September 18, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Long weekend preparing for some upcoming job interviews. Lot's of interesting stuff happening, which could be the premise for some very interesting scenarios. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 11 September CANADA Frigate HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN returns to home port Halifax, ending a 9-month deployment to the Middleeast, which temporarily included anti-piracy operations off Somalia. DENMARK (multinational) Off Frederikshavn, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian special ships begin a two-day combined pollution exercise, practice dealing with a major oil spill. 12 September CHINA The North China Sea Fleet in early September conducted major “joint confrontation training,” which included surface ships, submarines, aircraft and “electronic confrontation troops”. ISRAEL Defense minister Barak reportedly mulled buying a Greek isle for Israeli navy training … later decided not to pursue the project … doubts about its “economic viability.” (rmks: With Israel and the Turks on the outs, they would like have raised a royal fuss of the deal) PHLIPPINES President Benigno Aquino III has officially named the maritime areas on the western side of the Philippines, where the (disputed with China) Scarborough Shoal and Kalayaan Islands are, as the "West Philippine Sea." (rmks: Way to go! That'll show those dastardly ChiComs) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka The Keysrone Kops): Romanian frigate ROS REGELE FERDINAND sails from Constanta for the Horn of Africa … join EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta” … first time for a Romanian navy ship to participate in anti-piracy operations, also first time to join an international operation with a Puma helicopter embarked … return to Constanta on 14 Dec. (rmks: They add another member to the cast) RUSSIA +++ In line with the “maritime doctrine that stipulates for resuming Russian naval vessels regular presence in strategically important areas of the World Oceans”, Northern Fleet missile cruiser RFS PETR VELIKIY has sailed for a combat training mission to the Kara Sea and into the entrance to the Arctic Northern Sea Route. +++ Two Tu-95 Bear-H strategic bombers carried out a 17-hour routine patrol flight over the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea and the Norwegian Sea. (rmks: Unlike other claimants, Russia appears to mean business concerning its claims in the Arctic region) UNITED KINGDOM +++ Survey ship HMS ENTERPRISE has sailed from Falmouth for a nine-month Middleeast deployment. +++ Ahead of upcoming large-scale Middleeast region “International Mine Counter Measures Exercise” (IMCMEX 12), defence minister Hammond has visited the UK Maritime Component Command (UKMCC) at Bahrain. +++ Helicopter carrier HMS OCEAN sails from London, where she had been deployed since July to provide Olympics/Paralympics security … now “continue her tasks” … upcoming visit to the Netherlands. (rmks: back in April, there were reports of a planned major Mediterranean / Middle East deployment “after the Olympics.” I guess we'll have to wait and see if it happens) USA (LIBYA) In reaction to the attacks on the Benghazi consulate and the killing of the US ambassador to Libya, the US Navy is deploying destroyers USS LABOON and McFAUL off Liyba … no specific mission yet. 13 September BRAZIL The Brazilian navy has ordered Penguin anti-ship missiles from Norwegian Kongsberg … will be deployed on the new (S-70B Seahawk) maritime helicopters. (rmks: This will likely be a dramatic technologic leap for the South American country. Also it looks like there will be some additional updates the the good ol' Harpoon database) CHINA Former 11th anti-piracy task group with destroyer QINGDAO, frigate YANTAI and supply ship WEISHAN HU returns home, ending a 7-month deployment to the Horn of Africa with subsequent visits to the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. (rmks: They have collected enough intel on the other members of the cast, now it's time to go home and process it) INDIA French Couach has delivered the final three of a batch of 15 Type 1300 Fast Interceptor Craft to the Indian navy. RUSSIA Plans for comprehensive renewal of auxiliary fleet … five ships to be bought this year, another 96 to be acquired by 2020 … trend towards multi-purpose ships which fulfill a variety of tasks, from replenishing fuel, stores and ammunition up to rescue and salvage. (rmks: The first news release is always the vodka version. Once they sober-up, we should see some realistic numbers) SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) The Sri Lanka navy intercepted another trawler attempting to sail for Australia, this time with 86 asylum seekers on board. (rmks: I keep wondering why Australia? I'll a LONG ways away. Anyone have any guesses, as to the answer?) TURKEY RMK Marine shipyard launches SG-704 YASAM, the 4th Turkish coast guard DOST class search & rescue ship. (rmks: Another example of efficiency in naval shipbuilding) USA (multinational) Update upcoming exercise IMCMEX 12: Netherlands navy deploying two teams of mine clearance divers as well as Remus UUV. UNITED KINGDOM The three fishery protection ships HMS TYNE, SEVERN and MERSEY have been bought outright by the Royal Navy after nearly a decade on loan to the Fleet. 14 September CHINA – JAPAN Now up to six paramilitary Chinese Marine Surveillance (CMS) ships reported at/near disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands. (rmks: Expect Japanese coast guard, possibly even navy, to respond in kind and enhance presence) USA +++ Adm. William E. Gortney will relieve Adm. John C. Harvey as Commander US Fleet Forces Command … in a ceremony in Norfolk on board aircraft carrier USS HARRY S. TRUMAN. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY is set to return to San Diego, ending this year’s humanitarian mission to the Pacific region. 15 September CHINA Aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG being decorated with flags, suggesting commissioning imminent. (rmks: Interesting, in that it hasn't even launched it's first aircraft) INDIA Sail training ship INS SUDARSHINI sets sail on a historic 6-month voyage … to celebrate India’s two-decade-long partnership with ASEAN countries. INDONESIA Following the construction of three Type 209 class submarines ordered from South Korea, with the third to be built by domestic PT PAL, the government expects to place additional orders for submarines to be built by PT PAL … defense minister sees a requirement for a total of “about ten boats.” (rmks: That could make things VERY interesting in the region) PHILIPPINES Coast guard chief, RAdm Isorena: 15 ships not enough to patrol the seas covered by the 54 PCG stations or outposts across the country … need at least 30 more ships and patrol craft. USA +++ Navy shipbuilding and conversion funding would be cut by $2.14 billion in FY 2013 under so-called "sequestration" (automatic spending cuts over a 10-year period, mandated by the 2011 legislative deal to raise the federal debt ceiling). +++ Joint High Speed Vessel USS CHOCTAW COUNTY (JHSV-2) christened during a ceremony in Mobile, Ala. 16 September AUSTRALIA Two more asylum seekers boats have arrived off Australia, carrying a total of 77 people. Australia has begun transferring asylum seekers to the Pacific island state of Nauru for processing … hoping that the prospect of ending up far away from Australia proper will deter some people from their voyages. (rmks: Question is, how would they know this; the organizers certainly won’t tell them). PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka The Keystone Kops): India is readying an initial 100-man team of commando soldiers to protect its merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden region … first time armed personnel will be deployed aboard cargo ships. (the pirates quake in fear ... NOT!) IRAN (related) IRGC commander, Gen Mohammad Ali Jafari: Strait of Hormuz will be legitimate target in case Iran is being attacked. (rmks: Me thinks Iran upping the ante?) JAPAN Training squadron now complete at Colombo (Sri Lanka). Earlier (14 Sep) arrived JDS KASHIMA joined by JDS SHIMAYUKI and MATSUYUKI for port visit until 19 Sep and subsequent short exercise with the Sri Lanka navy. RUSSIA Strategic exercise "Kavkaz (Caucasus) 2012“ kicked off in South Russia/Caspian Sea incl. Caucasus states Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Armenia … until 23 Sep … basically joint command and staff exercise, with 8.000 soldiers (incl. ten ships from Black Sea Fleet and Caspian Sea Flotilla) participating in the field … taking account of “ current security political developments” … exceed previous exercises in both scale and scope ... prepare Russian forces for possible (insert: USA - Iran) conflict “in the Caspian Sea region.” SOUTH KOREA Destroyer ROKS CHUNMUGON YI SUN SHIN and frigate DAE CHON arrive at Vladivostok (Russia) for a scheduled three day visit. SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) Offshore patrol vessel SAMADURA rescues 52 asylum seekers from a trawler headed for Australia … after engine failed had been drifting on open ocean for a number of weeks. TURKEY Chief of staff at the Turkish naval staff, VAdm Veysel Kösele, reportedly arrested as part of a “military espionage” probe. (rmks: Anyone want to guess on who's payroll he was? My bet is the US or Israel. At least that's what the charges will likely state, when he was really working for China or another rival power) USA +++ (Multinational) USCENTCOM-hosted International Mine Counter Measures Exercise (IMCMEX 12) kicks off in MidEast … until 27 Sep … 20 (plus) nations participating, some just with observers, some only to attend a symposium held at Bahrain … media: just 12 ships participating … aims to test abilities of different nations to work together to keep sea lanes open and hunt underwater explosive devices … three distinct exercise areas: one off Bahrain, another in the Gulf of Oman (rmks: well clear of the Strait of Hormuz), and the third near the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait (Southern Red Sea). Participants (as mentioned in open sources thus far) - France: small group of mine clearance divers - Japan: MCM command ship URAGA and 1 mine hunter - Netherlands: 2 teams of mine clearance divers - United Kingdom: 4 Gulf-based mine hunters, CARDIGAN BAY - USA: no specific ships named yet, but expect Gulf-based mine hunters and MCM command ship PONCE to join. +++ In a Taliban attack on Camp Bastion (Afghanistan), which killed two US soldiers and injured nine more, also six USMC AV-8B Harrier fighter bomber aircraft were destroyed, two more seriously damaged. +++ US 4th Fleet hosts multinational exercise UNITAS Atlantic 2012 … incorporates participants from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Dominican Republic, France, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, the UK and the US Navy … staging out of Key West (Florida) PAKISTAN Annual Pakistan navy exercise “Seaspark-12” commenced … in the Northern Arabian Sea … permanent feature of the navy’s operational calendar, to assess the operational readiness … “all operational” ships, submarines, aircraft, marines, special forces to participate. 17 September CHINA – JAPAN Diaoyu/Senkaku: As anti-Japanese protests continue in China for the seventh day, about 1,000 fishing boats reportedly have been mobilized by China to sail to the islands. Japan has stepped up coast guard patrol. (rmks: On both sides thus far, NO regular armed forces / navies involved!) CHINA Official press statement: The East China Sea Fleet has conducted major exercises including live missile firing in the East China Sea …dozens of warships, submarines and aircraft participated. INDIA (RUSSIA) Update INS VIKRAMADITYA: Engine trouble confirmed. Reason for the boilers' failure said to be India refusing to have asbestos (!) for heat insulation, instead the shipyard had to use firebrick, which proved not sufficiently heatproof. Sevmash: “some defects have been detected” with three (not seven) of the eight boilers … three to four months should be enough to rectify it. Indian navy reportedly hopeful for delivery by April 2013. One source: Aircraft carrier will return to the Sevmash shipyard at Severodvinsk on 25 Sep for “complete examination and troubleshooting”. Another source: aviation trials to continue (rmks: Ship engines up to the task, with all the added weight? I think not) and be completed by mid-October. IRAN (related) Ahead of a new round of (unofficial) talks in Istanbul, Iran accuses the IAEA of attempting to sabotage its nuclear program … “(IAEA) infiltrated by terrorists and saboteurs”. (rmks: interesting viewpoint) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka The Keystone Kops): Chinese (frigate YIYANG) and US (destroyer USS WINSTON S. CHURCHILL) navies conducted a first ever joint anti-piracy drill in the Gulf of Aden. (rmks: And didn't harm a single pirate in the process) RUSSIA Missile cruiser RFS PETR VELIKIY in her Arctic deployment passes the Vilkitsky Strait, heading further east into the Laptev Sea … mission part of “expanded Arctic presence” under new maritime doctrine. SWEDEN Old (decommissioned) NAECKEN class submarine HMS NEPTUN brought to Karlskrona maritime/naval museum. USA The US Navy takes delivery of SAN ANTONIO class dock landing ship USS ANCHORAGE (LPD-23). USA (multinational) Update IMCMEX-12 participants: US Navy: MCM command ship PONCE, six AVENGER class mine hunters, MCM helicopters MH-53. INDIA (RUSSIA) Russian Kommersant reports on a number of “malfunctions detected during trials of aircraft carrier INS VIKRAMADITYA” … seven out of eight boilers not working properly, preventing the ship from reaching speed required for safe flight operations … after “failed sea trials” handover to India, scheduled on 04 Dec this year, might be deferred until Oct 2013. (rmks: Unconfirmed, single source - just repeated by other news agencies - but Kommersant usually rather well informed) UNITED KINGDOM Ice patrol ship HMS PROTECTOR sails from Portsmouth for an eight-month deployment surveying and patrolling in Antarctica. 18 September CHINA Latest photos show aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG very clean and nicely painted, but no longer with flag-decorations. (rmks: My guess, it was just another ChiCom photo op for propaganda purposes) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (Oct) +++ Yantar shipyard “in October” will start construction of 4th of six Project 11356 ADMIRAL GRIGOROVICH class frigates destined for the Black Sea Fleet … no name yet … type ship RFS ADMIRAL GRIGOROVICH to be launched in 2013 … first three ships to enter service by 2015, remainder to follow by 2020. +++ Missile cruiser RFS PETR VELIKIY has passed the Kara Strait, heading into the south-western Kara Sea between Novaya Semlya and Vaigach. SOUTH KOREA (16 Sep) Destroyer ROKS CHUNMUGON YI SUN SHIN and frigate DAE CHON are expected at Vladivostok (Russia) for a scheduled three-day visit. CHINA – JAPAN Six paramilitary China Marine Surveillance vessels have (temporarily ?) left immediate area around disputed with Japan Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands … shortly before, China's foreign ministry had issued a forthright statement claiming the boats were patrolling sovereign territory for “law enforcement”. IRAN (related) Iran is using hired Titan Petrochemicals Group tankers (Panama-flagged) off Labuan (Malaysia) as "mobile storage depot" … several million barrels of crude oil transferred “in night-time operations” from Iranian tankers onto the ships at anchor. (rmks: Don't you just love how the sanctions are working so effectively!) SOUTH AFRICA Domestic KND has been contracted with designing a fast Interceptor Craft … 14-m boat, capable of speeds of 55-knots, in a later version possibly 65+ knots. UNITED KINGDOM Second ASTUTE class submarine, HMS AMBUSH, set to begin sea trials. USA +++ Bollinger Shipyards has delivered third Fast Response Cutter (FRC) USCGS WILLIAM FLORES to the US Coast Guard (already on 15 August) … commissioning scheduled in Nov at Tampa (Florida).
September 19, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Some interesting tidbits in today's naval-related news. Summary to follow: 14 September RUSSIA By presidential decree, Deputy Commander of the Baltic Fleet, VAdm Viktor Kravchuk, officially appointed new Commander Baltic Fleet (succeeding new navy commander Viktor Chirkov) … Baltiysk naval base commander, RAdm Sergej Popov, appointed new Deputy Commander of the Baltic Fleet. 17 September IRAN (related) Separate explosions allegedly targeted power supplies to Iran’s two main uranium enrichment facilities. (rmks: Unconfirmed Iranian press reporting) NETHERLANDS Combined operational sea trials of NH90 naval helicopter and offshore patrol ship HNLMS HOLLAND … up to expectations … helicopter deck-landing at wind force 8, sea state 4. USA The PELELIU Amphibious Ready Group (USS PELELIU, GREEN BAY, RUSHMORE, 15th MEU) departs San Diego for a scheduled regular deployment to the Middle East. (rmks: Likely to relieve the IWO JIMA group deployed since March. Godpseed as you go into harm's way) 18 September CHINA +++ Obvious dress rehearsal for upcoming commissioning ceremony of aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG … again flagged over top, crew dressed up all in white manning the rails. (I swear, the ChiComs even worry something relatively simple like a commissioning ceremony to death) +++ (CHINA – JAPAN) Just hours after two Japanese activists made a brief landing on the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, the Japan Coast Guard reports 11 Chinese patrol ships approaching … not entering Japanese territorial waters but encroaching on the contiguous zone. (rmks: And the soap opera continues) INDIA (RUSSIA) Third TALWAR Batch 2 class frigate, INS TRIKAND, has begun dock trials at Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) IRAN +++ Iranian media report KILO class submarine TAREGH “launched” after overhaul. (rmks: Confusing, as this boat already had been reported re-launched in May; either mix-up of names or to be the Al Jazeera talking head mistanslated, “Return to active fleet.”) +++ Frigate SAHAND, another JAMARAN class (Project MOWJ) “destroyer”, launched at Bandar Abbas. (rmks: Yippeee, another target!) RUSSIA +++ Exercise “Kavkaz-12”: In the Caspian Sea, missile frigate RFS DAGESTAN conducts live anti-ship missile firing … mine sweepers in lead-through exercise … combined exercises of BAYAN class “artillery ship” RFS ASTRAKHAN and river gun boats … security exercise defending port / anchorages against underwater intruders. +++ Each of the MISTRAL helicopter carriers will have air wings consisting of 30 Ka-56 / Ka-29 helicopters. (rmks: Here's an update for the databases) UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 45 destroyer HMS DAUNTLESS probably completed South Atlantic (Falkland) patrol … after visit to Cartagena (Columbia) currently at Key West (Florida, USA), participating in US-hosted multinational exercise UNITAS Atlantic 2012. USA Veteran missile cruiser USS LONG BEACH, the world’s first nuclear-powered warship (decommissioned in 1994) heading for Tacoma Metals scrapyard. (rmks: A sad end to a proud history) 19 September PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka, the Keystone Kops): During a ceremony in Manama (Bahrain), the Turkish navy takes over command of multinational CTF-151 from the South Korean navy … Turkish frigate TCG GEMLIK replaces ROK Navy destroyer ROKS WANG GEONG as the force’s flag ship. (rmks: This amounts to rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic – useless in other words. The cockroaches (excuse me, the pirates) couldn't care less about all this pomp and circumstance) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS USA (01 Dec) After 51 years of service, aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE (CVN 65) will inactivate on 01 Dec, in a ceremony to be held at Norfolk Naval Station. (rmks: See today's Photo of the Day, on the Harpgamer FaceBook Page)
September 20, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Kind of a light navy news day. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 19 September CHINA A number of recent exercises with maritime/naval aims … in early Sep dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN practiced “assaulting an island” with hovercraft … in another drill, an air force aviation regiment (nine “fully armed” fighter bomber aircraft) conducted a “night high-sea penetration” off the southeastern coast, successfully bombing “the enemy at sea.” (rmks: While such exercises are part of routine annual training, their detailed depiction can't be accidental) IRAN Media photos of a briefing given to Ayatollah Khamenei (it could be staged or old) suggest a new major warship or training ship being developed … larger than Project “Mowj” JAMARAN, helicopter capable (hangar), armament includes anti-ship missiles … project name may be “Loghman” with the ship possibly to be named KHALIL FARS. (rmks: It could be propaganda, but Iran has shown that is quite capable of independently developing and building naval systems. If it is true, this is just another indication the sanctions against them are a freaking joke, as they can't build the ship without outside resources) RUSSIA As part of the joint US/Russian Cooperative Threat Reduction program, in a 12-year long project (all remaining?) 78 Russian SS-N-20 SLBM have been scrapped. (rmk: They have all been replaced by newer, more capable missiles) THAILAND The cabinet has approved some €800M, for acquisition of new frigates “within the next five-years”. Rumors speak of German design MEKO, with some politicians said to be pushing for Chinese ships. (rmks: It is likely they will go with the German design, as they got burned by the ChiComs in a previous deal for their Naresuan class frigates) UNITED KINGDOM A report published by the House of Commons Defence Committee, says that the decision to cancel development of the Nimrod MRA4 aircraft has created a "capability gap" in maritime surveillance, leaving the UK dependent on other nations for support. (rmks: Another sign of how the mighty have fallen) USA – BANGLADESH Bilateral Bangladesh phase of annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) underway. USA – CHINA During his visit to China, SecDef Panetta announces the Chinese navy will be invited to join multinational exercise RIMPAC 2014. (rmks: Oh sure, they gather intel from the Keystone Kops, during "anti-piracy" ops, now they are are going to actively gather intel on their doorstep. When will our egghead leader realize the ChiComs are our adversaries, not our business partners!) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS UNITED KINGDOM (27 Sep) Decommissioning ceremony for TYPE 42 destroyer HMS YORK scheduled on 27 Sep at Portsmouth. (rmks: ship up for sale to another navy. Likely candidates would be Saudi, Bangladesh or another developing MENA or AP region navy)
September 20, 201213 yr RUSSIA As part of the joint US/Russian Cooperative Threat Reduction program, in a 12-year long project (all remaining?) 78 Russian SS-N-20 SLBM have been scrapped. (rmk: They have all been replaced by newer, more capable missiles) Those are the SLBMs from the "Typhoons" - which are all out of service now.
September 20, 201213 yr Those are the SLBMs from the "Typhoons" - which are all out of service now. Excepting Dmitry Donskoy (TK-208), which was refitted as a testbed for the new Bulava SLBM.
September 21, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Ahh, the weekend is upon us. Time for a last few cookouts and summer-type outdoor activities, before the yucky weather of fall arrives. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 18 September FRANCE Aircraft carrier FS CHARLES DE GAULLE sails from Toulon for a few days of pilot training and carrier qualifications off the southern French coast. 19 September RUSSIA Returning from overhaul in the Baltic Sea (Kronshtadt), Black Sea Fleet KILO class submarine RFS ALROSA has passed the Turkish Straits. USA Africa Partnership Station (West) 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT departs Lome (Togo), wrapping up a four-day visit. 20 September ALGERIA Russian Rosoboronexport has received a request from Algeria for two new KILO class submarines. (rmks: The Kilo continues to be a popular export 'flavor', for up and coming navies. It likely it will include Club-S systems) AZERBEIDJAN Coinciding with ongoing Russian regional exercise “Kavkaz 12”, Azerbaijan for its part has begun “large scale” joint exercises, involving the country's ground force, navy and air force. CHINA +++ Speculations that aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG may be commissioned on 01 Oct (National Day). +++ CHINA – JAPAN: China has officially registered its claim to Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands with the United Nations. (rmks: So the next act in the soap opera begins. It ought to REALLY get good now that the blue hats are involved. THAT will settle the situation ... NOT!) RUSSIA +++ Missile cruiser RFS PETR VELIKIY, during her current Arctic deployment, has conducted missile defense drills … MoD official: “Part of the sea-based segment of the national missile defence shield.” (rmks: Probably employing SA-N-20 Gargoyle, ship borne variant of S-300 air defense missiles). +++ One of PETR VELIKIY’s two ship borne Ka-27 helicopters made a “hard landing” when deploying troops to an island in the Kara Sea / Laptev Sea … emergency landing following engine/gear trouble … no injuries to personnel, who were picked up by rescue team … no word on condition of helicopter (rmks: Wording suggests it has not been recovered yet. The Helix is pretty cheap and its likely it's expendable) … PETR VELIKIY for the time being has suspended further helicopter flights … official: incident will not affect the ship’s schedule. +++ Exercise “Kavkaz 12”: Black Sea Fleet naval infantry conducts “opposed amphibious landing” … landing force (composition not stated) protected by corvettes and missile boats (RFS MUROMETS, KASIMOV, MIRAZH, SHTIL) … cruiser RFS MOSKVA and frigate PYTLIVIY, together with Mi-24 Hind combat helicopters provide naval gunfire support … MCM forces operate ahead of beaching. (rmks: Likely, keeping up on invasion proficiency; in case the balloon goes up again in Georgia) +++ Caspian Sea Flotilla: Conducts live missile firing with frigates/corvettes RFS DAGESTAN, TATARSTAN, BUDJONNOVSK, BOROVSK and coastal missile batteries … at sea and land targets in the northern Caspian Sea … defending against an “approaching enemy landing force”. USA (multinational) After a four-day in-port phase, with communication checks, loading supplies and simulated medical evacuations for mine-disposal divers, IMCMEX 12 gets underway at sea … although some 30 nations participating, most of them not with ships … number of participating vessels given as “about 20 from just over a half dozen countries” (among them Japan, UK and USA). (rmks: Media headlines of the “largest naval build-up the world has seen” once again blows the facts WAY out of proportion) USA – NEW ZEALAND SecDef Leon Panetta visiting New Zealand … lift restrictions for RNZN ships to berth at US naval bases (be decided on a case-by-case basis) … few signs yet, however, that New Zealand will reciprocate in kind. (rmks: After New Zealand turned away a US destroyer in 1985 and later passed its anti-nuclear law, the US suspended a defense treaty and most military contacts) USA Lockheed Martin is preparing to test-launch a new Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) from US Air Force bombers and is funding ship integration efforts for a vertical launch system (VLS) variant. 21 September RUSSIA Almaz (St. Petersburg) delivers fourth Project 22460 OCHOTNIK class patrol ship (transl. EMERALD) to the Federal Border Guard Service … at the same time, FSB commissions third ship (transl. PEARL) of this type. UNITED KINGDOM Helicopter carrier HMS OCEAN returns to home-port Naval Base Devonport (Plymouth), after two-months on the Thames supporting the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (12 Oct) Update: Date for keel laying of 4th Project 11356 ADMIRAL GRIGOROVICH class frigates now given as 12 Oct … ship (reportedly) to be named RFS ADMRAL BUTAKOV.
September 21, 201213 yr Author Hey Silent Hunter, thanks for the clarification! I have never claimed to be an expert on Bubblehad matters. In my busy schedule, I should have picked-up on the missile designator. Although most of the Typhoons have been decomm'd they still have one in service, as a test platform with the Bukava program (although it doesn't see much service). I think the scrapping of the older SLBM's clears the decks for broader production of the newer Bulava, despite the issues the Russkies are still having with it. Best regards!
September 21, 201213 yr I'm the guy who wrote the bulk of TV Tropes' section on Russian nukes. They've also got the Sinevas on their "Delta IVs" - upgraded SS-N-18s, IIRC.
September 21, 201213 yr They've also got the Sinevas on their "Delta IVs" - upgraded SS-N-18s, IIRC. The R-29 series SLBMs are a nomenclature nightmare. Various flavours of the R-29 are identified by NATO as either SS-N-8 Sawfly, SS-N-18 Stingray, or SS-N-23 Skiff, with various mods of each, and other Soviet/Russian designators to add more confusion. The Delta IV boomers carried the RS-29RM (SS-N-23), then the R-29RMU Sineva (also SS-N-23), and now you see talk of the R-29RMU2 Layner or Liner (presumably still SS-N-23).
September 24, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here's some Navy News to start your week. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 12 September USA The US Navy sunk decommissioned command ship CORONADO during a “Sinkex” live-firing exercise off Guam. (rmks: A rather ignominious end, to a fine ship) 20 September USA In context with new Pacific-focused strategy, LOS ANGELES class submarine USS KEY WEST changes home port, relocating from Pearl Harbor to Guam. (rmks: Things are looking interesting in WestPac) USA Aircraft carriers USS JOHN C STENNIS and GEORGE WASHINGTON complete annual exercise “Valiant Shield” … conducted in waters around Guam. While WASHINGTON proceeds to Guam for scheduled visit, STENNIS now continues transit toward the Middle East region. (rmks: Going into harm's way. Godspeed Johnny Reb) 21 September AUSTRALIA (INDONESIA) 60 nm south of Java (Indonesia), an asylum seeker boat sent out a distress call, claiming to have capsized with 180 people on board … merchant ships and Australian navy vessels (with permission of Indonesia) rushed to the scene only to find the boat afloat … passengers transferred to a merchant ship and brought to Christmas Island. (rmks: there have been several incidents when asylum seeker boats sent distress calls just after sailing from the Indonesian coast, hoping to be “rescued” by Australian navy vessels and get a “free ride” to Christmas Island. They ain't stupid, people) CHINA +++ Training ship ZHENGHE returns to Dalian, completing a 158-day round-the-world voyage with visits to 14 countries. (rmks: Another ChiCom propaganda victory) +++ (CHINA – JAPAN (TAIWAN)): A protest ship from Taiwan (fishing boat TA HAN 711), escorted by a Taiwan coast guard vessel. briefly joined around a dozen state-owned Chinese vessels in waters near Japan-administered Senkanu/Diaoyu Islands … currently a total of 13 vessels from China's maritime (CMS) and fisheries (FLEC) authorities spotted near the islands. (rmks: Taiwan also claims ownership to the islands; in July, a boat carrying activists and four patrol boats from Taiwan had briefly entered territorial waters there) FRANCE Offshore patrol vessel FS L’ADROIT arrives at Tema (Ghana) for a four-day visit … on 24 Sep to continue for Lagos (Nigeria) … on return transit from South Africa temporarily joined French national West Africa naval presence mission “Corymbe.” (rmks: Obviously a marketing visit. Showing-off the new ship and its capabilities to local navies) INDIA +++ During a ceremony at the Kawar naval base (Arabian Sea coast), the Indian navy commissions new hydrographic survey vessel INS MAKAR, the first indigenously built catamaran-design ship. +++ (INDIA (RUSSIA)): Update failed trials of aircraft carrier INS VIKRAMADITIYA: around three boilers heat insulation bricks already collapsed at 40 percent power … bricks were bought in China … reportedly also some installations (cooling aggregates, nitrogen generators) provided from Western subcontractors had failed … in October, Russia and India will discuss consequences … Sevmash shipyard expects the ship repaired by May 2013. (rmks: Don't you just LOVE that quality machinery!) IRAN +++ Navy Commander RAdm Habibollah Sayyari: “We are preparing plans for presence near the South Pole.” (rmks: Now that's something completely different!) +++ After being deleted from the Tuvalu shipping register, Iranian merchant ships have started sailing under the flag of Moldova. (rmks: Now that's an interesting tack. Moldova, doesn't even have a coast or seaport, yet it can flag ships. Don't you just LOVE how the sanctions are working against Iran) LATVIA (Baltron) Baltic States navies’ Baltron squadron begins exercise “Route Survey 2012” … in the Irben Strait … annual event rotating between the three navies, this year Latvia hosting. POLAND Polish navy starts (annual) national exercise “Anakonda-12” …until 27 Sep … involves 19 warships/auxiliaries (among them one submarine, two landing ships, seven mine hunters, 9 aircraft, coastal defense forces, special forces and border guard units … fictional scenario to require action at sea, ashore and in the air … main task “break blockade” and secure shipping along the coast. RUSSIA +++ Tests of Bulava SLBM, scheduled in October, postponed due to “software problems” … MinDef Serdyukov hopes for test launch from BOREJ class submarine RFS ALEXANDER NEVSKIY “before year end”. +++ Black Sea Fleet KILO class submarine RFS ALROSA returns to home port Sevastopol after overhaul in the Baltic Sea (Kronshtadt) +++ Northern Fleet begins major combat exercise … until 27 Sep … involve some 20 ships incl. aircraft carrier KUZNETSOV, submarines and two ROPUCHA class landing ships … focus on defending Arctic waters (Northern Sea Route) … for the first time, amphibious landing in the Arctic planned … related command post exercise integrates other services as well as missile cruiser RFS PETR VELIKIY, currently far to the east in the Laptev Sea in first ever Arctic deployment. SOUTH / NORTH KOREA Six North Korean fishing boats accidentally crossed the sea border (Northern Limit Line) in the Yellow sea into South Korean waters … returned after South Korean navy ship fired warning shots… no action from nearby North Korean naval vessels. (rmks: Me thinks the new ultimate leader is feeling his oats) SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) A Sri Lanka navy patrol boat intercepts a fishing trawler which had just sailed for Australia carrying 86 asylum seekers … all arrested under national law. USA +++ The US Navy has ordered another 11 P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft from manufacturer Boeing … third batch of low-rate, production planes, bringing the total number of P-8 under contract to 24, out of a total of 117 that the US Navy plans to buy overall. +++ The USCG has opted to build an additional six SENTINEL class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) at Bollinger Shipyards in Lockport, La., bringing the total number of FRCs under contract from Bollinger to 18. In total the USCG plans to acquire up to 58 FRCs. 22 September AUSTRALIA Patrol boat BROOME intercepts a boat carrying 66 asylum seekers north of Christmas Island. CHINA The East China Sea Fleet has held joint amphibious exercise … “under real-fire conditions”… involved “dozens of landing ships” as well as land and air forces. JAPAN – USA Media invited to observe a joint drill of Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the US Marine Corps on the western Pacific island of Guam … aimed at strengthening “ability to defend remote islands from foreign assault”. SOUTH AFRICA Swiss company Ruag proposes a private/public partnership to replace the South African air force's antiquated Douglas DC-3 maritime patrol aircraft with modern Dornier Do-228NG. USA LCS-3 USS FORT WORTH commissioned during a ceremony at Galvaston (Texas). 23 September CHINA Aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG handed over to the navy … Admiral Wu Shengli reportedly highest ranking guest attending the ceremony which has not been mentioned at all on official MoD website … commissioning into service at a later time … though some media (and most blogs) now give name as LIAONING, there seems to have been no official naming yet (just number 16). JAPAN Destroyer JDS ARIAKE and frigate JDS OYODO arrive at Vladivostok (Russia) for a port visit and bilateral anti-piracy exercises. 24 September INDIA Armed forces contemplate establishment of three unified commands for Space/Aerospace, Cyberwar, and Special Forces … to synergize efforts and assets of the three services in these "critical areas”. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS SRI LANKA (26 Sep) Navy Commander Vice Admiral D. W. A. S. Dissanayake is scheduled to retire on 26 September. UNITED KINGDOM (multinational) (early Oct) Multinational, UK-hosted two-week exercise “Joint Warrior 12-2” scheduled to start in early October … involves sea, ground and air assets from participating allied and NATO forces in a maritime environment … off Scotland … participants from 12 countries (Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA).
September 24, 201213 yr Re Iranian sanctions: they are having an effect - the petrol price there has skyrocketed. As for Moldava, it has a little tiny harbour area at a place called Palanca (the Ukrainian border straddles the 'lake' there), that links into the Dniester river. I looked at this on Google Maps.
September 24, 201213 yr As for Moldava, it has a little tiny harbour area at a place called Palanca (the Ukrainian border straddles the 'lake' there), that links into the Dniester river. I looked at this on Google Maps. Lets not forget who first fostered the idea of flags of convenience.
September 25, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Todayand the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. It will be interesting in the coming days to watch the Soap Opera between China, Taiwan and Japan. Although this navy news didn't make today's headlines, these are some other interesting tidbits of news to report. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 17 September CHINA “Dozens of amphibious combat vehicles and assault boats with marines of a marine brigade under the South China Sea Fleet” conduct amphibious exercise, practicing “island-reef-seizing“ … exercise involved dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN and air cushioned landing craft. (rmks: Hmm, do you think something's up? I know, they're practicing humanitarian relief operations!) IRAN Iranian Revolutionary Gaurd Corps speed boats, backed up by a frigate (rmks: term usually applies to the SINA class missile corvette) practice mine laying … in the Caspian Sea, off Noushar … demonstration observed by Ayatollah Khamenei. (rmks: Strange how they did this just on the day after start of IMCMEX-12) 23 September SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) The Sri Lanka Navy arrests another 85 persons illegally bound for Australia in two fishing trawlers 24 September AUSTRALIA Signs of “premature aging” have been found on amphibious support ship HMAS CHOULES (former British RFA LARGS BAY). (rmks: Looks like the Aussies discovered they got a lemon after all. Its likely the Brits knew these details before they offered it to their cousins down under) GERMANY First operational deployment for new Type 130 corvette FGS MAGDEBURG … sails from Wilhelmshaven for the Eastern Mediterranean to join the UNIFIL Maritime Task Force off Lebanon. INDIA (RUSSIA) Against the backdrop of delay in delivery schedule of aircraft carrier INS VIKRAMADITYA (former Russian ADMIRAL GORSHKOV), an Indian Navy team is scheduled to visit Russia in the next few days to monitor the progress of repair work. ISRAEL (GAZA) Irish-flagged sailing ship M/V ESTELLE on its way to Gaza to breach the Israeli blockade … sailed from Sweden a few weeks ago, made two stops in Spain, now in Corsica … set to arrive off Gaza by mid-October … 79 Irish parliamentarians have signed a statement in support of the mission. (rmks: Once again peaceniks are being used by the Islamist's useful fools) JAPAN – CHINA – TAIWAN +++ Three Chinese paramilitary ships briefly entered what Japan considers its territorial waters near disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands … engage in “combat” with water cannons … prompting an official protest from Tokyo and renewed diplomatic efforts to cool tensions. +++ Up to 40 Taiwanese fishing boats from Taiwan (rmks: Taiwan also claims the islands) escorted by Taiwan Coast Guard vessels arrive at the island group … briefly enter territorial waters but then stay clear. NATO 25 warships from 10 countries assemble at Toulon (France) for exercise “Noble Mariner” … until 07 Oct … certification of NATO Response Force (NRF), of which France takes command for one year, starting on 01 Jan … participants include French aircraft carrier FS CHARLES DE GAULLE and helicopter carrier FS TONNERRE (exercise flag ship), NATO SNMG-2. SOUTH KOREA President Lee Myung-Bak warns of "growing threats" to the country's maritime security, posed by North Korea and regional territorial disputes over isolated island chains. (rmks: Territorial disputes with Japan). TANZANIA A new integrated radar and automatic identification system (AIS) coastal surveillance system has been successfully installed in Tanzania as part of a broader project headed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which aims to significantly enhance maritime situational awareness. TURKEY Decommissioned KNOX class frigate TCG MUAVENET being towed to Aliaga (Turkey) for scrapping. USA The first of the two new oceanographic research vessel currently under construction (designated AGOR 27) will be named USNS NEIL ARMSTRONG … ships to be called NEIL ARMSTRONG class. (rmks: A fitting tribute) USA – JAPAN Japanese army commander Gen Eiji Kimizuka along with the commanding general of the 3rd US Marine Expeditionary Force, Lt Gen Kenneth Glueck Jr, visits amphibious assault ship USS BONHOMME RICHARD “at sea” (Philippine Sea) … amid discussions on the potential for future Japanese ground and naval forces integration with US Navy Amphibious Squadron 11 and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, both based in Japan. 25 September UNITED KINGDOM Destroyer HMS EDINBURGH leaves Portsmouth for the final deployment of a Royal Navy TYPE 42 destroyer … heading to West Africa, then to the South Atlantic (Falklands Patrol) … on return transit make a number of “high-profile visits” in the Caribbean and the USA.
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