October 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. Wow! We are nearing 10K views of NNSoTD. Thanks for your support. Hope the naval news nuggets have generated ideas for innovative scenarios. Summary to follow: 16 October FRANCE Dock landing ship FS SIROCO currently employed off West Africa in national naval presence operation “Corymbe”. ISRAEL (Gaza) “Freedom Flotilla” sailing ship ESTELLE at the southern coast of Crete (Greece), replenishing with food and water and taking more pro-Palestinian activists on board, then continues towards Gaza to “break the Israeli blockade” … expect to arrive there around 20 Oct. (rmks: Will likely be intercepted in international waters by the Israeli Navy and turned away, before it reaches Israel's EEZ) NATO Standing naval force SNMG-2 begins a scheduled visit to Tunis (Tunisia). (rmks: I'm sure that will be a memorable liberty port) SWEDEN The Swedish Maritime Administration (Sjöfartsverket) has ordered seven new AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters … for search & rescue service off the Swedish coasts. 17 October INDIA (RUSSIA) Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) has completed sea trials for 2nd TALWAR-mod (Batch 2) frigate INS TARKASH … all set for delivery to Indian navy, scheduled on 09 Nov. (rmks: If there are no punch list items discovered) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka, the Keystone Kops): South African media alleges that due to “a diplomatic bungle in an agreement between South Africa, Mozambique and Tanzania,” the South African navy has halted its anti-piracy operation “Copper” and withdrawn frigate SAS AMATOLA, which had been operationing in the Mozambique Channel and off Tanzania … frigate started patrol in August but broke off in September, to instead join multinational exercises “Atlasur” and “Ibsamar” off the Cape. (rmks: Is it any wonder that nothing sems to get done. The exterminators are bound-up in administrative messes, so the cockroaches (excuse me the pirates) have free reign of the seas. Oh, I almost forgot ... No pirates were harmed reporting this piece of news. DRAT!) RUSSIA +++ Draft budget for 2013-2015 calls for a 59 percent increase to annual defense spending by 2015 (to reach 3.7 percent of GDP). (rmks: No telling if this is the vodka version or the actual numbers) +++ Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) has postponed keel-laying of 4th ADMIRAL GRIGOROVICH class frigate (to be named RFS ADMIRAL BUTAKOV), for an “indefinite period” … had been scheduled on 12 Oct. (rmks: no reason given, but it's likely due to antiquated shipbuilding infrastructure and delays on other projects).
October 18, 201213 yr Wow! We are nearing 10K views of NNSoTD. Thanks for your support. Hope the naval news nuggets have generated ideas for innovative scenarios. Well, I'm in it for the remarks. I may not always agree with them but I do enjoy reading them. Thank you for taking the time to type them out.
October 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. Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend. Here are some navy news nuggets, to tide you over 'til Monday. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 16 October IRAN Some 15,000 paramilitary IRGC and Basij forces hold a military drill southeast of Tehran … images suggest practicing urban warfare. SWEDEN Swedish navy 3rd and 4th flotillas commence major national exercise “Swenex” … until 26 Oct … practice the majority of traditional maritime warfare areas, such as ASW, AAW and ASuW. 17 October USA Aircraft carrier USS JOHN C. STENNIS has arrived in the Arabian Sea, while aircraft carrier USS EISENHOWER may have entered the Persian Gulf. 18 October CHINA In order to “improve emergency response in missions to safeguard territorial sovereignty and maritime interests,” the Chinese navy (East Sea Fleet) together with paramilitary China Marine Surveillance and Fishery Administration conducted exercises in the East China Sea … involving 11 ships and eight aircraft. (rmks: The ChiComs are upping the ante) FRANCE DCNS at Lorient floats out second French navy FREMM type frigate, FS NORMANDIE (D651). Two more currently under construction: LANGUEDOC (since Sep 2011) and AUVERGNE (since Aug 2012). FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM Off Corsica bi-lateral exercise “Corsican Lion” kicks off … until 02 Nov … implementation of Franco-British Defence Agreement from 02 Nov 2010 … focus on amphibious operations … 13 warships including French aircraft carrier FS CHARLES DE GAULLE and helicopter carrier FS MISTRAL, as well as Royal Navy Response Task Group with helicopter carrier HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and dock landing ship HMS BULWARK. IRAN (related) Ship-tracking databases show a growing number of Iranian oil tankers re-flagged to Tanzania … incl. at least eight of the NITC tankers evicted last month by Tuvalu … Tanzanian authorities claim no such Iranian ships registered. (rmks: Another fine example of the success of the sanctions ... NOT!) RUSSIA +++ Black Sea Fleet destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY sails from Sevastopol for the Mediterranean … annual bilateral exercise “Ionex-12” scheduled with the Italian navy from 07-09 Nov … also “a number of business visits to Mediterranean ports for replenishment.” (rmks: Wonder if the latter includes Tartus, Syria) +++ Third BUYAN class “small artillery ship” RFS MAKHACHKALA has started acceptance trials in the Baltic, incl. weapons tests … after successful completion to be commissioned … scheduled to transfer to the Caspian Sea (by inland waterways) in November. +++ Joint operational headquarters established with the General Staff … all services except Strategic Rocket Forces. (rmks: Part of streamlining operational command structures) USA Frigate USS CARR, currently deployed off Central America in anti-drug operation “Martillo,” chased a speed boat, then recovered cocaine worth $26 million, which the suspected smugglers had tossed overboard. (rmks: The cockroaches (excuse me, the suspected drug runners) live to smuggle another day) 19 October IRAN (related) An explosion in eastern Turkey has (temporarily) halted flow of Iranian natural gas. (rmks: No add'l info on the cause of the blast)
October 19, 201213 yr Wow! We are nearing 10K views of NNSoTD. Thanks for your support. Hope the naval news nuggets have generated ideas for innovative scenarios. Well, I'm in it for the remarks. I may not always agree with them but I do enjoy reading them. Thank you for taking the time to type them out. Indeed. Thanks for doing this.
October 22, 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. A busy weekend, with lots of family events. While you were enjoying things, the world's navies were quite busy. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 16 October USA Aircraft carrier USS ENTERPRISE anchored off Naples (Italy) for its final ever foreign port visit … after a 7-month Middle East deployment, returning to home port Norfolk where she will be deactivated on 01 Dec. (rmks: A 'thanks for the memories' liberty port call) 17 October RUSSIA Keel laying for first Project 21900M (LK-16) diesel-powered ice breaker at Vyborg shipyard … Deputy Minister of Transport: Russia will receive about 30 nuclear- or diesel-powered ice breakers by 2030. (rmks: Hmm, it seems they are the only ones really serious about the Arctic issue. Is something in the works?) USA The USS NIMITZ Carrier Strike Group begins 18-day Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off California … working up for a scheduled 2013 deployment. 18 October ARGENTINA The head of Argentina's military intelligence resigned in the wake of sail training vessel ARA LIBERTAD’s seizure by Ghana over a bond dispute. (rmks: Too bad, so sad) USA +++ FREEDOM class littoral combat ship USS FORT WORTH (LCS 3) arrives at future home port San Diego, completing her maiden voyage after commissioning in Galveston (Texas) on 22 Sep. +++ Austal holds keel-laying ceremony for the third INDEPENDENCE class Littoral Combat Ship USS JACKSON (LCS 6). (rmks: Big whoopty-do! Why are we building these useless tinker-toys, instead of laying down ships with real teeth? In a world of increasing tensions, we a building ships that can't fight their way out of a wet paper bag. Does that sound logical to you?). 19 October IRAN (related) Tanzania government claims Iranian oil tankers are deliberately signaling their flag state as Tanzania-Zanzibar, although there is no such registration. (rmks: Ah, the soap opera continues) RUSSIA The Russian navy’s only remaining missile range instrumentation/satellite tracking ship, MARSHAL KRYLOV, has completed a one-year overhaul and sailed from Vladivostok for a first new mission. INDIA – USA Bilateral naval submarine rescue exercise “Indiaex 2012” starts in Mumbai (India) … until 13 Nov, with at-sea phase scheduled from 30 Oct – 06 Nov … four Indian navy submarines are scheduled to participate with the US Navy's Undersea Rescue Command to practice rescue scenarios and demonstrate its Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS) … first time exercising the compatibility of a US Navy SRDRS with Indian navy submarines. MYANMAR Photos suggest recent launching of new frigate … show hull number F12 … name given as UMS KYANSITTHA. PIRACY +++ Somalia Basin: A fishing vessel has reported being hijacked off the Somalia coast, approx. 60nm north east of Eyl (rmks: Just another cockroach (excuse me pirate day). +++ Germany: Ten Somali men have been convicted in Germany on charges related to the 2010 (read that – two-years later) hijacking of cargo ship M/V TAIPAN in the Gulf of Aden … sentenced to prison terms ranging between two and seven years … Germany’s first piracy conviction in centuries. (rmks: I' surprised they didn't just hand them citizenship papers and let them off for time-served) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces (aka the Keystone Kops): French navy frigate FS FLOREAL has joined EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta” (rmks: The pirates are very concerned ... NOT!) +++ Somalia: Somali pirates release Panama-flagged bulk cargo vessel M/V/ ORNA, hijacked in Dec 2010 … undisclosed sum of ransom paid … however, only 13 of its 19 crew members have been released with the vessel … remaining six seem to be held by another pirate group, which has not agreed to the deal. (rmks: Oh, I almost forgot ... No pirates were harmed, reporting anyone of these stories. Would someone please explain to me the logic of why we are dealing with these cockroaches?) RUSSIA +++ Pacific Fleet DELTA-III class (SSBN) submarine RFS GEORGIY POBEDONOSETS successfully fires a SS-N-18 ballistic missile from the Sea of Okhotsk toward the Chizha test range on the Kanin Peninsula. … part of major exercise including all components of the nuclear triad. (rmks: I was just thinking, how many SLBM tests does the US and Brits conduct? I think the answer would be ... ZILCH! I have a bad feeling about all of this) +++ Black Sea Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ship RFS NOVOCHERKASSK arrives at Pylos (Greece) for a scheduled visit … timed to the 185th anniversary of the naval battle of Navarino, where the combined fleet of Russia, Britain and France defeated the Turkish-Egyptian fleet. (rmks: Strike up the band! The Russians are coming!) UNITED KINGDOM Type 23 frigate HMS MONMOUTH sails from Plymouth on a 7-month deployment “East of Suez” (Persian Gulf region). (rmks: long-planned routine deployment. Godspeed!) USA – MYANMAR The US reportedly plans to invite Myanmar to join major regional exercise “Cobra Gold” in 2013. (rmks: Now that's interesting news) 20 October ARGENTINA The Argentine navy is evacuating some 300 crew members from sail training vessel ARA LIBERTAD … impounded in Tema (Ghana) as collateral for unpaid bonds … only the captain and a few other members will remain on the ship. (rmks: Man that's gotta suck) CANADA President of Irving Shipbuilding: Contingent on the federal government approving funding for the design and engineering phase of the project, work on the first batch of Arctic patrol vessels could begin as early as 2015. (rmks: Construction starts, as the program is behind schedule. Oh well, better late than never) ISRAEL (Gaza) The Israel navy intercepts and boards Finnish-flagged “Freedom Flotilla” sailing vessel ESTELLE when approaching blockade zone off Gaza … no resistance … ship carrying some 30 pro-Palestinian activists diverted to nearby Israeli port of Ashdod. (rmks: See, told ya' so) PIRACY (double funnies day) +++ Somalia Basin: German frigate FGS SACHSEN (EU NavFor) located and boarded an Iranian dhow, reported to have been hijacked … 20 Iranian sailors freed … boarding team detained seven suspected pirates, confiscated several assault rifles AK47 as well as a Rocket Propelled Grenade launcher. (rmks: Wow, I'm suprised the Keystone Kops actually did something) +++ Bab el Mandeb: a pirate attack group reportedly, "disrupted temporarily" (whatever that means) in the Bab el Mandeb … still presenting a threat. (rmks: Could somebody explain that one to me) +++ Malaysia: Malaysian authorities have arrested four Indonesian pirates, who on 18 Oct had tried to hijack a tugboat and barge off Borneo island (Sarawak) … first such attack there this year. (rmks: The cockroaches (excuse me, pirates) are making up for lost time) (add'l rmks: Once again, no pirates were harmed reporting any of these stories ... BLAST IT ALL!) RUSSIA Black Sea Fleet AMUR class “floating workshop” PM-56 and salvage tug SORUM MB-304 sail from Sevastopol for the Mediterranean … PM-56 headed for Tartus (Syria) to replace sister ship PM-138 as “station ship” … MB-304 to join KASHIN class destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY in bilateral exercise “Ionex-12” with the Italian navy (07-09 Nov). USA Christening ceremony for new amphibious assault ship USS AMERICA (LHA 6) at Huntington-Ingalls facility in Pascagoula (Miss.) 21 October ARGENTINA Argentina will take conflict with Ghana over sail training ship ARA LIBERTAD to the United Nations. (rmks: Now that will get the problem solved ... in about 100-years, if ever) CHINA China will build two bases for maritime surveillance drones … one at Yingkou to cover the Bohai Sea, the other one at Dalian to cover parts of the Yellow Sea. (rmks: Now that's interesting news!) EGYPT President Mohamed Morsi and other officials attended a naval drill (incl. live firing) off Alexandria … on board PERRY class frigate TOUSHKA … part of celebrations remembering sinking Israeli destroyer EILAT in Oct 1967. IRAN (related) USA “prepared to talk one-on-one with Iran” to find a diplomatic settlement to the impasse over Tehran's alleged pursuit of nuclear weapons, but there's no agreement now to meet. (rmks: The mullahs are likely stonewalling to see what takes place on Nov 6) ISRAEL – USA Three-week bilateral missile defense “Austere Challenge 12” kicks off …participants include a US missile cruiser. (rmks: mostly computer-simulated activities) JAPAN – USA According to Japanese media, Japan has decided to cancel a planned joint naval exercise with the United States … planned in November … was to feature “recapture” uninhabited Irisuna Island (in Okinawa Prefecture) … fearing that it would provoke a negative reaction from China. (rmks: Class, this is another fine example of appeasement and this form of diplomacy NEVER works) NIGERIA French Ocea “in late September” delivered three 24-m FPB 72 Mk II patrol boats to Nigeria. SENEGAL French Ocea has been contracted with building four FPB 98 MkII patrol boats for the Senegalese navy. 22 October PHILIPPINES – AUSTRALIA Annual bilateral five-day naval exercise “Lumbas 2012” starts off Manila … focus on maritime security operations … Australia deployed frigate SYDNEY, Philippine navy participating with patrol boats BRP MARIANO ALVAREZ and BIENVENIDO SALTING, plus soldiers from Naval Special Operations Group. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS AUSTRALIA (03 Oct 2013) International Fleet Review 2013 planned in Sydney from 03-11 Oct, 2013 … commemorate the centenary of the first entry of the Royal Australian Navy's fleet into Sydney on October 4, 1913. More than 40 navy ships are expected to participate.
October 22, 201213 yr Re: Somalia - sending in the exterminators for the 'cockroaches' has a danger of killing a lot of civilians on the ground; this method is at least stopping them from getting most of the ships they try to get.
October 22, 201213 yr Re: Somalia - sending in the exterminators for the 'cockroaches' has a danger of killing a lot of civilians on the ground; this method is at least stopping them from getting most of the ships they try to get. Yes the ROE has always been very restrictive in the war on piracy. In defense of the 'keystone kops' involved in the mission, they don't get to choose the ROE but they are bound by it.
October 22, 201213 yr Also, deterring a pirate attack is a lot easier than it used to be - turn hoses on them or electrify the deck rail.
October 23, 201213 yr Author We have known for years there are several "safe havens" for pirates along the Somali coast. These could be eliminated via Predators. This strong show of force provides the proper amount of fear-factor to deter the pirates. Sadly, the proability this will happen is extremely small.
October 23, 201213 yr Sadly, the proability this will happen is extremely small. We are being told that sea piracy in the area is declining. Link
October 23, 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 NNSoTD. Definitely some solid scenario fodder. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 19 October CHINA LUDA-I class destroyer YINCHUAN (107) decommissioned. (rmks: Another likely candidate for the Asia-Pacific secondary market) 20 October PHILIPPINES - USA The US Navy USS BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) departs from Subic Bay (Philippines), after completing ten-day bilateral exercise “Phiblex”. RUSSIA Black Sea Fleet destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY has passed the Turkish Straits towards the Mediterranean … while some media speculate her to be enroute Tartus (Syria), she is scheduled for port visits to Malta (22 Oct) and subsequently to Taranto (Italy) for participation in bilateral exercise “Inonex-12” (07-09 Nov) with the Italian navy. 22 October CAMBODIA – USA A US Navy task group with frigate USS VANDEGRIFT and two more vessels arrives at Sihanoukville Cambodia) for the Cambodian phase of this year’s Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT). RUSSIA DefMen Serdyukov: Expect BOREJ class (SSBN) submarine RFS YURI DOLGORUKIY to be commissioned in 2013, and sister ship RFS ALEXANDER NEVSKIY to join the Pacific Fleet in 2014. YASEN class (SSN) submarine RFS SEVERODVINSK still on trials. (rmks: More delays, but not really surprising. I wonder if this is a tell-tale sign the class is a lemon) RUSSIA (FRANCE) French STX will launch the first MISTRAL class helicopter carrier built for the Russian navy in September 2013. (rmks: This will be interesting to see, if it comes to fruition) TURKEY The Turkish intelligence agency (MIT) is planning to procure a new intelligence gathering (SIGINT) ship … feasibility study already initiated. (rmks: This is VERY interesting news) USA The USS BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) arrives at Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) for a scheduled visit (rmks: Fall deployment to 7th Fleet area of responsibility. It's interesting that the ARG is lingering in the area. I wonder if something is getting ready to happen?)
October 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. I got my dander up today, concerning a couple of issues. Sorry, but I have a hard time stiffling my passions. It grieves me when I see the world is in such turmoil and it seems no one has a backbone, to make the hard choices, to stand-up and do what's right. What's that old line, "Evil prospers, when good men do nothing." Summary to follow: 19 October PIRACY Bab el Mandeb: Pirates in four skiffs attack Hong Kong-owned, Panama-flagged merchant vessel DEHANG … break off and speed away when Chinese frigate CHANGZHOU approaches and fires warning shots. (rmks: Holy smokes, somebdy in the UN is going to need to have a talk with the ChiComs about how things work on the cast of the Keystone Kops. They are giving the group a good name) 23 October FRANCE Arms procurement agency DGA has delayed ordering the fourth BARRACUDA class (SSN) submarine. Not included in 2013 budget; probably to be ordered in 2014. (rmks: Depending on how the Eurozone situation plays out. The smaller less well-financed European countries are likely to kick-up a fuss, over the fact that France isn't doing its "fair share" to help them. Man, don't you just love socialism) IRAN (related) +++ The Saudi Arabian coastguard has arrested a group of 15 Iranians who with a boat attempted to infiltrate the country by sea near the northeastern frontier with Kuwait. (rmks: I think some heads are going to roll (literally) in the Kuds Force chain of command for this little screw-up) +++ The United Arab Emirates’ key Fujairah pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz will be fully operational by the end of the year and then carry most of Abu Dhabi’s oil exports. (rmks: That's interesting, I haven't heard of this before. Does anyone know where the pipeline goes to?) NIGERIA – RUSSIA The Nigerian navy has seized a Russian-owned offshore support vessel carrying arms and ammunition (rifles and some 8,000 rounds) and arrested its 15 mainly Russian crew members … ship was travelling from Madagascar to Conakry (Guinea) … authorities: “no indication that the vessel was authorized to come into Nigeria and worse still, to carry arms" … Russia: “legal cargo included in the load manifest.” (rmks: This one is going to be interesting to watch!) PIRACY General: Some ship operators hiring private armed guards to protect their vessels from hijack by Somali pirates, aren’t reporting attempted attacks … possibly fearing liability or following ship owners’ orders to keep mum on incidents. (rmks: So the problem will just keep getting worse, because it's now going to be swept under the rug. I tell ya' folks, the problem was handled in an easier fashion a couple of hundred years-ago. But, noooo. We're a kinder and enlightened society) PORTUGAL Lockheed Martin has re-delivered the last upgraded P-3C CUP Orion maritime patrol aircraft to the Portuguese Air Force. (rmks: The venerable P-3 continues service!) RUSSIA Black Sea Fleet KASHIN class destroyer RFS SMETLIVIY arrives at Valetta (Malta) for a scheduled visit. SPAIN The Spanish navy takes over its 5th BAZAN class Aegis frigate, SPS CRISTOBAL COLON. (rmks: Live up to your namesake's name) USA Fielding the first generation of “directed energy” (laser) weapons aboard US Navy ships “just two years away.” (rmks: Someone please tell me why we are goofing around with the golly gee-whiz stuff, that is burning-up good money, when we can be using it to build and develop ships with REAL teeth? UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (03 Jul 2013) 2013 IMDEX naval exhibition in St. Petersburg rescheduled from 03-07 July … originally planned from 20-22 June, but postponed due to International Economic Forum planned at that time.
October 24, 201213 yr The United Arab Emirates’ key Fujairah pipeline bypassing the Strait of Hormuz will be fully operational by the end of the year and then carry most of Abu Dhabi’s oil exports. (rmks: That's interesting, I haven't heard of this before. Does anyone know where the pipeline goes to?) I'm thinking it goes to Fujairah (on the Gulf of Oman).
October 24, 201213 yr I've heard of that pipeline. I'd imagine it'd be high on Quds Force's target list in the event of any war.
October 26, 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. Last big summary before the weekend. Some interesting news items today. Hopefully, this weekend I can cobble some time out of a busy schedule to work on the next BRICS scenario - I have been delayed due to family commitments and a pressing personal project called finding employment. Hope everyone has a great weekend. See you next week. Enjoy! Summary to follow: 22 October USA After US$700K repairs in the United Emirate Emirates, destroyer USS PORTER (who two-months ago collided with a Japanese tanker outside the Strait of Hormuz), has become operational again … rejoined its USS ENTERPRISE Carrier Strike Group in the Mediterranean. 23 October ITALY Two boats loaded with African migrants/asylum seekers intercepted … one with 111 people just 30 nm from the Libyan coast, another one with 117 people south of Lampedusa. USA The USS ENTERPRISE Carrier Strike Group passes the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic … heading home for Norfolk. (rmks: Last out-chop for the Big-E) 24 October AUSTRALIA Controversial report by Center for Independent Studies suggests Australia could save AU$10B by leasing nuclear-powered VIRGINIA class submarines from the US instead of pursuing domestic program. (rmks: I thought we covered this earlier this year. Australia is about as likely to acquire SSN/SSGNs, as pigs will begin sprouting wings and taking to flight) INDIA India will increase spending on naval forces in the next 10-years, but is unlikely to raise total defense spending above the current level of a little under 2 percent of GDP. (rmks: This will bode ill for india's ability to improve its naval shipbuilding infrastructure, which is woefully inadequate for the aspirations of the IN) IRAN (related) Some analysts expect Iran weighing a more confrontational strategy, suggesting that economic pressures and diplomacy have pushed Iran to the point of considering an ultimatum-style end game. (rmks: Duh, do ya' think! That's one of the results of the zero sum game, called economic sanctions) PIRACY +++ Somalia: Netherlands dock landing ship HNLMS ROTTERDAM (NATO) on reconnaissance mission spots suspicious dhow close to Somalia shore … boarding party RHIB fired at from both dhow and pirates on shore … return-fire destroyed dhow, killed one person … 25 suspected pirates pulled from water (while still being shot at) and detained … none of ROTTERDAM's crew injured, though RHIB damaged. (rmks: Oh my goodness, the Keystone Kops did something! Now if this were to happen more often, the cockroaches might begin to fear the exterminators. I'm happy to report that a slight dent was put in piracy, reporting this story ... which is about time!) RUSSIA +++ Both operational Caspian Sea Flotilla BUYAN class “artillery ships” (RFS ASTRAKHAN and VOLGODONSK) sail from Astrakhan for 10-day exercises involving live firing drills (at sea, land and air targets). +++ Black Sea Fleet landing ship RFS NOVOCHERKASSK arrives at Piraeus (Greece) for a scheduled port visit. UAE The United Arab Emirates are interested in buying small, corvette-sized (60-85 m) combatants. A number of shipbuilders recently received a letter from the UAE government seeking interest and proposals. (rmks: If the US shipbuilding industry was properly positioned (which it currently isn't), this may have been an excellent opportunity to promote a couple of Huntington-Ingalls designs) USA +++ Aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHINGTON arrives off Manila (Philippines) for a scheduled 5-day visit. +++ During a short ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO Ship Yard San Diego, Military Sealift Command accepted delivery of dry cargo/ammunition ship USNS CESAR CHAVEZ (T-AKE 14) … final ship in the T-AKE program. +++ The Missile Defense Agency conducted the largest, most complex missile defense flight test ever attempted … at Kwajalein (West Pacific) … integrated (land/sea) air and ballistic missile defense architecture used multiple sensors and missile defense systems (THAAD, Patriot, Aegis) to simultaneously engage five targets … while land-based THAAD and Patriot PAC-3 successfully intercepted and destroyed their targets, an SM-3 Block 1A interceptor launched from destroyer USS FITZGERALD against a short-range ballistic missile apparently failed to intercept (though before, FITZGERALD successfully engaged a low flying cruise missile target). (rmks: Still perfecting hitting a needle with a needle) 25 October CHINA – JAPAN Japan claims renewed Chinese activity around disputed Diaoyu/Senkaku islands … three paramilitary China Marine Surveillance ships entered territorial waters (12-nm) off the islands, another one operating in the 24-nm contiguous zone. (rmks: And so the soap opera continues) FRANCE +++ French navy frigate FS DUPLEIX arrives at Mumbai (India) for a port visit and short exercise with the Indian navy … afterwards will join EU NavFor off Somalia in anti-piracy operation “Atalanta”. +++ DGA / MBDA successfully completed submerged launch of new Scalp Naval missile … in combat configuration … from an underwater platform. (rmks: This is very interesting news. Scalp is fast becoming the flavor of the week, in multi-purpose anti-ship missiles) ITALY The Italian army is evaluating its Aster-30 air defense missiles for Ballistic Missile Defence capabilities … “likely to be involved in NATO’s ballistic missile defense program.” (rmks: Same missile system also carried on board Italian navy ITS ORIZZIONTE class destroyers) JAPAN MCM command ship JDS URAGA and mine hunter HACHIYO complete a port visit to Kochi (India), (rmks: On return transit from multinational MCMEX exercise conducted in September around the Arabian Peninsula) NORTH-/SOUTH KOREA A North Korean naval patrol boat briefly (7 minutes and just 36-meters) crossed the disputed Yellow Sea border with South Korea, while tracking Chinese fishing vessels … swiftly retreated after a warning radioed by South Korean naval ships. (rmks: More button-pushing) RUSSIA - ITALY Russian and Italian companies resumed discussion on possible joint development of a non-nuclear 1,000 ton coastal submarine (SSK), optimized for tropical waters … no decisions yet … preliminary “agreement” had been signed already in 2004. (rmks: Okay, this one has my curiosity peaked! Very strange bedfellows in a very interesting situation. This one one could be very interesting for some Med scenarios) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces (aka the Keystone Kops): While it had seemed that there would be no more Russian anti-piracy task group be deployed this year, the MoD now has announced that a Pacific Fleet task group will sail for the Horn of Africa “in early November” … comprised of UDALOY class destroyer RFS MARSHAL SHAPOSHNIKOV, tanker IRKUT and INGUL class salvage tug ALATAU. (rmks: Although RFS ALATU may miss the candlelighting, as it has been listed as "Laid-Up" on several reliable ship listings). SPAIN Spanish Maritime Rescue Service has found 14 bodies in the sea and rescued 17 people after a boat carrying sub-Saharan migrants from Morocco began to sink in the Mediterranean. UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 42 destroyer HMS EDINBURGH stops in Cape Verde as part of her final deployment. (rmks: Heading for South Atlantic patrol) 26 October IRAN (related) Israeli Haaretz: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formed a war cabinet last night that will lead Israel into a confrontation with Iran.” (rmks: Typical liberal press reporting. It probably should have read, "BeBe formed a coalition counsel, to defend the country against a possible Iranian attack." Good on him! Class, this is called leadership) 27 October USA The US Navy will christen its newest (10th) VIRGINIA class attack submarine USS MINNESOTA (SSN 783), during a ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding, in Hampton Roads, Virginia. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS NATO (05 Nov) NATO’s standing mine countermeasure force SNMCMG-1 to conduct clearance of WW-II mines in the Somme Bay … from 05-07 Nov, staging from Boulogne-sur-Mer. (rmks: It amazes me that ordnance is still laying around from the conflict!)
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