gemerson

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Where has the week gone? It's Wednesday already. Some interesting things taking place. Enjoy the updates! Summary to follow: 30 August VIETNAM The Vietnam Marine Police (VMP) has taken delivery of the first of three Airbus Military C-212-400 light transport aircraft to be modified with a maritime patrol mission kit. (rmks: Likely they will be fitted with the capability to mount light ASuW weapons), to operate in support of the VPN. 31 August CHINA First new Type 052D (LUJANG-III class) destroyer launched from Jiangnan Changxing shipyard. (rmks: They just keep cranking out the ships) 04 September CHINA For the record: names (numbers) of new Type 052C LUJANG-II class destroyers given as CHANGCHUN (150), ZHENGZHOU (151), JINAN (152) and TAIYUAN (153). (rmks: More updates for the DB's, me thinks) IRAN (related) +++ Turkish imports of Iranian crude oil “jumped” in August after hitting a low over recent months … meanwhile even surpassing 2011 import average of 180,000 barrels per day. (rmks: So much for the sanctions – they were a joke anyway) +++ Iran will provide insurance cover for any oil tanker carrying Iranian crude oil or loading oil in an Iranian port. (rmks: Now that's something completely different) KAZAKHSTAN (Bet you didn't know they even had a navy) Kazakhstan's navy recently has commissioned its first locally built patrol vessel … “artillery vessel” KAZAKHSTAN carries a 12-tube, 122 mm multiple rocket launcher system. NEW ZEALAND The Royal New Zealand Air Force has begun regular training sorties with its first upgraded P-3K2 Orion maritime patrol aircraft … second and third upgraded Orion to arrive in late September. PIRACY +++ General: Nine alleged Somali pirates go on trial in Rotterdam (Netherlands) … charged with opening fire on Dutch marines (frigate HNLMS TROMP), boarding a hijacked Iranian fishing boat in the Gulf of Aden on April 2, 2011. (rmks: With time served, they'll probably kicked out on the street right after the trial. They will then apply the Netherlands welfare and go on the public dole) +++ West Africa: Pirates hijack a Singapore-owned oil tanker (23 crew) “in” the Nigerian port of Lagos … sailing the ship into the open sea. (rmks: Unloading some of the oil and setting it adrift, to become an environmental hazard when it grounds. Don't you just love these guys) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces (The Keystone Kops): Singapore navy frigate RSS INTREPID sails from Changi naval base for a three-month deployment off Somalia. (rmks: Probably join multi-national CTF-151) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces (aka They Keystone Kops): Ukraine this year will support EU operation “Atalanta” with one aircraft … next year deploy frigate HETMAN SAGAYDACHNIY to support NATO operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: And the cockroaches (excuse me – the pirate scum of the SSA coastal regions, quake in fear – NOT! No pirates were harmed reporting these stories – BLAST IT ALL) RUSSIA +++ Baltic Fleet corvette RFS SOOBRAZITELNIY has commenced home transit towards Baltiysk … sailing under own power after make-shift repairs. (rmks: Thought so, fleetex paricipation was canx'd) +++ Returning from overhaul in the Baltic to the Black Sea fleet, submarine RFS ALROSA arrives at Ceuta (Spain) … accompanied by salvage tug SLIVA SB-921 … after short port visit continue transit with Black Sea fleet salvage tug SHAKHTER, while SB-921 will return to the Baltic. +++ (SYRIA-related) Russian media alleges Russian navy landing ships, recently deployed to the Mediterranean, indeed had been poised for an evacuation of the Russian Tartus naval base … operation called off on short notice because it might have been misread as “no-confidence in the Assad government”. +++ Aircraft carrier RFS ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV sails for the Barents Sea … conduct a series of training incl. aircraft operations … prepare for upcoming fleet-level “integrated combat exercise”. SOMALIA Kenyan navy shells port of Kismayo … Kenyan armed forces reportedly preparing ground operation to capture the city from the al-Shabab militia. (rmks: Once again, you've got to love the 'religion of peace') SWEDEN Armed Forces Materiel Command delivers corvette HMS VISBY to the fleet … final of five corvettes completed a comprehensive upgrade. (rmks: Another DB update) TURKMENISTAN The Turkmenistan navy will conduct its first (major) exercise “Khazar 2012” in early September. (rmks: This ought to be truly stupendous) USA 7th Fleet flagship USS BLUE RIDGE returns to Yokosuka (Japan) after concluding its participation in annual exercise “Ulchi Freedom Guardian” with the South Korean armed forces.

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. With the conclusion of the long, Labor Day weekend summer is unofficially over. Lots of stuff going in the global naval industry. Enjoy the updates! Summary to follow: 16 August CHINA A JIN class ballistic missile submarine successfully test-fired a JL-2 strategic missile, possibly from a danger area established on 16/17 Aug in the Bay of Bohai. 29 August INDIA Indian coast guard commissions patrol boat ICGS RAJKIRAN … third of eight 50m (300-tons) inshore patrol vessel built by Garden Reach (GRSE) 31 August DENMARK – GERMANY (multinational) Danish-German multinational invitational “Northern Coasts / Danex 2012” kicks off … until 12 Sep in Baltic Approaches (Skaw, Kattegatt) and Baltic (Bornholm area) … from 31 Aug in-port phase Frederikshavn (Denmark), from 03 Sep serialized exercises at sea, from 09 Sep scenario phase at sea … 12 Sep hot wash-up … about 50 warships from 15 countries to participate … incl. NATO’s SNMCMG-1, multinational (Baltic States navies’) Baltron squadron, and a Russian Baltic Fleet STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette. (rmks: Russkie participation depends on if the 'Stereg' was not heavily damaged in a fire over the weekend) EGYPT New navy chief, Admiral (?) Osama Ahmed el-Gendy, announces an agreement signed with Germany for procurement of two new German-built Type-209 attack submarines. EGYPT Egypt reportedly declared a “state of emergency” along the Suez Canal after receiving information about an imminent militant attack. (rmks: This is unconfirmed, but could pose a threat to the fragile global economic situation) INDIA Commander Western Naval Command (Mumbai), Admiral Devendra Kumar Joshi (an ASW specialist), has taken over as the new Indian navy chief … succeeds Admiral Nirmal Verma, who retired after 43 years of service. VAdm Shekhar Sinha (a former fighter pilot) takes over as new chief of the Western Naval Command. INDONESIA (AUSTRALIA) Update: Search & rescue operations for an asylum seekers’ boat, shipwrecked shortly after sailing for Australia’s Christmas Island, concluded off Java … 55 people pulled from the sea, nearly 100 unaccounted for. RUSSIA +++ Russian defense industry has been tasked with “developing a sea-based missile defense system similar to the US Aegis system”. (rmks: This would be VERY interesting. Will they develop their own system or will they fall back onto the 'old ways' of relying on espionage methods) +++ While some final Main Naval Staff elements may come at a later time, navy commander Adm Chirkov has moved his working place from Moscow to St. Petersburg. +++ Final decision on refurbishment / modernization of laid-up KIROV class missile cruiser RFS ADMIRAL NAKHIMOV to be made “in September” … about Euro 125 million already assigned for the project. (rmks: That's quite a chunk of change to just write-off. Likely, it will be in upkeep for an eternity (i.e, the foreseeable future)) UNITED KINGDOM The sixth and final Type 45 destroyer, HMS DUNCAN, sails from BAe System Scotstoun facility for her first stage of sea trials. (rmks: Go forth and do well) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (The Keystone Kops): Spanish navy frigate SPS REINA SOFIA returns to home port, ending her deployment in support of EU operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: The pirates breath a sigh of relief (not) at her departure) 01 September PIRACY (i.e., the comics) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces (read that – The Keystone Kops): New Spanish navy METEORO class patrol ship SPS RELAMPAGO joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: I'm sure the cockroaches are going to quake in fear over another OPV joining the force) +++ Somalia (Cockroach Central): Somali pirates reportedly killed a Syrian crew member of UAE-owned Panama-flagged cargo vessel ORNA hijacked off Seychelles in 2010 … because of delayed ransom payment … threatening more killings to follow. (rmks: No pirates were harmed reporting this story – BLAST IT ALL!) USA – ISRAEL Due to “budget restrictions” the US reportedly will scale down participation in bilateral missile defense exercise “Austere Challenge 12”, scheduled in Israel for October … deploy just one instead of two BMD-capable Aegis ships and cut troops from 5,000 planned to mere 1,500. Some US and Israeli media speculate Obama and Netanyahu at odds over Israel's threats to launch a pre-emptive strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities. (rmks: Say it ain't so) 02 September AUSTRALIA +++ Patrol boat HMAS WOLLONGONG intercepts a boat carrying 48 suspected asylum seekers northwest of Ashmore Islands. +++ (multinational) Fifteen ships from seven Pacific nations (Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand) sail from Darwin for sea phase of Exercise “Kakadu 12” … until 14 Sep … in-port phase already started 29 Aug … RAN’s principle multilateral exercise in Australia for 2012. RAN participating with frigates HMAS DARWIN, PERTH, WARRAMUNGA, mine hunters GASCOYNE, HUON, tanker SIRIUS. RAAF maritime patrol aircraft and strike fighter aircraft also take part. CHINA Hull number 16 painted on aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG … leads to more speculations because use as training ship would have suggested an 8x number. (rmks: Likely an AIR training ship – it still a freaking AIRCRAFT CARRIER! For pity sake. When is the media going to stop molly-coddling the ChiComs?!) IRAN (related) Iranian official (Read that A Mullah): Oil exports are at their normal levels and unaffected by Western embargoes. New IAEA report: repeated efforts by the IAEA have not led to any meaningful progress in resolving the nuclear weapons issues. (rmks: A fat lot of good the sanctions are doing. The Mullahs are fat, happy and continuing to develop missile programs and nukes. Why else develop a missile program?) RUSSIA Developing story: Fire in the engine room of corvette RFS SOOBRAZITELNIY … extinguished after one hour … initial reports suggest some injuries on board … reported drifting without propulsion in the Western Baltic due to water damage to electric installations. STEREGUSHCHIY class ship was en route Frederikshavn (Denmark) for joining multi-national exercise “Danex/Northern Coasts 2012” … exercise participation cancelled. (rmks: Thought so) TUNISIA A Tunisian naval vessel fired upon Egyptian fishermen (ten boats) illegally fishing within Tunisian waters, killing two and wounding two others … had failed to comply with orders to stop, instead engaged in “dangerous maneuvers”. (rmks: So much for the vaunted Muslim brotherly love) USA Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship USNS MERCY arrives in Pearl Harbor, nearing the end of her five-month deployment. 03 September CHINA Third YUZHAO class dock landing ship, CHANGBAISHAN, starts sea trials. RUSSIA +++ Update: No crew members injured in fire on corvette RFS SOOBRAZITELINIY. Fire started when ship at anchor at Frederikshavn (Denmark) roadstead. Current location unclear; some media report ship has been towed into port (naval base) Frederikshavn for make-shift repairs (rmks: Russian navy officials as usual keep silent or deliver contradictory information – depending on the day of the week and level of sobriety). +++ Official “flag raising ceremony” for new patrol boat RFS GRACHONOK … at Novorossiysk. 04 September BRAZIL New Brazilian navy OPV AMAZONAS expected at Lagos (Nigeria) for visit and small exercises (Passex) with Nigerian navy … until 07 Sep … before, had stopped at Cotonou (Benin) (rmks: on maiden voyage from UK to Brazil) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS IRAN (Oct) Nation-wide air defense exercise scheduled “in second half of October” … to include both regular forces and IRGC. (rmks: Hmmmm, right before the US elections)

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Here's some interesting naval news morsels, to start your weekend. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 29 August USA MCM command platform USS PONCE and at least four mine hunters (namely USS PIONEER, DEVASTATOR, SENTRY and DEXTEROUS) at sea in the Persian Gulf, conducting exercises 30 August CHINA +++ Aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG has returned to port Dalian after just three days at sea. (rmks: Still no flight ops. Obviously the plane imaged on the flight deck is for crew training purposes) +++ CHINA (JAPAN) China MoD spokesman: “China's armed forces are capable of safeguarding maritime rights and interests” … referring to the disputed with Japan Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. (rmks: Translation – We will continue to poke our finger in Japan's eye) PIRACY West Africa: Hijacked Greek tanker M/V ENERGY CENTURION released some 60 nm east of Lagos (Nigeria) … all crew unharmed … pirates siphoned off about 3,000-tons of the total 57,000-ton cargo of gas oil. (rmks: Blasted cockroaches! As usual, no pirates were harmed reporting this story – BLAST IT ALL!) RUSSIA +++ Baltic Fleet and Western Military district land/air forces conduct major amphibious / coastal defense exercise at the Khmelevka range near Baltiysk … combined amphibious landing / airborne assault … about 20 boats/ships and 650 coastal defense force soldiers involved. +++ Transfer of final elements of the Main Naval Staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg deferred until the end of the year due to “lack of infrastructure”. Only very recently Adm Chirkov had announced the move to be completed by end of August. (rmks: The Russkie version of the never-ending story) +++ Northern Fleet destroyer RFS VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV arrives at Cork (Ireland) for a scheduled port visit until 02 Sep. (rmks: On return transit from anti-piracy operations off Somalia and exercises in the Mediterranean) SOUTH KOREA Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) has handed over the third KDX-III Aegis destroyer, ROKS RYU SEONG-RYONG, to the ROK Navy. (rmks: Another add for the HUCE DB) USA +++ First Joint High Speed Vessel, JHSV-1 SPEARHEAD, successfully completed acceptance trials … second JHSV due to be christened on 15 Sep at Austal’s facility in Mobile, Alabama. +++ The commanding officer of destroyer USS PORTER, which on 12 Aug at the inner exit of the Strait of Hormuz had collided with a Japanese VLCC tanker, has been removed from his job. (rmks: Like it WASN'T going to happen!) +++ For the first time, the US Navy has deployed M18 Mod 2 Kingfish unmanned underwater vehicles to the 5th Fleet … use side scan sonar to search and discover objects of interest. (rmks: Another contingency for possible Iran conflict. Kingfish is a cool toy and is designed to operate in the littorals – like the Persian Gulf) 31 August UNITED KINGDOM Mine hunters HMS MIDDLETON and PEMBROKE return home after spending three years in the Persian Gulf (based at and operating out of Bahrain). 01 September USA Ships of the USS JOHN C STENNIS Carrier Strike Group, among them cruiser USS MOBILE BAY, to depart San Diego to join the carrier (rmks: Go forth and do well, Johnny Reb!) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS CHINA (Sep) Newly built JIANGKAI-II class frigates LIUZHOU (573) and LINYI (574) reportedly to be commissioned in September. (rmks: More DB adds)

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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. Enjoy! Kind of a quite Navy news day. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 27 August CHINA Series production of new Project 056 corvettes is in full swing … overall 6th set for launch at Huangpu shipyard (2nd there) … Hudong (Shanghai) launched its 2nd on 19 Aug … another one each at Wuchang shyd (launch 03 Aug) and a yard in Dalian (launched also August). (rmks: The ChicComs obviously are not suffering ANY economic woes) 28 August COLOMBIA At the Kiel naval yard, the Colombian navy takes over and commissions two former German Navy Type 206A submarines … U23 and U 24 … re-named INTREPIDO and INDOMABLE. Another two same type ex-German submarines to provide spare parts. (rmks: Looks like there is more work that needs to be done on the HUCE DB – a never-ending story) INDIA RAdm G. Ashok Kumar has taken over as the Chief of Staff of the Southern Naval Command (Kochi) … before, Flag Officer, Sea Training, Kochi. PHILIPPINES “Final” negotiations with Italy on take-over of two Italian navy MAESTRALE class frigates (set to be decommissioned) …MoD requested allocation of US$ 60 million. (rmks: Depending on what they can work out, these older FFs will give the RPN a little more "teeth," in dealing with the maritime claims issue with China. Not much but hey, bad breath is better than no breath at all!) PIRACY West Africa: Pirates went aboard a Greek tanker anchored 17 nm off Lome (Togo) … temporarily taking the 24 crew hostage … flee the scene after short gunfight with approaching navy patrol boat. (rmks: Cockroaches always scurry away, when an exterminator is coming. No pirates were injured in reporting this news piece – DRAT!) UNITED KINGDOM Dock landing ship HMS BULWARK off Portland, to serve as security hub for Paralympic games. USA (multinational) 10th annual Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) exercise commenced at Changi naval base (Singapore) … Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, USA … until 02 Sep evolving from Malacca Strait via Sulu Sea to Subic Bay (Philippines) … three-day command post exercise and a four-day field training exercise at sea … focus on tracking contacts of interest in a maritime interdiction scenario with USNS SAFEGUARD serving as a simulated vessel of interest to be tracked by liaison officers on land, at sea, and in the air.

Did you have to stay topside, or did they let you go inside the skin of the ship?

Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! Welcome to another week! The facelift was a surprise to behold this morning. Here's some navy news to start your week ... Enjoy! Summary to follow: 16 August CHINA JIANGHU-I class frigate WUXI (512) officially decommissioned. (rmks: Another likely candidate for resale on the international secondary market – possibly in the A-P region) 22 August PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: US Navy frigate USS TAYLOR ends support to NATO operation “Ocean Shield” and resumes home transit … as part of the multinational maritime force had been deployed with the NATO task force since 07 May. (rmks: No pirates were injured in reporting this bit of news – blast it all!) 23 August BRAZIL The Brazilian navy formally incorporates the first two of six US-made Seahawk helicopters into the 1st ASW Helicopter Squadron … receive another two later this year and will induct a final two in 2014. (rmks: Looks like some more updates to the DB are in order) 24 August BlackSeaForce Activation of BlackSeaForce ends during ceremony in Novorossiysk (Russia) … ships to return to home ports. INDIA Second TALWAR Batch-2 class frigate, INS TARKASH, built by Russian Yantar shipyard, is set to complete state trials … with live air defense missile firing in the Eastern Baltic … acceptance trials in early September ahead of delivery scheduled for November. Third ship, INS TRIKAND, to start pier-side tests in October. RUSSIA +++ (Japan) Pacific Fleet landing ship RFS ADMIRAL NEVELSKOY and salvage tug RFS KALAR sail for “March of Memory” to three of four Kurile islands … disputed with Japan … from 25 Aug – 17 Sep … take part in ceremonies honoring Soviet sailors who died there at the end of WW II. (rmks: Nothing like poking your finger in the eye of your neighbor. Probably learned it in the international relations course at the Academy in St. Petersburg) +++ According to a Russian paper, the Russian navy “for the time being has suspended use” of its Tartus (Syria) logistic base, but thus far there are no plans for an evacuation. (rmks: Things must REALLY be bad in Syria) USA Africa Partnership Station (West) 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT completes a weeklong visit to Lagos (Nigeria), in support of APS (West) 2012. 25 August CHINA (USA) (Paramilitary) maritime patrol vessel HAIXUN 31 sails from Shanghai for its first visit to the US … expected to arrive in Hawaii on 04 Sep for five days to work with the USCG on a series of maritime cooperation exercises. (rmks: Can anybody in the government tell me WHY we are allowing this to happen) 26 August NIGERIA Nigeria's navy had freed 28 local oil workers who were being held hostage by a “criminal gang” (rmks: May well have been MEND rebels) in the oil-producing Niger Delta region. SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) Sri Lanka's navy has arrested 98 boat people in two fishing vessels bound for Australia, taking the total arrested or rescued to 478 in August alone. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (29 Aug) Zelenodolsk (Gorkiy) shipyard on 29 Aug will start construction of fourth (of five) Project 21631 missile boat (larger 75-m variant of BUYAN class corvette) … tentatively named RFS ZELENIY DOL (rmks: Keel-laying ceremony on 80th anniversary of city of Zelenodolsk).

From Naval Open-Source Intelligence This add to the HUCE DB should make IOPG scenarios a little more interesting! BrahMos has a range of up to 290nm, a mach 2.8 cruising speed that carries a 660lb warhead into its target. That will definitely leave a mark on whatever it hits!

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. Enjoy! Tis another Friday. AS the summer wanes, I hope everyone enjoys the sunshine in your neck of the woods. The PacNorWset is returning to SOP weather a little too soon Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 22 August USA The chief of naval operations has established the “LCS Council” … made up of four vice admirals … to oversee continued fleet testing and introduction of littoral combat ship (LCS) sea frames, mission modules, and mission packages. (rmks: … What was that post about the LCS Star Chamber? Personally, I don't think the problems will be fixed, the pig is just going to have a new coat of make-up applied) 23 August BLACKSEAFOR Last at-sea phase for BlackSeaForce completed off Novorossiysk (Russia) with exercise “Doverye 2012” … included units of Russian Black Sea Fleet (RFS KASIMOV, VIZE ADMIRAL ZAKHARIN, GS-402) … practiced search and rescue, interception and detention of a ship with terrorists on board. CHINA +++ Training ship ZHENGHE arrives at Cairns (Australia) for a three-day-long in-port rest and replenishment. (rmks: What's with all the ChiCom round-the-worlds? How many of you think they are succeeding at making a statement about their capabilities??) +++ Upon completion of visits to Iceland, ice breaker XUELONG has commenced home transit, attempting a “shortcut” via the North Pole, exploring a “future Central Arctic Shipping Route” … first non-Russian ice breaker to sail this route. IRAN (related) US SecDef Panetta: “The current two-carrier presence in the Gulf region is not set to end at any particular time … clearly, two carriers ... [are] important to us in order to have the ability to confront any contingency." (rmks: Beltway-speak for there are still plans for dealing with Iran) NETHERLANDS The fourth and final HOLLAND class patrol ship, HNLMS GRONINGEN, arrives at the Den Helder naval base. RUSSIA +++ Zvezdochka has completed a maintenance period for aircraft carrier ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV and returned the ship to the Northern Fleet “combat ready.” +++ Baltic Fleet frigates RFS NEUSTRASHIMIY and YAROSLAV MUDRIY, together with Black Sea Fleet tanker RFS IVAN BUBNOV, have begun “naval presence operations” in the Mediterranean. (rmks: Although a shadow of it's former self, the Russkie bear hasn't gone away) 24 August RUSSIA Northern Fleet destroyer RFS VIZE ADMIRAL KULAKOV to arrive at Portsmouth (UK) for a scheduled 4-day visit. (rmks: Return transit from anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa and exercises in the Mediterranean. Who wants to party with the Bear in Portsmouth?) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS EGYPT – GREECE (26 Aug) Egyptian and Greek navies to conduct combined exercise “Alexandria 2012” … 26 Aug – 01 Sep in EastMed and off Alexandria (Egypt) … 26/27 Aug in-port phase Alexandria, 28-31 Aug at sea “dealing with asymmetric threats and to conduct naval operations in multi-threat environment” , 01 Sep PXD … Egypt to participate with frigates TOUSHKA and RASHEED and fast missile boats HETTEIN and BADR … Greek navy to deploy frigate HN PSARA and submarine HN PROTEUS. (rmks: It should be labeled an Egyptian Navy exercise, with Greek participation. With the Greek economy in the bilges, they ain't likely going to do much – the don't have the money for it) TURKEY (29 Aug) Anadolu Shipyard is set to deliver C-158, the final of eight new landing ships (LCT), on 29 Aug, completing the program on time. (rmks: Somebody needs to speak with the Turks. There's a lot the bigwigs form western yards could learn about keeping a project on time and within budget. I think I know what it is ... there ain't very many unions in Turkey)

Although I agree with the sentiment of the billboard, I think the guy who bought the ad space approached the problem from an inappropriate tack. I believe this took place in Texas ... right? Any who, I don't think the SEALs per say had anything to do with this. I'm glad the guy can exercise his 1st amendment right of free speech. Sadly, the connotations (President Obama nees to be 'removed' by the American people) is unsettling.

One thing's for sure ... it fodder for good scenario design!

File Name: BRICS #4: Kara-Kai Shakti File Submitter: gemerson File Submitted: 23 Aug 2012 File Category: IOPG DB Used: HCDB-120522 Authors: Greg Emerson Battleset-IOPG: .scp - EC2003 - EC2003 BRICS Campaign - Scenario #4: Kara-Kai Shakti A Harpoon Commanders Edition (HCE) scenario for the Indian Ocean 2003 Battleset. This scenario is designed for play by the RED side. Scenesetter: (Taken from “The BRICS Conflict – A Brief History of the Third World War (2016 to 2018)”) A little known fact of the year 2012, was the cause of the Indian blackout that parlyzed the nation on 30 and 31 July. The largest power outage in history was caused by the inadvertant release of a computer virus into India's fragile electrical infrastructure. The digital vector was designed to attack command and control (C2) systems. When a technician was running a series of operational tests in a commuter model, he accidentally released it onto the country's power grid. The cyber warfare agent was part of a secret program to cripple Pakistani C2 systems in the event of war. This fact wasn't learned until years later, when surviving Indian records from the BRICS War were examined. As the global economy began its meltdown in 2012 - 2013, India started making plans to solidify its position on the Asian Sub-Continent. After all, thought the leaders in New Delhi - it is the 'Indian Ocean.' After getting the approval of other BRICS members, India began cultivating relationships with several regional minor entities. One paid-off splendidly, while two others produced serious blow-back. In 2014, Indian Intelligence succeeded in initiating a coup that overthrew the government of President Zillur Rahman. This established a puppet government, which formed a buffer on India's eastern border. India and the new 'President' established the United Indian Alliance (UIA), for the good of all peoples in the greater Indian Ocean region. At the same time, India attempted to influence and depose the governments of both Sri Lanka and Myanmar. New Delhi thought - if it worked once, surely it would again! Sadly, both scandals broke onto the world stage almost simultaneously and they left an embarassing mark. For several years Sri Lanka had been a very favorable trade partner with India. The Sri Lankan Navy-Coast Guard had benefited from newer OPVs and other patrol vessels, provided by Indian shipyards. This changed in early 2014, when it was leaked India was unduly influencing these sales through bribes to the Minister of Defence and the senior staff of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. It seemed the sale of these new naval vessels were being subsidized by more than just 'offsets' to help the Sri Lankan economy. As a result, several days of riots occurred in the streets of Columbo. The people were livid that while they were starving, those in control were being bought-off by India. Sporadic protests reached thier boiling-point in the Spring of 2016, when an Indian Navy frigate was attacked by Sri Lankan nationalists. The INS Udaygiri a nilgiri class frigate visited Columbo, carrying dignitaries hoping to negotiating the restart of naval shipbuilding contracts. As the ship was pulling into port, it was rammed by a harbor tug that had been commandeered by nationalists and loaded with explosives. The blast ruptured the hull at the waterline and caused the ship to sink quickly. Many of the crew had been manning the rails and a majority of diplomats were also topside. The blast and flying shrapnel decimated them. Indian media treated the event like their version of the Hindenburg disaster. Almost simulatanously, bombs exploded at each of India major shipyards. The message was quite clear - India was not welcome in Sri Lanka. The situation with Myanmar was somewhat different. India had been secretly supplying anti-government forces with a variety of arms and equipment. In late 2014, a missionary relief flight was shot down by a SA-24/Grinch, fired by anti-government forces. Several rebels were captured by government forces under UN supervision. Evidence released to the world press indicated the missile came from Indian sources. The Myanmar Junta shouted to the cameras of the world media that india was funding an effort to topple the 'ligitiamte' governmental authority. The Burmese people became drunk on xenophobia and more anti-Indian protests paralyzed the region for days. (Side note: A postwar forensic investigation of recovered data showed the leaked information were clever forgeries, produced as part of a espionage campaign by Pakistan, to embarass India in the eyes of the world) The leaders of India were furious at the situation they found themselves in. They pushed for quick and decisive action at several meetings of the BRICS Central Committee, but were rebuffed each time and were asked to be patience. Great opportunity must be siezed at just the right time China's leader stated. Finally in late 2015, the BRICS Executives met secretly in Rio de Janero as the global economic situation was worsening. Plans were finalized to craft the world in an image of their choosing. Brazil would become the leader of a new Pan Latin American Republic (patterned loosely on the EU model, but led by puppets under the control of the large South American nation), Russia would gain control of the emerging Arctic region, China would sieze control of the vast western Pacific, South Africa would develop the African sub-continent and work to reform and develop the starving Saharan region. India besides teaming with South Africa to develop MENA (Middle East - North Africa) would be the gatekeeper of the world's oil supply in the Arabian Gulf region. The Indian Prime Minister, Nur Ghandi (only distantly related to the famous family, yet extremely capable of capitalizing off it) was pleased. After all she thought - it was the 'Indian Ocean.' It was agreed that when Venezeula (after being supplied and prompted by Brazil and Russia) attacked neighboring Columbia, India was to initiate a cyber attack on Pakistan and then conduct a follow-up air and ground campaign. Meanwhile at the same time, seizing Sri Lanka and the Bay of Bengal (inluding Myanmar), thus establishing its dominance over those who had embarassed it. Click here to download this file

Amen and amen. I like to say, all of my best work is stuff I can't talk about for seventy-years or the time of my death - whichever comes first!

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. Enjoy! Another light naval news day. Man, that makes two in a row. Fear not, I don't think peace is going to break-out anytime soon. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 17 August CHINA Former 11th anti-piracy task group (QINGDAO, YANTAI, WEISHAN HU) has completed visit to Israel and commenced home transit. (rmks: I guess I was wrong. There were no big media stories in the ChiCom press smearing Israel) 22 August AUSTRALIA Patrol boat HMAS BATHURST intercepts a boat carrying 70 asylum seekers off Christmas Island; patrol boat BUNDABERG another boat with 37 people near Ashmore Island. CANADA Letter of Intent starts procurement process for up to 24 new Canadian Coast Guard helicopters over the next five-years. INDIA +++ A new coastal surveillance network will be operational by mid-2013 +++ Launch of indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS VIKRANT has been postponed until 2013, owing to “delays in receiving various parts and equipment” … commissioning now expected by 2018. (rmks: I'll raise you two and estimate 2020 – a nice round number) IRAN (related) Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei allegedly has ordered the Revolutionary Guards to intensify its campaign (of terror attacks) against the West and its allies, in retaliation for supporting the overthrow of President Bashar al-Asad in Syria. (rmks: One whack-job, sticking-up for another wack-job. Don'tcha just love the 'religion of peace') RUSSIA (SYRIA) Russian navy denies media reports that some 80 staff based at Tartus (Syria) have been evacuated on board current Tartus station ship RFS AMUR PM-138 and that workshops are set to be handed over to Syria … “all calm at Tartus, no need to evacuate … plan to routinely replace repair ship AMUR PM-138 with another Black Sea Fleet ship in September.” (rmks: If this is 'all calm' I don't want to see what it looks like when the crap really hits the fan) USA Repair costs to fire-damaged submarine USS MIAMI now given as US$450M (up from the previous $400 million). UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS USA (27 Aug) Aircraft carrier USS JOHN C STENNIS to sail from home port Bremerton on 27 Aug … for a Mid-East deployment (rmks: originally planned for December but advanced by four months) … initially proceed to San Diego for embarking of air group and joining up with other ships of her Carrier Strike Group. (rmks: Me thinks something is afoot) PIRACY (Oct) Anti-Piracy Forces: New Danish navy frigate HDMS IVER HUITFELDT is scheduled for an anti-piracy deployment, starting in Oct this year until April 2013. (rmks: Causing the cockroaches (excuse me, the heavily-armed Somali coastal peoples) to quake with fear – NOT!)

Although I love the 9-mil, nothing beats the .45 for stopping power!

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. Enjoy! Light naval news day. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 20 August USA USS BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group arrives at Okinawa (Japan) … embarking marines of 31st MEU (rmks: Likely conducting fall deployment to 7th Fleet area) 21 August INDIA Deliberations that India’s planned second indigenous aircraft carrier won’t have a ski-jump but will be a 65,000-ton ship with flat top and steam catapult. (rmks: And if pigs had wings they'd fly. I'll believe it when I see it steaming out of Cochin) IRAN (related) The South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu will stop allowing ships owned by Iran to operate under its flag after US lawmakers accused the country of running afoul of US sanctions. (rmks: The mouse who roared! I doubt it will make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things, but bad breath is better than no breath at all) RUSSIA Overhaul of Black Sea Fleet submarine RFS ALROSA (KILO-mod) completed … begins return transit from Kronshtadt (Baltic Sea) to Sevastopol, scheduled to arrive back home by mid-September. SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) The Sri Lanka navy intercepted another boat loaded 69 persons illegally bound for Australia off the island’s west coast. 22 August LATVIA Third SWATH A&R SKRUNDA class patrol boat LVNS VIESITE to be delivered/commissioned during ceremony at Riga Shipyard. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS DENMARK – GERMANY (multinational) (31 Aug) Danish-German multinational invitational exercise “Northern Coasts / Danex 2012” … Baltic Approaches and Baltic from 31 Aug – 12 Sep … from 31 Aug in-port phase Frederikshavn (Denmark), from 03 Sep serialized exercises at sea, from 09 Sep scenario phase at sea, 12 Sep hot wash-up … about 50 warships from 20 countries to participate. (rmks: Sounds like the Baltic version of RIMPAC)

Tony, stop being a show-off!

Works fines, lasts a long time. Thanks, Brad!

Hi Gang, How do I correct this screen issue in Win 7? HUCE is installed on my Laptop and the screen resolution is set at 1366 x 768. What should the optimum res be for running HUCE in Win 7?

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. Enjoy! The week is fast underway. Some interesting navy news items today. Hope this tidbits are useful for devising a variety of scenarios for our fav naval warfare sim! Summary to follow ... 17 August UNITED KINGDOM After a several-week break in South Africa, TYPE 45 destroyer HMS DAUNTLESS has returned to the Falklands, continuing her regular South Atlantic Patrol. (rmks: Fun's over now it back to work, being a bone-in-the-throat to the Argentines) USA Keel laying ceremony for Oceanographic Research vessels AGOR 27 and AGOR 28 … at Dakota Creek Industries shipyard in Anacortes (Wash.) … will replace AGOR-14 USNS MELVILLE and AGOR-15 USNS KNORR. 19 August PIRACY General: Swiss shipping operators have confirmed that they have been employing armed security personnel to guard their vessels from pirate attacks off Somalia. (rmks: Private exterminators seem to be the best alternative, when dealing with six-legged cockroach infestations. Let's see what the two-legged variety thinks of them) 20 August LITHUANIA (multinational) Trilateral (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) “Baltron” naval task group activated … ENS ADMIRAL COWAN (EST), LVNS VIRSAITIS (LVA), LKL SUDUVIS, KURSIS, SKALVIS (LIT) ... until 29 Aug conduct mine clearing operations off Lithuania … afterwards (01-12 Sep) join multinational exercise "Danex / Northern coast-2012." RUSSIA Med-Deployment: Three Northern Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ships have passed the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic … conducted air defense exercise … while sailing north (eventually heading for home) to perform a number of more “northern latitude” exercises. SOUTH KOREA – USA South Korean and US forces start annual joint exercise “Ulchi Freedom Guardian” … until 31 Aug … 56,000 South Korean and more than 30,000 US troops … yet, does not involve field training and is largely a computer-simulated exercise, with troops staying at their normal bases. Probably related: US 7th Fleet flag ship BLUE RIDGE completes three-day port visit to Busan (South Korea). (rmks: It will be interesting to see if they actually light the candle on this one, what with the Nort h saber-rattling again) SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) At least 83 people bound to Australia were arrested by the Sri Lanka navy together with two trawlers off Trincomalee, shortly after sailing. UKRAINE – RUSSIA Ukraine and Russia renewed agreement on the rent of the Nitka facilities (Crimea, Ukraine) for training of Russian carrier pilots … some financial amendments … new contract includes “possibility of sharing with third parties” (rmks:Such as India or even China. The Russkies have to protect their investment with these trading partners) … Nitka provides naval aviation training facilities such as a launch ramp similar in design to the I-V's and C-V's, an aerofinisher, a trampoline, a catapult launching device, a glide-path localizer, a marker beacon, and an optical landing system … previous rent amounted to annually US$ 700,000. UNITED KINGDOM +++ Internal Royal Navy documents (which were leaked) reportedly warn of a lack of personnel that may leave attack submarines and strategic missile submarines “stranded in port” … predicted 15 per cent shortfall in engineers by 2015. (rmks: Ouch! Ain't that a kick below the belt) +++ The MoD has revealed the basic design of future TYPE 26 Global Combat Ship … 5,400 tons, 148m, multi-mission ship … current (tentative) plan is to build 13 ships, entering service after 2020. (rmks: See the existing thread here) USA +++ USCG coastal buoy tender USCG HENRY BLAKE completed an 11-day round trip from Puget Sound to Juneau (Alaska) running on alternative fuel … 50-50 blend of petroleum F-76 and hydroprocessed renewable diesel fuel derived from algal oil … testing potential renewable fuel sources. (rmks: All hail to the greenies! It amazes me that people fail to realize it used more energy to produce that paltry amount of 'green' fuel than it takes to distil oil into normal marine diesel. But, by golly, we're running on alternative fuel) +++ Aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to continue its 2012 patrol … after a four-week break. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship USNS MERCY arrives at Guam … nearing completion of its five-month deployment … spend four days in Guam, then head to Hawaii before reaching homeport of San Diego in mid-September. +++ Military Sealift Command has exercised the first of three six months options for the ongoing charter of the Austal high speed vessel WESTPAC EXPRESS … part of a 24 month contract that Austal was awarded in Dec 2011. 21 August BLACKSEAFOR Multinational Black Sea task force BlackSeaFor arrives at Novorossiysk (Russia) for scheduled port visit until 24 Aug. (rmks: I'd take Sevastopol any day over Novo) CANADA Frigate HMCS REGINA arrives in the Middle East region … initially port visit to Kochi (India), then proceed to the Arabian Sea to replace sister ship HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN after an eight-month deployment … will join CTF-150 in regional anti-terror operations.

Thanks for the research, Broncepulido!

That one is right up there with a certain previous Vice President's statement about conceiving the Internet and being the inspiration for Love Story. Let get real - the Dems will do ANYTHING to get President Obama's messianic luster back. Sadly, the poor track record of his administration's failures speak louder than of the words of him and his lapdogs.

Your right. I stand corrected!

From the video clip on the overhead shot, I would have expected to see a greater number of VLS cell - especially for a DD!