US Navy – The USS Constellation carrier battlegroup will be making a port call in Hong Kong next month, evidence of the diplomatic thaw between the US and China.

• Washington Post: 7 US warships to visit Hong Kong

Russian Navy – The Russian Navy’s new Gepard-class nuclear attack submarine will commission soon.

• Indian Express: Russian Navy to get new, most formidable nuke submarine

Indian Navy – The US continues to bolster its ties with the Indian military, as the US will revive a joint military planning
body with India.

• BBC: US to boost India
  defence ties

Singapore Navy – Singapore is becoming an important regional counterweight to China, and a key part of Washington’s China policy.

• Stratfor: Singapore: Cornerstone of China Commitment

Russian Navy – A tour of the Kursk’s grave.

• BBC: Openness, Russian style

Russian Navy – A Russian Delta 3-class ballistic missile submarine launched a scientific satellite.

• Interfax: Russian Submarine Launches Solar Wind-Propelled Satellite

US Navy – At current construction rates, the US Navy is heading towards a 230 ship fleet.

• Virginian Pilot: Panels tell Rumsfeld Navy’s fleet is inadequate

Royal Navy – Improved habitability is a key aspect of the new Type 45 destroyers under construction. The class was designed to carry people, not weapons???

• Times of London: Navy destroyers expand for crew comfort

Taiwanese Navy – An informal alliance is developing between Taiwan and Japan, against China.

• Taipei Times: Taiwan and Japan `silent allies’

US Navy – Another look at aircraft carrier vulnerability.

• Christian Science Monitor: The giants of the Navy face growing risks

US Coast Guard – A look at the US Coast Guard in action aboard the cutter Valiant.

• MSNBC: Up close with the U.S. Coast Guard
  

US Navy – The US Navy is developing plans to defend Taiwan.

• Washington Times: Pentagon has plan to defend Taiwan
• Washington Times: Pentagon confirms defense talks between Taiwan, U.S.

Russian Navy – The former Russian carrier Varyag is in limbo in the Black Sea, unable to pass through the Bosporous Straits to her new owners in China.

• Washington Post: Turks keep ship going round in circles

Russian Navy – More evidence that Russian merchant ships are spying on US ballistic missile submarines outside their bases.

• Times of London: Russian merchant ships spying on US subs
• Washington Times: Study says Russian merchant ships spy on US

US Navy – The USS Valley Forge, an Aegis-class destroyer, has been transformed into a “smart ship.”

• San Diego Union Tribune: Smart ships at sea

US Navy – The new military strategy could lead to cuts in the number of troops, aircraft and ships stationed abroad in the Middle East and Europe.

• Washington Post: Military cuts are implied in new strategy

South Korean Navy – The South Korean Navy fired on a North Korean fishing trawler.

• BBC: Seoul fires warning shots at boat

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines have received new colors.

• BBC: Royal Marines stage historic parade

US Navy – Flaws remain in US Navy port security, at home and abroad, and are almost impossible to address completely, although attempts are being made.

• ABC: Cracks in the Armor
• San Diego Union Tribune: Navy ratcheting up security at bases

Royal Navy – HMS Ark Royal has rejoined the fleet after an extensive refit.

• BBC: Ark Royal sets sail after refit
• The Times of London (registration required): Navy flagship heads for open seas again

Phillipine Navy – The old US Navy base at Subic Bay may be put up for rent by the cash-strapped Phillipine government.

• International Herald Tribune: Subic Bay May Be Up for Rent

US Coast Guard – Is the US Coast Guard stretched too thin?

• Foster’s Sunday Citizen: Coast Guardís aging equipment, overworked crews leading to ëunsafeí situation, admiral fears

NOSI will be updated next on Wednesday July 25.

French Navy – The French Navy is placing an emphasis on acquiring nuclear attack submarines and frigates which can fire land attack cruise missiles.

• Jane’s: French Navy outlines equipment priorities
  

US Navy – The US Navy must move from a conscription mentality to a subscription mentality as to how it treats its recruits.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: From Conscription to Subscription
  

US Marines – US forces are not currently ready for urban combat.

• Marine Corps Gazette: Are We Operationally Prepared to
  Win a Street Fight?
  

US Navy – How peacekeeping operations can be used in enhance, rather than degrade, military readiness.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Making Peacetime Engagement Work

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines are to receive new armoured vehicles.

• Jane’s: UK marines receive armoured vehicles

Turkish Navy – Another Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided missile frigate will be sold or loaned to Turkey.

• Middle East News Line: Pentagon OKs frigate request from Turkey

US Navy – A plea for junior officers to speak their minds to superiors, a situation which is becoming increasingly rare in the US Navy.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: End the Silence of the Wardroom

US Coast Guard – The US Coast Guard is training Asian navies in how to combat piracy.

• Associated Press: U.S. Helping Asia Combat Sea Piracy

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy is employing private companies in its bid to construct a nuclear submarine.

• Jane’s: Private sector to work on Indian submarine

US Marines – How the US Marines are preparing for urban combat – what they term the “three block war.”

• Marine Corps Gazette: Training for Urban Operations
  In the 21st Century
  

Taiwanese Navy – Why the Taiwanese Navy will have difficulty acquiring attack submarines from the US.

• Los Angeles Times: U.S. Promised Subs to Taiwan It Doesn’t Have
  

US Navy – More on how the Okinawans want the US to leave its bases on their island.

• BBC: Okinawa: Island of resentment
  

Russian Navy – More on the upcoming Kursk salvage operation.

• Christian Science Monitor: And now, the sub also rises
  

Canadian Navy – A stinging criticism of Canadian naval planning.

• Halifax Herald: Navy planners consistent in failure to make the grade

US Navy – The Center for Naval Analyses has released its study on how Vieques should be replaced – with installations along the Virginia Capes and a site at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

• Scripps-Howard: Navy-commissioned study ranks Virginia Capes top alternative to Vieques

Indonesia Navy – The Indonesian Navy has recaptured a hijacked tanker from pirates.

• Reuters: Indonesian Forces Storm Hijacked Shell Tanker
  

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan is considering building Kilo-class submarines under license from Russia.

• Jane’s: Russians talk subs with Taipei
  

Russian Navy – The salvage operation to raise the Kursk is about to begin.

• BBC: Final countdown to Kursk operation

US Navy – The latest on the US defense review, which is moving from theorizing into concrete recommendations.

• Washington Post: Review Fractures Pentagon

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy expects that it’s new Astute-class submarines will be the last manned submarines it builds; and expects them to be replaced by robotic submarines.

• Daily Telegraph (registration required): Robots to replace submariners

US Navy – The US Navy has asked the UK to iron the bugs out of a sub-boat that is part high speed raiding craft and part submarine.

• The Sunday Times (registration required): Navy to test stealth speedboat that turns into a submarine

US Coast Guard – Who can help make up the US Coast Guard’s funding shortfall?

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Toss the Coast Guard a Life Ring
  

US Navy – A fascinating review of the Bush Defense Review, and the Bush Administrations view on the Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA). The opinion expressed here is that the military changes very slowly — when it changes at all — and if all that comes out of this defense review is a small change — it should be enough to eventually snowball into a big change, down the road. “RMA by stealth” is what it is termed???

• New Yorker: Dreaming About War
  

US Navy – Laser weapons are closer to deployment than we may have been lead to believe???

• Tech Review: The Light Brigade
  

NOSI will be taking a short break from July 4 – July 11. I will see you back on July 12.

Royal Navy – Why did the Royal Navy *really* lose HMS Sheffield? New questions about the Exocet attack on her have arisen.

• BBC: Navy accused of Falklands ‘cover-up’
  

US Navy – The USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) has been commissioned.

• PR Newswire: U.S. Navy, Marine Corps to Commission Seventh Northrop Grumman LHD Amphibious Assault Ship
  

US Navy – Roles for unmanned aerial vehicles.

• Christian Science Monitor: New push for robotic aircraft

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy’s Type 23-class frigates, which were originally designed for use in the North Atlantic, are having difficulties handling the heat in the Persian Gulf due to insufficient air conditioning.

• Daily Telegraph (registration required): Sailors roast in Cold War ships

US Coast Guard – A day in the life of the Midgett, a Hamilton-class high endurance cutter.

• Seattle Post Intelligencer: Operation Deepwater’s goal: Newer, faster ships for Coast Guard

US Navy – The prototype SH-60R Strikehawk successfully deployed the AN/AQS-22 dipping sonar during recent trials.

• Jane’s: USN AQS-22 dipping sonar trials successful
  

US Navy – An essay by the CINCPAC on how the Navy must change to adapt to the new information age.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Change Is Possible & Imperative

US Navy – The last ship was launched downed the ways at Bath Iron Works.

• Associated Press: Century-Old Shipyard Tradition Ends

US Coast Guard – The Coast Guard is struggling to fulfill its search and rescue mission.

• Seattle Post Intelligencer: Coast Guard struggles to fulfill mission

US Navy – The first Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) to undergo a Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) was delivered to the US Navy.

• Jane’s: Upgraded LCAC delivered, production SLEP contracted
  

US Navy – The USS Enterprise will soon be exercising off Scotland.

• Times of London (registration required): US carrier puts Royal Navy in the shade