Royal Navy – More problems with the propulsion system of Britain’s Swiftsure-class nuclear attack submarines, leading to further readiness woes.

• Daily Telegraph (registration required): Nuclear subs hit by safety fears

U.S. Navy – Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig has been shaking up the U.S. Navy since taking his post two year ago. Insiders say he has an excellent chance of being Secretary of Defense in a Gore administration.

• Washington Post: Churning the waters

Columbian Navy – The Russian mafia appears to have been assisting in the construction of the drug smuggling submarine found under construction in Columbia this week. Apparently this is not the first time that drug running has been tried in submarines???

• Reuters: Columbian drug sub built with Russian mob help

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – An officer of the MSDF has been accused of passing operational U.S. Navy intelligence to the Russian Navy. This is the first major spy scandal in Japan since 1980.

• Reuters: Japan worries over U.S. military secrets to Russia
• CNN: Japanese naval officer allegedly spied for Russia