March 15, 201214 yr Author Sorry its been a couple of days since the last NNSotD, publishing deadlines precluded me from doing any summaries for the last couple of days. This should make up for lost time. Have a great day! Summary to follow ... 01 March VIETNAM The Vietnam navy accepted into service three new patrol vessels – two of them Russia-built SVETLYAK HQ-264 and HQ-265. Source: NIPmail. 07 March Mission Jeanne d’Arc 2012: Two days into this year’s cadet training cruise, helicopter carrier DIXMUDE and destroyer GEORGE LEYGUES have conducted amphibious training off Corsica. (rmk: The French version of an operational deployment) Source: NIPmail. 08 March SWEDEN German P+S shipyard at Wolgast christens KBV-032 LYSEKIL, the second of four new patrol vessels for the Swedish coast guard (other names: KBV-031 DJUROE, KBV-033 OSKARSHAMN, KBV-034 HAERNOESAND). (rmk: More additions to the DB). Source: NIPmail. 09 March EGYPT The second of four US-built Fast Missile Craft on order for the Egyptian navy was launched at VT Halter Marine's shipyard in Pascagoula. (rmk: It wil be interesting to see how the Ambassadors are used as an anchor for reconstituting the EN). Source: NIPmail. IRAN +++ Major customer Royal Dutch Shell will stop buying oil from Iran within several weeks, already ahead of a July deadline imposed by the European Union … analyst estimate Shell has been purchasing around 200,000 barrels of oil per day from Iran, shipping half to Japan and half to Europe. Source: NIPmail. +++ Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee Carl Levin (Dem.): An international naval blockade of Iranian oil exports should be considered before any resort to air strikes. (rmk: International meaning the US). Source: NIPmail. NORTH KOREA North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected navy units at the west coast. (rmk: Must have been a short inspection) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY General: The Asian Shipowners’ Forum has called for a United Nations resolution that would see the international body sponsor and manage armed personnel on board ships sailing through pirate-infested waters. Source: IMO Update. USA +++ Royal Dutch Shell remains confident it will be able to start exploring for oil in the Arctic Ocean off the coast of Alaska this summer. (rmk: Why is everyone else drilling and we are allowing the price of oil to go up, as we have domestic resources just waiting to be tapped. It makes no sense) Source: NIPmail. +++ PERRY class frigate JOHN L. HALL decommissioned at Mayport Naval Station. Source: NIPmail. +++ Adm. Samuel Locklear takes over from Adm. Robert Willard as head of the US Pacific Command in a ceremony at Camp H.M. Smith, a Marine base outside Honolulu, Hawaii, where the command has its headquarters. Source: NIPmail. 10 March CHILE Dock landing ship SARGENTO ALDEA (former French FOUDRE) arrives at Valparaiso, greeted by Chilean president Pinera, the defence minister, and the navy commander. Source: NIPmail. INDIA DRDO had to reschedule a test of submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) K-15 from an underwater platform off Andhra Pradesh coast, originally planned on 04 Mar … due to adverse weather conditions … should be conducted anytime now … missile will be test-fired from a pontoon (replica of a submarine) positioned some 20 feet undersea. Source: NIPmail. ISRAEL The Israeli air force and navy have decided to prolong the service life of their Israel Aerospace Industries Westwind 1124 “Shahaf” maritime patrol aircraft. Source: NIPmail. JAPAN (VIETNAM) Japanese destroyers HAMAGIRI, SAWAYUKI and ASAYUKI arrive at Haiphong, Vietnam, for a four-day visit to “promote friendship and cooperation”. (rmk: Interesting ASEAN-related development!) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Gulf of Aden: pirates in a skiff ran two successive attacks against an Iranian oil tanker … in the “vicinity of the Gulf of Aden” … repelled by embarked Iranian navy security team. (rmk: So much for unit among brother Muslims) Source: IMO Update. TURKEY ADIK shipyard (Istanbul) hands over the first of eight new landing ships (1,100-ts LCT), C-151, to the Turkish navy … remaining seven to follow in three-month intervals. Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM DEFENDER, the fifth TYPE 45 destroyer, has begun her second and final stage of sea trials … off Scotland. Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy and Huntington Ingalls have signed a memorandum of agreement for LHA-7, the second ship of the AMERICA-class amphibious assault ships … eventual award of a contract later this year. Source: NIPmail. MOROCCO Netherlands Damen Schelde delivers the second SIGMA class corvette, SULTAN MOULAY ISMAIL (614) to the Moroccan navy … before transfer voyage will conduct another three weeks of training in the North Sea off Den Helder. Source: NIPmail. 11 March India successfully testfires a sub-surface launched K-15 Sagarika ballistic missile … test reportedly “inconclusive” with another planned this week (14 Mar?) … K-15 to eventually arm indigenous submarine ARIHANT. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Arabian Sea: Pirates attack merchant vessel about 200 nm ENE of Socotra, firing RPG at its bridge … ship escapes applying “best management practises” (rmk: i.e., all ahead full) Source: IMO Update. RUSSIA Construction of the “New Admiralty Shipyards" on the southern shore of the Kotlin island (near St. Petersburg) to begin in 2012 … area of more than 250 hectares planned. Source: NIPmail. 12 March MYANMAR Two former Chinese navy JIANGHU class frigates, transferred to the Myanmar navy, have sailed from Guangzhou for future home … arrive at Da Nang, Vietnam, for a three-day port visit … first ever Myanmar navy visit to Vietnam … Chinese website gives names as MAHAR BANDOOLA (F-21) and MAHAR THIHA THURA (F-23). Source: NIPmail. SPAIN Fifth ALVARO DE BAZAN class frigate, CRISTOBAL COLON (F-105) has begun builder’s trials off the northwest coast of Spain. Source: NIPmail. USA Coast Guard Cutter NORTHLAND has confiscated more than US$43M worth of cocaine (1.7 tons) and detained four crew from a speedboat in the Caribbean Sea. Source: NIPmail. 13 March ISRAEL Israel navy corvettes LAHAV (SA’AR-5) and YAFO (SA’AR-4,5) reportedly enter the Suez Canal for southbound transit towards the Red Sea. (rmk: Not necessarily related to Iran, but may come handy to “send a signal”) Source: NIPmail. ITALY Italy reportedly has cut orders for US-manufactured F-35B and F-35C combat aircraft … no revised number available yet, however, the navy may still hope for its planned 22 F-35B STOVL aircraft, as otherwise aircraft carrier CAVOUR won’t have an air wing once ageing Harrier are phased out. Source: NIPmail. PIRACY General: The European Union calls for international rules on the use of armed guards aboard ships (rmk: after Embarked Italian naval infantry allegedly shot two Indian fishermen). Source: IMO Update. THAILAND Thailand‘s navy acknowledged that it had dropped plans to acquire second-hand German TYPE 206A submarines after deadline for the purchase has passed. Source: NIPmail. 14 March BANGLADESH – MYANMAR The International Maritime Court has defined sea boundaries for Bangladesh and Myanmar in the Bay of Bengal … as the two countries had been unable to reach a mutual agreement. Source: NIPmail. IRAN +++ International Energy Agency: Iran’s oil exports will probably decline by 50 percent when European sanctions take full effect in July. Source: NIPmail. +++ The European Union reportedly considers to allow insurance for non-European tanker operators tankers carrying Iranian oil to non-European destinations. The EU embargo currently would affect insurance for 95 percent of the world’s tankers as they are covered by the London-based International Group of P&I Clubs, thus effectively extending sanctions also to non-EU countries that have not signed off on any embargo. Source: NIPmail. ISRAEL Update: according to an “IDF source”, corvettes LAHAV (SA’AR-5) and YAFO (SA’AR-4,5) have passed the Suez Canal in a routine deployment to southern Israeli naval base Eilat. Source: NIPmail. NETHERLANDS The Netherlands navy will upgrade its four DE ZEVEN PROVENCIEN class frigates with extended long-range “Smart-L” radar systems … as national contribution to the NATO missile defence program. Source: NIPmail. 15 March THE KOREAS Ahead of the 2012 Seoul Nuclear Security Summit, South Korea is conducting a “large scale” combined arms exercise involving army, air Force and navy units … off the east coast … scenarios include a mock incursion by a North Korea patrol vessel in Goseong, about 225 kilometers northeast of Seoul, and a submarine near a port in Yanyang. Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS CHINA - RUSSIA (late Apr) The Chinese North Fleet and the Russian Pacific Fleet plan “large scale” bilateral naval exercise to take place in late April in the Yellow Sea … Russia to deploy “a dozen ships” to Qingdao. Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy has set the dates for deactivation (for subsequent decommissioning) of 11 ships in FY 2013 (rmk: The year of the axe is only just beginning!). Source: NIPmail. 31 Oct 2012: frigate CROMMELIN 15 Feb 2013: frigate UNDERWOOD 27 Feb 2013: frigate CURTS 15 Mar 2013: aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE, frigate CARR 22 Mar 2013: frigate KLAKRING 31 Mar 2013: cruisers COWPENS, ANZIO, VICKSBURG, PORT ROYAL 30 Aug 2013: frigate REUBEN JAMES. The six frigates will be offered for sale to foreign navies, while the four cruisers will be dismantled.
April 25, 201214 yr Author I have been busier than a one-armed paperhanger. I am hoping to begin updates again next week. FWFS, Greg
April 25, 201214 yr I have been busier than a one-armed paperhanger. I am hoping to begin updates again next week. No problem .. I figured as much. (Around here, we would say 'busier than a one legged man in an arse kicking contest').
April 30, 201214 yr Author Sorry, for the long hiatus. I was REALLY busy at work (which included a trip to DC for the Navy League's Sea, Air, Space Show at the gaylord Convention Center). Here's what's going on around the world. Summary to follow ... 19 April USA The first Joint High Speed Vessel, future SPEARHEAD (JHSV 1), completes builder’s sea trials off Mobile (Alabama). Source: NIPmail. 24 April USA The IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group passes the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean (rmks: Likely a routine deployment to the Middle East). Source: NIPmail. 25 April PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate ACONIT completes operations with EU NavFor, heading home. (rmks: deployed since 11 Feb, relieved by sister ship GUEPRATTE. I'm sure the pirates a quaking in their boots!) Source: IMO Update. 26 April CHINA Defense Ministry spokesman: “China's armed forces will work closely with fishery and maritime supervision agencies to jointly safeguard national marine rights and interests.” (rmks: read that, bull its neighbors Vietnam and Philippines) Source: NIPmail. CHINA – RUSSIA “Maritime Cooperation 2012”: Chinese navy and Russian Pacific Fleet complete exercises in the Yellow Sea and proceed back to port Dalian for post-exercise discussions … exercise officially ends on 27 Apr. Source: NIPmail. IRAN (Sanctions) Lloyd’s Register, a classification society that verifies the safety and environmental standards of vessels, has stopped assessing around 60 tankers and container ships owned by Iran’s NITC and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. (rmks: I bet the conspiracy theorist are a buzz over this one) Source: NIPmail. MALAYSIA The RMN plans acquisition of more submarines, however, due to budget constraints not in the near term. (rmks: me thinks the are DB updates here) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Source: IMO Update. +++ Kenya: All eleven pirates apprehended by French frigate NIVOSE (EUNavFor) back in May 2009 and transferred to Kenyan authorities were found guilty … now face 20 years imprisonment Anti-Piracy Forces. (rmks: don't worry with time off for good behavior, they should be out of circulation for about a week). +++ Russian Northern Fleet destroyer VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV completes a scheduled port visit to Souda Bay (Crete, Greece) … now heading for the Suez Canal. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Spanish supply ship PATINO arrives back home in Ferrol, ending her deployment in support of EU NavFor. RUSSIA Source: NIPmail +++ MoD confirms first YASEN class (Project 885) submarine SEVERODVINSK will complete all trials this year. Modified (Project 885M) KAZAN to be commissioned by 2015. Five more 885M to be built by 2021. +++ More than 20 warships, submarines and support ships of the Northern Fleet conduct exercises incl. live missile/gun firing in the Barents Sea … final inspection after winter training period. +++ Frigates NEUASTRASHIMIY and corvette SOOBRAZITELNIY serve as platform for Ka-27 pilots to practice ASW in the Eastern Baltic. SOUTH AFRICA With growing requirement to tackle regional piracy, the MoD pledges to increase the SAN’s budget. (rmks: This is interesting. We might see some movement on several projects that have been onhold, for financial reasons) Source: NIPmail. SYRIA Russia and Iran are helping Syria import fuel which it needs for heavy vehicles including army tanks. The shipments appear to be legal, as neither Russia nor Iran has signed up to Western sanctions barring such trade, and Moscow has blocked UNSC sanctions that would apply to all countries. Source: NIPmail. USA House Armed Services readiness subcommittee proposes legislation that would require the US Navy to keep cruisers COWPENS, ANZIO and VICKSBURG in service and upgrade them … USN planned to retire all three, along with the PORT ROYAL on March 31, 2013, and three more in 2014 to meet congressionally mandated budget cuts. (rmks: ahh, ya gotta love foggy bottom) Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy has contracted Northrop Grumman to develop, manufacture and test a new vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) … as successor to (recently troubled) Fire Scout. Source: NIPmail. USA Dock landing ship GUNSTON HALL (part of the IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group) in port Durres (Albania) for a scheduled visit. Source: NIPmail. 27 April AUSTRALIA – INDONESIA RAN and Indonesian navy complete their third Australian-Indonesian coordinated maritime security patrol, AUSINDO CORPAT 2012 … improve coordinated maritime security along the Australian and Indonesian shared maritime boundaries near Ashmore Island, the Provisional Fisheries Surveillance Enforcement Line (PFSEL) and the Australian Indonesian Seabed Line (AISBL) … started in Kupang (West Timor) on 16 Apr and then held in the waters between Australia and Indonesia from 19-27 Apr … Australia contributed patrol boat PIRIE and an AP-3C Orion aircraft, the Indonesian navy participated with PB-57 type patrol vessels KAKAP and TONGKOL and a CASA NC-212 aircraft. Source: NIPmail. INDIA During a ceremony at Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) the Indian navy takes over newly built frigate TEG … first of three KRIVAK-IV Batch 2 (Project 11356) frigates … TARKASH to follow in September this year, TRIKAND in July 2013. Source: NIPmail. NEW ZEALAND Hydrographic survey vessel RESOLUTION decommissioned from service at a formal ceremony in the Devonport Naval Base. Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS FINLAND (03 May) Mine layer POHJANMAA scheduled to sail from Helsinki for this year’s cadet training cruise … to Falmouth (UK), New York (USA) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) … return on 18 June. Source: NIPmail.
April 30, 201214 yr Author Sorry, for the long hiatus. I was REALLY busy at work (which included a trip to DC for the Navy League's Sea, Air, Space Show at the gaylord Convention Center). Here's what's going on around the world. Summary to follow ... 19 April USA The first Joint High Speed Vessel, future SPEARHEAD (JHSV 1), completes builder’s sea trials off Mobile (Alabama). Source: NIPmail. 24 April USA The IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group passes the Strait of Gibraltar into the Mediterranean (rmks: Likely a routine deployment to the Middle East). Source: NIPmail. 25 April PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate ACONIT completes operations with EU NavFor, heading home. (rmks: deployed since 11 Feb, relieved by sister ship GUEPRATTE. I'm sure the pirates a quaking in their boots!) Source: IMO Update. 26 April CHINA Defense Ministry spokesman: “China's armed forces will work closely with fishery and maritime supervision agencies to jointly safeguard national marine rights and interests.” (rmks: read that, bull its neighbors Vietnam and Philippines) Source: NIPmail. CHINA – RUSSIA “Maritime Cooperation 2012”: Chinese navy and Russian Pacific Fleet complete exercises in the Yellow Sea and proceed back to port Dalian for post-exercise discussions … exercise officially ends on 27 Apr. Source: NIPmail. IRAN (Sanctions) Lloyd’s Register, a classification society that verifies the safety and environmental standards of vessels, has stopped assessing around 60 tankers and container ships owned by Iran’s NITC and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. (rmks: I bet the conspiracy theorist are a buzz over this one) Source: NIPmail. MALAYSIA The RMN plans acquisition of more submarines, however, due to budget constraints not in the near term. (rmks: me thinks the are DB updates here) Source: NIPmail. PIRACY Source: IMO Update. +++ Kenya: All eleven pirates apprehended by French frigate NIVOSE (EUNavFor) back in May 2009 and transferred to Kenyan authorities were found guilty … now face 20 years imprisonment Anti-Piracy Forces. (rmks: don't worry with time off for good behavior, they should be out of circulation for about a week). +++ Russian Northern Fleet destroyer VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV completes a scheduled port visit to Souda Bay (Crete, Greece) … now heading for the Suez Canal. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Spanish supply ship PATINO arrives back home in Ferrol, ending her deployment in support of EU NavFor. RUSSIA Source: NIPmail +++ MoD confirms first YASEN class (Project 885) submarine SEVERODVINSK will complete all trials this year. Modified (Project 885M) KAZAN to be commissioned by 2015. Five more 885M to be built by 2021. +++ More than 20 warships, submarines and support ships of the Northern Fleet conduct exercises incl. live missile/gun firing in the Barents Sea … final inspection after winter training period. +++ Frigates NEUASTRASHIMIY and corvette SOOBRAZITELNIY serve as platform for Ka-27 pilots to practice ASW in the Eastern Baltic. SOUTH AFRICA With growing requirement to tackle regional piracy, the MoD pledges to increase the SAN’s budget. (rmks: This is interesting. We might see some movement on several projects that have been onhold, for financial reasons) Source: NIPmail. SYRIA Russia and Iran are helping Syria import fuel which it needs for heavy vehicles including army tanks. The shipments appear to be legal, as neither Russia nor Iran has signed up to Western sanctions barring such trade, and Moscow has blocked UNSC sanctions that would apply to all countries. Source: NIPmail. USA House Armed Services readiness subcommittee proposes legislation that would require the US Navy to keep cruisers COWPENS, ANZIO and VICKSBURG in service and upgrade them … USN planned to retire all three, along with the PORT ROYAL on March 31, 2013, and three more in 2014 to meet congressionally mandated budget cuts. (rmks: ahh, ya gotta love foggy bottom) Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy has contracted Northrop Grumman to develop, manufacture and test a new vertical take-off and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (VTUAV) … as successor to (recently troubled) Fire Scout. Source: NIPmail. USA Dock landing ship GUNSTON HALL (part of the IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group) in port Durres (Albania) for a scheduled visit. Source: NIPmail. 27 April AUSTRALIA – INDONESIA RAN and Indonesian navy complete their third Australian-Indonesian coordinated maritime security patrol, AUSINDO CORPAT 2012 … improve coordinated maritime security along the Australian and Indonesian shared maritime boundaries near Ashmore Island, the Provisional Fisheries Surveillance Enforcement Line (PFSEL) and the Australian Indonesian Seabed Line (AISBL) … started in Kupang (West Timor) on 16 Apr and then held in the waters between Australia and Indonesia from 19-27 Apr … Australia contributed patrol boat PIRIE and an AP-3C Orion aircraft, the Indonesian navy participated with PB-57 type patrol vessels KAKAP and TONGKOL and a CASA NC-212 aircraft. Source: NIPmail. INDIA During a ceremony at Russian Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) the Indian navy takes over newly built frigate TEG … first of three KRIVAK-IV Batch 2 (Project 11356) frigates … TARKASH to follow in September this year, TRIKAND in July 2013. Source: NIPmail. NEW ZEALAND Hydrographic survey vessel RESOLUTION decommissioned from service at a formal ceremony in the Devonport Naval Base. Source: NIPmail. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS FINLAND (03 May) Mine layer POHJANMAA scheduled to sail from Helsinki for this year’s cadet training cruise … to Falmouth (UK), New York (USA) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) … return on 18 June. Source: NIPmail.
May 1, 201214 yr I was REALLY busy at work (which included a trip to DC for the Navy League's Sea, Air, Space Show at the gaylord Convention Center). Well, do tell , maybe in Shore Leave?
May 3, 201214 yr Author Here's the current NNSotD. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 27 April INDIA The prototype of the naval variant of the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) successfully conducted its maiden flight from HAL Airport, Bangalore. (rmks: Likel to work with the P8i, when it comes online). Source: NIPmail. 28 April CHINA China is developing an electromagnetic catapult system for future aircraft carriers, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily claims. (rmks: Likely a knockoff of the the Brit EMALS). Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 45 destroyer DRAGON has been formally commissioned into the fleet. (rmks: Welcome to the fleet, yu have a big job ahead of you). Source: NIPmail. VENEZUELA At Spanish Navantia shipyard, the Venezuelan navy commissions PC-24 KARINA, the fourth and final POVZEE patrol vessel. Source: NIPmail. 30 April AUSTRALIA A key decision on whether Australia will buy next-generation submarines won't be made until late 2013 or early 2014 … funding options yet to be considered by the government. (rmks: This soap opera could be the fodder for a new reality show. I wonder what it could be called?) Source: NIPmail. CHINA +++ Destroyer HAIKOU and frigate YUNCHENG arrive at Hong Kong for a scheduled five-day port visit … on return transit from anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden. (rmks: Chinese warships rarely visit the “special administrative region” Hong Kong) Source: NIPmail. +++ Aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG ends another phase of sea trials, returns to Dalian. Source: NIPmail. +++ Two frigates and an intelligence gathering ship sail through the Osumi Strait off Kagoshima Prefecture (Japan), heading into the Pacific. (rmks: Likely to poke their finger in the ee of collective Japanese policy, regarding their maritime claims dispute). Source: NIPmail. FRANCE Mission “Jeanne d’Arc 2012”: Helicopter carrier DIXMUDE and destroyer GEORGE LEYGUES arrive at Renuion for a 7-day port visit. (rmks: Cadet training cruise; before temporarily assigned to EU anti-piracy mission “Atalanta; also had conducted port visit to the Seychelles”). Source: NIPmail. INDIA As part of its efforts to augment the security of the strategically significant Lakshadweep archipelago, the Navy commissions new naval base, INS Dweeprakshak, at Kavaratti. Source: NIPmail. ITALY Schiebel Camcopter S-100 has become the first UAV to operate from an Italian navy vessel (frigate BERSAGLIERE). Source: NIPmail. PHILIPPINES The USA will help the Philippine navy improve its patrol capabilities but not take sides in territorial disputes with China. (rmks: Likely with the vaunted, yet highly inadequate LCSs). Source: NIPmail. USA Southern Seas 2012: Frigate UNDERWOOD completes Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMTUEX), now heading for Central and South America. Source: NIPmail. USA The US Navy formally transferred ownership (under ship donation contract) of historic battleship IOWA to the non-profit Pacific Battleship Center. The ship's tow to its new permanent home at the Port of Los Angeles will commence 20 May 20 … formally to open as a museum on 04 Jul. Source: NIPmail. 01 May IRAN (sanctions) Source: NIPmail. +++ Indian state-run insurers have agreed to give limited cover to local ships for carrying Iranian oil. (rmks: Hmmm, wonder what the the co-pay on the coverage is?) Source: NIPmail. +++ Border Guard (read that IRGCN) units have begun major naval drill “Fajr” along the southern coasts in the Persian Gulf … practise “latest tactics in border protection and confrontation against illegal activities in territorial waters” … participating are provincial border guards units of Khuzestan, Bushehr, Hormozgan and Sistan and Balouchestan, and the marine patrol unit of Kish island. ITALY Source: NIPmail. +++ Italy still remains committed to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program despite announcing plans earlier this year to slash its purchase quantity more than 30 percent. (rmks: STOVL variant F-35B needed to replace Harrier on aircraft carrier CAVOUR) +++ Italian police intercepts 79 immigrants from Egypt and arrested 15 presumed people smugglers near the southern Sicilian port of Trapani. About 30 of the immigrants were travelling on a rubber dinghy, the others in a small fishing boat. PIRACY West Africa: A Singapore-managed product tanker (24 crew) with valuable gasoline cargo has gone missing and is suspected to have been hijacked by pirates while at anchor off Lome, Togo. (rmks: Will somebody please explain, why we let these cockaroaches continue to exist?). Source: IMO Update. THAILAND Swedish Saab has been contracted for upgrading aircraft carrier CHAKRI NARUEBET with the 9LV Mk4 latest generation command and control system. (rmks: Not that the will ever use it) Source: NIPmail. UNITED KINGDOM After cancellation of the Nimrod MRA.4 program, military planners are pushing for a replacement maritime patrol aircraft to be considered in the next strategic defence and security review in three years' time. Source: NIPmail. USA A study has found that procurement of new ballistic missile submarines SSBN(X) cannot be afforded under the ship construction spending budgets … first SSBN(X) is currently scheduled for FY 21, with 12 to be ordered by FY32. Source: NIPmail. USA Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY has to postpone departure from San Diego (scheduled for today) by some 48 hrs … mechanical trouble with propulsion system … set to start annual humanitarian mission to the South Pacific … 4 ½ month … military and civilian professionals from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan (also deploying landing ship), Malaysia, Peru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Republic of Korea, Thailand and the USA, along with non-government organizations and international agencies, will join and support this year’s mission. Source: NIPmail. 02 May RUSSIA Project 90600 harbor tug RB-42, built by Pella Shipyard (St. Petersburg), commissions into Baltic Fleet Auxiliary Ship Division at Baltiysk … seven tugs under order, with next to be launched this month. Source: NIPmail. USA Littoral combat ship LCS-2 INDEPENDENCE is scheduled to arrive at Naval Base San Diego, completing the maiden voyage to her homeport. Source: NIPmail.
May 3, 201214 yr CHINAChina is developing an electromagnetic catapult system for future aircraft carriers, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Daily claims. (rmks: Likely a knockoff of the the Brit EMALS). Source: NIPmail. [emphasis mine] The Converteam EMCAT?
May 4, 201214 yr Author 01 May CANADA – USA Source: NIPmail Canadian and US navies begin Exercise Frontier Sentinel 2012 … through 09 May … moving from Nova Scotia to the US Eastern seaboard … develop and validate procedures for a bilateral response to maritime homeland defense and security threats, with focus on mine-counter measures. 02 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Pacific Fleet task group (VARYAG, two UDALOY class destroyers, salvage tug) returns to Vladivostok after exercise with Chinese navy and subsequent port visit to Qingdao (China). INDIA – Source: NIPmail Newly commissioned TALWAR-mod class frigate TEG transfers from Yantar shipyard (Kaliningrad) to the Russian Baltic Fleet main base of Baltiysk. PIRACY – Source IMO Update +++ India: An Indian court orders release of Italian cargo ship ENRICA LEXIE, its crew and Italian navy marines who had allegedly killed two Indian fishermen (mistaken for pirates) off Kerala coast in February … on the condition that they should be available before the authorities within five weeks after receiving summons or notice. (rmks: investigation in the incident continues) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Chinese destroyer QINGDAO arrives at Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled port visit … taking a short break from anti-piracy operations. +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Having passed the Suez Canal enroute anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, Russian Northern Fleet destroyer VZEADMIRAL KULAKOV also arrives at Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled port visit until 05 May. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ GD Electric Boat delivers 9th VIRGINIA class submarine, MISSISSIPPI, to the navy … “one year ahead of schedule and under budget” … to be commissioned in June. +++ After completing a port visit to Perth (Australia), aircraft carrier CARL VINSON has returned to the Indian Ocean. 03 May AUSTRALIA ¬– Source: NIPmail Despite defence cuts, the government has allocated AUD$214M for the next stage of the Future Submarine project. (rmks: And the soap opera continues) FINLAND – Source: NIPmail Mine layer POHJANMAA sails from Helsinki for annual cadet training cruise … this time to Falmouth (UK), New York (USA) and Ponta Delgada (Azores) … return on 18 June. GERMANY – Source: Jane’s Germany may become the first European nation to embark on integrating the Raytheon Standard Missile 3 (SM-3) onto its frigates. (rmks: Likely a step toward BMD for EU naval forces). INDONESIA – Source: Jane’s The Indonesian navy is considering a bid for three corvettes originally built in the UK for Brunei (NAKHODA RAGAM class) but refused to accept and laid up since. (rmks: BAEs has been trying to offload these suckers from their books for several years. Indonesia may, be ligit buyers. The boats were designed for similar ops and conditions) ISRAEL – Source: NIPmail Israel navy commander RAdm Rotberg and senior Defense Ministry representatives in Kiel (Germany) … reportedly taking delivery of first DOLPHIN-II submarine from HDW shipyard … boat to remain in Germany for several more months of trials and training. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail There are now 14 Chinese ships off Scarborough Shoals - four paramilitary (CMS/FLEC) vessels and 10 fishing boats. Philippines have coast guard vessel EDSA II, a coast guard SAR-vessel (SARV 002) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources vessel MCS 3008 on station. PIRACY – Source: IMO Update +++ Somalia: Danish multipurpose ship ABSALON (NATO) releases 12 suspected pirates to the Somalia coast … detained on 11 Apr when rescuing a hijacked Iranian dhow … four transferred to the Seychelles on 28 Apr … no country willing the prosecute the remainder. (rmks: the will be operational with the cockaroaches by the next update, plying their ill-gotten trade) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Danish multipurpose ship ABSALON (NATO) ends support of NATO operation “Ocean Shield”, starts home transit. (rmks: And the pirates breath a sigh of relief (not)) RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Pacific Fleet former anti-piracy task group (ADMIRAL TRIBUTS, PECHENGA, MB-37) return to Vladivostok. (rmks: coming from Qingdao, China) +++ President Medvedev has appointed Chief of Staff / First Deputy Commander Pacific Fleet, RAdm Sergei Avakyants, new Commander Pacific Fleet. (rmk: He was likely one of the biggest contributors the Medvedev’s reelection) +++ Northern Fleet destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO has completed ASW and air defence exercises in the Barents Sea … work-up for upcoming bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” … scheduled from 11 – 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate SOMERSET has begun a nine-month docking period being undertaken by Babcock at Devonport – marking the first refit to be undertaken under the Surface Ship Support Alliance (SSSA) Class Output Management (COM) Phase 2 arrangements. USA (Multinational) – Source: NIPmail +++ Multinational ASW exercise “Arabian Shark 12” about to conclude in the Gulf of Oman … participants included frigate BADR (Pakistan), corvette HITTEEN (Saudi Arabia), frigate WESTMINSTER and TRAFALGAR class submarine (UK), destroyer STERETT and submarine PITTSBURGH (USA). (rmks: regular exercise for the past decade). +++ Update: it seems aircraft carrier CARL VINSON has not (yet) returned to the Indian Ocean region … reported in the Bass Strait off Melbourne (Australia) … 7th US Fleet area of operations. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY sails from San Diego to begin this year’s mission … after 48 hrs delay for repairs to propulsion system. 04 May LITHUANIA (Baltic States) – Source: NIPmail Exercise “Baltic Fortress” starts in territorial waters of Lithuania … units and ships/boats of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia participating … annual event (conducted since 2008) for “Baltron”combined Baltic Squadron with host countries rotating (last year Estonia) … Participants: KURSIS, SKLAVIS, JOTVINGIS (flag), ZEMAITIS, DZUKAS (Lithuania); VIRSAITIS, LODE (Latvia); no Estonian vessels mentioned. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS INDIA (06 May) – Source: NIPmail Newly commissioned TALWAR-mod class frigate TEG scheduled to leave Baltiysk (Russia) for maiden voyage to India on 06 May.
May 7, 201214 yr Author Hope everyone had a great weekend. Spent lots of quality time with the family. Here is your NNSotD. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 02 May BRAZIL Source: NIPmail Brazil has ordered four PAF-L (Patrullera de Apoyo Fluvial-Liviana) riverine light patrol boats from Colombian shipbuilder COTECMAR. USA Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier EISENHOWER and associated ships of Carrier Strike Group 8 continue composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) in the Atlantic Ocean off the US east coast … Spanish frigate BLAS DE LEZO and Brazilian frigate INDEPENDENCIA participate. 03 May JAPAN – CHINA Source: NIPmail Despite Japan Coast Guard warnings, two Chinese fisheries patrol vessels repeatedly entered the contiguous zone of the (disputed) Senkaku islands. (rmks: I think I predicted this last week, fancy that). USA Source: NIPmail +++ Austal USA holds keel laying ceremony for Joint High Speed Vessel FORTITUDE (JHSV 3) at its shipyard in Mobile, Ala., symbolically recognizing the beginning of ship construction. +++ The IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group has passed the Suez Canal enroute 5th Fleet area of responsibility. 04 May ALGERIA Source: NIPmail Jane’s: The Algerian MoD has ordered three large corvettes from China and two MEKO A-200 frigates from Germany - with an option for two more. (rmks: it seems the recession is past in Algeria) INDIA Source: NIPmail The recently approved 12th defence plan (read that - acquisitions planned in the next five years), lays emphasis on the need to develop "adequate stand-off capability" for "sea lift and expeditionary operations" and the ability to undertake military operations far away from homeland (rmks: thus postulating limited capabilities for “power projection”). ISRAEL Source: NIPmail During a ceremony at HDW shipyard in Kiel (Germany) the Israel navy formally takes delivery of first DOLPHIN-II submarine TANIN … boat to remain in Germany for several more months of trials and training. PHILIPPINES Source: NIPmail The United States will double military aid to the Philippines, which is engaged in a prolonged maritime standoff with China. PIRACY Source: IMO Update West Africa: Off Nigeria, pirates have freed gasoline tanker BW RHINE they hijacked last week while anchoring off Lome (Togo), after stealing some of the cargo … all 24 crew members safe. UNITED KINGDOM Source: NIPmail Helicopter carrier OCEAN sails up the River Thames into London to take part in a nine-day training exercise testing responses to any attack on the forthcoming Olympic Games. USA Source: NIPmail +++ General Dynamics at their Bath Iron Works delivers new destroyer MICHAEL MURPHY (DDG 112) to the US Navy … last DDG 51-class ship to deliver until the class restart ships begin delivering in fiscal year 2016 … commissioning ceremony to be held this October in New York. +++ The second AMERICA class amphibious assault ship LHA-7 will be named TRIPOLI. 05 May RUSSIA Source: NIPmail Zelenodolsk Shipyard starts construction of fourth Project 21980 GRACHONOK class “counter-terror boat”. USA Source: NIPmail +++ General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego christens and launches dry cargo and ammunition ship CESAR CHAVEZ (T-AKE 14) +++ In the Gulf of Aden, the IWO JIMA Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) has relieved the MAKIN ISLAND ARG, deployed since Nov 2011 and now heading home for San Diego. 06 May CHINA Source: NIPmail Hudong shipyard launches new FUCHI class fleet replenishing ship. INDIA Source: NIPmail A four-ship task group of the Eastern Fleet is set to start an over two-month-long cruise to Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Shanghai in China … force composition: one each of RANVIR, SHIVALIK and KORA class, plus a replenishment tanker. PIRACY Source: IMO Update Gulf of Aden: The Yemeni coast guard has captured 14 suspected Somali pirates off the Socotra island. RUSSIA Source: NIPmail +++ On his last day in office, president Medvedev dismissed navy chief Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky (57) and named Baltic Fleet commander Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov to the post … no reasons given. (rmks: heads of army and air force also replaced (me thinks they didn’t support the new Czar, I mean President’s election aspirations – ya gotta love Russian politics) +++ Commissioning of first BOREJ class ballistic missile submarine YURI DOLGORUKIY, previously announced for June/July, postponed to October this year … second boat ALEXANDER NEVSKIY to follow in 2013 07 May AUSTRALIA Source: NIPmail Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts two boatloads of suspected asylum seekers near Christmas Island. One was carrying 103 passengers and two crew and the other had 138 people on board. PIRACY Source: IMO Update Somalia Basin: Pirates approach merchant vessel some 100 nm south of Socotra … ship manages to escape. (rmks I’m still awaiting for the news line – Ship fires on pirates and they flee in terror).
May 8, 201214 yr Author Another day, another NNSotD. Lots of stuff going on. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 01 May USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE … in the Arabian Sea … begins flight operations in support of “operation: Enduring Freedom,” with about 30 daily sorties over Afghanistan. (rmks: hopefully with several special deliveries of ordnance to the Taliban) 02 May USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier ABRAHAM LINCOLN has entered the Persian Gulf (no date given), starting a scheduled port visit to Manama (Bahrain). 04 May FINLAND – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) At Intermarine shipyard at La Spezia (Italy), the Finish navy has taken delivery and commissioned first new mine hunter KATANPÄÄ (40) … set to sail for future home port Turku (arrival end May). USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) LCS-3 FORT WORTH successfully completed acceptance trials, testing the ship's major systems and equipment in port and underway in Lake Michigan 05 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Anti-Piracy Forces: Former 10th Chinese anti piracy task group (rmks: HAIKOU, YUNCHENG, QINGHAI HU) returns to South Sea Fleet base at Zhanjiang, ending deployment which started on 02 Nov.. USA – Source: NIPmail 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE completes a port visit to Shihanoukville, Cambodia. 07 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Customs vessel TRITON intercepts another boat carrying 64 suspected asylum seekers … north of Ashmore Islands. CHINA – Source: NIPmail Photo suggests aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG sails from Dalian for another round of sea trials. (rmks: very short turn-around, obviously their version of SIMA is completing their shortlist of problem items that need tweaking) DENMARK (multinational) – Source: NIPmail The Danish navy is hosting multinational search & rescue exercise “Baltic Sarex 2012” … from 07 – 12 May off the Danish island of Bornholm … to feature also submarine crew rescue … 27 ships and 12 aircraft from 10 countries (Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, France, Russia, Finland, Sweden). Russian Baltic Fleet participating with SLIVA SB-921 salvage tug … Latvia deploys KA-14 ASTRA, Lithuania patrol boat AUKSTAITIS. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail Japan is considering a new law to provide sovereign guarantees for its ships to allow them to continue importing Iranian crude oil after EU sanctions come into effect in July. NAMIBIA – Source: NIPmail Photos show Chinese-built large patrol ship S-11 ELEPHANT … flag-decorated (rmks: no national flag yet) at Yangtze River shipyard. (rmks: hull/size look similar to PATTANI class built for Thai navy. Yet another ship exported from the Chi-coms yards. This means the quality problems in their production lines may have been fixed.) NORTH KOREA – Source: NIPmail More than 120 ships, including eight South Korean Coast Guard patrol boats, reported disruption to GPS navigation system signals … in the Yellow Sea … most probably intentional jamming by North Korean electronic warfare units … similar electronic attacks in March of last year, and in August and December of 2010 (rmks: What's that old saying about fruit not falling too far from the tree. So much for any hopes of a productive change in management). NORWAY (RUSSIA) – Source: NIPmail Frigate FRITJOF NANSEN arrives at Russian Northern Fleet main base Severomorsk for a visit … ahead of bilateral exercise “Pomor 12”, scheduled to start on 11 May. PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Anti-Piracy Forces: German frigate BREMEN sails from Wilhelmshaven for the Horn of Africa … replace combat support ship BERLIN in EU NavFor. RUSSIA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) Just sworn in as president, Putin orders the government to ensure the development of the Russian navy in the Far East and Arctic zones … to “safeguard the strategic interests of the country”. (rmks: The Arctic could be good fodder, for some upcoming scenarios). RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail GEPARD class frigate DAGESTAN “ready to be commissioned” in the Caspian Sea flotilla “in summer” USA – Source: Naval Today (www.navaltoday.com) In a rare honour for a living person, the Navy plans to announce it is naming a new (rmks: the first FLTIII ARLEIGH BURKE DDG-51) destroyer after Thomas J. Hudner, who earned the Medal of Honor in the Korean War for intentionally crashing his fighter plane in an attempt to save his wingman, the Navy’s first black pilot.
May 14, 201214 yr Author Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.
May 14, 201214 yr Author Hope everyone had a great weekend. Here is your NNSotD, to start your week off right. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 04 May CHILE – Source: NIPmail The Chilean navy took delivery of two Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma medium-lift helicopters. 05 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail VAdm Chirkov: even though money is provided, Russian shipyards are incapable of fulfilling ship repair orders placed by the navy … lack of spare parts (rmks: not said is the abysmal conditions of their naval support infrastructure) 07 May USA – Source: NIPmail Amphibious assault ship IWO JIMA in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) for a scheduled visit. 09 May PIRACY – Source: IMO Update Arabian Sea: Pirates in two skiffs attack a tanker (Aframax) 250 nm southeast of Salalah (Oman) … firing AK47 and RPG … ship hit and damaged by up to 7 RPG, yet manages to escape … mothership with up to eight skiffs seen in vicinity. (rmk: This could have been prevented by allowing merchants to arm themselves) USA – Source: NIPmail Off Hawaii, cruiser LAKE ERIE successfully conducted a flight test of the Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense system … first successful live-fire intercept test of the new SM-3 Block IB interceptor and the second-generation Aegis BMD 4.0.1 weapon system. 09 May – A busy Navy Kind of Day! ANGOLA – Source: NIPmail Netherlands Damen Schelde daughter Galati (Romania) set to launch a second FISV 6210 type fishery inspection vessel … to be named NIZINGA MBANDI … part of a regional program of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) through which Angola, Namibia and South Africa are working together for the protection of fishing grounds. AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail Major defence budget cuts announced, but navy least affected … no lowered sights on major acquisition projects. CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ Chinese South Sea Fleet task group conducts exercises southeast of Taiwan, in international waters about halfway between Taiwan and the main Philippine island of Luzon … participants include destroyers GUANGZHOU and WUHAN, frigates YULIN and CHAOHU and dock landing ship KUNLUN SHAN … PLA Daily also reports of major amphibious exercise “recently held in the South China Sea”. +++ The first-ever deep-water drilling rig produced in China is now in operation in the South China Sea … semi-submersible CNOOC 981, owned by the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, has begun drilling in the South China Sea, 170 nm southeast of Hong Kong. +++ Training vessel ZHENGHE arrives at Kochin (India) for a four-day good will visit. +++ Huangpu shipyard launches another JIANGKAI-II class frigate … should get hull number 574 (rmks: according to china-defense.com the 8th built at Huangpu and 14th overall) (Endnote: My goodness, the ChiComs have been busy!) CHINA – THAILAND – Source: NIPmail Naval infantry from both China and Thailand start bilateral anti-terror exercise “Blue Commando-2012” … until 29 May in south China's Guangdong province … first such exercise held in 2010. INDIA – Source: NIPmail DefMin Antony: the first SCORPENE class submarine will roll out of Mazagon Docks in June 2015. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail +++ Britain reportedly is seeking to persuade fellow European Union members to postpone by up to six months a ban on providing insurance for tankers carrying Iranian oil, arguing that it could lead to a damaging spike in oil prices. +++ The Iranian oil ministry has given the private Iranian oil products exporting union permission to sell up to 20% of Iranian crude oil as a way of bypassing international sanctions on state oil companies. NETHERLANDS – Source: NIPmail Preparing for future cooperation (rmks: deployment to the Horn of Africa?) a Netherlands air force Apache combat helicopter has conducted first ever deck landings on board dock landing ship ROTTERDAM. PHILIPPINES – CHINA – Source: NIPmail +++ The Philippines said that the United States had pledged to protect it from attacks in the South China Sea, a day after China issued a warning over a territorial row in the waters. (rmks: That and a couple of bucks will buy you a cup of coffee) +++ Chinese travel agencies reportedly have cancelled all tourist visits to the Philippines. Anti-Chinese demonstrations scheduled to take place in Manila. RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail Rumours that recent leadership changes may precede centralizing command structures with abolishing the services’s main commands. (rmks: Russia centralizing its command structure??? Say it ain’t so. I thought the place was a marvelously free and open workers’ paradise) SPAIN – Source: NIPmail Jane’s: As part of further savings, the Spanish navy is preparing to lay up aircraft carrier PRINCIPE DE ASTURIAS and two frigates. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail +++ The British government at a National Security Council meeting reportedly decided to reverse the U-turn it ordered in 2010 and switch back to the F-35B short-takeoff-and-vertical-landing (STOVL) version of the JSF to operate from the deck of its new aircraft carriers. +++ After participating in exercise “Joint Warrior”, Royal Marines 45 Commando has conducted week-long exercise “Scottish Lion” in south-western Scotland … supported from helicopter carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, dock landing ship BULWARK and amphibious support ship MOUNTS BAY. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ A first Littoral Combat Ship will be sent to Singapore next spring for a roughly 10-month deployment. +++ SecDef Panetta has appealed for lawmakers to ratify the UN convention on the law of sea, saying the country was at a disadvantage because of the Senate's refusal to back the accord. UNCLOS entered into force in 1994 but despite support from successive American presidents from both parties, the US Senate has never ratified the treaty, which requires a two-thirds majority. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship MERCY arrives at Pearl Harbor (Hawaii) for an intermediate stop. 10 May ALGERIA – Source: NIPmail update: contract with China Shipbuilding Trading Company reportedly for three light frigates (2,800ts) to be built either at Guangzhou or the Shanghai Huangpu Shipyard. (rmks: sounds like F22 such as built for Pakistan) CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail The PLA Daily, the official newspaper of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, warns the Philippines about the Huangyan Island (Scarborough Shoals) incident, saying the country's “armed forces will not allow anyone to take the sovereignty of the island away from China”. (rmks: more saber rattling from Beijing) PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Pirates hijack Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged Suezmax oil tanker SMIRNY … 240 nm south of Mazirah (Oman) … no security team on board. (rmks: Typical. This was the same bunch that just attacked it the day before!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: French frigate NIVOSE (based at Reunion) once more joins EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: and the pirates quake in fear – NOT!) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces: Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN sails from Den Helder for the Horn of Africa … will join NATO forces in operation “Ocean Shield”. (rmks: Dittos) UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail The government has officially confirmed it will revert to the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter to equip new aircraft carriers … citing unacceptable cost growth and delays in the plan to convert a carrier to handle the conventional takeoff F-35C variant. (rmks: read that EMALS ain’t all its cracked-up to be) USA Africa Partnership Station 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) … beginning support to APS 2012. (rmks: in recent months had been “touring” the Mediterranean) 11 May AUSTRALIA – Source: NIPmail +++ Two more boatloads of asylum seekers intercepted within 24 hours, first with 60 people, second carrying 101 people. +++ West of Christmas Island, Patrol boat WOLLONGONG intercepts another boat carrying 84 suspected asylum seekers … 6th boat this week. ESTONIA (multinational) – Source: NIPmail Estonia is hosting this year’s multinational MCM exercise/operation „Open Spirit“ ... participants from Belgium, Estonia, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Netherlands , Norway, Poland and Sweden … in-port phase (11-13 may) to be followed by mine clearing operations off the Estonian coast until 25 May. RUSSIA – NORWAY – Source: NIPmail Bilateral Russian-Norwegian exercise “Pomor-12” kicks off in Severomorsk (Russia) … until 16 May in the Barents Sea and Norwegian Sea …will include firing of live artillery rounds at simulated surface and aerial targets, anti-submarine warfare drills, anti-piracy operations, and search-and-rescue missions … Russian Northern Fleet participating destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a salvage tug and aircraft (Su-33 Flanker, Il-38 May, Ka-27 Helix), Norwegian navy deployed frigate FRITJOF NANSEN to Severomorsk. Exercise will end off the Norwegian coast, with participating ships to enter Bodoe on 17 May for a port visit. FRANCE – UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail France regretted the prospect of reduced cooperation with the British fleet air arm following London's selection of the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter – which means British and French aircraft carriers won’t be compatible. INDONESIA – Source: NIPmail The Indonesian navy has ordered 37 BMP-3F Series 2 light amphibious assault vehicles from Russia… to augment amphibious forces … scheduled for delivery in July. PIRACY – Source: IMO update +++ Somalia: Off the Somalia coast, Netherlands frigate VAN AMSTEL (EU NavFor) rescues an Iranian fishing dhow hijacked ten days ago for use as mother ship … spotted by the frigate’s Lynx helicopter during routine surveillance flight … 17 Iranian crew freed and sent home with their dhow, 11 suspected pirates detained. +++ Arabian Sea: Turkish frigate GIRESUN (NATO) intercepts and boards Yemeni fishing dhow, hijacked and used as mother ship by Somali pirates … some 190 nm off the Yemeni coast … 7 Yemeni fishermen freed, 14 pirates arrested. Yemeni authorities: the Turkish warship “opened fire onto the fishing boat and held the crew prisoners for eight hours.” (rmks: Absolutely no pirates were injured in the process of reporting this story) TURKEY – Source: NIPmail Anadolu shipyard launches 8th C-151 class landing ship … four delivered thus far. UNITED KINGDOM – Source: NIPmail TYPE 23 frigate MONTROSE returns to home port Portsmouth, ending a 6½-month deployment to the South Atlantic. USA – Source: NIPmail +++ Keel laying of future VIRGINA class submarine NORTH DAKOTA (SSN 784) at General Dynamics Electric Boat-Quonset Point division in North Kingstown. +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE arrives in Jakarta (Indonesia) for a scheduled port visit. 12 May CHINA – PHILIPPINES – Source: NIPmail China has denied reports its military forces are preparing for war amid growing tensions over disputed Scarborough Shoals in the South China Sea. IRAN (sanctions) – Source: NIPmail A Chinese shipping company has asked an Iranian company to provide insurance for its tankers when carrying Iranian crude. NEW ZEALAND – Source: NIPmail The RNZN plans replacing its five Seasprite helicopters … according to local media with “up to 11 refurbished older Super Sea Sprite rejected by Australia in 2008 because they were considered unsafe and unsuitable”. PIRACY – Source: IMO update Arabian Sea (update): Warships of CTF-151 to intercept and shadow hijacked tanker SMYRNI, heading for the Somalia coast. (rmk: read that – nothing was done to return the vessel to its rightful owners and no pirates were injured in reporting this story) USA – Source: NIPmail Aircraft carrier GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to conduct sea trials in preparation for the ship's next patrol 13 May RUSSIA – Source: NIPmail +++ “High ranking source”: Dismissal of Admiral Vysotsky due to “refusing the order” to move the navy’s main staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg. (rmks: From the things that make you go mmmmh file) +++ Amur Shipyard in Russia’s Far East officially laid the keel of (probably NOT modified) STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette GROMKIY … sixth STEREGUSHCHIY class corvette, and the second built by Amur Shipyard for the Pacific Fleet … to be delivered in 2015. (rmks: modules construction already started in Feb) 14 May SPAIN – Source: NIPmail 11 ships of the Fuerza de Accion Maritima (FAM) together with some 15 paramilitary and civilian organizations have begun exercise “Flotex/Marsec-12" … conducted until 25 May in Spanish waters from Canary Islands to the Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands … 9 different scenarios ranging from maritime security operations to fishery inspection and search & rescue.
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