August 3, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! The weekend is upon up! Here are some interesting nuggets to start the weekend. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 31 July BRAZIL The Brazilian navy has requested purchase of 26 Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV 7) from the US … also upgrade existing AAVs. (rmks: Obviously it's just for excursions up the Amazon. Makes for good scenario fodder, though) 02 August PHILIPPINES – CHINA China is preventing Philippine ships from entering the disputed Scarborough Shoal lagoon, by blocking its entrance with a buoy and rope. (rmks: No not the dreaded bouy and rope technique!) NATO During a ceremony at Zeebrugge (Belgium) Belgium navy Cdr Yvo Jaenen takes over command of SNMCMG-1 from Norwegian Cdr Erik Hansen … Belgium support vessel GODETIA new flagship to the mine countermeasure force … sail from Zeebrugge on 05 Aug for scheduled operations in North Sea and Baltic. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: Spanish dock landing ship CASTILLA sails from Rota (Spain) for the Horn of Africa … will join EU NavFor in support of operation “Atalanta”. (rmks: And the cockroaches (excuse me, the misunderstood coast peoples of the region) quake in fear – NOT!) RUSSIA Med-Deployment: Combined Northern/Baltic Fleet task force (two frigates, three landing ships) has arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean … practicing air defense, surface defense and boarding operations (anti-terror/anti-piracy) … heading for rendezvous with VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV task group. (rmks: Intenerating multi-faceted training operation. Wonder where Syria fits into all of this) SYRIA (related) Iran has become Syria's main crude oil buyer, helping the Assad government to circumvent Western sanctions … Iranian tankers have returned to Syrian ports for a third time since April. (rmks: Hey, if you're going to get advice, you might as well hit-up the experts) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS NORWAY (multinational) (18 Aug) Navies of Russia, USA and Norway will meet on 18 Aug at Bodoe (Norway) for exercise “Northern Eagle 2012” … while sailing from Bodoe to Severomorsk (Russia) will conduct maritime interdiction operations and search & rescue in the Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea … involve Russian destroyer ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a US Navy ARLEIGH BURKE class destroyer and Norwegian coast guard ship NORDKAPP as well as naval aircraft and helicopters. (rmks: Last NEEX was in 2008. It's interesting it takes place now, in a time when the Arctic claims issue is on simmer setting).
August 6, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog . The commentary is my own. Enjoy! The weekend is upon up! Here are some interesting nuggets to start the weekend. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 27 July FRANCE After returning from a nearly six-month cadet training cruise, third MISTRAL class helicopter carrier DIXMUDE has been officially commissioned into the French navy. (rmks: Salute!) 02 August CHINA On her round-the-world cruise, training ship ZHENGHE arrives at Papeete (French Polynesia) for a four-day visit. 03 August ARGENTINA – UNITED KINGDOM Lawmakers passed a bill to prohibit “ships involved in business activities off the Falkland Islands (read the UK)” from mooring at Argentinean ports … part of Argentina's drive to discourage oil exploration in the area … has already banned all ships flying the Falklands flag. (rmks: Ah, ya gotta love South American politics) NORWAY Frustrated with delivery delays, Norway is threatening to cancel its order for NH90 helicopters … eight of the NH90 maritime variant on order …deliveries were due to have been completed six years ago, but so far only one received. (rmks: That's gotta suck. The Norwegians were staking on the helo being an exportable product) PHILIPPINES DefMin Gazmin: … plan to enhance maritime security capabilities by acquiring two naval missile frigates and several aircraft from Italy. (rmks: They already getting two old Mistreale's. It will be interesting to see what else they able to negotiate for. As the Spratly's continues to heat-up, you can bet on them procuring more platforms with 'teeth') RUSSIA (SYRIA) Med-Deployment: Russian news agencies report the three Northern Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ships in the coming days will briefly dock at Tartus (Syria). MoD: “no plans, but possible if necessary“ (rmks: Wonder if they are actually carrying anything or moving anything offshore – old Iraqi WMD's, chem stores. Man this has some scenario possibilities!) RUSSIA A quayside in Bolshoi Uliss Bay near Vladivostok is being reconstructed in order to accommodate MISTRAL class helicopter carriers. (rmks: It will be interesting to see if the attempt a northern crossing in the summer. As the Arctic issue continues to simmer. This will be one thing to keep an eye on) 04 August AUSTRALIA Patrol boat ALBANY intercepted a boat carrying 64 asylum seekers and four crew west of the Ashmore Islands. CHINA Photo shows tanker WEISHAN HU passing the Dardanelles into the Marmara Sea. (rmks: It had been “missing” for about a week) IRAN Iran claims to have test-fired a new variant of Fateh-110 short-range, surface-to-surface ballistic missile (range 300 km) … new guidance system/seeker facilitating high precision attacks, also against sea targets … system to be installed in all future missiles. (rmks: Me thinks, things have ticked-up a notch or three in the current Gulf saga) PIRACY +++ (Anti-Piracy Forces (aka: The Keystone Kops)) Netherlands dock landing ship ROTTERDAM has replaced Netherlands frigate EVERTSEN as flag ship to NATO’s SNMG-1, currently employed in NATO anti-piracy operation “Ocean Shield”. EVERTSEN has commenced home transit after three-month deployment. +++ (NIGERIA) Gunmen attack an accommodation barge anchored off the coast of the Niger delta, killing two navy sailors protecting the vessel and kidnapping four foreign workers. (rmks: No cockroaches (excuse me pirates) were harmed in reporting either of these stories – drat and double-drat) RUSSIA (SYRIA) Med-Deployment: Combined Northern Fleet (three ROPUCHA class landing ships) and Baltic Fleet (two NEUSTRASHIMIY class frigates) task forces has rendezvoused with former anti-piracy task group comprised of destroyer VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV (Northern Fleet) and tanker IVAN BUBNOV and salvage tug SORUM MB-304 … in the Eastern Mediterranean … check status of fuel, water and provisions … if required replenish in Tartus (Syria) … after more exercises in the north-eastern Mediterranean proceed to the Black Sea for (amphibious) exercises Additional Update: the three landing ships reportedly registered for Bosporus passage on 11/12 Aug and proceed to Novorossiysk. TAIWAN Local media: delivery of two US-built P-3C maritime patrol aircraft next year. (rmks: This will likely peeve the ChiComs to no end) USA Aircraft carrier ABRAHAM LINCOLN arrives at Mayport (Florida) … embark crew member families for “tiger cruise” to Norfolk at the end of her eight-month Middle East deployment. (rmks: Thanks for the POD, posted on the FB page. Stay tuned for a good one as well, for tomorrow) 05 August (rmks: Happy birthday to me) CHINA Frigate YANTAI arrives at Varna (Bulgaria) for a five-day visit … first ever visit of a Chinese warship to Bulgaria. At the same time, destroyer QINGDAO and fleet supply ship WEISHAN HU begin a four-day visit to Istanbul (Turkey) … second visit after 2002. (rmks: Looks like they are avoiding Georgia. Probably a diplomatic move with Russkies) IRAN +++ Parliament commission holds meetings with the commanders of the Army and the IRGC naval forces … discuss the latest conditions, developments and security of Iran's Southern waters and the strategic Strait of Hormuz … another meeting scheduled on 07 August. +++ To minimize risks of disruptive cyber attacks, Iran is to move key ministries and state bodies off the internet next month … first phase of a project to replace the world-wide web with a domestic intranet system scheduled to be completed within 18 months. (rmks: They may be dumb, but they ain't stupid) ISRAEL (Gaza) An “international flotilla”, currently consisting of single Swedish vessel ESTELLE (correct me if I'm wrong, isn't a flotilla supposed to consist of MORE than one ship?), has begun a voyage to break the Gaza blockade … expected to reach there in October. (rmks: International group of organizers call themselves “Gaza Flotilla III”) RUSSIA Pella shipyard (St. Petersburg) has launched another Project 90600 tug (RB-394) for the Russian navy. 06 August RUSSIA Ice breakers KAPITAN DARNITSYN and DIKSON begin 2-month survey of Arctic Ocean … determine whether the Mendeleev Ridge is a continuation of Russia's continental shelf, which would give Russia the priority right to develop its natural resources. (rmks: Remember what I said about the Arctic claims issue?) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (08 Aug) The Baltic Fleet has scheduled amphibious exercises … on 08 August at Khmelyovka range near Baltiysk … landing ships ALEXANDER SHABALIN and KALININGRAD to land two companies naval infantry with simultaneous airborne assault … air force provide air cover (Su-27) and strikes (Su-24). ITALY – RUSSIA (Nov) Annual bilateral naval exercise “Ionex 2012” scheduled in November … in the Ionian Sea, staging from Taranto (Italy) … Russian Black Sea Fleet tentatively earmarked destroyer SMETLIVIY and salvage tug SHAKHTER for participation. (rmks: Strange bedfellows, indeed!)
August 7, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! The week is starting off well. Summer has finally arrived in the PacNorWest. Here's a nice bit of navy-related news to start your day. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 03 August USA Africa Partnership Station West 2012: HSV-2 SWIFT arrives at Monrovia (Liberia). 05 August CHINA JIANGHU-I class frigates NANTONG (511) and WUXI (512) decommissioned. (rmks: Likely candidates for the international secondary market). PIRACY Red Sea: A merchant vessel reports possible pirate skiffs in the Southern Red Sea, north of the Bab el Mandeb strait. (rmks: No pirates were harmed reporting this story – Drat it all!) SRI LANKA The Sri Lankan navy arrested 37 Chinese fishermen for illegally fishing in Sri Lankan waters. 06 August BlackSeaForce assembling at Gölcük (Turkey) naval base … official activation from 09 -24 Aug … change of command from Russia to Turkey … force to visit Trabzon (Turkey) and Novorossiysk (Russia) … Participants: mine hunter SHKVAL (BUL), frigate CONTRAAMIRAL HORIA MACELLARIU (RUM), landing ship NOVOCHERKASSK (RUS), frigate HEYBELIADA (TUR, flag), command vessel SLAVUTICH (UKR). (rmks: That's an interesting mix of ships. Likely everybody will put on their best faces and temporarily forget the animosity that is simmering on the back-burner, in the region) INDIA Procurement of 16 multi-role naval helicopters further delayed (tender already six years-old!) … MoD has asked the American Sikorsky (S-70 Blackhawk) and European NH Industries (NH-90) to extend the validity of their proposals for the tender by another six-months. IRAN (related) India's top ship-owners have rejected a government offer to ship Iranian oil, saying insurance provided by the state is inadequate … therefore, Indian refiners will have to use Iranian insurers and tankers for their imports. (rmks: The Indians ain't stupid!) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: During a ceremony in Djibouti on board French command ship MARNE, French RAdm Jean-Baptiste Dupuis hands over sea command of the EU NavFor to Italian RAdm Enrico Credendino … Italian dock landing ship SAN GIUSTO now new flag ship. (rmks: Everything is rosy in the jungle! As usual, no pirates were harmed reporting this story) RUSSIA (rmks: The Russkies have been busy lately) +++ Russia will create several infrastructure hubs along the Northern Sea Route in the Arctic, to be used as temporary stations for Russian warships and border guard vessels … drafted a list of “key double-purpose sites”. (rmks: Remember what I was saying about the Arctic claims issue?) +++ Final test for BOREJ class submarine YURI DOLGORUKIY and missile Bulava to be conducted under “operational conditions”, with the launch sequence initiated by the General Staff. If successful, both the submarine and the missile will be commissioned. (rmks: missile tests, also from 2nd BOREJ class submarine ALEXANDER NEVSKIY, widely expected in October) +++ Zvezdochka shipyard (Severodvinsk) re-floated OSCAR-II class submarine SMOLENSK … complex overhaul since Sep 2011 … scheduled to return to operational fleet in summer 2013. +++ Northern Fleet coastal defense forces prepare for live missile firing with “Redut” and “Rubesh” coastal missile systems. SYRIA (related) Syria has reached an agreement with Russia to secure much-needed fuel … will export its crude oil to Russia in exchange for refined oil products. (rmks: So much for Assad's claims about helping his people) UNITED KINGDOM TYPE 45 destroyer DIAMOND has entered the Persian Gulf … on six-month routine deployment “East of Suez”. USA (multinational) US-sponsored, multinational annual exercise “PanAmEx” kicked-off at Mayport (Florida) … until 17 Aug … exercise a variety of responses, in coordination with the governments of Panama and Colombia, in order to protect and guarantee safe passage of commercial traffic through the Panama Canal, ensure its neutrality, and respect national sovereignty … representatives from 17-nations participating (Belize, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and the US). (rmks: It looks like the Caribbean version of RIMPAC) USA – JAPAN – SOUTH KOREA Japan, South Korea and the US will hold two-day joint naval exercises off Hawaii. (rmks: Involve ships, which had participated in exercise “RIMPAC” which ended on 03 Aug) USA USCG Commandant Robert Papp to a Senate subcommittee: "The Coast Guard is ready for expanded activity in Arctic waters, including petroleum exploration." (rmks: Oh really? An aging and decrepit ice breaking force, antiquated research ships and no polar-capable cutters – but the CG is 'ready for expanded activity in Arctic waters, including petroleum exploration.' That's a good one!)
August 8, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum , with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog . The commentary is my own. Enjoy! While the 2012 London Summer Games continue, here are some tidbits of global naval news to start your day. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 27 July CHILE Third OPV-80, under construction at Asmar in Talcahuano, to be named MARINERO FUENTEALBA (83) … will be optimized for Antarctic patrol, with a reinforced icebreaking hull, SATCOMs and a 76-mm gun. 02 August USA US Navy and Raytheon are advancing plans to develop an anti-ship variant of the Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile … Multi-Mission Tomahawk (MMT) will be created by adding a new moving target seeker and upgraded datalink to the existing Block IV system baseline, creating a semi-autonomous weapon capable of detection, discrimination and terminal guidance to a moving maritime target. (rmks: I must say, this is a nice way to modernize this trustworthy missile) 07 August INDIA Navy chief on status of indigenous nuclear submarine ARIHANT: “Hope to commence sea trials in the coming months” … should be able to join the navy within the 'next 18 months.'” (rmks: I guess he forgot he made the same statement already two years ago. Oops!) INDIA – PAKISTAN To avert military confrontations/incidents at sea, India and Pakistan discuss establishing a mechanism of direct contact (communication hotline) between the navies of the two countries. (rmks: I gotta see this one! The state of the telecommunications grid is even more decrepit than the naval shipbuilding industry) INDONESIA Order contracts for three new submarines from South Korea officially signed … one submarine will entirely be built in South Korea (delivery in 2015), one jointly produced and the third one built in Indonesia. (rmks: Mover over Germany, the ROK is quickly becoming one of the big boys in diesel submarine production) IRAN (related) After being hit by European and US sanctions, Iran's oil sales are stabilizing as the country entices buyers with attractive prices and a form of barter. (rmks: Shows you just how effective the sanctions are) South Korea has signaled it was likely to resume crude purchases from Iran, possibly as early as September. (rmks: Wow, some ally in the GWOT! With friends like this, we almost don't need enemies) RUSSIA (SYRIA) Med-Deployment: according to “MoD official” ships of interfleet task force will not enter Tartus (Syria) … tanker IVAN BUBNOV took over fuel at Limassol (Cyprus) and will now replenish the other ships … task force afterwards to head for the Black Sea, proceed directly to Novorossiysk (Russia) (rmks: The Russkies are experts at double-talk. Although likely, but as this is not an official statement - anything remains possible.) UNITED KINGDOM Frigate SUTHERLAND has relieved sister ship WESTMINSTER in the Indian Ocean on station “East of Suez”. (rmks: It will be just as effective combating the cockroach (excuse me pirate) infestation as WESTMINSTER) USA +++ Aircraft carrier ABRAHAM LINCOLN arrives at Norfolk (Virginia), ending her 8-month deployment … changes home port from Everett (Wash) to Norfolk … set to start a four-year yard period (RCOH - refuelling complex overhaul). (rmks: Job well done guys and gals) +++ LCS-3 FORT WORTH departs Marinette shipyard (Wisconsin), heading for Galveston (Texas) where she will be commissioned on 22 Sep, then proceed to future home port San Diego (California) (rmks: Anyone want to start a pool on the number of breakdowns it suffers along the way? My guess is three) +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE departs Yokosuka (Japan) to patrol the southeast Asian-Pacific region.
August 8, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum , with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog . The commentary is my own. Enjoy! While the 2012 London Summer Games continue, here are some tidbits of global naval news to start your day. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 27 July CHILE Third OPV-80, under construction at Asmar in Talcahuano, to be named MARINERO FUENTEALBA (83) … will be optimized for Antarctic patrol, with a reinforced icebreaking hull, SATCOMs and a 76-mm gun. 02 August USA US Navy and Raytheon are advancing plans to develop an anti-ship variant of the Tomahawk Block IV cruise missile … Multi-Mission Tomahawk (MMT) will be created by adding a new moving target seeker and upgraded datalink to the existing Block IV system baseline, creating a semi-autonomous weapon capable of detection, discrimination and terminal guidance to a moving maritime target. (rmks: I must say, this is a nice way to modernize this trustworthy missile) 07 August INDIA Navy chief on status of indigenous nuclear submarine ARIHANT: “Hope to commence sea trials in the coming months” … should be able to join the navy within the 'next 18 months.'” (rmks: I guess he forgot he made the same statement already two years ago. Oops!) INDIA – PAKISTAN To avert military confrontations/incidents at sea, India and Pakistan discuss establishing a mechanism of direct contact (communication hotline) between the navies of the two countries. (rmks: I gotta see this one! The state of the telecommunications grid is even more decrepit than the naval shipbuilding industry) INDONESIA Order contracts for three new submarines from South Korea officially signed … one submarine will entirely be built in South Korea (delivery in 2015), one jointly produced and the third one built in Indonesia. (rmks: Mover over Germany, the ROK is quickly becoming one of the big boys in diesel submarine production) IRAN (related) After being hit by European and US sanctions, Iran's oil sales are stabilizing as the country entices buyers with attractive prices and a form of barter. (rmks: Shows you just how effective the sanctions are) South Korea has signaled it was likely to resume crude purchases from Iran, possibly as early as September. (rmks: Wow, some ally in the GWOT! With friends like this, we almost don't need enemies) RUSSIA (SYRIA) Med-Deployment: according to “MoD official” ships of interfleet task force will not enter Tartus (Syria) … tanker IVAN BUBNOV took over fuel at Limassol (Cyprus) and will now replenish the other ships … task force afterwards to head for the Black Sea, proceed directly to Novorossiysk (Russia) (rmks: The Russkies are experts at double-talk. Although likely, but as this is not an official statement - anything remains possible.) UNITED KINGDOM Frigate SUTHERLAND has relieved sister ship WESTMINSTER in the Indian Ocean on station “East of Suez”. (rmks: It will be just as effective combating the cockroach (excuse me pirate) infestation as WESTMINSTER) USA +++ Aircraft carrier ABRAHAM LINCOLN arrives at Norfolk (Virginia), ending her 8-month deployment … changes home port from Everett (Wash) to Norfolk … set to start a four-year yard period (RCOH - refuelling complex overhaul). (rmks: Job well done guys and gals) +++ LCS-3 FORT WORTH departs Marinette shipyard (Wisconsin), heading for Galveston (Texas) where she will be commissioned on 22 Sep, then proceed to future home port San Diego (California) (rmks: Anyone want to start a pool on the number of breakdowns it suffers along the way? My guess is three) +++ 7th Fleet flagship BLUE RIDGE departs Yokosuka (Japan) to patrol the southeast Asian-Pacific region.
August 9, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! As the US presidential campaign heats-up, SHAZAAM! The Iranians has made the great technological leap in nuclear physics. Read about this and other happenings in today's installment. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 02 August TAIWAN Refurbished US mine hunters ORIOLE and FALCON (decommissioned 2007) handed over to Taiwan … formal commissioning ceremony scheduled on 10 Aug. (rmks: New numbers/names as 1310 YUNG JIN (ORIOLE) and 1311 YUNG AN (FALCON)) 06 August USA Huntington Ingalls starts construction on dock landing ship LPD 27, the 11th ship in the SAN ANTONIO class. (rmks: Dollars to doughnuts, the dems will push for it to be named for another of their wacko icons). 07 August USA The PELELIU Amphibious Ready Group (PELELIU, RUSHMORE, GREEN BAY) completed COMPTUEX composite unit training exercise off the coast of California. (rmks: They are preparing for upcoming MidEast deployment – prob to replace the IWO JIMA ARG, due to end their deployment in Oct) 08 August AUSTRALIA Amphibious transport ship HMAS CHOULES (former RFA LARGS BAY) will be out of action until “at least year end” (rmks: Due to repairs to propulsion system. Oh well, the typhoon season is closing-out anyway) IRAN (related) New intelligence information obtained by Israel and four Western countries indicates that Iran has made greater progress on developing components for its nuclear weapons program than the West had previously realized. (rmks: Say it ain't so! It's like the Spratly issue. The mullahs made this great technological leap, in just the last couple of months. Wow!!) Gulf nations aim to secure water and food supply … look for alternative (multiple) sources of food, water and energy in case one or more sources are cut off (read - by blockage of the Strait of Hormuz), in the wake of a conflict. PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: German frigate FGS SACHSEN has relieved frigate FGS BREMEN in EU NavFor; BREMEN heading home after three-months operations off the Horn of Africa. (rmks: And the cockroaches (excuse the migrant, coastal peoples (likely soon to be the new buzz word for the pirates) breathe a sigh of relief. Not!) RUSSIA DepDefMin Sukhorukov: Next Bulava test not from BOREJ class submarine RFS YURI DOLGORUKIY, but from second boat RFS ALEXEANDER NEVSKIY … both will be initially placed with the Northern Fleet, but redeploy to the Pacific Fleet after all the infrastructure there is ready. (rmks: contradicting statements every other day. Don't ya just love the Vodka version! He'll sober up in a couple of days and we'll get the straight scoop then - MAYBE) +++ Assembly of a first batch of Ka-52K/Alligator combat helicopters has begun … destined to operate from MISTRAL class helicopter carriers. (rmks: That's a new twist) +++ Northern Fleet group of vessels set to deploy to the Kara Sea (Ob Bay off Yamal Peninsula) to search and destroy explosive objects (WW II remnants) … salvage tug RFS PAMIR, survey ship RFS SENEZH, mine hunter RFS VLADIMIR GUMANENKO with logistic support from tanker RFS VICTOR OSIPOV … operate until new ice formed. (rmks: I wouldn't be surprised to see a new design UUV unveiled as part of the exercise) SRI LANKA Another group of 68 illegal asylum seekers were arrested 10 nm off the Sri Lankan coast, their boat obviously enroute to Australia. SYRIA (related) A group of 160 Syrians travelling in a fishing boat arrived in the southern Italian port of Crotone. UNITED KINGDOM Mine hunters HMS ATHERSTONE and HMS SHOREHAM have arrived in Bahrain … replace HMS MIDDLETON and HMS PEMBROKE (which already are in the Gulf of Oman, heading for home) in a two to four year deployment. USA Destroyer USS JAMES E WILLIAMS rescued 10 sailors from an Iranian-flagged dhow that was on fire in the Gulf of Oman.
August 10, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog . The commentary is my own. Enjoy! The weekend is upon us! The weekend is upon us! Enjoy the closing of the Summer Games in London. Thanks to all of our British cousins for all the memories of these Olympic Games. Hope these nuggets of naval news tides you over 'til Monday. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 07 August PIRACY General: A Kenyan court found seven Somali men found guilty of trying to hijack a French fishing vessel off the Somali Coast in October 2009 … all sentenced to 20-years imprisonment. (rmks: With time off for good behavior, they were likely turned out into the street, right after the trial. No wonder the cockroaches (excuse me, migrant coastal peoples) don't fear continuing in their line of work) 09 August AUSTRALIA ARMIDALE class patrol boats LARRAKIA and intercept a boat loaded with 211 asylums seekers north of Christmas Islands. High optempo at open sea in intercepting asylum seekers off north-west Australia take their toll on ARMIDALE class patrol boats … structural cracks found in three boats; one now banned from operations … MoD has ordered an urgent investigation … concerns that the problem could threaten long-term ability to patrol Australia's northern approaches. (rmks: Rode hard and put away wet, as they say in the westerns) BRAZIL AMAZONAS (P 120), the first of three BAE Systems built OPVs, departs the UK for Rio de Janeiro … after her crew completed a rigorous program of Royal Navy Flag Officer Sea Training …remaining two ships APA and ARAGUARI to be delivered in the coming months. (rmks: The OPVs originally ordered from Trinidad & Tobago will likely be put to good use patrolling the quickly developing, NE regional coast) CHINA +++ Training ship ZHENGHE completes visit to Papeete (French Polynesia), now heading for Tonga for the next scheduled visit. +++ Ice breaker XUELONG for the first time sailed the Northern Sea Route (north of Russia) from the Chukchi Sea to the Barents Sea … currently proceeding south in the Norwegian Sea. (rmks: That's interesting! Man the Chic-Coms are really flexing their blue water muscle this year) +++ Latest passenger ro-/ro ship BOHAI EMERALD BEAD (36,000 tons) has a secondary military role … may be employed in strategic sealift (carry 2,000+ soldiers and some 300 vehicles) … three sister ships under construction. (rmks: Well its official, we now we know ALL commercial ships have a secondary military role. The cat is now out of the bag) RUSSIA +++ Northern Fleet “surface action group” has started exercises in the Barents Sea … incl. cruiser RFS PETR VELIKIY and destroyer RFS ADMIRAL USHAKOV … to conduct artillery and air-defence missile firing, ASW and MCM operations. (rmks: Must be some kind of training to bring our PtV – and you thought our carriers were expensive to operate and maintain) +++ Black Sea Fleet naval infantry preparing for amphibious exercise at Opuk training range. (rmks: Likely related to interfleet task force Mediterranean deployment) USA Aircraft carrier USS EISENHOWER has left the Persian Gulf and returned to the Arabian Sea … joined USS ENTERPRISE in combat sorties in support of Operation “Enduring Freedom” (Afghanistan). (rmks: Fair winds and following sea, guys and gals!)
August 13, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum , with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! Sorry this is a little late getting out. I'm having issues with our home computer and I was finishing-up BRICS #3. It's posted in the NACV Folder under scenarios. Hope you all enjoy it. Summary to follow ... 09 August CHINA Frigate YANTAI ends port visit to Varna (Bulgaria). Chinese state media: YANTAI, QINGDAO and WEISHAN HU (the latter two in visit to Istanbul, Turkey) now to join up again and proceed to Haifa (Israel) for first ever visit. (rmks: I bet that por visit will be widely reported and skewed in the ChiCom press) 10 August INDIA The Indian Navy has floated a global tender for procuring 56 Light Utility Helicopters (LUH) … replace the fleet of its vintage Cheetah and Chetak choppers. (rmks: Me thinks another DB update will soon be in the works) IRAN (related) +++ China, India, Japan and South Korea buy most of the one million barrels per day of crude Iran is able to export, despite financial, shipping and insurance sanctions. (rmks: Hmmm, don't you just love how we are supported by our 'allies') +++ Zanzibar is in the process of deregistering 36 Iranian tankers flying Tanzania's flag. JAPAN – SOUTH KOREA Japan will take the territorial dispute over the islands known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea to the International Court of Justice, after the South Korean president made a surprise visit there. The islands lie equidistant from the two main lands and are believed to contain frozen natural gas. (rmks: I just love these soap operas. They are great grist for scenarios) NEW ZEALAND The RNZN has spotted a huge 250 x 30 nm field of floating pumice … some 1,100km northeast of New Zealand … probably originating from an undersea volcanic eruption. RUSSIA +++ Navy commander VAdm Victor Chirkov promoted to the rank of Admiral +++ Repair contracts for fire-damaged DELTA-IV submarine RFS YEKATERINBURG “will only be signed when damage assessment has been completed” (rmks: That Russo-union speak for we need more kickbacks, before we can start the work) UNITED KINGDOM Destroyer HMS DAUNTLESS completed a three-week visit to Cape Town (South Africa) … incl. maintenance period and is returning to Antarctic patrol. USA Sasebo (Japan) based USS BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group (BONHOMME RICHARD, TORTUGA, DENVER) begins fall deployment to the 7th Fleet area … scheduled to participate in several exercises in the Asia-Pacific region, incl. “PHIBLEX” with the Philippines. 11 August AUSTRALIA Two more another asylum seeker boats intercepted with a total of nearly 120 people on board. CHINA Images suggest more LCAC built to the 3320 prototype design may be under construction. INDIA Adm Nirmal Verma: design of (planned) second indigenous aircraft carrier not yet decided. (rmks: Russia allegedly has proposed joint development) IRAN (related) 75 sanctioned Iranian ships are being transferred from Maltese shipping registry and re-flagged at South Pacific island of Tuvalu RUSSIA Med-Deployment: The interfleet task force has conducted two-day tactical exercises in the Eastern Mediterranean, with artillery and missile live-firing drills … head to the Russian naval base of Novorossiysk after additional training in the central part of the Mediterranean later this month. (rmks: Conflicting reports in the Russkie press shows that democracy is still alive and kicking. If the reports parroted each other, you'd know something was up). Update 13 Aug: no indication/information that any of the Russian ships may have passed the Bosporus. USA Africa Partnership Station (APS) West: HSV-2 SWIFT ends 8-day visit to Monrovia (Liberia). 12 August CHINA – JAPAN A ship belonging to a Hong Kong activist group set sail for the Diaoyu / Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea … disputed with Japan … in an attempt to assert China's sovereignty over the islands. (rmks: China loves using shills, to do the MSA's dirty work) ISRAEL The Israel Defence Forces’ Central Technological, Logistics, and Medical Directorate has begun increasing the existing supplies of strategic reserves in bases nationwide, as well as "shuffling" their storage warehouses' locations. (rmks: Could be related to either Iran or developments in Syria) RUSSIA “Insiders” allege commissioning of BOREJ class submarines RFS YURI DOLGORUKIY and ALEXANDER NEVSKIY to be delayed because stocks of Bulava missiles “completely exhausted” … for the time being no further tests nor arming the new submarines possible. (rmks: See my remarks on Friday. I think the naval staff is beginning to sober-up) SOUTH AFRICA Submarine QUEEN MODJADJI involved in unspecified accident“ last week during a training exercise between Port Elizabeth and Durban” … damage (dented hull) won’t affect safety; “will return to service soon”. Investigation under way. (rmks: What is is with all the submarine accidents lately? Man, I thought the bubbleheads were supposed to be the cream of the crop) USA Destroyer USS PORTER collides with Japanese (Panama-flagged) tanker OTOWASAN, nearly loaded to capacity (2 million barrels) … near the Strait of Hormuz (rmks: probably at northern entrance, as tanker was “heading into the strait toward the Gulf of Oman”) … no injuries … no report of oil spill or leakages … collision left a breach about 10 feet by 10 feet in the starboard side of PORTER, but she could proceed under own power to Jebel Ali (UAE). (rmks: PORTER belongs to ENTERPRISE Carrier Strike Group; incident suggests CSG may be - routinely - moving from Arabian Sea into the Persian Gulf; PORTER made transit together with dock landing ship GUNSTON HALL, part of the IWO JIMA ARG)
August 14, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! Another day, another NNSotD! Some interesting things happening. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 08 August UNITED KINGDOM The MoD’s Disposal Services Authority has put two TYPE 42 destroyers (reportedly HMS YORK and EDINBURGH) up for sale … as intact warships, not just scrap iron … will become available “in the timeframe 2012/13”. (rmks: I guess our British cousins can't afford to strip them. Heck, I wonder what the price will be? I think they would make a great addition to the Navy of an A-P country having difficulties with a neighbor concerning some maritime claims. Now that's nice fodder for a WestPac scenario) 09 August PIRACY Gulf of Aden: Pirates hijack a dhow near the port of Bosasso. (rmks: So much for the Keystone Cop's Anti-Piracy Day Without an Incident Count. And remember folks, no pirates were injured reporting this story) 11 August PIRACY Gulf of Aden: Pirates abandon dhow hijacked on 09 Aug off Bosasso after just using it to hijack another dhow. (rmks: Where are the Keystone Cops (the Anti-Piracy Joke-tilla) when you need them. No pirate harming dittos – Drat it all) 13 August BLACKSEAFORCE Ships of the BlackSeaForce have completed their first (three days) at-sea phase … a.o.t. practiced establishing a joint situation picture and control of merchant shipping … arrive at Trabzon (Turkey) for the first scheduled port visit. CHINA +++ Former 11th Chinese anti-piracy task group (destroyer QINGDAO, frigate YANTAI, supply ship WEISHAN HU) arrives at Haifa (Israel) for a four-day visit … first ever Chinese navy visit to Israel. (rmks: See my remarks from yesterday. Standby for some interesting press tidbits from the ChiCom newsies) +++ Training ship ZHENGHE has arrived at the Pacific island of Tonga for a scheduled port visit. PIRACY Gulf of Aden: NATO and EU NavFor (aka the Keystone Cops Joke-tilla) jointly tracked a hijacked (11 Aug) dhow for three days, then Netherlands navy dock landing ship ROTTERDAM started rescue operation … crew freed and in good condition … suspected pirates detained on board ROTTERDAM awaiting further decisions on the follow-on process. (rmks: All of this took three-freaking days. No wonder the cockroaches have nothing to fear, concerning the exterminators) USA: A US court has handed 12 life sentences (no parole) to a Somali pirate negotiator involved in two hijackings that saw four American yachters killed (2011). (rmks: In the US prison system, the cockroaches (excuse me, the displaced and mis-understood coastal peoples of Somalia) will still be living way above the living conditions they are used to. This is basically their retirement plan kicking-in) RUSSIA +++ Med-Deployment: According to MoD source, ships of the interfleet task force on short notice cancelled a port visit to Novorossiysk (planned on 12 Aug) … instead entire force proceeded to the Central Mediterranean performing “combat training exercises” … meanwhile has passed Italy, further heading west. (rmks: Hmmm. Could be a show of force ex, concerning the US Navy's operation, reported below. We'll see) +++ Refurbished DELTA-IV class submarine RFS NOVOMOSKOVSK back at home base … serve until 2022. +++ First YASEN class submarine RFS SEVERODVINSK reportedly to be commissioned in 2013 at the earliest … due to (alleged) “problems with the nuclear power plant”. (rmks: Ya gotta love the impressive workmanship and quality of Russian union labor) USA +++ Search & rescue exercise “Reliant Mermaid” has started in the Mediterranean … until 16 Aug … US Navy participating with destroyers USS JASON DUNHAM and FORREST SHERMAN, fleet tanker USNS JOHN LENTHALL and a P-3 Orion aircraft. (rmks: 11th iteration; usually conducted with Israel Navy off Israel but so far no word on other participants) +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: The fourth and final mission of this year’s PP in Cambodia has ended, bringing PP-12 to a close after nearly three full months of working ports in Southeast Asia.
August 15, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum, with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog . The commentary is my own. Enjoy! Hope your hump day is going well. Here's what's happening navy-wise, around he globe. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 13 August BANGLADESH Bangladesh has launched a joint air and naval operation against pirates who kidnapped some 50 fishermen on 12 Aug in the Bay of Bengal close to the Sundarban Islands. (rmks: Let's hope these exterminators know how to deal with the cockroach infestation in the area) NAMIBIA New Namibian navy ship ELEPHANT arrives at Walvis Bay, completing her transfer voyage … built at Chinese Wuhan shipyard, where she was officially handed over on 03 July … primary role will be training ship; secondary role fishery patrol. (rmks: Interesting how the ChiComs are breaking into the international secondary market) 14 August AUSTRALIA Patrol boat HMAS MAITLAND has assisted a merchant ship in rescuing 67 people aboard a suspected asylum-seeker boat south of Java … inside Indonesia's search and rescue region. CHINA Internet rumors that aircraft carrier ex-VARYAG may be named LIAONING … MoD calls the assumption "speculation", because there is still no consensus on this issue. (rmks: An aircraft carrier by any other name is still an aircraft carrier) ECUADOR The Ecuadorian Navy is exploring the use of low-cost unmanned surface vessels for coastal and inshore patrols. (rmks: Looks like Rafael has some new business prospects for their Protector USV) EGYPT President Morsi has named MajGen Osama el-Gendy commander of naval forces. Rumors that military leadership shake-up forestalled a planned military coup. GERMANY A “leaked report” (Jane’s): due to "technical difficulties with the integration" of RBS 15 Mk 3 anti-ship missiles” the FGS BRAUNSCHWEIG class corvettes may not become fully operational before 2014. (rmks: Although unconfirmed, the ships may still be employed in asymmetric missions such as anti-piracy operations prior to become fully operational) MYANMAR Parliament has named Myanmar’s navy chief, VAdm Nyan Tun (58), as second vice president … predecessor resigned due to health reasons. RUSSIA +++ Interfleet task group with three Northern Fleet landing ships and two Baltic Fleet frigates arrives in waters southwest of the Italian island of Sardinia. (rmks: tanker RFS IVAN BUBNOV and salvage tug not mentioned) +++ Northern Fleet destroyer RFS VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV has split from the force and commenced home transit … port visits planned to Lisbon (Portugal), Portsmouth (UK) and Cork (Ireland). (rmks: Before joining the interfleet task force she had conducted several months of anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden) +++ A US news outlet reported that a Russian AKULA class nuclear-powered attack submarine operated undetected in the Gulf of Mexico for several weeks … in June and July. (rmks: See the ongoing discussion here in the HarpGamer Forum) +++ New YASEN class submarines will carry supersonic “Kalibr” cruise missiles (A new name for the Club-S missile), range 2,500 km, single warhead. SWEDEN Saab is nearing completion of phase one design studies for a carrier-borne version of its Gripen NG multi-role fighter aircraft. (rmks: Looks like the Brits may have some more airwing options for the QECV) USA – ISRAEL Update: this year’s exercise “Reliant Mermaid” once again takes place off Haifa and with participation of the Israel navy … although thus far no specific units mentioned. (rmks: Very low key event this time, due to current political situation) 15 August RUSSIA (multi-national) Trilateral search & rescue exercise RU-POL-LIT 2012 starts in the Eastern Baltic off Kaliningrad … until 17 Aug … scenario: search for missing sailing yacht between Gdansk (Poland) and Klaipeda (Lithuania) UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (JAPAN) (25 Aug) Pacific Fleet landing ship RFS ADMIRAL NEVELSKOY and salvage tug RFS KALAR scheduled to visit three of four Kurile islands … disputed with Japan … from 25 Aug – 17 Sep … take part in ceremonies honoring Soviet sailors who died there at the end of WW II. (rmks: Likely to anger Japan which has been claiming the islands) VIETNAM (end Aug) Russian Admiralty Shipyard is set to put the first of six KILO-II class submarines to be built for Vietnam to water by end of August. MOROCCO (08 Sep) Netherlands Damen Schelde will deliver the third and final SIGMA class frigate, ALLAL BEN ABDELLAH, to the Royal Moroccan Navy on 08 Sep.
August 16, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum , with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! This Thursday is kind of a slow news day. Enjoy these tidbits! Summary to follow ... 14 August SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) A SLN fast patrol boat intercepted a fishing trawler with 43 illegal migrants bound for Australia some 20 nm from the west coast … all arrested under national law. (rmks: Ya gotta know it's a 'great' tourist location, when there are laws against unregistered departure). 15 August IRAN (related) India may instruct state-owned ocean carrier SCI (Shipping Corp. of India) to bring crude from Iran after local tanker owners shunned an emergency insurance scheme for Iranian shipping oil. (rmks: Ahhh, the soap opera continues) JAPAN +++ Tokyo is facing escalating tensions on three fronts, as South Korea, Russia and China make fresh challenges to claims over island territories off the shores of Japan. (rmks: Brad, they must have known you were releasing Imperium ad decided to give you some free advertising. Seriously, this situation is definitely scenario grist material) +++ Five Chinese activists were arrested after landing on Senkaku/Diaoyu island chain claimed by both Japan and China … their vessel was closely tailed by Japanese coastguard vessels and even pummeled with water cannon, but still managed to break through. LIBYA – EGYPT Libyan authorities remanded 90 Egyptian fishermen into custody on charges of trespassing the territorial waters without permission. (rmks: Obviously the Arab Spring honymoon is over, now its time to get back to work repressing the people) RUSSIA (USA) Update: A US DoD official has denied media reports that a Russian nuclear-powered submarine recently operated “in restricted US waters” for up to a month without being detected. (rmks: Seems this denial is only meant for “restricted US waters,” whatever these might be. To quote Shakespeare, "Me thinks he doth protest too much.") 16 August UNITED KINGDOM Royal Navy survey ship HMS ECHO returns to home to Naval Base, Devonport, Plymouth, after a 19-month deployment. 17 August RUSSIA Admiralty Shipyards (St. Petersburg) to start construction of KILO-III (Proj 636.3) class RFS STARIY OSKOL …third of six boats destined for Black Sea Fleet. (rmks: Depending on how this plays-out, it could rely put a thumb into the Ukrainian eye. It helps me with future BRICS scenario planning though)
August 20, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum , with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! My goodness it was a fun and busy weekend. Hope you all enjoyed it. It was also a busy weekend in navy-related news. Summary to follow ... 13 August PORTUGAL The government announced that it is to sell state-owned shipbuilder Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo (ENVC). (rmks: In the current economy, it will be interesting to see who picks up this piece of real estate. I could see this being the start of an interesint Med or Atlantic scenario) 14 August SINGAPORE RAdm Timothy Lo takes over as Singapore navy fleet commander from RAdm Lai Chung Han … change of command ceremony held at Changi Naval Base. 16 August ISRAEL – USA Annual exercise “Reliant Mermaid” concluded off Haifa; participants included Israel navy corvettes INS HANIT (SA’AR-5) and HEREV (SA’AR-4.5) as well as US Navy destroyers USS JASON DUNHAM and FORREST SHERMAN and fleet tanker USNS JOHN LENTHALL … practiced SAR, VERTREP, maritime security operations, and live firing. (rmks: With Turkey still on the outs with Israel, once again it's just a bilateral event) RUSSIA Transfer of production capacity of "Admiralty Shipyards" from Novo-Admiralty Island (St. Petersburg) to Kronshtadt remains on the agenda, but seems to be postponed with no new timeframe given. (rmks: This xfr is key to domestic production of Russia's 3rd and 4th Mistral hulls) 17 August BlackSeaForce: Ships of the BlackSeaForce completed port visit to Trabzon (Turkey) … start next three-day sea phase while heading for Novorossiysk (Russia) with scheduled arrival on 21 Aug. CHINA Icebreaker XUELONG has arrived in Iceland after sailing the Northern Route along the coast of Russia … first Chinese ship to pass through this Arctic seaway. FRANCE FS JACOUBET has returned to Toulon after completing national West African presence mission “Corymbe” … on 09 August had handed over duties to frigate FS VENTOSE. INDIA To make up for delays with submarine acquisition, the MoD has indicated that not all new Project 75i submarines will be built domestically, but two of them be provided by the foreign company that wins the (design) contract. (rmks: The sad Indian shipbuilding sonata continues) IRAN (related) +++ Saudi Arabian Oil company Aramco, the world’s largest crude exporter, reports its computer network attacked by a virus … network linked to oil production not affected. (rmks: That would be interesting if it was linked to Iran) +++ Tanzania’s government has confirmed to have deregistered 36 Iranian oil tankers flying Tanzania's flag to dodge sanctions. (rmks: Iran was obviously paying a lot of attention to Iraq, during the heady Post-Gulf War day. They are using many of the stunts ol' Saddam used to smuggle oil) PIRACY Anti-Piracy Forces: New Spanish METEORO class corvette SPS RELAMPAGO sails from Rota (Spain) for the Horn of Africa … join EU NavFor in operation “Atalanta” … first multi-national operation of a METEORO class ship … afterwards participate in exercises in the Persian Gulf (Nov), then circumnavigate Africa with a number of port visits. (rmks: An OPV isn't going to do much against the cockroaches (excuse me – the armed displaced coastal peoples). This is likely a show tour, promoting the design for export. As usual, no pirates were harmed in reporting this story – Drat it all!) ROMANIA – USA Romanian military and US Navy dock landing ship USS FORT McHENRY (embarked USMC) conducted combined amphibious exercise “Summer Storm” … afterwards the US ship proceeded to Constanta (Romania) for a scheduled visit. RUSSIA +++ Med-Deployment: Interfleet task force completed exercises in the Central Mediterranean, proceeding west to the Alboran Sea for replenishment (rmks: suggests supply ship RFS IVAN BUBNOV still with the force, although not mentioned) … afterwards group will split: three Northern Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ships to leave the Med into the Atlantic “for more exercises”. Two Baltic Fleet NEUSTRASHIMIY class frigates to stay in the Mediterranean for “exercises related to prevention of illegal arms trafficking and anti-terrorism”. +++ Adm Chirkov: By end of August, moving the Main Naval Staff from Moscow to St. Petersburg will be completed; transfer process already started in June +++ Merchant ship ALAED, previously known for failed delivery of refurbished combat helicopters to Syria, has passed the Suez Canal southbound … transporting construction materiel for a Russian navy warship to a Far East shipyard … no attempt to berth at any Syrian port. +++ United Shipbuilding Corporation “source”: Next Bulava missile test to be conducted from BOREJ class submarine RFS ALEXANDER NEVSKIY in November. (rmks: This could be the vodka version – as there are several conflicting reports) +++ Northern Fleet destroyer RFS VIZEADMIRAL KULAKOV arrives at Lisbon (Portugal) for a scheduled port visit. (rmks: on return transit from anti-piracy operations off Somalia and inter-fleet exercises in the Mediterranean) USA The US Navy has decided to repair fire-damaged submarine USS MIAMI … no new estimates published on costs. (rmks: Earlier cost given as US$400M). 18 August JAPAN – CHINA A flotilla of boats carrying Japanese nationalists, including parliamentarians sails for the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, disputed with China. (rmks: Things continue to simmer around the SoJ) NORWAY (multinational) Trilateral (Norway, Russia, USA) exercise “Northern Eagle 2012” starts at Bodoe (Norway) … involves Russian destroyer RFS ADMIRAL CHABANENKO, a US Navy ARLEIGH BURKE class destroyer and Norwegian coast guard ship NoCGV NORDKAPP as well as naval aircraft and helicopters … while sailing from Bodoe to Severomorsk (Russia) will conduct maritime interdiction operations and search & rescue in the Norwegian Sea and Barents Sea. (rmks: Previous “Northern Eagle” held in 2004, 2006, and 2008). PIRACY +++ Arabian Sea: Pirates temporarily hijack Iranian dhow PAYAM but abandon it later after stripping it of all valuables … US missile cruiser USS HUE CITY assisted the troubled vessel, providing medical aid and enough fuel, water and provisions to reach the next safe port. (rmks: Obviously, the much touted 'Islamic brotherly love' isn't part of the cockroaches play book) +++ Southern Red Sea: According to Iranian state media, pirates with “50 speedboats” twice attacked two Iranian cargo ships … some 25 nm north of the Bab el Mandeb Strait … “Iranian naval forces' (routinely embarked on all vessels passing there) swift action and their heavy machine gun fire and sniper rifles forced the pirates to flee the scene.” (rmks: Don't you love Iranian media! This is the hookah version. More than likely, they probably chasedoff a bunch of harmless local fishermen, trying to earn a day's wage) +++ Anti-Piracy Forces (aka the Key Stone Cops): Netherlands frigate HNLMS EVERTSEN returns to home port Den Helder, completing deployment in support of NATO operation “Ocean Shield.” (rmks: As usual, no pirates were harmed in reporting any of these story – blast it all) USA Discussions whether tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey could replace C-2A Greyhound as the US Navy’s next-generation carrier onboard delivery aircraft. (rmks: Something needs to be done soon. The CODs are getting quite old and are becoming more costly to maintain. The would allow the V-22 production line to further incorporate the economies of scale) 19 August AUSTRALIA The hull of first helicopter carrier HMAS CANBERRA is on its way from Spanish Navantia to Australian BAE Systems Williamstown dockyard, where the ship will be completed … transport by heavy lift ship MV BLUE MARLIN … trip to take 43 days. (rmks: Check out today's POD on the HarpGamer Facebook page) ITALY Italian CG rescued more than 350 African migrants … mostly from Sub-Saharan countries … off the small Italian island of Lampedusa over the weekend as they tried to reach European shores on rickety wooden boats. JAPAN – CHINA Japanese nationalists manage to step ashore and place Japanese flags at Senkaku/Diaoyu islands, disputed with China … inciting anti-Japanese protests across China. (rmks: And the soap opera continues) 20 August RUSSIA The Baltic Fleet is set to conduct amphibious training at the Khmelevka range (near Baltiysk) … involve more than 10 surface ships and support vessels … ROPUCHA class landing ship RFS KALININGRAD to put some 200 naval infantry men ashore. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS RUSSIA (28 Aug) Returning from Hawaii (USA) after participation in US-led multi-national exercise “RimPac 2012”, a Russian Pacific fleet task group with destroyer RFS ADMIRAL PANTELEYEV, tanker BORIS BUTOMA and salvage tug FOTIY KRYLOV has scheduled a four-day port visit to Maizuru (Japan), arriving on 28 Aug.
August 21, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum , with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! The week is fast underway. Some interesting navy news items today. Hope this tidbits are useful for devising a variety of scenarios for our fav naval warfare sim! Summary to follow ... 17 August UNITED KINGDOM After a several-week break in South Africa, TYPE 45 destroyer HMS DAUNTLESS has returned to the Falklands, continuing her regular South Atlantic Patrol. (rmks: Fun's over now it back to work, being a bone-in-the-throat to the Argentines) USA Keel laying ceremony for Oceanographic Research vessels AGOR 27 and AGOR 28 … at Dakota Creek Industries shipyard in Anacortes (Wash.) … will replace AGOR-14 USNS MELVILLE and AGOR-15 USNS KNORR. 19 August PIRACY General: Swiss shipping operators have confirmed that they have been employing armed security personnel to guard their vessels from pirate attacks off Somalia. (rmks: Private exterminators seem to be the best alternative, when dealing with six-legged cockroach infestations. Let's see what the two-legged variety thinks of them) 20 August LITHUANIA (multinational) Trilateral (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) “Baltron” naval task group activated … ENS ADMIRAL COWAN (EST), LVNS VIRSAITIS (LVA), LKL SUDUVIS, KURSIS, SKALVIS (LIT) ... until 29 Aug conduct mine clearing operations off Lithuania … afterwards (01-12 Sep) join multinational exercise "Danex / Northern coast-2012." RUSSIA Med-Deployment: Three Northern Fleet ROPUCHA class landing ships have passed the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic … conducted air defense exercise … while sailing north (eventually heading for home) to perform a number of more “northern latitude” exercises. SOUTH KOREA – USA South Korean and US forces start annual joint exercise “Ulchi Freedom Guardian” … until 31 Aug … 56,000 South Korean and more than 30,000 US troops … yet, does not involve field training and is largely a computer-simulated exercise, with troops staying at their normal bases. Probably related: US 7th Fleet flag ship BLUE RIDGE completes three-day port visit to Busan (South Korea). (rmks: It will be interesting to see if they actually light the candle on this one, what with the Nort h saber-rattling again) SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) At least 83 people bound to Australia were arrested by the Sri Lanka navy together with two trawlers off Trincomalee, shortly after sailing. UKRAINE – RUSSIA Ukraine and Russia renewed agreement on the rent of the Nitka facilities (Crimea, Ukraine) for training of Russian carrier pilots … some financial amendments … new contract includes “possibility of sharing with third parties” (rmks:Such as India or even China. The Russkies have to protect their investment with these trading partners) … Nitka provides naval aviation training facilities such as a launch ramp similar in design to the I-V's and C-V's, an aerofinisher, a trampoline, a catapult launching device, a glide-path localizer, a marker beacon, and an optical landing system … previous rent amounted to annually US$ 700,000. UNITED KINGDOM +++ Internal Royal Navy documents (which were leaked) reportedly warn of a lack of personnel that may leave attack submarines and strategic missile submarines “stranded in port” … predicted 15 per cent shortfall in engineers by 2015. (rmks: Ouch! Ain't that a kick below the belt) +++ The MoD has revealed the basic design of future TYPE 26 Global Combat Ship … 5,400 tons, 148m, multi-mission ship … current (tentative) plan is to build 13 ships, entering service after 2020. (rmks: See the existing thread here) USA +++ USCG coastal buoy tender USCG HENRY BLAKE completed an 11-day round trip from Puget Sound to Juneau (Alaska) running on alternative fuel … 50-50 blend of petroleum F-76 and hydroprocessed renewable diesel fuel derived from algal oil … testing potential renewable fuel sources. (rmks: All hail to the greenies! It amazes me that people fail to realize it used more energy to produce that paltry amount of 'green' fuel than it takes to distil oil into normal marine diesel. But, by golly, we're running on alternative fuel) +++ Aircraft carrier USS GEORGE WASHINGTON departs home port Yokosuka (Japan) to continue its 2012 patrol … after a four-week break. +++ Pacific Partnership 2012: Hospital ship USNS MERCY arrives at Guam … nearing completion of its five-month deployment … spend four days in Guam, then head to Hawaii before reaching homeport of San Diego in mid-September. +++ Military Sealift Command has exercised the first of three six months options for the ongoing charter of the Austal high speed vessel WESTPAC EXPRESS … part of a 24 month contract that Austal was awarded in Dec 2011. 21 August BLACKSEAFOR Multinational Black Sea task force BlackSeaFor arrives at Novorossiysk (Russia) for scheduled port visit until 24 Aug. (rmks: I'd take Sevastopol any day over Novo) CANADA Frigate HMCS REGINA arrives in the Middle East region … initially port visit to Kochi (India), then proceed to the Arabian Sea to replace sister ship HMCS CHARLOTTETOWN after an eight-month deployment … will join CTF-150 in regional anti-terror operations.
August 22, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum , with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! Light naval news day. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 20 August USA USS BONHOMME RICHARD Amphibious Ready Group arrives at Okinawa (Japan) … embarking marines of 31st MEU (rmks: Likely conducting fall deployment to 7th Fleet area) 21 August INDIA Deliberations that India’s planned second indigenous aircraft carrier won’t have a ski-jump but will be a 65,000-ton ship with flat top and steam catapult. (rmks: And if pigs had wings they'd fly. I'll believe it when I see it steaming out of Cochin) IRAN (related) The South Pacific island nation of Tuvalu will stop allowing ships owned by Iran to operate under its flag after US lawmakers accused the country of running afoul of US sanctions. (rmks: The mouse who roared! I doubt it will make much of a difference in the grand scheme of things, but bad breath is better than no breath at all) RUSSIA Overhaul of Black Sea Fleet submarine RFS ALROSA (KILO-mod) completed … begins return transit from Kronshtadt (Baltic Sea) to Sevastopol, scheduled to arrive back home by mid-September. SRI LANKA (AUSTRALIA) The Sri Lanka navy intercepted another boat loaded 69 persons illegally bound for Australia off the island’s west coast. 22 August LATVIA Third SWATH A&R SKRUNDA class patrol boat LVNS VIESITE to be delivered/commissioned during ceremony at Riga Shipyard. UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS DENMARK – GERMANY (multinational) (31 Aug) Danish-German multinational invitational exercise “Northern Coasts / Danex 2012” … Baltic Approaches and Baltic from 31 Aug – 12 Sep … from 31 Aug in-port phase Frederikshavn (Denmark), from 03 Sep serialized exercises at sea, from 09 Sep scenario phase at sea, 12 Sep hot wash-up … about 50 warships from 20 countries to participate. (rmks: Sounds like the Baltic version of RIMPAC)
August 23, 201213 yr Author Updates are graciously provided by Marine Forum , with additional information from Naval Today and the Naval Open-Source Intelligence Blog. The commentary is my own. Enjoy! Another light naval news day. Man, that makes two in a row. Fear not, I don't think peace is going to break-out anytime soon. Enjoy! Summary to follow ... 17 August CHINA Former 11th anti-piracy task group (QINGDAO, YANTAI, WEISHAN HU) has completed visit to Israel and commenced home transit. (rmks: I guess I was wrong. There were no big media stories in the ChiCom press smearing Israel) 22 August AUSTRALIA Patrol boat HMAS BATHURST intercepts a boat carrying 70 asylum seekers off Christmas Island; patrol boat BUNDABERG another boat with 37 people near Ashmore Island. CANADA Letter of Intent starts procurement process for up to 24 new Canadian Coast Guard helicopters over the next five-years. INDIA +++ A new coastal surveillance network will be operational by mid-2013 +++ Launch of indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS VIKRANT has been postponed until 2013, owing to “delays in receiving various parts and equipment” … commissioning now expected by 2018. (rmks: I'll raise you two and estimate 2020 – a nice round number) IRAN (related) Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei allegedly has ordered the Revolutionary Guards to intensify its campaign (of terror attacks) against the West and its allies, in retaliation for supporting the overthrow of President Bashar al-Asad in Syria. (rmks: One whack-job, sticking-up for another wack-job. Don'tcha just love the 'religion of peace') RUSSIA (SYRIA) Russian navy denies media reports that some 80 staff based at Tartus (Syria) have been evacuated on board current Tartus station ship RFS AMUR PM-138 and that workshops are set to be handed over to Syria … “all calm at Tartus, no need to evacuate … plan to routinely replace repair ship AMUR PM-138 with another Black Sea Fleet ship in September.” (rmks: If this is 'all calm' I don't want to see what it looks like when the crap really hits the fan) USA Repair costs to fire-damaged submarine USS MIAMI now given as US$450M (up from the previous $400 million). UPCOMING / PLANNED EVENTS USA (27 Aug) Aircraft carrier USS JOHN C STENNIS to sail from home port Bremerton on 27 Aug … for a Mid-East deployment (rmks: originally planned for December but advanced by four months) … initially proceed to San Diego for embarking of air group and joining up with other ships of her Carrier Strike Group. (rmks: Me thinks something is afoot) PIRACY (Oct) Anti-Piracy Forces: New Danish navy frigate HDMS IVER HUITFELDT is scheduled for an anti-piracy deployment, starting in Oct this year until April 2013. (rmks: Causing the cockroaches (excuse me, the heavily-armed Somali coastal peoples) to quake with fear – NOT!)
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