February 23, 201214 yr Any chance the USCG icebreaker under study might be a new class of icebreaker, larger? I didn't find any hints during a few Google searches. The Healy has already been around for 14 years so isn't exactly a new design. Thanks!
February 23, 201214 yr Author Been hearing some rumblings about the possibilities of the US going in with Canada on a Deifenbaker class. All of the US's breakers are antiquated. If Canada is planning to build a new hull in Vancouver under NSPS, this might be a way for two birds to be killed with one stone - Canada gets an influx of cash and extends the class (a victor for the economies of scale) and SeaSpan Shipyards can create more jobs for the BC region. Sounds like a win-win to me.
February 23, 201214 yr Author Last of my long weekends coming up. Hope you can make it through to Monday, without an update. Hopefully this can tide you over. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 17 February USA Aircraft carrier JOHN C. STENNIS arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), on return transit from a Middle East deployment. (rmk: Welcome back Johnny Reb!) Source: NIPmail. 18 February USA Africa Partnership Station West 2012: Frigate SIMPSON arrives in Tema (Ghana) to begin training … more than 40 Ghanaian navy personnel, as well as 10 ship riders from other partner nations including Benin, Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of Congo and Togo. (rmk: This has the makings of a good scenario idea!) Source: NIPmail. 19 February GHANA update: As it turns out, the “four new fast patrol boats” reported commissioned on 19 Feb actually are the four China-built boats delivered already in Oct 11. Only now officially commissioned into service by the Ghana president. (rmk: Don’t cha just love weasel words!) Source: NIPmail. 21 February AUSTRALIA Patrol boat LARRAKIA and customs vessel TRITON have intercepted two more boats carrying 198 people between them … bringing total asylum-seeker arrivals this year to 1196, almost four times the number during the same period in 2011. Source: IMO Update. CANADA +++ Submarine VICTORIA back at sea, conducting diving operations off Vancouver Island. Damage to submarine CORNER BROOK “not as bad as it looks” … hole in the hull is only in outer fibreglass shell and does not affect the boat’s structural integrity. (rmk: As I have previously stated numerous times, the anthem for the Canadian submarine service needs to be the Hee Haw classic – “Gloom, Despair and Agon on Me.”) Source: NIPmail. IRAN +++ Indian shipping firms will face problems importing Iranian crude oil after European Union sanctions come into effect on 01 July. European insurers will be prohibited from indemnifying ships carrying Iranian oil. Indian companies might look to Chinese insurers. +++ In a symbolic political move, India and China have cut their oil imports from Iran by 10 percent. +++ Iranian general warns “will pre-emptively strike anyone who threatens Iran”. +++ Some confusion on the Iranian navy visit to Tartus: several Media quoting US Pentagon press speaker that NAGHDI and KHARG never berthed at any Syrian port; just passed the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean only to return two days later. (rmk: Possible game of deliberate disinformation going on?) Source: NIPmail. USA Amphibious assault ship BONHOMME RICHARD arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) … heading from San Diego to Sasebo (Japan) to relieve forward deployed sister ship ESSEX. Source: NIPmail. ISRAEL The first of three DOLPHIN-II (AIP) class submarines has begun first pier-side tests at HDW shipyard in Kiel (Germany) … protected by police boats. Boat was rolled out of building hall on 17 Feb and put to water on 19 Feb. Source: NIPmail. NATO Standing NATO Mine Counter Measure Group 2 (SNMCMG2) begins a visit to Algiers (Algeria) … until 24 Feb. Source: NIPmail. NIGERIA (multinational) The Nigerian navy is hosting four-day multinational exercise “Obangame Express 2012” … in the Gulf of Guinea … foreign nation participants from Benin, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, France, Gabon, Ghana, Italy, Republic of Congo, Sao Tome & Principe, Spain, Togo, USA. Four “warships” from Nigerian navy, other participants deployed naval vessels or sent observers. (rmk: More scenario fodder) Source: NIPmail. NORTH KOREA – CHINA China plans to spend $3 billion to build a three-pier terminal in a special economic zone bordering North Korea and a 34-mile cross-border railroad linking the port to the Chinese northeastern city of Tumen … also construct a power station and airfield in Rason. Source: NIPmail. PAKISTAN Nine months after terrorists attacked a Pakistan naval air station and destroyed the two only operational Pakistan navy P-3C Orion, another two such aircraft were delivered from US … funded through US foreign military sales … at least two more aircraft to follow. (rmk: Interesting, they won’t take hard cash in FMF but the will take our planes.) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Arabian Sea: unverified reports suggest that, besides MV FAINA, a second UAE-owned cargo vessel, the SAVINA-FAHAD, may have been hijacked this week …reportedly seized in the Indian Ocean while carrying a load of charcoal from the Somali town of Kismayo. Source: IMO Update. SENEGAL – SPAIN During a ceremony at the navy arsenal in Cartagena (Spain), the Spanish navy transfers decommissioned patrol boat CONEJERA to the Senegalese navy. Source: NIPmail. SOUTH KOREA – USA Eleven US and South Korean warships, along with a half-dozen aircraft, have begun their previously announced five-day anti-submarine warfare exercises in the Yellow Sea … officials give no details, just state that activities will remain well clear from the disputed maritime border between the two Koreas. Source: NIPmail. USA 7th Fleet command ship BLUE RIDGE departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) for patrol. (rmk: Possibly to participate in upcoming bilateral exercises with South Korea) Source: NIPmail. 22 February IRAN IAEA inspectors end their visit to Iran, reportedly without being given a chance to inspect nuclear facilities nor any concessions. Iranian official: the IAEA team “did not come to inspect sites but just hold talks”. (rmk: Don’t you just love the Iranians. Hmm, I wonder if they have something to hide?) Source: NIPmail. BRAZIL One sailor died and two suffered burns in a fire aboard aircraft carrier SAO PAULO … fire was of “small proportions” and broke out in crew quarters in the vessel’s stern. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: After being relieved by destroyers MURASAME and HARUSAME, Japanese navy destroyers TAKANAMI and OONAMI have ended their anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa a few days ago and commenced home transit. Enroute arrive at Colombo (Sri Lanka) for a scheduled port visit. Source: IMO Update. POLAND Construction of GAWRON corvette (MEKI A-100 design) reportedly suspended … allocated funds said to be redesignated for acquisition of a new submarine. (rmk: This is interesting!) Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA (NORWAY) Russian chief of General Staff, Gen Makarov, has warned Norway not to get pulled into a possible “area of conflict” by bowing to U.S. pressure to upgrade its NANSEN class Aegis frigates with ballistic missile defence capable missiles. (rmk: They’re back! Ahh, it’s looks like the Russians are letting their mask slip) Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA Baltic Fleet submarines will relocate from their current base in Kronshtadt to the main naval base in Baltiysk … after necessary infrastructure has been built there. Source: NIPmail. TAIWAN The two Dutch-built SEA DRAGON class submarines will be armed with Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles (imported from USA) … next year. (rmk: I see an update to the HUCE DB coming on this one) Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM South Korea’s Daewoo (DSME) has been named preferred bidder to build, in South Korea, four 37,000-ton auxiliary oilers (Project MARS) using a design from British BMT Defence Services … no British companies had submitted final bids to build the vessels … the first of the double-hulled vessels is scheduled to be delivered in 2016. Source: Naval Today: http://navaltoday.com/2012/02/23/south-kor...ability-tanker/ USA +++ Just four months after its formal acceptance by the Navy, the MZ-3A airship (“blimp”) is to be deflated and stored again … program suspended to save money and due to “lack of a mission.” (rmk: Your tax dollars at work) +++ Reports on a visit to Dubai (UAE) suggest some ships of the CARL VINSON Carrier Strike Group, possibly also the carrier itself, have - routinely - entered the Persian Gulf. (rmk: Nah, get outta here! We actually have carriers in the Gulf? Aren’t we afraid of offending the Iranians) Source: NIPmail.
February 23, 201214 yr CANADA+++ Submarine VICTORIA back at sea, conducting diving operations off Vancouver Island. Damage to submarine CORNER BROOK “not as bad as it looks” … hole in the hull is only in outer fibreglass shell and does not affect the boat’s structural integrity. (rmk: As I have previously stated numerous times, the anthem for the Canadian submarine service needs to be the Hee Haw classic – “Gloom, Despair and Agon on Me.”) Link to their latest status here. In a symbolic political move, India and China have cut their oil imports from Iran by 10 percent. Contrast with India lets US down on Iran (from The Diplomat). Construction of GAWRON corvette (MEKI A-100 design) reportedly suspended … allocated funds said to be redesignated for acquisition of a new submarine. (rmk: This is interesting!) Again?! Oy. Russian chief of General Staff, Gen Makarov, has warned Norway not to get pulled into a possible “area of conflict” by bowing to U.S. pressure to upgrade its NANSEN class Aegis frigates with ballistic missile defence capable missiles. (rmk: They’re back! Ahh, it’s looks like the Russians are letting their mask slip) Chatted about this with Tony on IRC. I think the Nansen have the tactical length canisters for their Mk 41 VLS. So, they'd either need to swap out for strike length, install a new Mk 41 (with strike length cells) in the space already provided, and/or buy SM-6 when it becomes available), as well as update the SPY-1F. That's a fair bit of effort (read: cash). TAIWANThe two Dutch-built SEA DRAGON class submarines will be armed with Sub-Harpoon anti-ship missiles (imported from USA) … next year. (rmk: I see an update to the HUCE DB coming on this one) Already in there. Just need to change the in-service date from 2009.
February 24, 201214 yr Been hearing some rumblings about the possibilities of the US going in with Canada on a Deifenbaker class. All of the US's breakers are antiquated. If Canada is planning to build a new hull in Vancouver under NSPS, this might be a way for two birds to be killed with one stone - Canada gets an influx of cash and extends the class (a victor for the economies of scale) and SeaSpan Shipyards can create more jobs for the BC region. Sounds like a win-win to me. A joint effort with the Diefenbaker project would seem to make good sense, as long as folks south don't go crazy with the 'Buy American' approach. As far as USCG funding for a new icebreaker goes ... The service is asking for $8 million in 2013 to begin the program, and a total of $860 million through 2017 for research, design and development and construction. The icebreaker funding plan will ask for $120 million in 2014; $380 million in 2015; $270 million in 2016; and $82 million in 2017. (from DefenseNews ... but two new National Security Cutters are gone.
February 27, 201214 yr Author Brad, Really goof stuff! Your right that the unions will likely have a hissy-fit. We all know that American shipyards and steel ndustry are "infant industries" (even though they've been in existence for over a 100-years - that's some pretty old babies, by the way). I think they need to grow-up and finally learn the cold, hard truth about life in this great big world we live in - Life is not far. In business you have to compete, to succeed.
February 28, 201214 yr Author Been busy "making sausage" for the last few days. Sorry if you've gone into withdrawls. Here are the summaries for the last few days: 24 February IRAN +++ Japan's main shipping insurer will only be able to provide a fraction of the coverage to tankers transporting Iranian oil under new European Union sanctions US media: the US military has informed Congress of plans to preposition new mine-detection and clearing equipment and expand surveillance capabilities in the area of the Strait of Hormuz. (rmk: This may be nothing new but just referring to earlier plans i.e. PONCE) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY +++ Somalia: UN Office on Drugs and Crime counts about 3,500 Somali people working as pirates … many more than the 2,000 figure commonly cited in counter-piracy campaigns. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: British frigate WESTMINSTER has arrived off the Horn of Africa … joining multinational CTF-151 for anti-piracy operations. RUSSIA +++ Russian Main Naval Staff to relocate from Moscow to St. Petersburg in March “after presidential elections.” Source: NIPmail. +++ After weeks of controversy and speculation, Russia's Northern Fleet admitted that DELTA IV-class submarine YEKATERINBURG indeed had its nuclear ballistic missiles on board when fire broke out on 29 Dec while dry-docked in Murmansk. Source: Jane's. SOUTH AFRICA Spanish Navantia teams up with South African Veercraft Marine … prepare joint bid for Offshore Patrol Vessels and Inshore Patrol Vessels for the South Africa Navy’s “Project Biro”. Source: NIPmail. USA +++ The 2013 budget request for the US Coast Guard does provide for a sixth BERTHOLF class ship. The service’s five-year capital investment plan, however, shows no money for any more such ships. (rmk: a total of at least eight had been planned). Source: NIPmail. +++ 7th Fleet flag ship BLUE RIDGE arrives at Busan (South Korea). Source: NIPmail. +++ During a ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the US Marine Corps (2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501) introduced the F-35B Lightning II aircraft into its fleet. Source: NIPmail. 25 February BRAZIL Two Brazilian sailors died and one was injured when trying to extinguish a fire broke out in the engine room of the Brazilian Antarctic “Comandante Ferraz” station on King George Island … media report Antarctic station “basically destroyed” … with the “core housing all technical installations” gone in the blaze ... all personnel evacuated … Chilean navy salvage tug LAUTARO and helicopters as well as Argentine navy research vessel PUERTO DESEADO assisted in fire fighting and evacuation … Brazilian government determined to quickly rebuild facility. Source: NIPmail. LEBANON (UNIFIL) During a ceremony in port Beirut, Brazilian RAdm Luiz Henrique Caroli hands over command of UNIFIL’s Maritime Task Force to (also Brazilian) RAdm Wagner Lopes de Moraes Zamith … on board Brazilian navy frigate UNIAO, currently flag ship to UNIFIL MTF. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Source: IMO Update. +++ Southern Red Sea: The Iranian navy (rmks: embarked protection detachment?) claims to have thwarted an attack by six skiffs on an Iranian tanker … 35nm north of the Bab el Mandeb … “swift action forced the pirates to flee”. (rmks: may have been harmless fishermen driven out of the way of the tanker). +++ Arabian Sea: Singapore flagged small container vessel KOTA ARIF reports under attack from pirates 90 nm southeast of the coast of Oman … vessel protection team on board … NATO orders Italian Frigate GRECALE towards the position. +++ India (update): Indian police have searched Italian tanker ENRICA LEXIE … still anchored off Kochi … confiscated a number of weapons found on board … for forensic examination (try to find the weapon that killed two Indian fishermen). +++ Somalia (update): eight suspected pirates temporarily detained on board German combat support ship BERLIN (following an attack on tanker NORTH STAR on 22 Feb) have been released at the Somalia coast … due to lack of evidence. THE KOREAS North Korea has threatened to stage a “sacred war” over upcoming US-South Korean annual joint military exercise “Key Resolve” … denouncing the drill as a “silent declaration of war”. Source: NIPmail. 26 February GHANA Refurbishing (in Wilhelmshaven) of two former German Navy TYPE 143 missile boats for the Ghana navy seems nearly complete, although no weaponry installed yet … one boat pictured with hull number P 39 and name NAA GBEWAA, second boat (behind P39 and mostly covered from view) probably hull number P38; name not visible. Source: NIPmail. IRAN British (i.e. tabloid) media: British intelligence sees Iranian – Israeli war “inevitable” … giving a timeframe of “18 – 24months” … Royal Navy said to have begun “drawing up war plans”. (rmk: The is one of those things that make you go hmmmm). Source: NIPmail. PAKISTAN Frigate BABUR has begun a goodwill tour of the Persian Gulf … expected in Jubail (Saudi Arabia) on 03 Mar for a five-day visit and some training with local Saudi Arabian navy. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: US Navy destroyer McFAUL sails from Norfolk, Va., for counter-piracy operations in the Arabian Sea (rmks: To possibly join multinational CTF-151) Source: IMO Update. SOUTH KOREA – USA Bilateral exercise “Key Resolve” kicks off … until 09 Mar … command post exercise, mainly computerized, involving about 200,000 South Korean troops and 2,100 U.S. troops. Separately, joint air, ground and naval field training exercise “Foal Eagle” will be held in March and April with about 11,000 U.S. forces along with South Korean troops in division-sized or smaller units. (rmk: Both exercises are long standing annual routine, although North Korea always portraits them as immediate war preparation). Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA Ministry of defence approves series production of new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) Lijner. (rmk: Variant of SS-N-23 to be installed on DELTA-IV class submarines) Source: NIPmail. USA +++ Africa Partnership Station 2012: Frigate SIMPSON arrives in Lagos, Nigeria. Source: NIPmail. +++ Austal USA in Mobile, Ala., has been contracted with building Joint High Speed Vessels (JHSV) 8 and 9 … to be completed by April 2016. Source: NIPmail. 27 February AUSTRALIA The United States has indicated for the first time it would be willing to lease or sell nuclear submarines (VIRGINIA class) to Australia. Source: NIPmail. CANADA VAdm Maddison: Submarine VICTORIA will complete test firing of its first torpedoes next week and be followed by WINDSOR in the fall – thus by early 2013 there will be operational submarines on both coasts. (rmk: And if pigs had wings the would fly. No offense, Brad!) Source: NIPmail. INDIA +++ The Government has given a go-ahead for construction of two more indigenous nuclear-powered ARIHANT-class submarines. Source: NIPmail. +++ The government has finally approved acquisition of nine advanced medium range maritime reconnaissance (MRMR) aircraft, which will cost upwards of $1 billion … the MRMR planes will be in addition to long-range (LRMR) P-8i aircraft already being acquired. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Source: IMO Update. +++ General: India will make a fresh appeal before the London-based Joint War Committee, a body of insurance underwriters, to exclude India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) from the war zone notification … there have been no piracy incidents in Indian waters for the last nine months … Inclusion of India's EEZ in the “war zone” has resulted in higher premiums on insurance cover, affecting local Indian shipping. +++ General: EU foreign ministers extended anti-piracy mission “Atalanta” until December 2014, but did not act on plans to attack pirate gangs on land as well as at sea. +++ South Africa: The growing piracy problem in the Indian Ocean has forced the government to consider reopening the naval base on Durban’s Salisbury Island as a hub for anti-piracy operations. +++ Gulf of Oman: Pirates in three skiffs chase a container ship in the most northern edge of the Gulf of Oman, close to the Strait of Hormuz … embarked private security team successfully deterred them with warning shots. +++ General: UK and Netherlands have agreed to jointly fund Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecutions Intelligence Coordination Centre (RAPPICC) … to be established in the Seychelles … will coordinate and analyse intelligence to inform tactical law enforcement options, including the turning of intelligence into useable evidence for prosecutions both in the region and further afield. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Spanish navy DESCUBIERTA class corvette INFANTA ELENA joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. SINGAPORE – MALAYSIA The Singapore navy is hosting bilateral exercise “Malapura” with the Malaysian navy … until 07 Mar … conventional naval warfare and maritime security operations in the Malacca Strait … Singapore participating with frigate FORMIDABLE, corvette VALOUR and patrol vessel BRAVE, Malaysian navy deployed frigate JEBAT and patrol vessels TERENGGANU and SELANGOR. 22nd edition of “Malapura”, held since 1984. Source: NIPmail. USA The JOHN C STENNIS Carrier Strike Group returns to San Diego, ending their Mid-East deployment started on 25 Jul 2011 … STENNIS to continue for home port Bremerton. Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA – NORWAY (May) The Russian Northern Fleet and the Norwegian Navy will conduct their annual bilateral exercise “Pomor-2012” in May … in Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea. Source: NIPmail.
February 28, 201214 yr Been busy "making sausage" for the last few days.... CANADA VAdm Maddison: Submarine VICTORIA will complete test firing of its first torpedoes next week and be followed by WINDSOR in the fall – thus by early 2013 there will be operational submarines on both coasts. (rmk: And if pigs had wings the would fly. No offense, Brad!) Should I expect sausage if they manage to pull it off? The United States has indicated for the first time it would be willing to lease or sell nuclear submarines (VIRGINIA class) to Australia. Well, since we appear to have spent $1.75 billion on the Victoria class thus far, without appreciable success, we could have managed to buy just one operational Virginia. (Which, I think, would have been money better spent). During a ceremony at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., the US Marine Corps (2nd Marine Aircraft Wing's Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501) introduced the F-35B Lightning II aircraft into its fleet. But they won't fly until late March.
March 1, 201214 yr Author Hopefully, everyone had an enjoyable leap year day. It's hard to believe we are now in March (where does the time go!) Time never rests ... with that let's see what's happening with the world's navies. Summary to follow ... 27 February DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The US Southern Command will finance construction of a naval base and dock on Saona Island … to curb drug trafficking and migrant smuggling … investing US$1.5 million. (rmk: Itw will be interesting to see where the manning for this base comes from, with the RIFs (reductions in force) taking place) Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA The Russian navy purchase eight autonomous unmanned submersibles produced by Teledyn Gavia (Iceland) … suitable for reconnaissance and hydrographical research … three to be delivered this year, the remainder five to follow in 2013-2014. (rmk: Likely to be used in the Arctic region, as it is a new pot that is moving to slow boil) Source: NIPmail. INDIA MoD has approved limited series production of initially nine Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) … for indigenous (under construction) aircraft carrier VIKRANT. Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 45 destroyer DARING has arrived in the Red Sea / Gulf of Aden … joined multi-national CTF 150 in anti-terror operations. Source: NIPmail. USA +++ General Dynamics NASSCO (San Diego) is being awarded contract for third Mobile Landing Platform ship … to be completed by January 2015. Source: NIPmail. +++ By-lines to images published at the US Navy website imply aircraft carrier CARL VINSON still operating inside the Persian Gulf. (rmk: Will likely neither confirm or deny) Source: NIPmail. 28 February CHINA Photos published in the Internet show a J-15 combat aircraft on the flight deck of ex-VARYAG aircraft carrier … possible a full size model for practising aircraft handling. J-15 (Flanker clone) is under development, expected to be fielded not before 2016. Source: Kanwa News. PIRACY (rmk: Obviously the pirates aren't letting barnacles grow on their ships keels!) Source: IMO Update. +++ Gulf of Aden: Pirates attack Marshall Islands-flagged cargo vessel SPILIANI … embarked security team thwarts boarding. EUNavFor deploys German combat support ship BERLIN to position … intercepts skiff and obviously hijacked dhow … no boarding due to hostage situation. +++ Arabian Sea: A dhow was hijacked approximately 150nm north of Socotra island. (rmks: Probably for use as mother ship). +++ Somalia: Small cargo vessel LEILA, hijacked last week, has arrived at the Somalia coast … initially off Bargal (Puntland) where local residents, however, “persuaded” the pirates to move on. Now anchoring off pirate stronghold Eyl. +++ Somalia: Pirates and ship owner reportedly agreed on a $4 million ransom for Malaysian-flagged cargo ship ALBEDO (hijacked on 26 Nov in the Indian Ocean, west of the Maldives). Ransom to be delivered “soon”. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces (update): 11th Chinese task group sailing from North Sea Fleet base Qingdao also includes JIANGKAI-II class frigate YANTAI. +++ Somalia: Danish navy multi-purpose shop ABSALON (NATO) intercepts suspicious dhow just leaving the Somalia coast … did not react to orders nor warning shots, finally stopped by direct gun fire … turned out to be hijacked vessel with 18 Iranian/Pakistani hostages on board … two hostages killed (rmks: Circumstances unclear yet), the other 16 safe … 17 suspected pirates arrested and detained on board ABSALON … trying to find regional country willing to prosecute them. (rmks: no prosecution possible under Danish national law) +++ Bab el Mandeb: Pirates in two skiffs attack and fire at merchant vessel … ship manages to escape. +++ Arabian Sea: Skiff with suspected pirates (boarding ladders sighted) approaches merchant ship some 120 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman), but turns off again. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: 11th Chinese task group departs North Sea Fleet … images show destroyer QINGDAO (LUHU class) and supply ship WEISHAN HU (FUCHI class) in farewell ceremony. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate LA MOTTE PICQUET returns to home port Brest, ending a 4-month deployment to the Middle East, which included temporary assignment to EU NavFor in support of operation “Atalanta” FRANCE Destroyer GEORGES LEYGUES sails from Toulon for Brest … for upcoming “Mission Jeanne d’Arc” cadet training cruise, to commence on 05 Mar (rmk: Together with new MISTRAL class helicopter carrier DIXMUDE). Source: NIPmail. MEXICO EADS North America has delivered the second of four Airbus Military CN235-300 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to be supplied to the Mexican Navy. Source: NIPmail. USA Engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren have fired the first industry-built electromagnetic railgun (EM Railgun) prototype launcher … commencing an evaluation that is an important intermediate step toward a future ship-borne tactical weapon with a range of 50 – 100 miles. Source: NIPmail. 29 February IRAN India allegedly “may ask Iran to take responsibility” (rmks: provide insurance) for delivering crude, allowing domestic refiners to avoid arranging insurance on the shipments. Source: NIPmail. JAPAN – CHINA China expressed dissatisfaction over Japan's unilateral marine research in disputed areas (claimed by Japan to part of its EEZ) of the East China Sea … on 28 Feb, a Chinese vessel radioed the Japanese Coast Guard ship TAKUYO to stop activities. Source: NIPmail. JAPAN Japan will provide “development assistance” to South East Asian coastal countries (rmk: Read that ASEAN), to help boost their capabilities for securing shipping lanes. (rmks: Claiming the South China Sea as territorial waters, China certainly won’t be amused) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Nigeria: An armed gang raided a Curacao-flagged cargo ship at anchor off Port Harcourt (Nigeria) … robbing valuables at gunpoint and kidnapping two crew members. Source: IMO Update. RUSSIA +++ Update: Northern Fleet may expect the first four out of 24 new carrier capable Fulcrum-D combat aircraft next year … will be training version MiG-29KUB. Source: NIPmail. +++ According to “sources close to the navy”, there are still obstacles to relocating the main naval staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg … among them high costs (some 70 million Euro) and “unresolved problems of social and domestic arrangement” (no housing yet for officers). (rmk: The Moscow version of the “never ending story”) Source: NIPmail. +++ Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) starts construction of KRIVAK-IV class frigate ADMIRAL MAKAROV … last ship in first 3-ship batch (other two ADMIRAL GRIGOROVICH, ADMIRAL ESSEN in various stages of construction) … all three to be delivered by 2014 (rmks: rather optimistic schedule) … in 2011, Yantar had received orders for a second batch of another three ships. Source: NIPmail. +++ Defense Minister Serdyukov signed contract with MiG Aircraft Corporation for acquisition of 20 MiG-29K and 4 MiG-29KUB naval combat aircraft … to operate from aircraft carrier … deliveries between 2013 and 2015. Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS INDIA (04 Mar) DRDO is preparing for two tests of submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-15 from an underwater platform off the Andhra Pradesh coast … first test scheduled for 04 Mar, the second between 16 and 19 Mar. (rmk: Likely a milestone as part of the ARIHANT and follow-on SSBNX program). Source: NIPmail.
March 2, 201214 yr Author Ah, another weekend is upon us! Hope everyone has some plans that include some liesure time. I have to help my kids with their science fair projects! Here your update of significant navy events from around the globe. Summary to follow ... 28 February USA In exercising an option, the US Navy has ordered GD Bath Iron Works to build another ARLEIGH BURKE class destroyer (DDG-116). (rmk: Hark, I think the bell tolling on the Zumwalt program, for the time being) Source: NIPmail. 29 February INDIA The Indian navy is set to formally introduce new indigenous light-weight anti-submarine torpedo TAL … 2.75 m, 220 kg, 50kg warhead … may be launched from ships, helicopters or aircraft. (rmk: These fish may be deployed on their proposed new ASW patrol vessel) Source: NIPmail. IRAN Official statement: “Power of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Navy increased after it received renovated and optimized TONDAR class missile-launching frigates.” (rmks: Modernized Chinese-built HUDONG class missile boats) … for a “total of about 1 (rmks: Yoiu paid what????) million dollars the vessels' bodies, engines, fire-extinguishing systems, control systems, radar and defensive systems have all been optimized”. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Source: IMO Update +++ Nigeria: Pirates attacked a Nigerian-owned oil tanker about 80 nm off Port Harcourt … ship managed to escape after increasing speed and initiating anti-piracy measures. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: German frigate LUEBECK temporarily left EUNavFor … deploying to South Africa for bilateral exercise “Good Hope” with the South African navy. First phase (until 10 Mar) of this exercise conducted together with SAN frigate ISANDLWANA focused on anti-piracy operations off the coast of Mozambique and. Enroute, the frigate made a short stop over in Mombasa (Kenya) where it had a slight collision with a civilian ferry. No injuries, damage is being repaired. UNITED KINGDOM VANGUARD class strategic nuclear submarine (SSBN) VENGEANCE is preparing for a three-and-a-half year overhaul incl nuclear refill, while sister boat VIGILANT is about to end such overhaul. Source: Naval Today - http://navaltoday.com/2012/03/02/uk-hms-ve...res-for-revamp/ VIETNAM – CHINA Vietnam has accused China of assaulting its fishermen in the South China Sea … used force to threaten 11 Vietnamese fishermen on Feb. 22, preventing them from entering the Paracel islands to avoid a storm … assaulted them and tried to take their property. Vietnam lodged a formal protest with the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi. (rmk: Another example of the naval version of the Love & Respect crazt cycle!) Source: NIPmail.
March 5, 201214 yr Author How was everyone's weekend? So begins another week and to kick it off, here is your NNSotD! Summary to follow ... 28 February GERMANY Two decommissioned TYPE 206A submarines (U-22, U-29) are offered for sale (scrapping); already completely demilitarized. (rmk: Older boats, already taken out of service in 2006 resp. 2008. Not among the six recently offered to Thailand or Colombia) Source: NIPmail. 29 February PIRACY Nigeria (update): attack on Curacao-flagged cargo ship at anchor off Port Harcourt (Nigeria) and abduction of crew members conducted by a group associated with MEND rebels. (rmk: Blasted pirates are like cockroaches!) Source: IMO Update. 01 March AUSTRALIA Frigate BALLARAT sails for five-month deployment around Australia and to North East Asia … first participate in Exercise “Triton Storm 2” off Western Australia, then continue for Asia with visits scheduled to Singapore, China and South Korea. Source: NIPmail. 02 March INDIA Russian Sevmash shipyard confirms schedule for aircraft carrier VIKRAMADITYA (former ADMIRAL GORSHKOV) … as planned, ship will commence sea trials in May to be delivered in December this year. (rmk: BTW, congrats to Czar (I mean) President (and likely for life) V. Putin) Source: NIPmail. IRAN +++ Iranian super tanker DELVAR loaded with 1.5 million barrels of crude arrived at Shell's Singapore refinery to discharge its cargo. (rmk: A sign any embargo is not yet in force) Source: NIPmail. +++ Indian tanker MAHARAJA AGRASEN had to cancel already booked transport of Iranian crude as the ship owner could not get the necessary insurance coverage. (rmk: Obviously, Iran is a big liability. Iran is India's second-biggest supplier of oil, with some US$11B a year in shipments meeting about 12 percent of India's crude import needs) Source: NIPmail. +++ Iranian (rmk: Privately-owned, wink-wink) Kish Protection & Indemnity Club, the main insurer for Iran's biggest oil tanker fleet, is confident to provide insurance also for Western tankers transporting Iranian crude oil … unfortunately; however, US sanctions bar any payment through Iran’s central bank – which the company uses for its financial transactions. Source: NIPmail. IRAQ US company RiverHawk is preparing two 60-m offshore support vessels (OSVs) for delivery to the Iraqi navy. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Gulf of Oman: Pirates in one skiff attack merchant vessel in the southern Gulf of Oman … manages to escape. The last two weeks have seen an increase in pirate activity off the eastern Omani coast. Source: IMO Update. RUSSIA RB-42, the first of three new Project 90600 tugs built by Pella shipyard (St. Petersburg), has arrived at the Baltic Fleet main base Baltiysk; the other two to be based at the Leningrad Naval Base. Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM Tough choices looming … (re-)deciding for STOVL F-35B carrier aircraft may actually come cheaper than re-designing the new QUEEN ELIZABETH aircraft carriers to accommodate the conventional F-35C variant. Source: NIPmail. USA With return to home port Bremerton, aircraft carrier JOHN C STENNIS completes her seven-month deployment. Source: NIPmail. 03 March CHINA Published budget shows China will boost military spending by 11.2 percent this year. (rmk: Standby for news concerning new builds and other programs) Source: NIPmail. INDIA Ministry of defence: no private sector shipyard in the country has the infrastructure and capability required for building planned Project 75i submarines … contract to be divided between foreign shipyards and the defence public sector with the first two Project 75i submarines to be built abroad by the foreign vendor that wins the MoD contract. Source: NIPmail. IRAN +++ Ahead of sanctions coming into force this summer, Japan and Spain already reduced Iranian oil imports and switched to Saudi crude. Source: NIPmail. +++ With many international shipping agencies, due to sanctions, unable to insure their tankers when carrying Iranian crude, Iranian tankers seem trying to fill the void. A number of Iranian tankers usually serving as mere “floating storage sites” currently underway to serve foreign customers. Source: NIPmail. 04 March CHINA Flight deck of aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG, currently berthed in Dalian, cleared from containers and working equipment. (rmk: Ship may be readying for another round of sea trials) Source: NIPmail. USA (IRAN) US Navy patrol boat FIREBOLT and US Coast Guard cutter MAUI rescued an Iranian merchant seaman and recovered the bodies of three others after their dhow capsized during rough weather in the Gulf. Survivor and bodies handed over to Iranian coast guard. Source: NIPmail.
March 8, 201214 yr Author Busy, busy, busy. Lots of stuff going on. Summary to follow ... 03 March SPAIN Research ship HESPERIDES has completed annual Antarctic campaign and commences home transit. Source: NIPmail. USA Amphibious assault ship BONHOMME RICHARD arrives at Guam for a scheduled port visit … eventually proceed to Sasebo (Japan) to relieve sister ship ESSEX. Source: NIPmail. 04 March USA Forward (Japan) based ESSEX Amphibious Ready Group (ESSEX, TORTUGA, DENVER) embarks more than 2,000 Marines of the 31st MEU in Okinawa for amphibious integration training (AIT), and certification exercise (CERTEX). Source: NIPmail. 05 March BANGLADESH Transfer of two Chinese second-hand JIANGHU class frigates “pending.” (rmk: China extends its arms sales reach into the IO region even farther) Source: NIPmail. MYANMAR China reportedly plans transferring two JIANGHU class frigates (namely JIANGHU-I 554 ANSHUN and JIANGHU-II 557 JISHOU) to the Myanmar navy. (rmk: CC from above) Source: NIPmail. PAKISTAN Frigate BABUR docks at Jubail (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Somalia: The Transitional Federal Government’s MoD announces the establishment of the “Somali Anti Piracy Task Force Coast Guard”, in association with Nairobi-based private security company Halliday Finch International … will be part of the Somali National Security Forces, and will consist of land, sea and air components. (rmk: And the pirates quake in fear, NOT!) Source: IMO Update. 06 March AUSTRALIA +++ Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepted a boat carrying 26 suspected asylum seekers north-west of Christmas Island. Source: NIPmail. +++ Indonesian police detains 67 allegedly illegal asylum seekers from Palestine, about to board a boat destined for Australian Christmas Island. Source: NIPmail. BANGLADESH Two 600-ton patrol craft being built at Wuchang Shipyard (China) for the Bangladesh navy reportedly completed; delivery expected soon. Source: NIPmail. BENIN French OCEA is building three patrol boats (variant of FPB 98 Mk1 built for Algeria) for the Benin navy … names given as ALIBORI (hull number P 109), OUEME and ZOU. First boat in final outfitting; all three probably to be delivered this year. Source: NIPmail. IRAN +++ Ships stranded outside Iran’s main food cargo terminal at Bandar Imam Khomeini due to western sanctions finally diverted to new destinations … in late January as much as 400,000 tonnes of grain were being held up on ten vessels, as EU sanctions froze the assets of Iran’s central banks and held up payments for consignments. (rmk: Let them eat oil) Source: NIPmail. +++ Deputy armed forces commander: New indigenous built submarine FATEH “will be put into operation in the beginning of new Iranian Year” which starts on 21 Mar (rmk: Should equal project QAEEM) … “after the FATEH submarine is released, Iran plans to start making a 1,200 ton BESAT submarine” - in a few years, if their shipbuilding infrastructure survives air strikes) Source: NIPmail. LATVIA Newly built SKRUNDRA class patrol boat CESIS probably on transfer voyage from Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard at Lemwerder (near Bremen, Germany) to Latvia. Source: NIPmail. NIGERIA French OCEA has all but completed the first of three 24-m patrol boats ordered by the Nigerian navy … hull number P 175. Two more under construction. Acquisition program also includes two SHALDAG fast interceptor craft from Israel. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Source: IO Update +++ Gulf of Aden: Pirates in one skiff try to hijack merchant ship in the eastern entrance to the Gulf of Aden (200nm southwest of Salalah, Oman) … embarked armed security team repels attack. +++ Somalia: Somali pirates holding Panama-flagged cargo vessel LEILA (hijacked last month) have called for fellow pirates jailed in Somaliland to be freed in return for the ship's release. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Singapore will deploy a TRIDENT-class frigate with a naval helicopter task group to the Gulf of Aden … in the second half of 2012. (rmk: And the pirates quake in fear, NOT!) +++ General: The United States has handed over 15 suspected Somali pirates to Seychelles to stand trial … were detained in January when the US Navy rescued 13 Iranian fishermen abducted in the Arabian Sea and held hostage for more than a month. RUSSIA “Defence industry sources”: no reactivation / modernization of TYPHOON class submarines SEVERSTAL and ARKHANGELSK due to financial constraints. DMITRIY DONSKOY to be retained as testbed. Source: NIPmail. SOUTH KOREA – USA +++ Bilateral joint air, ground and naval field training exercise “Foal Eagle” kicks off … until April … about 11,000 US forces along with South Korean troops in division-sized or smaller units. Source: NIPmail. +++ South Korean destroyers SEJONG DAEWAN and CHUNGMUGONG YI SHUN-SHIN in exercises with US Navy 7th Fleet flag ship BLUE RIDGE … in the Sea of Japan. Source: NIPmail. USA +++ Boeing has delivered the first production P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to the US Navy … US Navy ordered an initial batch of 13 -- on top of six flight-test and two ground-test airplanes -- and ultimately plans to buy 117. The first ones are set to enter operational service. Source: NIPmail. +++ New US Navy aircraft carriers getting more expensive. GERALD R. FORD (under construction), which FY 2014 and FY 2015 … and total could increase further. Cost projection for JOHN F. KENNEDY has jumped from $10.3 billion in FY 2012 to $11.4 billion in FY 2013. Source: NIPmail. +++ Southern Partnership Station 2012: HSV 2 SWIFT departs Cap-Haitien, Haiti … the final stop of its four-month mission. Source: NIPmail. 07 March RUSSIA +++ General Makarov: "If there appears such possibility we will order two additional project 955 (BOREJ class) and two extra project 855 (YASEN class) submarines." (rmk: on the other hand, there are some indications that Russia may be facing a financial squeeze, but who cares, Czar Vladimir Putin is now in power and he will likely follow thru on campaign promises to modernize the military) Source: NIPmail. +++ RUSSIA – NETHERLANDS: Russian navy commander, Admiral Vysotsky, begins three-day visit to the Netherlands, the first such visit since WWII. Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS PHILIPPINES – USA (16 Apr) Annual bilateral exercise “Balikatan” scheduled from 16-27 Apr at and off Palawan, at the South China Sea “within Philippine territorial waters” (rmks: which, by the way, China also claims its territorial waters) … mock exercise involving the retaking of an oil rig seized by terrorists … 4,500 US soldiers to participate (rmk: Number would indicate deployment of an Amphibious Ready Group) Source: NIPmail. RUSSIA – UKRAINE (May) During a meeting Russian and Ukrainian defence ministers agreed to conduct joint military drills this year, among them naval exercises in the Black Sea in May. Source: NIPmail.
March 9, 201214 yr I must say I don't quite understand this supposed Russian financial squeeze. The price of oil continues to climb, that means more dineros for Russia. Sure their own fuel costs rise but really, it should be a huge net gain. Czar Putin (does have a nice ring to it) just has to hope the military in his pocket can trump the proletariat masses yearning for iPads.
March 9, 201214 yr Author I must say I don't quite understand this supposed Russian financial squeeze. The price of oil continues to climb, that means more dineros for Russia. Sure their own fuel costs rise but really, it should be a huge net gain. Czar Putin (does have a nice ring to it) just has to hope the military in his pocket can trump the proletariat masses yearning for iPads. You all fail to realize an estimated 40% of the defense budget evaporates because of the leadership and defense industr big wigs are padding their Swiss bank accounts! 40%, that's huge! FWFS, Greg
March 9, 201214 yr I must say I don't quite understand this supposed Russian financial squeeze. The price of oil continues to climb, that means more dineros for Russia. Sure their own fuel costs rise but really, it should be a huge net gain. Czar Putin (does have a nice ring to it) just has to hope the military in his pocket can trump the proletariat masses yearning for iPads. I'm no economist but I think the huge reliance on oil exports is perhaps part of the problem. It keeps Russia's boat afloat but the other ongoing issues (corruption is one) keeps the overall investment less than satisfactory. With their economy generally expected to slow, and folks clamoring for "iPads" (maybe an apt symbol for a demand for social services in what is a fairly young population demographically), there comes the 'squeeze'.
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