Enjoy ...

 

02 January

 

AUSTRALIA

Two more suspected asylum seeker boats carrying a total of 54 people have been intercepted by Australian navy patrol boats off Australia’s north-western coast.

 

03 January

CHINA

Rumours that a total of 24 JIANGKAI-II class frigates may be built eventually.

 

IRAN

+++ The Iranian Navy wrapped up ten-day exercise “Velayat 90” with naval

+++ parades displaying different types of warships, submarines, hovercraft, helicopter and aircraft Iranian Army chief: wargames “proved that Iran is powerful enough to exercise full control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz” … the US Navy has moved aircraft carrier JOHN C STENNIS out of the Gulf “just because of the Iranian navy’s exercise” … will “take action should the ship return into the Gulf”.

(rmks: beware such statements are mainly meant for the Iranian people)

 

RUSSIA

Images published by a Russian blogger seem to suggest that the recent fire on DELTA-IV class submarine YEKATERINBURG did not (much) affect the anechoic rubber coating but actually burnt within the submarine … photo shows large hole cut into the hull’s port front section before the fire started.

(rmks: difficult to verify whether the hole has indeed been cut into the YEKATERINBURG – or another submarine. If true, this would also contradict statements that she has been at the shipyard for just small repairs).

Hope everyone had a good weekend and an enjoyable MLK, Jr. Day. We have snow in the PacNorWest. Here is the NNSotD for 14 - 17 January. Enjoy!

 

FWFS,

 

Greg

 

Summaries to follow ...

 

06 January

 

IRAN - USA

In two separate incidents, armed Iranian speedboats briefly chased after US ships . first incident when dock landing ship NEW ORLEANS (part of the MAKIN ISLAND Amphibious ready Group) entered the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz and was approached to 500 yards by three Iranian boats. Second incident involved US Coast Guard cutter ADAK operating in the northern Persian Gulf off Kuwait . US Navy rates incidents as "harassment", although the Iranians did not appear to be provoking a fight. Source: NIPmail.

 

10 January

 

USA

VT Halter Marine delivers new missile range instrumentation ship T-AGM 25 HOWARD O. LORENZEN . replacement for T-AGM 23 OBSERVATION ISLAND. Source: NIPmail.

 

12 January

 

DENMARK

Final "flag lowering" for HAVKATTEN, the last active boat of the FLYVEFISKEN class (rmks: The US could learn a lot from the Danes attempt at an LCS). Had been used last year in MCM role, but this role will be taken up by new MCM drones. Source: NIPmail

 

PIRACY (Source: IMO Update)

+++ Somalia Basin: Reacting to the 12 Jan attack on a merchant ship southeast of Salalah (Oman), British Royal Navy supply ship FORT VICTORIA and US destroyer CARNEY (both NATO) intercept a suspected pirate mother ship (dhow) . when warning shots fired from Lynx helicopter went unheeded, boarding teams with speedboats employed to forcefully stop the dhow . search uncovered cache of weapons . 13 suspected pirates detained on board FORT VICTORIA.

(rmks: probably will have to be released soon due to lack of evidence for a specific crime)

+++ Somalia: Somali pirates release chemical tanker FAIRCHEM BOGEY, hijacked in Aug 2010 on the roadstead of Salalah, Oman. Reportedly up to US$ 8 million paid as ransom. Anti-Piracy Forces: Danish RAdm Aage Buur Jensen takes over command of multinational anti-piracy task force CTF-151 … relieves Pakistani RAdm Kaleem Shaukat … will operate embarked on US Navy destroyer HALSEY.

 

13 January

 

MALAYSIA

A fire broke out onboard Malaysian Navy survey vessel MUTIARA while dry-docked for repairs at the Malaysian Marine Heavy Engineering shipyard .

probably due to negligent welding . ship reportedly suffered "extensive damage" but no casualty reported. Source: Naval Today (http://navaltoday.com/2012/01/13/royal-malaysian-navys-survey-vessel-catches-fire/)

 

SYRIA

Russian owned cargo vessel CHARIOT went to Syria (Tartus) after all. Had been temporarily detained in Cyprus suspected of carrying up to 60 t of ammunition destined for Syria but allowed to sail on after "promise" not to proceed to Syria. Ship owner justifies: load manifest just stated "dangerous" goods but did not specify ammunitions, so there was no reason for not proceeding to Syria. (rmks: there is no official arms embargo against Syria by which the Russians have to abide). Source: NIPmail

 

USA

The ABRAHAM LINCOLN Carrier Strike Group has passed the Malakka Strait and reached the Andaman Sea . enroute the Arabian Sea. Source: NIPmail

 

 

14 January

 

FRANCE

Three months ahead of the original schedule, STX delivers third MISTRAL class helicopter carrier DIXMUDE to the French military’s Direction Générale de l'Armement (DGA). Source: NIPmail.

 

ISRAEL - USA

Bilateral (largest ever) missile defence exercise "Austere Challenge 12", originally scheduled this spring, reportedly pushed back to the end of 2012 because of "budgetary concerns". Some local media speculate on political rift over taking action on Iran. (rmks US may cancel participation). Source: NIPmail

 

 

RUSSIA

Ships of the KUZNETSOV carrier task force continue on westerly course in the Mediterranean . tactical training incl. flight operations with 13 sorties Su-33 Flanker . the ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV afterwards conducts replenishment at sea. Source: Naval Today (http://navaltoday.com/2012/01/17/russian-navys-cg-continues-training-activities-in-mediterranean-sea/)

 

USA

Christening ceremony for LCS-4 CORONADO at the Austal facility in Mobile, Alabama. (rmks may be the wrong picture - the bow looks a little too dinged-up for a new ship). Source: Naval Today (http://navaltoday.com/2012/01/17/austal-shipyard-christens-uss-coronado/)

 

USA

US Media alleging that due to budget restrictions the US Navy will have to make do with only ten aircraft carriers. Source: Washington Post

 

15 January

 

IRAN

Defense Minister BGen Ahmad Vahidi announces plans to unveil a homemade maritime patrol aircraft within the next few weeks … probably during revolution anniversary ceremonies (01-10 Feb) … equipped with optical and radar subsystems, capable of operating for long distances. (rmks they may be looking for a domestic replacement of the aging P-3 fleet). Source: NIPmail.

 

 

16 January

 

UNITED KINGDOM

"Telegraph" reports on alleged critical design flaw with F-35C ... tail hook too close to wheels ... eight successive landing simulations reportedly failed. (rmks: Gloom, dispair and agony on me. Deep dark depression excessive misery. If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all!) Source: UK Telegraph

 

PIRACY (source: IMO Update)

+++ Spain: Spanish judicial authorities have decided to prosecute six Somali suspected pirates apprehended after (mistakenly) attacking Spanish supply ship PATINO (EU NavFor) on 12 Jan off Mogadishu.

+++ Arabian Sea: Pirates in one skiff attack merchant vessel … some 250nm south east of Salalah, Oman … ship manages to escape (no details).

 

RUSSIA

DepPM Rogosin: repairs to fire-damaged submarine YEKATERINBURG will also be used to modernize the DELTA-IV class boat … totals cost up to US$ 30 million … work to start in May in Severodvinsk (rmks: prob. at Zvezdochka) … return to service only in summer 2014. (rmks: “modernization” is a nice twist to cover up the true damage. YEKATERINBURG had been modernized / upgraded already, at that even for carrying the most modern Lijner SLBM). Source: NIPmail

 

RUSSIA

KRIVAK class frigate LADNIY returns to home port Sevastopol, ending her deployment to the Mediterranean … had been part of the ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV carrier task force which meanwhile is operating in the Central Mediterranean. Source: NIPmail.

 

SPAIN

The Spanish navy has decided life-time extension and upgrade for its ship-borne helicopters Agusta Bell 212ASW … i.a. new avionics, communication and navigation systems. Source: NIPmail.

 

SYRIA

In an incident which already happened in late December, a Syrian navy patrol harassed German Navy intelligence collector ALSTER, operating in international waters off the Syrian coast … during darkness several times intentionally “crossed its course in very close proximity”. Source: NIPmail.

 

UNITED KINGDOM

The MoD reportedly signed off plans for streamlining the command organization of the armed forces’ services … with a number of (one-star) flag rank positions to be made redundant. Source: NIPmail

 

UNITED KINGDOM

Royal Marines have joined Metropolitan Police on the Thames in London for a week-long security exercise ahead of the 2012 Olympics. Source: NIPmail

 

USA

Huntington Ingalls is trying to internationally market “Patrol Frigate 4921”, based on the design of US Coast Guard’s LEGEND class National Security Cutters. No prospective customers yet. (rmks: At the price they are likely to ask, they probably will get few takers - maybe the Saudis or another GCC navy). Source: NIPmail.

 

VIETNAM

The Vietnamese navy commissions domestically made 54-m patrol vessel HQ 272 in to service … first domestically built warship … built with Russian assistance at Hong Ha Shipbuilding Company (Hai Phong) … based on Russian SVETLYAK design. (rmks: Interesting that Vietnam is beginning to roll their own, when it comes to patrol vessels). Source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/politics/1...st-warship.html

 

17 January

 

INDIA

TALWAR (Batch II) class frigate TEG, built by Russian Yantar (Kaliningrad), begins final round of sea trials in the Eastern Baltic … Indian crew to embark this month for training … schedule on track for delivery in April. Source: NIPmail.

 

PIRACY (source: IMO Update)

+++ Gulf of Aden: Several merchant ships report suspicious skiffs in an area off Aden.

+++ Arabian Sea: Pirates in one skiff attempted attack on merchant ship some 180nm northeast of Socotra

 

UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS

 

RUSSIA (Sep)

Strategic exercise „Caucasus 2012“ to be held in South Russia/Caspian Sea incl. Caucasus states Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Armenia … taking account of “ current security political developments” … exceed previous exercises in both scale and scope ... prepare Russian forces for possible conflict “in the Caspian Sea region” (USA - Iran). Source: NIPmail.

 

USA (March)

Final deployment for aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE scheduled to begin in March . will head for the 5th Fleet area of operations. Source: NIPmail.

Did you forget your existing (pinned) thread?