russian navy “in June or July.” (rmks: Naval Day end of July comes to mind) +++ Official keel laying ceremony of 5th and 6th BOREJ of an “improved” version “this year” … according to Russian paper will be named RFS ALEXANDER SUVOROV and MIKHAIL KUTUZOV. (rmks: I'm surprised Czar Vlad hasn't gotten his moniker on one of them. Obviously, Russkie naming rules are different from western standards) USA Reacting to increasing public criticism on “highly flammable” uniforms, the US Navy has set up two boards to “review whether flame-resistant clothing should be made available for every sailor at sea”. 12 January CANADA Frigate HMCS TORONTO set to deploy to the Middle East … “support maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea” until fall 2013 (with crew change) CHINA (Territorial Disputes) China has updated old maps by including 130 islands and islets in the South China Sea which are also claimed by other countries … new maps now also show the Japanese Senkaku islands as Chinese Diaoyu. (rmks: The ChiComs must have learned their cartography skills from the Palestinians) FRANCE Attempted rescue operation for French hostage in Somalia included helicopter carrier FS MISTRAL (staging French army helicopters) and air defense destroyer FS CHEVALIER PAUL … MISTRAL in early Dec had sailed from Toulon under pretext of routine West Africa naval presence mission “Corymbe”, instead covertly had deployed around Africa to be in position off Somalia. HAITI The US Coast Guard has repatriated to Haiti some 160 Haitians, who were intercepted at sea off the coast of the Bahamas last week. PAKISTAN – SAUDI ARABIA Pakistan and Saudi navies have begun biennial bilateral exercise “Naseem-Al-Bahr X” … until 22 Jan in the Gulf of Oman, off the Makran coast … in-port phase and at-sea phase (15-20 Jan, with live firing) … increase interoperability in the domains of traditional as well as non-traditional warfare (“maritime security”), share and refine tactics, techniques and doctrines in anti-surface, anti-submarine and anti-air operations … Pakistan navy contributing three frigates, one submarine, missile boats, mine hunters, naval aviation and special forces … Saudi navy deployed frigate MAKKAH, patrol boat TABUK, mine hunter SHAQRA and fleet tanker BORAIDA. PHILIPPINES Update: The Philippine coast guard is confident to receive ten “multi-role response boats.” (rmks: Still no details on type from Japan. The PI is arranging the deal under a “loan agreement” in 2014 and is set to recruit some 300 new personnel) PIRACY Somalia: Cockroaches (excuse me, pirates) have released the last crew members of MV ORNA. The ship (hijacked in Dec 2010) had been released in Oct 2012, however, six crew members (Syrian, Sri Lankan) had been held back as no ransom had been paid for them … now released after “negotiations”, allegedly without ransom. (rmks: They pirates blinked in the stare-down over the hostages. The Keystones Kops are likely to take advantage of this situation ... NOT!) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) +++ With crew unable to fix failed generator, Black Sea Fleet landing ship RFS SARATOV has been escorted by (Northern Fleet) salvage tug SLIVA SB-406 to the Eastern Mediterranean … proceed to Tartus (Syria), for repairs alongside repair ship AMUR PM-56, currently Tartus station ship. +++ Black Sea Fleet landing ship RFS NOVOCHERKASSK passes Turkish Straits back into the Black Sea. (rmks: Recent movements of landing ships might suggest “shuttle ferrying” from Tartus, Syria) 13 January IRAN (related) Israel PM Netanyahu: “Iran is currently holding at the red line I specified in the UN” The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy has conducted exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, off Bandar Abbas … overseen by IRGC Navy Commander RAdm Reza Torabi. USA Off Norfolk, amphibious assault ship WASP “successfully” completed another three-week trials of F-35B combat aircraft (two USMC aircraft) 14 January USA While repairs to aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ continue, the NIMITZ CSG’s surface action group (USS HIGGINS, STOCKDALE, WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE, SHOUP) is scheduled to sail from San Diego for a West Pacific deployment … “focus on maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts, to help establish conditions for regional stability” (rmks: Signal to China ... maybe)

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. As the weekend begins, there are some interesting developments occurring in East Med. These merit closer examination. Hope everyone has a nice weekend. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 09 January INDIA Cochin shipyard has launched the ICGS AADESH, the first of twenty 50-m Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) ordered in 2010 by the Indian coast guard, with deliveries through 2017. 10 January CHINA (Territorial Disputes) Several Chinese aircraft, among them J-7 and J-10 air force fighter aircraft, spotted approaching the Senkaku (Diaoyu) islands region, but turning back before entering Japan’s territorial airspace … Japan air force scrambled F-15 interceptor aircraft from Okinawa. (rmks: Does anyone else notice how the ChiComs seem to be upping the ante?) FRANCE Aircraft carrier FS CHARLES DE GAULLE has begun a scheduled maintenance period … until July at Toulon naval yard (rmks: It is probably nothing long term. Its likely the flat top could get back underway in a moment's notice) NORWAY International tender for a15,000-ton logistic support ship closed … six shipyards responded: local Bergen, Spanish Navantia, French DCNS, Italian Fincantieri and South Korean Daewoo and Hyundai. (rmks: Anyone want to lay odds on who the winner will be) PHILIPPINES Acquisition of ten Japanese patrol vessels for the Philippine coast guard obviously still pending … statement after meeting with Japanese foreign minister: “Japan will consider …” PIRACY West Africa: The European Union announced a E4.5M project to enhance security and safety of maritime routes across seven African countries (Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Sâo Tomé & Principe, Togo) … CRIMGO (Critical Maritime Routes in the Gulf of Guinea Programme) will provide training for coastguards, establishing a network to share information. (rmks: Sound like more funding for the Keystone Kops) RUSSIA With defense minister SHOIGU and navy commander Adm Chirkov attending the ceremony at the Sevmash shipyard (Severodvinsk) - and president Putin making a “conference call” - the Russian navy formally commissioned first BOREJ class submarine RFS YURI DOLGORUKIY. (rmks: Obviously the event wasn't high on Czar Vlad's social calendar) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Black Sea Fleet ALLIGATOR class landing ship RFS SARATOV passes the Turkish Straits enroute the Mediterranean … before, had embarked vehicles and special forces. (rmks: This could be interesting) TURKEY The MoD’s procurement agency (SSM) has begun negotiations with local RMK Marine for series production of another six HEYBELIADA class (MilGem) corvettes. USA +++ The LOS ANGELES class submarine USS JACKSONVILLE suffered damage to its sail and periscope (rmks: which reportedly was NOT extended) when colliding with an unidentified vessel in the Persian Gulf … shortly after passing the Strait of Hormuz … no injuries, nuclear propulsion systems not affected … damage assessment underway in Bahrain … the other vessel (fishing trawler?) most probably did not even notice the incident. (rmks: Expect another commanding officer to lose his job) +++ SecDef Panetta has asked the DoD to begin taking precautionary steps in case Congress can't reach an agreement on a final spending plan … freeze civilian hiring, delay some contract awards and curtail some maintenance. +++ With aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE decommissioned, the new USS GERALD R. FORD not yet available and the continued requirement of two carriers present in the 5th Fleet area of operations, the US Navy will have extended nine-month Carrier Strike Group deployments “for a number of years to come”. (rmks: This will really suck for the crews and the equipment) 11 January RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) +++ Led by missile cruiser RFS MOSKVA, ships of “all four fleets” (rmks: expect Pacific Fleet anti-piracy group to deploy north from the Gulf of Aden) are “set to begin largest Russian naval exercise in decades” in the Eastern Mediterranean … ahead of exercise ships replenished from fleet tanker IVAN BUBNOV … before, BUBNOV for its part had loaded fuel, water and foodstocks at Larnaka (Cyprus). (rmks: This is definitely interesting news. It hasn't changed from the supposed vodka version reported a week or so ago) +++ Black Sea Fleet landing ship RFS SARATOV to rendezvous with task force … media: “next week” will berth at Tartus (Syria) +++ Four Russian civilian passenger ferries (APOLONIA, ANT-1, ANT-2, NIKOLAJ KONAREV) reportedly earmarked and in stand-by (in Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea and Black Sea) for possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria.

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. More interesting developments in today's installment. Some items definitely worth tracking from a scenario design perspective. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 08 January INDIA The Indian coast guard commissions inshore patrol vessel IGCS RAJKAMAL into service … fourth of eight 50-m/300-ton IPV built by GRSE NETHERLANDS During a ceremony in Amsterdam, the Netherlands navy celebrates its 525th anniversary, at the same time the 200th anniversary of its prefix “Royal”. (rmks: Huzzah!) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Black Sea Fleet landing ships RFS AZOV and NIKOLAY FILCHENKOV spotted passing the Turkish Straits northbound, returning to the Black Sea … no official statements. (rmks: Speculations on transporting material on loaded in Tartus, Syria, but unclear whether they actually had berthed there. Return could, however, also be in preparation for upcoming exercise, which according to initial announcement will include amphibious elements in the Black Sea, near Novorossiysk) 09 January ARGENTINA Sail training ship APA LIBERTAD arrives back home at Mar del Plata naval base, given a triumphant homecoming (greeted by president Kirchner) three months after it had been seized in Ghana on behalf of a hedge fund suing over defaulted government bonds. CHINA (Territorial Disputes) +++ The Chinese government has appropriated E1.2B to the maritime province of Hainan … for infrastructure on disputed islands (read that Spratly Archipelago) in the South China Sea … plans include construction of airstrips, piers and other facilities incl. military fortifications. (rmks: Establishing infrastructure on uninhabited islands already in the past has served to assert territorial claims. Nothing like poking a stick in the eye of five or six of your neighbors to get the solidarity flowing) +++ The Philippines has asked China to explain the deployment of a patrol ship to disputed territory in the South China Sea … also requested China to specify the limits of the territory it will “guard”, however, with no response thus far. (rmks: Man, the Philippine government is naive. I'm no expert, but I can answer these questions. Answer to the first question – the deployment is to re-enforce or presence on this claim, whether it's our or not! Answer to the second question – The limits of our claim includes the entire freaking western Pacific, including the Philippines you morons) EGYPT The fiercest winter storm to hit the Mideast in years has also disrupted Suez Canal operations over the past three days and led to the temporary closure of several Egyptian ports. INDIA The Indian navy successfully test-fired an “improved maneuverability” variant of Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missile … fired over “maximum range” of 290km hit a moored target. IRAN (related) Latest figures show inflation in Iran at 27.2 % while revenues from oil export have dropped by 45 %. PIRACY Nigeria: West African pirates have freed three Italians kidnapped on 23 Dec from offshore support vessel ASSO VENTURO off the Niger Delta … no information on probably paid ransom. (rmks: Can anyone explain why we are molly-coddling these jerks? Oh, no pirates were harmed in reporting this piece ... BLAST IT ALL! Will a naval force deal with these idiots like they are supposed to!) 10 January PHILIPPINES Plans to acquire ten coast guard “multi-role response vessels” from Japan to be “finalized” during today’s visit of Japanese foreign minister to Manila. (rmks: These are likely older Japanese Coast Guard vessels slated for decom and sale on the international secondary market. Looks like the Philippines found a good deal) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS PAKISTAN – SAUDI ARABIA (12 Jan) Biennial, bilateral naval exercise “Naseem Al-Bahr” (gentle sea breeze) will commence on 12 Jan in waters off Pakistan … no details yet. USA (Mar) Littoral Combat Ship USS FREEDOM (LCS 1) is scheduled to depart San Diego (California) in March for an eight-month deployment to Singapore. (rmks: We'll see if all the spit and bailing wire holds together)

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. Interesting news in today's installment. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 12 December 2012 INDIA MoD issued a request for information for acquisition of new medium-range anti-ship missiles to be carried by surface platforms. (rmks: It is likely these systems would replace antiquated SSM's in the INS inventory. As the competition heats up, it will be interesting to see if they stick with their Russian supply chain or if they try to acquire a western system) 07 January AUSTRALIA Towards the end of her current Middle-East deployment (national operation “Slipper”) frigate HMAS ANZAC arrives at Colombo (Sri Lanka) for a three- day port visit … replacement sister ship HMAS TOOWOOMBA already enroute to the region. USA Update: The US Navy BQM-74e target drone recovered in waters off the central Philippines was launched from destroyer USS CHAFFEE in September during an air defense exercise off Guam … then carried by sea current to Philippine waters. 08 January IRAN (related) The Iranian coast guard has seized two Saudi fishing boats for illegal fishing, had intruded into Iran’s territorial waters in the Persian Gulf. (rmks: Since the Mullahs claim practically ALL of the gulf, these poor schlubs entered Iranian waters as soon as they untied their moorings and got underway. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out) PERU Local SIMA Callao shipyard … with technical assistance of South Korean DSME … expected to start construction on two 7,300-ton dock landing ships (LPD) this year … labeled "Buque Multipropósito” … similar to Indonesian navy MAKASSAR class design … MoU with DSME signed in Apr 2012. (rmks: Once completed they would be among the largest naval vessels in operation in Latin America) PIRACY Somalia Basin: Responding to an attack on a merchant ship (on 05 Jan), French frigate FS SURCOUF (EU NavFor) and US frigate USS HALYBURTON (NATO) intercepted two suspected pirate boats and arrested 12 men … held on board SURCOUF, pending legal proceedings. (rmks: More than likely nothing will happen, besides being granted French citizenship. No pirates were harmed in anyway, during the reporting of this piece ... BLAST IT ALL) SOUTH KOREA Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has confirmed contract to build the first two 3,000-ton KSS-3 submarines for the ROK navy … up to nine KSS-3 expected to be procured. (rmks: It's interesting to see this candle is finally being lit) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Italian Fincantieri delivers corvette ABU DHABI (P 191) and first FALAJ-2 class fast missile boat GHANTUT (P 251) to the UAE navy. Second FALAJ-2 to follow “in a few months” … reportedly to be named SALAHLAH instead of QARNEN. (rmks; Look like it's time to update the Harpoon DB's again) UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 42 destroyer HMS EDINBURGH returns to South Atlantic operations (Falkland Patrol) … had spent two weeks at Simon’s Town (South Africa) for crew relief (holidays) and scheduled mid-deployment maintenance. 10 January RUSSIA With defense minister SHOIGU and navy commander ADM Chirkov attending the ceremony, the Russian navy will formally commission first BOREJ class submarine RFS YURI DOLGORUKIY.

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 nuggets in today's navy news report out of Canada and South Africa. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 07 January CANADA Much delayed Joint Support Ship program might once again be heading for trouble … new report by parliamentary budget official allegedly to state higher costs along with reduced capabilities. (rmks: That's gotta suck. It's sad to say, but it seems all of the major naval procurement programs of the RCN have been doomed to be filled with difficulties and delays) CHINA Frigates YIYANG and CHANGZHOU and supply ship QIANDAO HU arrive at Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) for a scheduled 5-day visit. (rmks: Former 12th anti-piracy task group, returning from the Gulf of Aden; before also visited Sydney, Australia. This is going to be an interesting liberty call). PHILIPPINES While the expected transfer of two Italian navy MAESTRALE class frigates has not come about yet, other countries now competing for contract … Australia, Croatia, Israel, South Korea and the U.S. reported to have made offers (for two frigates). USA +++ A US Navy BQM-74e target drone was found and recovered in waters off the central Philippines … appears to have been floating for some time. (rmks: Initial media reports spoke of a reconnaissance drone) +++ General Dynamics Electric Boat has been awarded contracts with a total value of US$4.8B for continued design work on new OHIO replacement SSBN, two more VIRGINIA class submarines, and long lead items for another three VIRGINIA. 08 January USA Frigate USS THACH to sail from San Diego for six-month Counter-Illicit Trafficking operations in the 4th Fleet Area of Operations (off Central America) … US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment routinely embarked. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS PIRACY (end Jan) Keystone Kops (aka the Anti-Piracy Forces): The South African navy has scheduled frigate SAS AMATOLA to resume anti-piracy operations in the Mozambique Channel at end of January … following several-month break due to “unavailability of suitable platforms”. (rmks: Sources have attributed recent absence of South African warships to political disagreement with neighbors Mozambique and Tanzania)

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. As the first full week of the new year begins, there is some very interesting navy-related news. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 31 December MEXICO (USA) The US Congress approved transfer of US Navy OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class frigates USS CURTS and McCLUSKY to the Mexican navy … both to formally decommission from the US Navy early this year … will be handed over “for free”, with Mexico to pay for refurbishment at a US shipyard. (rmks: Very interesting news. It looks like the Mex navy will take a technological leap and gain some real teeth – albeit frigate-sized) USA Besides the a.m. transfer to Mexico, the US Congress has approved transfer of another eight OLIVER HAZARD PERRY class frigates to Taiwan (4), Thailand (2) and Turkey (2). (rmks: Some media report on caveats with transferring ships to Turkey – following “Greek lobby intervention.” Turkey already has two ex-OHPs now dubbed the Genesis class. It seems old animosities still simmer in the east med. Although the Greeks technically can't stop the xfr, they can kick up a fuss, which could serve as the basis for a great scenario or two!) 03 January GERMANY – USA German TYPE 124 air defense frigate FGS HAMBURG sails from Wilhelmshaven for Norfolk (USA) … join US Navy HARRY S. TRUMAN Carrier Strike Group in work-up (COMPTUEX, JTFEX) and subsequent deployment to the Mediterranean and the US 5th Fleet area of operations. (rmks: Increasing joint ops in CVBGs could be a signal of the ailing condition of the US fleet. OpTempo could begin to be taking its toll) 04 January ALGERIA Local media report on final decision to end for good negotiations with Russia on three TIGR (STEREGUSHCHIY) class corvettes … acquire three Chinese JIANGKAI-II class (054A) frigates instead. (rmks: Don't just love it when the ChiComs lowball the Russkies in arms deals. This might make for another interesting scenario series in the Med area) CHINA Chuandong Shipbuilding in Chongqing is to build three new ships (1,600-tons, 83.3 x 11.6 x 4.0m, 35 crew) for the Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) … to be delivered within 13 months. (rmks: These new OPVs will be added to the FLECs harassment force) PIRACY +++ The Keystone Kops (aka the Anti-Piracy Forces (KK)): US Navy destroyer USS GONZALES sails from Norfolk for maritime security and anti-piracy operations in the Indian Ocean region. (rmks: Probably to - temporarily - join CTF-151) +++ KK: Chinese frigate HUANGSHAN temporarily has left the Gulf of Aden … currently conducting a 5-day port visit to Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). (rmks: As usual, no pirates were harmed in reporting either of these pieces ... BLAST IT ALL!) UKRAINE The Ukrainian navy is establishing a new river patrol force (division level) … three patrol boats taken over from army artillery … two boats GURZA-M (Project 58155) under construction at a Kiev factory since Oct 2012, for delivery this year. 05 January PIRACY +++ Somalia Basin: A merchant vessel reported under attack by one skiff … approx. 450 nm ENE of Mogadishu … pirates fired small arms and even RPG, but ship managed to evade being hijacked. +++ KK: British businessman Simon Murray is creating private navy “Typhon” to “combat Somali piracy” … armed vessels include a 10,000-ton mother ship and high-speed armed patrol boats … recruiting some 240 former marines and other sailors, led by former British Royal Navy commodore Jonathan Handley … protect convoys taking the most economic but also most dangerous route along the African east coast and through the Mozambique Channel. (rmks: It will be interesting to see if the Queen issues a Letter of Marue to these privateers. Go get'em!) +++ KK: Heading home after completing anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, Japanese destroyers JDS SUZUNAMI and KIRISAME arrive at Colombo (Sri Lanka) for a two-day “goodwill and supply” visit. (rmks: Dittos about the lack of harm to the cockroaches (excuse me, the pirates) RUSSIA The Caspian Sea Flotilla “in spring” will take delivery of three SERNA class landing craft, “by summer” will commission BUYAN-M missile corvettes GRAD SVIYAZHK and UGLICH, and “this year” get two new supply ships. (rmks: My goodness the CF is becoming beefy!) UNITED KINGDOM MoD: In case of Scottish independence, VANGUARD class nuclear submarines (SSBN) cannot move from Faslane to Devonport naval Base (Plymouth) … no safety clearance there for submarines carrying Trident nuclear missiles. (rmks; It will be interesting the see how this plays-out in Brit politics) USA After an increasing number of “negative results”, the US Navy will double its INSURV ship inspections … also make INSURV a standard procedure ahead of every operational deployment. (rmks: Me thinks this is another symptom of the actual operability condition of the US fleet. OpTempo is definitely taking it toll) 06 January RUSSIA MoD: The Russian Navy will receive about 50 “warships” and 80 support vessels within the next three years. (rmks: Obviously, this is the vodka version) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) For about one week there has been no (media) update at all on location, movement or status of Black Sea Fleet ships in the Mediterranean nor Baltic / Northern Fleet ships heading there. One may well assume that all three task groups now are in the Mediterranean, possibly rendezvoused … to spend the Orthodox Christmas holidays (until 08 Jan) somewhere at anchor. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA – NORWAY (May) Annual bilateral exercise “Pomor 2013” of Russian Northern Fleet and Norwegian navy scheduled in May, 2013 … Russian navy to participate with a UDALOY class destroyer. RUSSIA - SWEDEN (2013) Russian Baltic Fleet and Swedish navy “later this year” will conduct a bilateral submarine rescue exercise … announcement does not mention date or place.

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. As Fridays go, this is a very light naval news day. Hope everyone has a good weekend. We'll see you back here on Monday. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 28 December VIETNAM (RUSSIA) Russian Admiralty shipyard (St. Petersburg) has launched the second KILO-II class submarine, HO CHI MINH CITY, for the Vietnamese navy. (rmks: Another add to the DB's) 03 January CANADA Destroyer HMCS ATHABASCAN suffered “damage to the hull” when drifting several hours after a towline broke during a storm … had spent several weeks at an Ontario shipyard, but scheduled repairs weren't completed on time and it had to be returned to Halifax before the St. Lawrence Seaway closed for the winter. (rmks: I didn't know the SLS closed in winter. I thought the CCG operated ice-breaker to keep the route open) INDIA Navy, coast guard, marine police and other security forces begin two-day coastal security exercise “Hamla II” off the east coast (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu) … various kinds of terrorist attacks will be simulated at different sensitive establishments like ports, oil rigs and merchant vessels. IRAN (related) Saudi Arabian coast guard has detained 21 Iranian nationals aboard two boats within Saudi territorial waters near a Gulf coast island. IRAN (“Velayat.91”) The Iranian navy has wrapped up six-day exercise “Velayat-91”. SPAIN Combat supply ship SPS CANTABRIA sails from Ferrol for Australia … from February for nine-months support the Australian navy … return to Spain by end 2013.

If it already has an AIP, I wonder why they are stretching it? Maybe the ChiComs are developing a sub-launched VLS.

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. As the new year is still in its infancy, there are some very interesting developments occuring that could be the grist for some very interesting scenarios. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 01 January INDONESIA (UNIFIL) Returning from a several-month deployment with UN Maritime Task Force off Lebanon (in support of UNIFIL), SIGMA class frigate KRI SULTAN HASANUDDIN makes a logistic stop at Colombo (Sri Lanka) 02 January BANGLADESH Blog: RUMINT that Bangladesh already signed-up for two former Chinese navy SONG class submarines … to be refurbished or upgraded before transfer. (rmks: If this is true,could be very interesting. Although, the Bangers have never operated subs before, so any BN UW program could take months even years to become effective. But the idea of Bangladesh having subs could be rather neat when it come to SEA scenarios) CHINA +++ Allaying international concerns over a new maritime policing policy implemented by Hainan provincial authorities in disputed sea areas (South China Sea), the foreign ministry has clarified that possible boarding of ships by Chinese authorities would be limited to “a narrow coast zone.” (rmks: That 'narrow coastal zone' will obviously include the disputed areas of the Spratley Archipelago and others odd rocks and reefs poking out of the SCS) +++ Another YUAN class submarine recently launched … speculations on first boat of a “lengthened” variant. (rmks: Hmm, a stretch YUAN. I don't have my copy of Jane's in front of me, does the YUAN class have an AIP onboard?) INDIA Having been given firm clearance by the government, the Indian Navy is now set to "very soon" (rmks: which means sometime within the next millennium for execution sake) issue a request for proposal for six new submarines with air-independent propulsion (Project 75i) IRAN Iran claims to have shot down two US-made RQ-11 Raven reconnaissance drones in the past 15 months … 1st in Aug/Sep 11, 2nd in Oct/Nov 12 … no details nor location given … drones being “evaluated”. (rmks: Small “model plane” like drone for photo reconnaissance, for launch just thrown into the air by a soldier. Of course the Mullahs also claim a lot of other things as well. Until we see something concrete, I think this can be considered RUMINT) IRAN (“Velayat-91”) More live missile firing, incl. Nasr and indigenous Ghader coastal defense missiles ISRAEL The Israeli navy reportedly fired warning shots at a number of Palestinian boats fishing off Khan Younis and Rafah (southern part of the Gaza Strip). (rmks: With Palestinians “testing” the limits of their new somewhat extended fishing grounds off Gaza, there will be more such incidents) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) MoD update: The deployment will mark “the largest naval exercise in decades … primary goal is to train issues regarding formation of a battle group consisting of troops of different branches outside of the Russian Federation, planning of its deployment and managing a coordinated action of a joint Navy group.” (rmks: It increasingly looks like the Russkies are using the situation in Syria as a means flexing muscle and training their forces for contingency ops in the Eastern med) RUSSIA In addition to eleven ice-capable support ships to be built by 2016, the Russian navy by 2020 plans to start construction of new warships optimized for operations under Arctic conditions. (rmks: Once again Russia is showing that defending their Arctic claims is high on their priority list) SOUTH KOREA The ROK Navy will purchase eight MH-60R Seahawk multi-purpose naval helicopters from the US.

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. And so begins a new year. I hope everyone had a joyful Christmas celebration and has a Happy New Year. Some very interesting developments taking place in several areas, which could be the source for very good scenarios. see if you can find them. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 27 December PIRACY Somalia Basin: 400nm from the Somalia coast, Belgium navy frigate BNS LOUISE-MARIE (EU NavFor) intercepts a suspicious skiff with three men on board … spotted by Swedish (EU NavFor) reconnaissance aircraft … as investigation provides no ground for successful prosecution, the men were set ashore at the Somalia coast. (rmks: I'm surprised the Keystone Kops didn't give them honorary Belgian citizenship on the spot) 30 December RUSSIA Zvezdochka officially returns DELTA-IV class submarine RFS VERKHOTURIE to the Russian navy … completing an overhaul that began in 2010 and extended life-time by 3.5 years. 31 December CHINA Jinglu Shipbuilding (at Penglai, Bo Hai Sea) was awarded contracts for four 1,000-ton class ships for the Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC). (rmks: These new OPVs will likely join the harassment force of the CMS) CHINA – PHILIPPINES Chinese navy YUTING II class landing ship 995 harassed Philippine government convoy during resupply mission to Philippine station in disputed Spratly Archipelago … threatening direct collision with boats under tow. (rmks: Don't'cha love how well the ChiComs play with their neighbors) INDIA Indian navy sail training ship INS SUDARSHINI arrives at Da Nang (Vietnam) for a scheduled three-day visit. (rmks: Since 13 Sep, it has been on a training cruise through 13 destination ports in Southeast Asia) INDONESIA State-run shipyard company PT PAL Indonesia is commencing construction of a small submarine repair facility in the Ujung dock area in Surabaya, East Java IRAN (“Velayat-91”) A coastal defense exercise continues with “pursuit of repelled enemy” … heavy missile attacks Live missile (from land and sea) and torpedo firings … press statement mentions Ra’ad medium-range air defence missile (new navalized variant) and Nasr anti-ship missiles … claims that helicopter- and submarine-launched versions of Nasr are being developed. Additionally, simulated air defense operations against enemy aircraft and unmanned drones. (rmks: Obviously this is the Mullahs version of a New Year celebration0 JAPAN – CHINA Once again three Chinese (paramilitary CMS) ships have entered territorial waters around disputed Senkaku / Diaoyu islands … Japanese coast guard calls to leave the area went unheeded, answering they were there “to protect Chinese territory”. "In a bid to counter China's growing assertiveness at sea”, Japan is considering acquisition of US-made unmanned Global Hawk aircraft by 2015. (rmks: This could be an indication of how well the ChiComs will behave in 2013) MYANMAR Photos published on the Internet suggest commissioning of new fast missile craft 491 (armed with C-802) and recent launching of new helicopter-capable frigate F 12. RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) Baltic Fleet task group with frigate RFS YAROSLAV MUDRIY, landing ships RFS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN and two auxiliary vessels has passed the Strait of Gibraltar and arrived in the Mediterranean. Black Sea Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ship RFS NOVOCHERKASSK passes through the Turkish Straits enroute the Mediterranean Sea. TURKEY The Turkish navy is to procure two logistic support ships, one for the Mediterranean, one for the Black Sea … tenders from 12 national shipyards being evaluated … no details yet. USA Fiscal year 2013 includes funding for 17 MV22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft for the US Marine Corps … another 18 to follow in FY 2014. 01 January CHINA Government order to “intercept and board” any foreign vessel within Chinese territory (rmks: This begs the questions, what do the ChiComs consider 'Chinese territory') IRAN (“Velayat-91”) +++ Live firing of a variety of anti-ship missiles incl. long-range Noor from both naval vessels (rmks: photos show frigate SABALAN) and coastal batteries. +++ “Dozens of warnings” issued to aircraft and ships of “extraregional forces” that approached the exercise area. +++ Tests of new “electronic warfare systems” with which “all ships and submarines have been equipped. +++ Practice fending off simulated cyber-attack on Iranian navy IT network. (rmks: This is one heck of a New Year's celebration. Oh, I forgot to mention this is all taking place right arounf the SoH. Fancy that) RUSSIA (Mediterranean Deployment) +++ MoD press office announces “large-scale exercises” in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea … to be conducted in late January … involving deployed naval task groups from all four fleets … “practice the issues of establishing a multiservice grouping of forces (troops) outside Russia” … one focus on amphibious operations (at the “rough” Caucasus coast ) +++ There's RUMINT that Baltic Fleet SOVREMENNIY class destroyer RFS NASTOICHIVIY (610) is being prepared for Mediterranean deployment. (rmks: Although this may be the vodka version if ships from all of the Russkies fleets are involved. If PF ships are involved, they would need to slip away from the Keystone Kops in the Gulf of Aden and head north through the Suez canal) THAILAND A boat carrying about 70 asylum seekers from Myanmar's beleaguered Rohingya minority has been found adrift in the Andaman Sea off the Thai resort of Phuket. 2012 Here's a review of the top stories of 2012: http://navaltoday.com/2013/01/01/top-news-of-2012/

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 many of your thought the Mayans would be a good excuse for ducking-out on your Christmas shopping, this year? I guess you had better get busy now! This will be the last NNSoTD for 2012. Thanks for making this a popular thread on the HarpGamer web page. I hope you all have a great Christmas and let's all pray that 2013 will be a better year. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 19 December SPAIN (SOUTH AFRICA) New Spanish navy METEORO class OPV SPS RELAMPAGO arrives in Cape Town (South Africa) for a port visit until 22 Dec … Spanish Navantia promoting ship as contender for South African navy project “Biro” which seeks procurement of OPV. 20 December BELGIUM The Belgian navy “by the end of this month” is expected to order two new 55-meter patrol boats (rmks: These appear to be OPV's by the size of them. 55m (or 180ft) is pretty big for a PB) CANADA No deliveries of CH-148 Cyclone helicopters this year, as US manufacturer Sikorsky has missed another deadline … Ottawa, however, confident the first eight helicopters will arrive in 2013. (rmks: The much delayed replacement of ageing Sea King, seems to be hitting a couple more bumps in the production road. Sikorsky may be the manufacturer, but our northern cousins are building them all in-house). CHINA +++ Russian “Kommersant” reports China and Russia negotiating on four AMUR class submarines … two to be built in Russia, the remaining two under a technology transfer agreement in China … final contracts “not before 2015”. )rmks: “Kommersant” usually is well informed. If confirmed, this could make China the first ever customer for Russian AMUR, export variant of LADA class. Unusual delay with “final contract” might indicate waiting until new propulsion system under development has proven itself. Regardless, this will be an extremely interesting program to monitor in 2013) +++ Image posted on the Internet suggests launching of new large Maritime Disaster & Rescue Service ship BEI HAI JIU 101. INDIA Indian private shipyard Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has delivered the first of 36 indigenous high-speed interceptor craft to the Indian coast guard … (aluminum, twin water-jet, 40-knots). IRAN Defence minister BGen Ahmad Vahidi announces a series of indigenous new submarines to be built for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) naval force … “different” from currently produced GHADIR class midget submarines. (rmks: Here is something else to be looking closely at in 2013) IRAQ During a ceremony at Umm Qasr, two 60-m Offshore Support Vessels (OSV-1, OSV-2) were officially handed over to the Iraqi navy. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka the Keystone Kops): To play both NATO and the EU, the Ukrainian navy plans two anti-piracy deployments for its flag ship, frigate HETMAN SAGAYDACHNIY … first, in 2013, to support NATO operation “Ocean Shield”, second, in Jan 2014, to join EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. RUSSIA MoD has ordered new “flying command posts” for the commanders of Military Districts and the navy’s fleet commanders … based on Ilyushin Il-476 … replace “worn out” Il-22… construction to start in early 2013 RUSSIA (SYRIA) Black Sea Fleet task group with missile cruiser RFS MOSKVA, destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY, tanker IVAN BUBNOV and salvage tug SORUM MB-304 operating off the Syrian coast … until end Dec when they will be relieved by approaching Baltic Fleet/Northern Fleet task groups … stand-by for possible evacuation of Russian nationals (rmks: to be augmented by landing ships) … also conduct “repeated visits” to Russian logistic base at the Syrian port of Tartus. TURKEY Local paper reports the Turkish navy deliberating development of a medium-sized frigate dubbed TF 100 … smaller than planned TF 2000 … would replace MEKO type ships “in the next decade”. USA Structural work of aircraft carrier GERALD R. FORD nearing completion … on track for scheduled launch in 2013 and delivery in 2015. VIETNAM A KILO-II class submarine built “for export” by Admiralty shipyard “in early December” has commenced factory trials in the Baltic Sea … training of foreign crew to start in January after holidays. (rmks: Vietnam's development of a submarine force in the face of mounting Chinese posturing and saber-rattling, will be another interesting development for 2013) 21 December AUSTRALIA "In relation to the theft of weapons” from patrol boat HMAS BATHURST on 30 Nov in Darwin, police have arrested and charged “a serving navy member”. CHINA – JAPAN Three paramilitary China Marine Surveillance (CMS) ships once again entered territorial waters at disputed Senkaku / Diaoyu islands … this time (reportedly) ignoring Japanese coast guard warnings to immediately leave. (rmks: Another sign the ChiComs won't be awarded the Best Neighbor Award for 2012) RUSSIA Business daily “Vedemosti”, citing “government sources”, reports Russia has abandoned plans to have two MISTRAL class helicopter carriers built in Russia … concerns about cost and military need … make do with the two French-built ships. (rmks: Me thinks this is the vodka version) UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 45 destroyer HMS DIAMOND returns to home port Portsmouth, completing her maiden deployment to the Middle East. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!

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. Another rainy PacNorWest day and one more day of updates. FYI – Tomorrow will be the last day of updates until 03 January 2013. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 17 December FRANCE First FREMM class frigate FS AQUITAINE has officially been declared “ready for operations”. UNITED KINGDOM The Disposal Services Authority (DSA) is offering decommissioned TYPE 22 frigates HMS CHATHAM, CAMPBELTOWN, CUMBERLAND and CORNWALL for “further use, sinking for an artificial reef, or recycling”. 19 December ARGENTINA Sail training vesse l APALIBERTAD has departed Tema (Ghana) for home transit. (rmks: Had been impounded there since October) INDIA At the Boeing facility in Seattle (USA) the Indian navy has taken delivery of the first of eight new P-8i maritime patrol aircraft … two more to follow by May/June, when the first three will be flown to India … five more to come by 2015 … negotiations on a follow-on order of another four aircraft. INDIA Construction of indigenous aircraft carrier (future) INS VIKRANT to resume … vessel (hull) will be brought back to the building dock of the Cochin Shipyard in early January. ITALY Fincantieri at Castellamare di Stabia (near Naples) launches first of two new 3,600-ts OPV for the coast guard (Guardia Costiera) … ITS LUIGI DATTILO (CP 940) PIRACY +++ Nigeria: Pirates boarded and ransacked German tanker SP BRUSSELS anchoring 40 nm off the Niger Delta … abducted five Indian crew members when leaving … Nigerian navy has launched “rescue mission”. +++ Gulf of Aden (update): The ship hijacked from Bosaso anchorage is a North Korean freighter which had been impounded there because of illegally dumping cement … the hijackers are a dozen Puntland soldiers tasked with guarding it … said to be returning now to Bosaso accompanied by two Puntland “coast guard” boats. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Russian destroyer RFS MARSHAL SHAPOSHNIKOV, part of current Russian Pacific Fleet anti-piracy task group deployed to the Gulf of Aden, has arrived at Bandar Abbas (Iran) for a rare port visit. (rmks: So where are the vaunted anti-piracy forces? They are still on a doughnut break. No pirates were harmed reporting any of these stories ... BLAST IT ALL!) RUSSIA (SYRIA) +++ A three-ship Black Sea Fleet task group has sailed from Sevastopol for the Eastern Mediterranean … duration of mission dependent on development of situation in Syria. (rmks: No specifics given yet; should include landing ships) +++ MoD: Three-ship Northern Fleet task group (with destroyer RFS SEVEROMORSK) will “if need be” initially also linger in the Eastern Mediterranean before continuing for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. RUSSIA +++ The fifth BUYAN-M (Project 21631) corvette will be named RFS SERPUKHOV. Keel laying at Zelenodolsk expected in early 2013, possibly coinciding with launching of type ship GRAD SVIYAZHSK. +++ State Acceptance Commission signed the acceptance certificate for new tug RB 395, another Project 90600 vessel built by Pella shipyard. +++ Adm Chirkov: development of new class of aircraft carriers continues with “series production to start in 2021”. UNITED KINGDOM +++ MODUK will make a first assessment next year of how to meet future maritime surveillance needs after the cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 patrol aircraft two years ago … study of airborne intelligence needs will deliver initial findings in April to the Military Capability Board … that will lead to some options being investigated further to decide before 2015 whether to initiate a formal program. +++ Mine hunter HMS PENZANCE arrives at Rosyth for a 5-month overhaul/upgrade … first SANDOWN class vessel to be fitted with an enhanced 30-mm cannon. USA +++ The USS EISENHOWER Carrier Strike Group and the USS IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group have completed their Mid-East deployments and returned to Norfolk/Little Creek. (rmks: EISENHOWER to redeploy in February). +++ Raytheon is to manufacture 252 Tomahawk cruise missiles for the US Navy … 132 for use on VLS onboard surface ships; 120 for use on submarine capsule launch systems. 20 December RUSSIA Sevmash (Severodvinsk) has laid down new Project 09852 nuclear-powered deep sea research submarine. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (30 Dec) Sevmash (Severodvinsk) has scheduled floating out third BOREJ class submarine RFS VLADIMIR MONOMAKH on 30 Dec.

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. A few nuggets to report today. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 13 December RUSSIA Black Sea Fleet commander RAdm Alexander Fedotenkov promoted Vice Admiral. 18 December ARGENTINA Ghana's government says it will comply with a United Nations court order to release Argentine navy sail training ship APA LIBERTAD that's been held since October. CHINA Frigates YIYANG and CHANGZHOU together with support ship QUIANDAO HU arrive in Sydney (Australia) for a four-day port visit. (rmks: Former 12th anti-piracy task group, on return transit from the Gulf of Aden) NIGERIA The helicopter that crashed on 15 Dec, killing a number of high ranking politicians, was a Nigerian navy Augusta 105 … navy strongly rejects allegations is was “unairworthy”. PIRACY +++ Gulf of Aden: Reports that a merchant vessel has been pirated from anchorage off Bosaso. (rmks: No further details yet. The Keystone Kops must have been on the maritime version of a doughnut break) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces (And speaking of the erstwhile Keystone Kops): Russian Northern Fleet task group with destroyer RFS SEVEROMORSK, tanker DUBNA and salvage tug ALTAI sails from Severomorsk for a several-month deployment to the Gulf of Aden. (rmks: Departure was originally scheduled only on 20 Dec; ships might – temporarily – join other Russian naval forces heading for the Mediterranean in a Syria-related contingency operation; see below. No pirates were injured reporting these news items ... BLAST IT ALL!) RUSSIA (SYRIA) Med-Deployment - Update: As MoD “confirms” deployment, a group of five Baltic Fleet ships has sailed from Baltiysk … incl. frigate RFS YAROSLAV MUDRIY, landing ships RFS KALININGRAD and ALEXANDER SHABALIN, tanker LENA and salvage tug SLIVA SB-921) … statement does not mention Syria, however, “sources” speak of contingency operation for possible evacuation of Russian citizens. Of note: Black Sea Fleet cruiser RFS MOSKVA and landing ship RFS NOVOCHERKASSK not mentioned in MoD statement. (rmks: Consular lists reportedly have some 5,300 Russian nationals in Syria and you can just about bet ol' Bashar won't turn down a ride if it's offered to him) USA The X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) demonstrator completed its first at-sea test phase (rmks: handling, not yet flying) aboard aircraft carrier USS HARRY S. TRUMAN 19 December PHILIPPINES In a change-of-command ceremony, VAdm Jose Luis Alano takes over as new navy chief from retiring VAdm Alexander Pama. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS UAE (17 Feb) The 2013 IDEX international defense exhibition scheduled at Abu Dhabi from 17-21 Feb, 2013 MALAYSIA (26 Mar) The 2013 Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition will be held from 26-30 Mar, 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. Sorry there was no NNSoTD, yesterday. We lost power due to a severe wind storm – one of the joys of living in the Pacific Northwest. Looks like there is some interesting things happening. FYI, to celebrate Christmas with the family, this Friday will be the last summary of the year. Don't worry, I'll be keeping my ears to the rails. Any big doings will be posted on the HarpGamer FaceBook page Enjoy! Summary to follow: 13 December AUSTRALIA Patrol boat HMAS BATHURST intercepts a boat carrying 59 asylum seekers off the Ashmore Islands. CHINA New SecGen KPC, Xi Jinping … during his first inspection of armed forces … has ordered the army to adopt “real combat” criteria in military training and intensify such awareness among soldiers. (rmks: Might sound rather bellicose, but what else would you expect during such a visit) INDIA The Government Committee on Security approved procurement of five new patrol vessels for the Indian coast guard … gave green light for phase two of new coastal radar system. SUDAN – IRAN The Sudanese government vehemently denied (opposition) reports that it has given the go-ahead to Iran on a Red Sea naval base. 14 December AUSTRALIA +++ Patrol boat HMAS PIRIE intercepts a boat carrying 101 asylum seekers north of Christmas Island; patrol boat HMAS MARYBOROUGH another boat with 56 people on board northeast of the island. +++ An Australian refugee organization expects up to 30,000 asylum seekers (in 2013) … navy at risk of being overwhelmed … demands the government look for alternatives for asylum seekers to safely make it to Australia. (rmks: So they can deluge the social system and make things worse than they already are) CANADA VICTORIA class submarine HMCS WINDSOR returns to sea at Halifax, officially marking the completion of her major maintenance cycle. (rmks: Considering it is a Victoria class SSK that's a big accomplishment!) CHINA +++ China provided the United Nations with detailed claims to waters in the East China Sea … submitted documents to prove "geological features” dictated that China's claim extended to the edge of the continental shelf off the Chinese coast, beyond its 200-nm EEZ to about 110nm from Japan's Okinawa island. (rmks: No word yet, if they are providing documentary evidence that they originally created the geographic features in ancient times) +++ Commander East Sea Fleet, VAdm Su Zhiqian: China will “actively” maintain peace and stability in the Indian Ocean region. (rmks: To their preconditions, of course) DENMARK Cross-party support for defense reform plan and substantial (appr. 10 %) cuts to defense budget … much slimmed-down army, navy and air force which will be restructured into rapid-deployment units, geared to participating in international operations rather than traditional national territorial defense duties … merge the three branches’ command structure into a single command organization to be integrated into the MoD structure. (rmks: A ten-percent cut. Ouch! That'll leave a mark) GREECE 20 illegal migrants (from Iraq) drowned when their small boat capsized while trying to cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece. (rmks: Tells you things ain't all that great in Turkey) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka, the Keystone Kops): Romanian frigate NMS REGELE FERDINAND returns to home port Constanta, completing the first ever anti-piracy deployment of a Romanian warship. (rmks: The pirates stopped quaking in fear ... NOT!) SPAIN NEWPORT class landing ship SPS PIZARRO decommissioned after 17 years in service with the Spanish navy. UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 23 frigate HMS PORTLAND completes 50-week refit … returns to Plymouth to start operational work-up. USA Delays to delivery of Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV 1 SPEARHEAD had come eight-month late) likely to continue through at least 2017 … with also substantial cost overruns expected. 15 December ARGENTINA – GHANA The Hamburg (Germany) based UN's International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea ordered Ghana to immediately and unconditionally release (and resupply as needed) the Argentine navy sail training ship APA LIBERTAD … Ghana government “carefully considering the court order” … Argentine navy crew to be flown to Tema (Ghana) on 18 Dec for home transit … expected to arrive at Buenos Aires around 09 Jan. (rmks: as a reminder, LIBERTAD was impounded 02 Oct in Tema at the behest of private creditors as collateral for unpaid bonds dating from Argentina's economic crisis a decade ago) ITALY More than 440 African asylum seekers in two boats under escort from Italian coast guard arrive at the island of Lampedusa. PIRACY +++ Somalia Basin: Belgian frigate BNS LOUISE-MARIE (EU NavFor) intercepts a suspected pirate skiff … five men apprehended, pirate paraphernalia seized … held on board while possibilities for prosecution are assessed. (rmks: The same boat had already been spotted by Swedish patrol aircraft (EU NavFor) on 12 Dec, but then contact was lost. It is likely, they will be granted full citizenship, transported to Europe and allowed to live off the public dole. No pirates were harmed reporting this tidbit of news ... BLAST IT ALL!) +++ Gulf of Oman: North of Muscat (Oman), a single skiff (launched from a mother ship) attacks a merchant vessel, but breaks off when embarked armed security team fires warning shots. (rmks: The cockroaches (excuse me, pirates) live to pillage another day. Dittos on the above pirating postscript) UNITED KINGDOM Frigate HMS SUTHERLAND returns home to Devonport Naval Base (Plymouth), ending her six-month deployment “East of Suez”. 16 December CHINA – JAPAN Once again a paramilitary China Marine Surveillance ship temporarily (for 50 min) entered territorial waters around disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea. (rmks: After all, they did claim that they did create it – or so they will likely soon say. They were just ensuring they were still in one piece) IRAN Iranian researchers claim to have developed an indigenous surface drone (USV), however, illustrate their announcement with a dated photo of an Israeli PROTECTOR USV. (rmks: Ahh, leave it to the Mullahs, to provide some comedy in the day's reporting) RUSSIA New defence minister SHOIGU reportedly has given the order to “thoroughly study a proposal” for the entire Main Naval Staff (rmks: not just Admiral Chirkov) to move back from St. Petersburg to Moscow. (rmks: Only two months ago had moved from Moscow to St. Petersburg. I guess they still require adult supervision) UNITED KINGDOM VANGUARD class (SSBN) submarine HMS VIGILANT experienced a broken rudder while on trials in the Atlantic off the US coast … managed to make it to US Navy submarine base Kings Bay (Georgia) … damage to be investigated and repaired … boat had just finished a three-year overhaul. (rmks: on 23 Oct test-fired a Trident missile off Florida) 17 December CHINA +++ There are suggestions that QING class (043) submarine may be a single boat for test purposes (VLS?) only … speculations on possible replacement for old GOLF class (031). +++ Navy has approved a new painting design scheme (font, color, size and position) for hull numbers … such as seen on aircraft carrier LIAONING. RUSSIA (SYRIA-related) The Russian navy is reported to ”urgently” prepare for another deployment to the Mediterranean … two-month contingency mission for possible evacuation of Russian citizens from Syria … (amphibious) task force to include ships from Black Sea Fleet (cruiser RFS MOSKVA, landing ship RFS NOVOCHERKASSK, “others”), Northern Fleet (destroyer RFS SEVEROMORSK) and Baltic Fleet (landing ship RFS KALININGRAD) … join Black Sea Fleet task group still operating in the EastMed (with destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY). (rmks: Just in time for Christmas) RUSSIA +++ Sevmash is prepared to hand over (signature of acceptance documents) BOREJ class submarine RFS YURI DOLGORUKIY to the Russian navy by year end. (rmks: Question remains whether the navy is also prepared) +++ Pacific Fleet commander RAdm Sergej Avakyants has been promoted Vice Admiral. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS CHINA (18 Dec) Frigates YIYANG and CHANGZHOU together with support ship QUIANDAO HU expected in Sydney (Australia), for a four-day port visit. (rmks: Former 12th anti-piracy task group, on return transit from the Gulf of Aden) USA (18-20 Dec) The USS EISENHOWER Carrier Strike Group is scheduled to arrive back home at the Norfolk naval base on 19 Dec. The ships of the USS IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group will return to Norfolk/Little Creek between 18 and 20 Dec. INDIA (22 Dec) Newly built frigate TARKASH scheduled to visit Salalah (Oman) on 22/23 Dec … on maiden voyage from Kaliningrad (Russia) to Mumbai (India). RUSSIA (25 Dec) New Project 11982 salvage ship SELIGER to be commissioned on 25 Dec in Novorossiysk. USA (31 Dec) The US Coast Guard looks set to decommission ice breaker USCG POLAR STAR on 31 Dec … no funding of repairs/upgrade for continued operations. (rmks: Another fine example of bureaucratic kicking the can down the road. Now we are losing one of our primary Pacific icebreakers) IRAN (March 2013) The IRGCN is planning for a “major exercise in/near the Strait of Hormuz” … at the end of the Iranian year … exact dates to be announced later.

I think you're right! One thing is for sure, the Russkies have a lot of submarine salvage experience to draw upon!. FWFS, Greg

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 another weekend has crept up, upon us. Here is some recent updates to hopefully generate some interesting scenarios. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 11 December USA (multinational) US Navy, British Royal Navy and commercial shipping completed annual naval control of shipping exercise “Lucky Mariner 13” … from 07-11 Dec in the Persian Gulf region … scenario to prepare for the possibility of asymmetric attacks on regional merchant shipping. (rmks: Hmm, I wonder who the probable red aggressor is. I know ... it's the pirates! It couldn't be the Mullahs, they have absolutely no aggressive intentions in the region. Yeah, it's those pesky pirates) 12 December UNITED KINGDOM The Devonport Royal Dockyard (Plymouth) has been contracted with a 15-month overhaul/upgrade to helicopter carrier HMS OCEAN. (rmks: While OCEAN is laid up, HMS BULWARK will be taking up all the RN's helo duty slack) 13 December CHINA Update: Aircraft entering airspace over Senkaku/Diaoyu islands was Y-12 fixed wing patrol aircraft, belonging to paramilitary (China Marine Surveillance (CMS) … first Chinese violation of Japanese airspace in 50-years … widely regarded as deliberate escalation, albeit still below military level. (rmks: What was that I said about poking your finger in the eye of your adversary) NORWAY Norway has once again warned NH Industries over delays to delivery of new NH90 naval helicopters … may “face the cancellation of the order” … 14 NH90 ordered in 2001 for delivery by 2008, but so far only one received with a second set to arrive. (rmks: It appears the HN90 may be a lemon. We'll soon see) PHILIPPINES President Aquino has designated VAdm Jose Luis Alano as new navy chief … take over from retiring VAdm Alexander Pama on 21 Dec. RUSSIA The Emergencies Ministry plans to carry out a study in 2013 to see if sunken Soviet NOVEMBER (mod) class nuclear submarine K-27 can be recovered from the seabed in Russia's Arctic waters … scuttled in September 1982 in the Kara Sea … lying just 30-meters deep on an even keel. (rmks: If they did it with the RFS KURSK, they should be able to yank up the "Widowmaker") UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS USA (Apr) Hospital ship USNS COMFORT to conduct operation “Continuing Promise 2013” … from April to August 2013 … provide medical and dental care, preventive medicine and veterinary consulting, and construction projects in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Jamaica, Nicaragua and Peru.

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 looks like we all survived 12/12/12. Hopefully everyone will have an enjoyable Thursday. Here are some naval news nuggets to get your day started. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 10 December USA The USS IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group has left the Mediterranean into the Atlantic … heading home for Norfolk. 12 December CHINA – JAPAN Three paramilitary China Marine Surveillance ships temporarily entered Japanese territorial waters around disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea. (rmks: Overall 16th intrusion since Japan purchased three of the five uninhabited islets in September. Once again the ChiComs are throwing their weight around) FRANCE The French navy had planned for taking delivery of two new NH90 Caiman helicopters in 2013, but may well expect to get three or even four. INDIA +++ ABG Shipyard has been formally awarded the expected contract for building a second 110-m cadet training ship … initial contract for two such ships signed in June 2011 … capable of carrying light helicopter, also to be employed in disaster relief, search and rescue operations. (rmks: The ink isn't dry on the contract and its already behind schedule, due to a woefully inadequate shipbuilding infrastructure) +++ The Indian navy is about to order eight Tejas naval fighter aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) … construction to commence in 2013. (rmks: In a much delayed program only one naval Tejas has been built thus far) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka, the Keystone Kops (KK)): French frigate FS DUPLEIX has ended anti-piracy operations with EU NavFor and joined CTF-150 for regional anti-terror operations. (rmks: Are the Kops giving-up and going home? I'm seeing a lot of ships leaving the maritime version of the doughnut stand, with hardly no replacements) RUSSIA Vyborg shipyard ceremonially lays the keel for second Project 21900M ice breaker. SYRIA (related) French defence minister in an interview “confirms” aircraft carrier FS CHARLES DE GAULLE currently operating off Syria in the Eastern Mediterranean. TURKEY After completing procurement of eight (rmks: seems they have made up their mind) HEYBELIADA (MilGem) class corvettes … by 2020 … planning sees building a first batch of four new frigates TF2000, with a second batch of another four likely to follow. 13 December CHINA – JAPAN For the very first time, China deployed a “government aircraft” (rmks: may have been a Y-12 patrol aircraft, subordinate to MSA) over disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu islands in the East China Sea … Japan scrambled fighter aircraft to intercept … launch official political protest. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (KK): In routine change-of-command, Pakistan is taking over command of CTF-151 from Turkey … until March. (rmks: I'm seeing a lot of pomp and circumstance, but not a whole lot of anti-piracy patrolling) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS FRANCE (Jan) Aircraft carrier FS CHARLES DE GAULLE is scheduled to start a several-month maintenance period in January … may, however, in case of “emergency” be made ready for operations on short notice. (rmks: I guse they won't be off Syria for very long) RUSSIA (Mar) Black Sea Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ship RFS TSESAR KUNIKOV in March will proceed to Varna (Bulgaria) for major overhaul and modernization at the Varna naval arsenal. RUSSIA – UKRAINE (Jul) Annual bilateral Russian-Ukrainian naval exercise “Farwater Mira” scheduled in July 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. Happy 12/12/12. Some interesting things happening, to mark this special day. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 10 December PIRACY Somalia: At least 3 alleged cockroaches (excuse me, pirates) were killed in a clash with Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) near the coastal town of Gar’aad … unsuccessful attempt to rescue hostages from pirate held M/V ICEBERG 1, hijacked off Aden in March 2010 … PMPF have the ship surrounded with negotiations going on. (rmks: Maybe the PMPF should assume the duties of the Keystone Kops in the area. Sounds like the locals know what they're doing. Oh, I almost forgot ... pirates were harmed in the reporting story , which is about time) UNITED KINGDOM The Royal Navy has begun to trial a drone (UAV) that could be launched from most of its bigger vessels and used for surveillance operations. (rmks: Since they have no carriers, the Brits might as well use UAVs. Heck, they'll be replacing Neptunes soon) USA Aircraft carrier USS EISENHOWER has left the Mediterranean into the Atlantic … heading home for Norfolk. (rmks: Stand-down on the Assad watch. I wonder what kind of black eye the Navy will get if he gases his people and there's no flat top in the area) 11 December CHINA +++ New large fishery patrol vessel, 5,800 tons YUZHENG 206, has sailed from Shanghai on her maiden voyage to the East China Sea … to “protect fishermen's interests and the country's maritime rights”. (rmks: Will soon appear off Senkaku/Diaoyu islands) +++ An East Sea Fleet task group (4 destroyers/frigates, one support ship) has returned to home base, ending a 15-day deployment to the West Pacific. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (speaking of the Keystone Kops): Netherlands navy dock landing ship HNLMS ROTTERDAM has completed her five-month mission in support of NATO anti-piracy operation “Ocean Shield” and commenced home transit … expected to arrive in Den Helder on 22 Dec. (rmks: And the pirates breathe a sigh of relief ... NOT!) SINGAPORE Singapore has denied entry to Vietnamese-registered cargo ship NOSCO VICTORY carrying 40 Burmese asylum seekers who were plucked from the sea after their boat sank on 05 Dec in the Bay of Bengal. (rmks: This has the makings of a good ASEAN scenario. Obviously, Singapore is afraid their ally, will drop them on the pier, the the Sing's to deal with) SUDAN – IRAN Sudanese opposition groups claim the government is prepared to allow the Iranian navy establish a permanent base at Port Sudan or even build their own base anywhere at the Red Sea coast. (rmks: Hello, this one has scenario written all over it) 12 December AUSTRALIA Two new tugs HMAS ELWING and WAREE have arrived in Australia to replace BANDICOOT and WALLAROO for which “disposal arrangements have commenced”. (rmks: It you can't build to replace old ones, you can always rent – not a good way to run a Navy. It looks like the Aussie naval shipbuilding infrastructure is in a sorry state as well) NORTH KOREA North Korea successfully launched a space rocket, managing to place a small satellite into orbit … Japanese, South Korean and US naval forces monitored without interfering … UN Security Council to address issue. (rmks: I'm amazed! The candle actually lit. Obviously the earlier announced “delay due to technical problem,” was deliberate disinformation.) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (20 Dec) Zvezdochka (Severodvinsk) on 20 Dec has scheduled keel laying for ice-capable, high-sea support ship RFS AKADEMIK ALEKSANDROV … Project 20183, variant of Project 20180 ZVEZDOCHKA … third in series of six ships … second (ammunition transport ship Project 20181 RFS AKADEMIK KOVALEV) under construction since Dec 2011. VIETNAM (23 Jan) Vietnam has announced that from 25 January 2013 a “specialized force” under its new Fishery Bureau will be activated to conduct patrol and surveillance duties in the hotly contested waters of the South China Sea. (rmks: Gotta outdo the Jones' on the block) NEW ZEALAND (early 2013) Tenders will be sought in early 2013 to upgrade the self-defense and sensor capabilities of the RNZN frigates TE KAHA and TE MANA … 2010 White Paper asked for such upgrade by 2017. (rmks: Since the Kiwi's haven't spent much money on naval systems, they will need these upgrades to keep the frigates operational and capable)

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. Although there are some interesting news nuggets, it was kind of a quiet Navy news day. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 07 December PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (the Keystone Kops (KK)): German frigate FGS SACHSEN returns to home port Wilhelmshaven, ending a more than 4-month deployment in support or EU anti-piracy operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: The pirates are breathing a sigh of relief that it's gone ... NOT!) 09 December UNITED KINGDOM The MoD has awarded contracts worth a total of Euro 3.3 billion … to complete (with design changes) 4th ASTUTE class submarine HMS AUDACIOUS … commence early work on 5th boat, HMS ANSON … procure long-lead items for the as-yet unnamed boats six and seven. 10 December CHINA Returning from two-week of exercises in the West Pacific, a task group with destroyers HANGZHOU and NINGBO and frigates MA’ANSHAN and ZHOUSHAN has returned to the East China Sea, passing between Japanese islands Yonaguni and Iriomote … arrived “for patrols” near contested with Japan Senkaku/Diaoyu islands. (rmks: Nothing like pokin' your finger in the eye of your adversary. I think this is a modern translation of one Sun Tzu's proverbs) FRANCE After sister ship FS JEAN BART also destroyer FS CASSARD will receive an upgrade with installation of a modern SMART-S Mk2 radar … during next scheduled major maintenance period (2013/2014). PAKISTAN Frigate TIPPU SULTAN and support ship NASR arrive at Simons Town (South Africa) for a scheduled port visit … coinciding with a visit of Pakistan navy commander Adm Sandila. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (KK): On return transit from anti-piracy operations with the EU NavFor (ended on 01 Dec) Romanian frigate REGELE FERDINAND has conducted a three day (08-10 Dec) port visit to Haifa (Israel). RUSSIA +++ One year after fire damaged DELTA-IV class submarine RFS YEKATERINBURG, first repair contracts have been signed at long last … contracts to repair/replace damaged sonar and other devices to be signed “later”. (rmks: The fact that the hulk sat for so long before repairs began, speaks volume about the situation of the Russkie shipbuilding infrastructure) +++ Black Sea Fleet deployment: Landing ships RFS SARATOV and NOVOCHERKASSK arrive at Novorossiysk, ending their deployment to the Mediterranean. USA Off Norfolk, aircraft carrier USS HARRY S TRUMAN has begun first at-sea tests for unmanned combat drone X-47B … remote-controlled taxing on flight deck. USA IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group said to be on home transit … to arrive at Norfolk before Christmas … had been operating in the EastMed since 19 Nov for “possible Gaza evacuations”. 11 December AUSTRALIA Landing vessel HMAS WEWAK decommissioned … all BALIKPAPAN class vessels to follow suit … BETANO and BALIKPAPAN this month … BRUNEI, LABUAN and TARAKAN in last quarter 2014 … to be replaced by six new landing craft. (rmks: It will be interesting to see if this happens before or after the Canberra class LHDs roll off the building ways)

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. A whole lot of activity in the last few days - especially in the Eastern Med. Enjoy the updates! Summary to follow: 05 December FRANCE Helicopter carrier FS MISTRAL sails from Toulon for West Africa … relieve dock landing ship FS SIROCO in national naval presence mission “Corymbe.” (rmks: These are usually a three-month deployment. No big deal for the pirates. Heck, it's just the Fench) 07 December NORTH KOREA (related) North Korea has begun fueling its three-stage rocket … should be ready to launch on / from 10 Dec. The Japanese government has ordered its armed forces to shoot down the rocket “if it threatens Japanese territory”. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka, the Keysone Kops (KK)): In a ceremony in Djibouti, Italian RAdm Enrico Credendino hands over command of EU NavFor (TF 465) to Spanish RAdm Pedro García de Paredes … with Spanish frigate SPS MENDEZ NUNEZ to become new force flag ship. Anti-Piracy Forces: The Netherlands cabinet has extended participation in anti-piracy operations off Somalia by another year … until end 2013. (the pirates are quaking with fear that the Dutch are extending their presence in the area ... NOT!) RUSSIA “Source” at General Staff: Navy commander Adm Chirkov might return to Moscow … office in the MoD building already being prepared … Chirkov has been forced at least twice a week to travel between St. Petersburg and Moscow, in order to approve documents and attend meetings. (rmks: So much for the Navy setting-up a “permanent” office in St. Petersburg) UNITED KINGDOM With all 13 Sea King Mk7 airborne early warning helicopters to be phased out by 2016 and a successor not in place before 2020, the UK might be facing a four-year capability gap … MoD: other systems could fill the void in the interim. (rmks: What was that adage about proper performance? Oh yeah, Proper planning prevents piss-poor performance – the P6 Rule of the US Navy) USA Ingalls Huntington at Pascagoula (Miss.) delivers SAN ANTONIO class dock landing ship USS ARLINGTON (LPD 24) to the US Navy. 08 December IRAN +++ The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy is building a jetty of its own on the Caspian Sea (Gilan province) … upon completion, all IRGC Navy's Caspian Sea vessels to be based there. +++ Two Iranian navy ships arrive at Port Sudan (Sudan) for announced visit … frigate JAMARAN and supply ship BUSHEER. (rmks: They make up 23rd Iranian collections unit (oops, sorry) anti-piracy task group). ITALY (GAZA) Italian police at the port of Naples seized a shipment of weapons … hidden in container … a.o.t. rocket launchers … probably originating from Iran … to be shipped for Egypt with a final destination of Gaza. (rmks: Media allege tip-off from Israeli intelligence. It must have been some pretty good intel) NORTH KOREA (related) +++ North Korea advises shipping that in upcoming rocket launch first stage of rocket will fall 140 kilometers west of Buan while the fairing may hit waters 88 kilometers west of Jeju Island. (rmks: That's if it even launches) +++ The US Navy also deploys cruiser USS SHILOH and destroyer USS JOHN S McCAIN to monitor rocket launch, adding to destroyers USS BENFOLD and FITZGERALD. (rmks: Looks like some serious Aegis coverage) +++ South Korean navy deploys two KDX-III Aegis destroyers. (rmks: No time like the present to test their TBMD systems) SYRIA (possibly related) +++ Russian MoD claims only missile cruiser RFS MOSKVA and two landing ships returning to Sevastopol. Three other ships (destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY, tanker RFS IVAN BUBNOV and salvage tug RFS SORUM MB-304) to remain “on station” in the Eastern Mediterranean … due to “worsening situation in the region.” (rmks: Read that, come to the aid of the Assa government) +++ Russian media speak of “reaction to US Navy aircraft carrier USS EISENHOWER in the region”. (rmks: neither the EISENHOWER CSG nor the IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group have been mentioned on US Navy websites, for a number of days … absence of “routine information” suggest both task groups indeed on contingency stand-by in EastMed) 09 December CHINA Paramilitary Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) seems to have ordered construction of a new 3,000 ton ship. (rmks: Likely a new OPV) MAURITANIA Image shows new Chinese-design 60-m patrol boat named AWKAR (no hull number) … built in China for the Mauritanian coast guard … all but complete (possibly even commissioned already). 10 December NORTH KOREA (related) Rocket launch delayed due to technical problems … launch window extended to 29 Dec … media report on replacement of one faulty stage. (rmks: I guess they need to add some more spit and bailing wire) UAE "Offshore Patrol Vessels Middle East Summit” scheduled to kick off in Abu Dhabi … until 12 Dec … discuss piracy and protecting offshore oil assets from terrorist attack and sabotage … senior admirals from Bahrain, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, United Kingdom, Ukraine, USA as well as CTF-151 and EUNAVFOR to attend. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS PIRACY (20 Dec) Anti-Piracy Forces (KK): Russian Northern Fleet destroyer RFS SEVEROMORSK (UDALOY) reportedly to sail on 20 Dec for a deployment to the Horn of Africa … until May 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. Today is Pearl Harbor Day. December 7th, 1941, a day which will live in infamy. Lord willing our Navy wil never see another day like that one. Here are some navy updates to tide you though the coming weekend. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 05 December RUSSIA Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) has launched Project 22010 oceanographic research vessel RFS YANTAR … 5,200 tons (108.1m x 17.2m) … also for open ocean bottom survey. USA The US Navy’s Military Sealift Command accepted delivery of the first joint high-speed vessel, JHSV-1 SPEARHEAD, at Austal Shipyard in Mobile (Alabama). 06 December CHINA – INDIA – VIETNAM China “told” Vietnam to stop unilateral oil exploration in disputed areas of the South China Sea … also warns India to stop oil exploration in the South China Sea in partnership with the Vietnamese government. (rmks: My goodness, the ChiComs are throwing their weight around) INDIA After "positive“ remark by navy chief Adm Joshi on indigenous nuclear-powered submarine (SSBN) INS ARIHANT, it is believed the reactor will go critical “soon”, setting the stage for first sea trials in the first half of 2013 … “harbor acceptance trials” completed. IRAN (related) Mounting evidence that Iranian oil tankers are manipulating identification signals (AIS) … take over identity of other ships … to confuse global tracking systems and conceal voyages. (rmks: More wonderful news on how the sanctions are doing such a wonderful job) NORTH KOREA (related) +++ All three stages of a long range missile assembled upright at Tongchang-ri, on the northwest coast … speculations the rocket will be launched on 17 Dec, death anniversary (2011) of Kim Jong-il. +++ US Navy is moving BMD-capable Aegis destroyers USS FITZGERALD and BENFOLD “into position” (rmks: probably to the East China Sea) to monitor missile flight … two more ships possibly to follow. +++ Japan reportedly has deployed a third destroyer (not named). (rmks: My guess is the candle won't light. Nevertheless, its always safe to err on the side of caution) RUSSIA +++ Construction of a second project 11982 SELIGER class trials ship to start in 2013 … shipyard still to be determined through tender. Type ship SELIGER completed all trials and looks set to be commissioned by year-end. +++ In a “technical launch” Almaz (St. Peterburg) already put the second Project 22120 “ice class patrolship” to water … official launching had been scheduled only on 14 Dec but cancelled due to “adverse weather conditions” (rmks: developing ice? Wouldn't that be funny) +++ After delivery to the Russian navy, corvette RFS MAKHACHKALA has been moved to Kronstadt … spend winter there … feature at St. Petersburg 2013 IMDS (03-07 Jul 2013), then transfer to Caspian Sea Flotilla. +++ Black Sea Fleet deployment: After cancellation of anti-piracy operations off Somalia, the task force is about to return home … missile cruiser RFS MOSKVA already headed for Sevastopol (arrive next week) … two landing ships and two support ships preparing for passage of Turkish Straits … destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY currently off Crete. SYRIA (related) Conservative Israeli DEBKA claims US aircraft carrier USS EISENHOWER operating near Syria. US Navy reports the aircraft carrier “in the Mediterranean on transit to homeport Norfolk”. (rmks: DEBKA has a reputation for deliberate disinformation; on the other hand, there has been a 5-day “information gap” on the whereabouts of the Carrier Strike Group) UNITED KINGDOM +++ DefMin: Drones likely to replace cancelled Nimrod aircraft in reconnaissance missions. +++ During a rendezvous in the Red Sea, TYPE 45 destroyer HMS DIAMOND has handed over “East of Suez” duties (Persian Gulf/Arabian Sea) to TYPE 23 frigate HMS MONMOUTH … DIAMOND now on home transit, to arrive at Portsmouth in time for Christmas.

NNSotD - 06 December 2012 I know it's been a couple of days, but searching for a job does take priority! I have some excellent leads that I hope pays off with a couple of major national companies. Here are the updates I have collected from the last few days, with some interesting nuggets. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 28 November NORWAY EH Industries has delivered a second NH-90NFH naval helicopter to the Norwegian navy. 29 November USA Aircraft carrier USS EISENHOWER has ended operations in the Persian Gulf/Arabian Sea region and commenced home transit to Norfolk … on 29 Nov reported in the Red Sea. (rmks: After a maintenance break, in February will return to the Gulf region) 30 November BRAZIL In a ceremony at Portsmouth (UK) naval base, BAe Systems hands over APA, the second of three AMAZONAS class Ocean Patrol Vessels. (rmks: Originally built for Trinidad & Tobago coast guard, who reneged on the deal prior to their delivery) 01 December UNITED KINGDOM Submarine HMS ASTUTE has begun first-of-class trials, with a new special forces payload bay / swimmer delivery vehicle … “Project Chalfont” USA +++ Frigate USS KLAKRING returns to home port Mayport (Florida), ending a 6-month (final) deployment to the Caribbean and the east coast of South America … scheduled for decommissioning in March 2013. (rmks: It will be interesting to see who pony's up, to buy this one off the secondary market) +++ Aircraft carrier USS EISENHOWER passes the Suez Canal on return transit from the Gulf region to Norfolk. (rmks: For security reasons only reported on 05 Dec). VIETNAM – CHINA Two Chinese fishing vessels “accidentally” ran across and cut cables of Vietnamese survey vessel BINH MINH 02 conducting a seismic survey 43 miles southeast of Con Co Island off Vietnam's Quang Tri province. (rmks: Don't you hate it when things like that "accidentally" happen) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka the Keystone Kops (KK)): Romanian navy frigate NMS REGELE FERDINAND has ended her 60-day mission with EU NavFor, heading for home … first ever anti-piracy deployment of Romanian warship. (rmks: The cockroaches (excuse me, pirates) breathe a sigh of relief ... I think not) USA Aircraft carrier USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH has completed a 4-month short-term upgrade and maintenance period at Norfolk Naval Shipyard … now entering training and qualification cycle in preparation for a summer 2013 deployment. 02 December CHINA New paramilitary China MSA ship “22” launched at Wuhan. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (KK): French frigate FS SURCOUF has replaced frigate FS FLOREAL with the EU NavFor … FLOREAL returns to home port La Reunion. (rmks: Yet another sigh of relief ... not) USA Africa Partnership Station: HSV-2 SWIFT now in Gambia 03 December AUSTRALIA Defence Minister Stephen Smith: Still keeping options open on whether to purchase a fourth HOBART class air warfare destroyer INDIA - CHINA Navy chief Adm Joshi: … Chinese naval buildup major concern … Indian navy will protect national interests in the South China Sea … although presence in that maritime region is not on "very very frequent" basis, India has interests like free navigation and exploitation of natural resources there. (rmks: Believe-it-or-not, Indian state-run explorer ONGC has a stake in a gas field in the Nam Con Son basin, off Vietnam's south coast) IRAN (related) The US Senate unanimously approved new sanctions … on people selling or supplying a defined list of commodities to Iran that are relevant to its shipbuilding and nuclear sectors, such as graphite, aluminum, steel, and metallurgical coal. (rmks: Fat lot of good that will do. The Mullahs will just go to one of our "friends" to fulfill their needs) ITALY The Italian navy has reclassified aircraft carrier GARIBALDI as “helicopter carrier” … CAVOUR now only “aircraft carrier” operating fixed-wing AV-8B Harrier (and later F-35B). NORTH KOREA Announcement of closure areas off the west coast from 10 to 22 Dec gives a time-window for the planned launch of Unha-3 rocket which “will carry a polar-orbiting earth observation satellite” but may be nothing less than a disguised (forbidden) long-range missile test. Some analysts judge that the timing of the launch is intended to influence South Korean presidential elections scheduled on 19 Dec. USA Amphibious assault ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD returns to home port Sasebo (Japan), ending her fall deployment to 7th Fleet area. 04 December INDIA The defence ministry’s acquisition council has decided to go ahead with Project P75i … procurement of six submarines with air-independent propulsion systems and land-attack capability … global tender to be floated “soon” … several international companies preparing proposals. (rmks: There ain't many people who play in this ball park. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top) IRAN (related) +++ Iran claims to have intercepted and “captured” a US drone which had “entered into Iranian airspace over the Persian Gulf” … said to be a Scan Eagle, poss. operated from a US Navy ship … no further details yet. +++ The US Navy has denied Iranian claims of capturing a Scan Eagle drone launched from an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf … “all unmanned aircraft fully accounted for”. +++ Iranian state TV shows images of a drone … claims all data decrypted … US Navy: “appears to be a Scan Eagle … possibly fished out of the sea, but not ours”. (rmks: The US in recent years has lost some drones in the region; this may well be one of those). RUSSIA – INDIA Russian Pacific Fleet task group (RFS MARSHAL SHAPOSHNIKOV, IRKUT, ALATAU) has ended visit to Mumbai (India) with one-day exercise “Indra” … with Indian navy destroyer MYSORE and frigate TABAR … focus on “joint anti-piracy operations”, however, more or less mere “Passex” with some joint maneuvering, communications and helicopter cross-deck operations … Russian task group now heading for the Gulf of Aden to commence scheduled anti-piracy operations. RUSSIA +++ Acceptance certificate signed for third Project 21630 corvette MAKHACHKALA at Almaz, St. Petersburg. +++ Zvezdochka has begun development of a new deep-diving submersible … “polyspherical” design, made of titanium, smaller than Project 10831 LOSHARIK but with twice its diving depth … will be carried on board modified DELTA-IV class submarine BS-64 (name given as PODMOSKOVYE) UNITED KINGDOM +++ VAdm Phil Jones has taken over as the Royal Navy’s Fleet Commander from Adm Sir George Zambellas, who will continue his NATO role as Commander Maritime Command in Northwood (UK). +++ Final TYPE 45 destroyer HMS DUNCAN has successfully completed her second spell of sea trials off Scotland … returned to Scotstoun … preparing for handover to the navy in spring 2013. USA +++ Frigate USS CURTS has completed her final deployment … anti-drug operations off the Latin America Pacific coast … returns to San Diego for decommissioning in late January. (rmks: This OHP will also be a likely candidate for the int'l sec. mkt) +++ General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego (Calif.) holds keel laying ceremony for future Mobile Landing Platform MLP-2 JOHN GLENN. 05 December COSTA RICA One person was killed and three arrested when a semi-submersible craft loaded with cocaine sank off the coast of Panama while being chased by the Costa Rican Coast Guard. (rmks: Man, don't you just hate it when that happens) FRANCE The French navy has begun testing new naval helicopters NH90 Caiman on board helicopter carrier DIXMUDE. NETHERLANDS Frigate HNLMS VAN AMSTEL returns to home port Den Helder, completing a several-month deployment to the Caribbean which included participation in multi-national anti-drug operations. NORTH KOREA (related) Ahead of planned North Korean space launch, the Japanese navy deploys BMD-capable Aegis destroyers JDS KONGO and MYOKO to the Sea of Japan / East China Sea … dock landing ship JDS KUNISAKI has transported two Patriot PAC-3 systems to Ishigaki (400 km southwest of Okinawa) … more Patriots to be deployed also on Okinawa. PAKISTAN The United States has “expressed willingness” to provide Pakistan with another three to four P3-C Orion maritime patrol aircraft. RUSSIA +++ Black Sea Fleet deployment: Interfax: The RFS MOSKVA task group will not pass the Suez Canal for anti-piracy operations off Somalia … the planned deployment has been cancelled, and the ships will return to Sevastopol in second half of December … probably due to the ships having spent more time than planned in the Mediterranean, on stand-by for poss. Gaza evacuation operations … two of the ships (unnamed) reportedly entered Tartus (Syria) for a short stop “to load fuel and water and make minor repairs." +++ Media quoting ”source”: BOREJ class submarine RFS ALEXANDER NEVSKIY will conduct its first submerged launch of a Bulava missile as part of tests scheduled in early July 2013. MoD spokesman: “sheer speculation out of sync with reality”. UNITED KINGDOM British defense spending is to be cut again over the next two year,s as part of additional austerity measures announced by the chancellor in Parliament. (rmks: No details yet) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS INDIA (Jan) DRDO is planning for a ballistic missile defense test in January … land-based newly developed Prithvi Defence Vehicle (PDV) missile will be launched from Wheeler’s Island to intercept a two-stage version of the Dhanush missile, launched as target missile from a naval vessel (rmks: Should be SUBHADRA which has been serving as Dhanush test bed) 300-350 km distant in the Bay of Bengal.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Another week begins. Lots of navy-related happening occurred over the weekend. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 28 November EGYPT (GREECE) Egyptian navy chief RAdm Osama Ahmed Ahmed El-Gendy conducts official visit to Greece. SPAIN Aircraft carrier SPS PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS seems to be heading for decommissioning (and subsequent scrapping) in early 2013 … no money for modernization nor for continued operations. 29 November NORWAY During exercise "Flotex Silver Rein“, the Norwegian navy has lost a REMUS 100 autonomous underwater vehicle … had been employed on 14 Nov in bottom survey in port Tromsoe when contact was lost … probably sunk at port entrance and then was carried by current out to open sea. (rmks: That's gotta suck! Those toys cost a pretty penny) PAKISTAN (SUDAN) A Pakistan navy warship has arrived at Port Sudan (Sudan) for a scheduled two-day “routine visit”. Local media report that the “SHASHMIR” (most likely meaning frigate SHAMSHEER) has left anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa (probably with CTF-151), for a short foray into the Red Sea. 30 November AUSTRALIA (Air force-operated) Australian AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft have ended 10 years of continuous service in the Middle East … as part of “Operation Slipper” had operated in the Arabian Gulf, North Arabian Sea, Afghanistan, Iraq and off Somalia … flown maritime patrol and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions … also in support of anti-piracy operations. CHINA Hudong shipyard seems to have launched another JIANGKAI-II frigate … reportedly to be 575 QINZHOU. IRAN (SUDAN) While state media report announced Iranian navy visit to Port Sudan (Sudan) postponed by one week (to 07 Dec), Iranian navy commander RAdm Sayyari claims frigate JAMARAN will arrive there as originally planned on 30 Nov. (rmks: Looks like the old usual game of deliberate disinformation) update: by 02 Dec no media info that ship may have arrived at Port Sudan. ITALY The Italian navy has conducted 10-day amphibious exercise “AMPHEX 12-2” in the Ionian Sea … 16 ships (incl. aircraft carriers ITS CAVOUR and GARIBALDI), two submarines, 28 aircraft and San Marco regiment naval infantry … fictional scenario (believe-it-or-not – United Nations backed intervention) … “project power from sea to shore”. (rmks: Although the plot seems interesting, the thought of the UN backing a naval intervention in today's koombay-ya mentally seems a little preposterous) PIRACY General: Pirate attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean fell 81 per cent this year … Likely due to EU NavFor (rmks: What, the Keystone Kops did something – I think not) Use of armed security guards on ships a "game-changer." (rmks: Ah, there's the real reason. The cockroaches ain't stupid folks. They obviously don't like the idea of being shot at for some reason) RUSSIA +++ Defense ministry spokesman: First YASEN-class submarine RFS SEVERODVINSK will not be put in service this year but only in 2013 … still has to complete state acceptance trials in the White Sea. (rmks: What was that i previously said about deliberate disinformation?) +++ Nerpa shipyard has begun dismantling decommissioned OSCAR-II class submarine K-148 KRASNODAR. (rmks: The Russkie version of new razor blades) 01 December AUSTRALIA Update: Police have arrested a man who had robbed 2 shotguns and 12 handguns from ARMIDALE class patrol boat BATHURST, berthed at Coonawarra (Darwin) naval base … all stolen weapons recovered. No details yet on the culprit (rmks: Who was likely an insider – read that a member of the crew) CHINA +++ East Sea Fleet task group (4 destroyers/frigates, 1 supply ship) conducts search & rescue training in the Western Pacific … based on the scenario of “local law-enforcing vessels being confronted by foreign warships while carrying out their duties.” (rmks: Task group had sailed the Miyako Strait on 28 Nov) +++ Huangpu shipyard has launched a second catamaran survey/research ship (given as NAN CE 429 class). +++ Photo shows two Chinese navy ships transferred to paramilitary China Marine Surveillance … YANBING class ice breaker HAI BING 723 became HAI JIAN 111, WOLEI class mine layer 814 (LIAOYANG) now HAI JIAN 112. IRAN The Iranian National Institute for Oceanography (INIO) is to get a new “oceangoing research vessel” … construction of 50-meter ship began in spring 2011, currently 35% complete … ready for delivery by end of spring 2013. (rmks: A civilian ship, which during deployments also will fulfill military tasks / collect military data. Another outstanding example of the sanctions doing their job!) NORTH KOREA North Korea is set to launch a long-range missile … “peaceful, scientific mission aimed at placing a polar-orbiting earth observation satellite into space” … suspected as disguised tests for an ICBM capable of carrying a nuclear warhead … Unha-3 rocket is a three-stage variant of the Taepodong-2 ICBM that Pyongyang has been developing for years but has never tested successfully … will be second long-range rocket launch this year following a failed attempt in April. (rmks: Japan, South Korea and USA likely to deploy Aegis-ships to monitor launch and/or intercept missile if that should become necessary.) PIRACY Somalia: Somali pirates release four South Korean sailors … abducted in April 2011 with Singapore-flagged product tanker GEMINI … 21 Malaysian crew already released after seven months, but pirates then held back the Koreans … South Korean destroyer (CTF-151) has taken the four men onboard. (rmks: No cockroaches (excuse me, pirates) were harmed in reporting this piece ... BLAST IT ALL!) USA +++ During a ceremony at the Norfolk naval base, aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE has been retired from active service. SecNav Mabus announces third GERALD FORD class aircraft carrier (CVN 80) will be named USS ENTERPRISE. (rmks: A truly sad day. Fair thee well, good ship) +++ Although already deployed on operations to meet urgent needs, the Northrop Grumman MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned surveillance helicopter has reliability and sustainability problems … both the initial operational capability and the full-rate production decision have been delayed by about two years until May or June 2014. 02 December IRAN (related) Turkey’s national oil company will further cut its purchases of oil from Iran by 20%, in a bid to obtain another six-month exemption from the United States’ sanctions against Iran. (rmks: Once again, with friends like this, who needs enemies) PHILIPPINES Commissioning of 2nd former USCG HAMILTON class ship delayed … BRP RAMON ALCARAZ to arrive in the country in late March/early April (vs. February) … ongoing repairs and refitting (at Charleston, USA), incl. installation of new main engine. 03 December RUSSIA For the record: For the past nine days, Russian websites/media/officials have not mentioned whereabouts/activities of the Black Sea Fleet task group (with MOSKVA) … remark by fleet commander RAdm Fedotenkov suggests ships still in the Eastern Med … on standby for “possible contingencies”. As Gaza does not make much sense anymore, Syria comes to mind. (rmks: I think the Russkies are getting antsy about the thought of a vanishing presence in Tartus, if the Assad regime collapses. Wow, that's a good idea for a scenario based in the East Med!)