NOSI is on vacation until Tuesday, July 4. See you then!

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy’s aging Sea King helicopters will fly under restricted conditions, due to several recent losses.

• Toronto Star: Sea King choppers restricted after sinking
• Daily News: Sea King sinkings might help

Sri Lanka Navy – Tamil Tiger forces carried out a suicide attack on a government supply vessel, causing heavy damage to it. Sri Lanka Navy vessels which came to its assistance were also attacked by Tamil Tiger forces. The sea route is the only open line of supply the Sri Lankan government has to its forces.

• Agence French Press: Tigers shatter Jaffna lull with kamikaze attack on ship

Pakistan Navy – The Pakistan Navy opened a new base today, its second, at Ormara, which is 240 km west of Karachi, its first and heretofore only base.

• The Hindu: Pakistan naval base opens

Pakistan – Background – The education of the next generation of hundreds of thousands of Muslim holy warriors is underway in Pakistan at madrasas, or religious schools. Their narrow interpretation of Islam, coupled with Pakistan’s nuclear capability, makes them a substantive future threat to the West.

• New York Times: The education of a holy warrior

Taiwan Background – A new Pentagon study concludes that it is unlikely that China will attack Taiwan, because it would jeopardize China’s economy.

• Washington Post: China is unlikely to attack Taiwan, Pentagon assessment says

Royal New Zealand Navy – Further modernization of the Royal New Zealand Navy will be delayed indefinitely under new government plans, which will give priority in funding to the Army.

• Australian Financial Review: NZ defence policy sets sights on upgraded, combat-ready troops

U.S. Navy – The submarine U.S.S. Dolphin has demonstrated the ability to send e-mail while submerged using an acoustic modem.

• Associated Press: Expanding underwater e-mail

Royal Navy – The trimaran research vessel RV Triton will commence formal sea trials in September. The builder, Vosper Thornycroft, feels the trimaran is the shape of the future.

• Janes’ Navy International: RV Triton

Indonesia Navy – The Indonesia Navy has begun evacuating Christians from the Moluccan islands in an attempt to quell religious violence.

• BBC News: Navy begins Moluccas evacuation

U.S. Navy – The incoming U.S. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Admiral Vernon Clark, draws interesting parallels between today and when he first entered the Navy in the early 1970’s when Admiral Zumwalt was CNO.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy boss, who once quit himself, to focus on
  retention

U.S. Navy – the U.S.S. George Washington battlegroup is deploying to the Gulf with a nearly 99% manning rate, a vast improvement over recent deployments which have occured with 90% manning rates.

• Virginian Pilot: George Washington battle group deploys at near-full status

U.S. Navy – A report submitted to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration concludes that the cause of the strandings of a number of whales in the Bahamas in March was loud underwater noises. Near the time of the strandings the Navy was testing active sonars designed to detect diesel-electric submarines undertaking operations in littoral areas.

• Washington Post: Navy tests linked to beaching of whales

U.S. Navy – Base consolidation and closing is good???to a point. NAS Oceana is now home to so many units that the airspace has become overcrowded for training purposes.

• Virginia Pilot: Extra jets squeeze Oceana pilots

Canadian Navy – The Canadian military is also at the breaking point in terms of too many missions chasing too few sailors and too few ships.

• Sun Media: Our military at the breaking point

U.S. Navy – the U.S. Navy program to install commercial information technologies to help automate some aspects of its ships and reduce manning levels has passed a new milestone on the USS Ticonderoga.

• Janes’ Naval Forces: USN Smartship makes progress

Israeli Navy – The Israeli Navy has successfully test-fired cruise missiles from its new Dolphin-class submarines in the Indian Ocean. This gives Israel a sea-based strategic nuclear deterrent for the first time.

• Sunday Times (free, but registration required): Israel makes nuclear waves with submarine missile test

Indian Navy – The development of the Indian Navy as a blue-water force who is extending its area of operations into the South China Sea has taken Australia by suprise.

• Sydney Morning Herald: India’s arrival catches Canberra naval-gazing

Ukrainian Navy – The Ukrainian Navy is hosting the Cooperative Partner-2000 naval exercise between itself, several former Communist states, and NATO. Russia has been invited but has declined to participate due to jealousy over its loss of influence in the Black Sea region.

• Reuters: Ukraine hosts big NATO exercise, Russia missing

Russian Navy – Several Russian sailors were exposed to toxic chemicals while unloading a ballistic missile that had a cracked casing from a ship. The toxic cloud from the missile threatened residents of a nearby village before it dissipated.

• CBC: Missile fuel leak poisons Russian sailors

International Naval Review – The International Naval Review will occur on July 2-9 in New York City. Warships from 24 countries will be in New York Harbor and most will be open for public viewing. Reccommended for those who wish to obtain their naval open source intelligence up close and personal!.

• International Naval Review: Official Web site

Royal Marines – 42 Commando Royal Marines has departed Sierra Leone and returned to HMS Ocean, their mission to restore stability a complete success.

• BBC News: UK pullout from Freetown

Apologies to being down for two days, but I have caught a bad case of the flu and am temporarily incapacitated???NOSI should return Saturday.

Royal Australian Navy – HMAS Tobruk arrived back in Cairns, Australia today with 478 evacuees from the Solomon Islands.

• Sydney Morning Herald: Evacuees hail Tobruk crew

Indian Navy – The Italian cargo ship MV Medstar has been hijacked by stowaways who are seeking political asylum in Europe. The Indian Navy is standing by to assist the Indian Coast Guard who has the ship under surveillance.

• The Hindu: Commandos on alert for ship

Royal Navy – RAF Harriers that were operating in Sierra Leone alongside their Royal Navy counterparts have returned home. The deployment to Sierra Leone marks the first deployment of Joint Force Harrier.

• BBC News: Harriers return from Sierra Leone

Royal Australian Navy – HMAS Manoora, the former Newport-class LST, has arrived off the Solomons. It is carrying an infantry company, SAS personnel, and Blackhawk helicopters. Although Australia denies it is going to intervene militarily, it may become part of a multinational peacekeeping force.

• Sydney Morning Herald: Warship’s vigil adds to tension
• BBC News: Analysis – Australia’s role in Asia

U.S. Marines – the Marine Corps Chemical Biological Incident Response Force is continuously exercising for the day when a terrorist attack occurs on U.S. soil using chemical or biological weapons.

• Copley News Service: Marines brace for terrorism in U.S.

Indian Navy – a plea for jointness between India’s armed forces on the eve of them potentially seeing action in Sri Lanka.

• Rediff: India’s forces must join or perish

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy is converting the 4 former Upholder-class diesel submarines for its use. The first, HMCS Victoria, should arrive in Halifax in the fall; the remaining 3 will follow over 15 months. One of the submarines is to be stationed in Vancouver and used for training with U.S. Navy battlegroups deploying to the Gulf who are now encountering more and more diesel powered submarines on station.

• Toronto Sun: Run silent, run cheap

U.S. Navy – Somewhere in the Persian Gulf, the U.S.S. John Stennis has been enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq for the past several months???

• San Diego Union Tribune: Carrier packs mighty wallop for Persian Gulf duty

Royal Australian Navy – HMAS Tobruk is about to depart the Solomon Islands, with 500 refugees aboard. In the meantime, HMAS Manoora, a Newport-class landing ship, is being sent with 200 troops, 3 Blackhawk helicoopters and 6 amoured personnel carriers to the Solomons to assist in the evacuation.

• Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Tobruk yet to pull anchor in Solomons
• Reuters: Australia sends troops to Solomons for evacuation

Royal Australian Navy – HMAS Tobruk, anchored off the capital, Honiara, is undertaking an evacuation of foreign nationals from the Solomon Islands. The New Zealand frigate Te Mana will arrive on Saturday. Aside from the crew of the Tobruk, no other Australian troops are involved; the evacuation is occuring with the agreement and cooperation of the local militias.

• BBC News: Australia begins Solomons rescue
• Age Online: 350 evacuees boarding Tobruk

Royal Navy – After the Royal Marines leave Sierra Leone next week, the frigate Argyll and the support ship Sir Percivale will stay behind to support the 200 British soldiers left behind who will take over training of the Sierra Leone Army.

• BBC News: UK commits warships to Sierra Leone

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – As the Japanese and Chinese navies expand in size, missions, and operational areas, they are beginning to encounter each other more often at sea, as illustrated by events of the past month.

• STRATFOR: Japan, China both newly ambitious in Asian waters

Taiwanese Navy – the Taiwanese Navy has received the U.S.S. Pensacola, an Anchorage class dock landing ship, from the United States.

• Reuters: Taiwan Navy gets U.S. landing ship

Turkish Marines – Turkish Marines are exercising with the Greek armed forces in Greece during NATO exercise Dynamic Mix 2000.

• Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Military exercise to unite old enemies

Canadian Navy – HMCS Calgary sets sail for a 5 month deployment to the Gulf, to help enforce U.S. sanctions against Iraq.

• Calgary Sun: Calgary sailors off to hot spot

Sri Lankan Navy – It is now claimed that of the two Dvora-class patrol vessels lost in combat recently, one was destroyed by Tamil Sea Tigers through ramming, and the other was destroyed by the Sri Lankan Air Force which mistakenly identified it as an enemy vessel.

• BBC Online: Sri Lanka probes naval losses

Suriname Navy – The Suriname Navy, over the weekend, forced the removal of an offshore oil platform from its territorial waters, at gunpoint.

• CNN: Guyana, Suriname stick to guns in maritime dispute
• Reuters: Suriname navy forces oil rig out of disputed water

Royal New Zealand Navy – The New Zealand Anzac frigate HMNZS Te Mana is standing by to evacuate New Zealanders from the Solomon Islands where a coup is underway, if necessary. Henderson Field, the country’s international airport (which dates to the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942) is not considered to be safe to fly into currently.

• Sydney Morning Herald: Warship on alert for NZ sea evacuation

Sri Lankan Navy – Two more Sri Lankan Dvora-class gunboats were sunk in a battle against the Tamil Tigers, who are said to have lost 4 boats of their own.

• BBC News: Sea battle in Sri Lanka

Royal Navy – HMS Sutherland and HMS Newcastle are visiting India during a round-the-world cruise, the first in 13 years for the Royal Navy. Eight vessels are taking part.

• Times of India: British Navy showcases ship on goodwill visit

U.S. Navy – The Pacific Fleet is saving money by cutting short time at sea for its ships, including deployments and exercises, in order to have money for maintainence. The Atlantic Fleet on the other hand is simply deferring maintainence???

• Daily Herald: Navy’s budget knife slashes deployments

Sri Lankan Navy – The Sri Lankan Navy is to receive patrol boats from Israel, which will help it strike Tamil Sea Tiger bases from stand-off ranges offshore, and thereby help to interdict the Tiger’s supply chain. The number of patrols boats purchased and when they will arrive was not disclosed.

• Reuters: Fresh fighting in Sri Lanka,government boosts navy
• Sunday Observer of Sri Lanka: Navy to target LTTE sea supply lines: New Israeli boats to fight Sea Tigers

French Navy – The French Navy has a long term committment to help police Tanzania’s exclusive economic zone, which extends 200 miles off-shore, against illegal fishing.

• East African: Now French Navy to Police Tanzania Waters

U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy is going to spend the funds necessary to upgrade its attack submarine fleet with new intelligence-gathering systems to help the boats fulfil their increasing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

• Janes’ Defense Weekly: Spy operations boost for U.S. submarines

U.S. Military – The inability to utilize information operations assests to their fullest extent during Operation Allied Force, due to political reasons within the U.S. military, was perhaps one of the greatest failures of the campaign in Kosovo.

• Janes’ Intelligence Review: Information operations – coming of age?

???seems to be a slow news day so???

Janes’ Fighting Ships

• Janes’ Fighting Ships: Foreward to the 1999-2000 edition