CIMSEC – Being without a Navy, fortunately, does not mean that there is no seapower acting in Ukraine’s interest, or that there are no naval lessons or innovations coming from this terrible and hopefully short conflict. From Maine to Majorca, Turkey to Panama, a distributed network of international maritime actors has emerged in response to Russian aggression. It manifests a theory that was developed 17 years ago — the “1,000 Ship Navy” (TSN).
Yearly Archives: 2022
Russian shipyards stop ship production due to lack of funds, foreign parts
Jerusalem Post – Some Russian shipyards are unable to construct warships or conduct maintenance on vessels due to financial hardships and lack of foreign components, the Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate (GUR) claimed on Saturday.
(Thanks to Alain)
On Future Wars and the Marine Corps: Asking the Right Questions
War on the Rocks – A professional discourse on innovation, warfighting, and roles and missions is warranted to ensure the Marine Corps remains “ready to fight.” To wait until consensus or clarity, though, is to impose paralysis on innovation and adaptation. Iterating on ideas while simultaneously taking near-term action is the right approach. Given the national defense strategy, Berger is headed in the right direction, but there are important questions, as identified here, still needing answers.
An Anti-Access Denial Strategy for Ukraine
CIMSEC – To deny sea control to the Russians, Ukraine needs sea mines, coastal defense cruise missiles, and scouting assets, such as fast patrol boats and drones. These systems have a symbiotic relationship in layered defense. Mines slow down the adversary; during clearance operations, CDCMs have an opportunity to engage the slowed vessels; and scouting assets support maritime domain awareness for over the horizon targeting. NATO should rush these weapons to support Ukraine’s defense.
Carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in Sea of Japan Ahead of Key North Korean Anniversaries
USNI News – Aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) is in the Sea of Japan, in time to coincide with key North Korean anniversaries like the 110th birthday of its late founding leader Kim Il-sung on April 15 and the founding anniversary of the North Korean People’s Revolutionary Army on April 25. The carrier’s recent move is the second time this year Lincoln has been employed to conduct a presence operation to deter North Korea.
China’s Role in the Exploitation of Global Fisheries
Congressional Research Service – China has emerged as the world’s largest exploiter of fisheries on a global, not just regional, scale. Chinese fleets are active in waters far from China’s shores, and the growth in their harvests threatens to worsen the already dire depletion in global fisheries. China leads the world in seafood production from aquaculture, inland (freshwater) fisheries, and marine fisheries. The expansion and modernization of fisheries is a key part of China’s broader industrial policy goals of upgrading their agricultural industries and improving domestic food security. China has developed the world’s largest fishing fleet of vessels operating in domestic and neighboring coastal inshore and offshore areas, as well as a distant-water fleet (DWF) active in many parts of the world. China is a major hub for value-added processing in seafood supply chains and it is the world’s largest seafood processor; much of what China processes is exported to other countries. China is also the largest importer and producer of fishmeal for use in aquaculture. The magnitude of China’s seafood production and consumption has implications for international trade, fisheries conservation and management, and allocation of fishery resources among fishing and coastal nations. Many in Congress are interested in China’s involvement in fisheries around the world because of efforts to conserve marine resources globally, and the fishing industry’s intersection with regional conflicts and transnational criminal activities that impact U.S. national security.
Russian Navy Taking on Resupply Role Nearly 50 Days Into Ukrainian Invasion
USNI News – Russian Navy ships in the Black Sea are currently resupplying troops in Ukraine instead of playing an offensive role.
Taiwan’s New Domestic Frigate Project Hits Roadblock
Naval News – According to local media, Taiwan’s project to build the 4500-ton new generation frigate has been stalled due to budget issues.
Japan Countering China’s Naval Build-up with Modern Fleet
USNI News – Japan doesn’t talk much about its naval capabilities because of its historical aversion to offensive capabilities following its defeat in World War II. This has been defined in Article 9 of its post-war constitution. However, as an island nation and a naval power, it has still been able to assemble a modern version of a big gun fleet, but it’s designed for defensive operations. But over the past two decades, the rise of China as a global power and North Korea’s attempts to develop long-range nuclear missiles present a two-fold threat to the island nation.
Reconsidering Russian Maritime Warfare
CIMSEC – How might Russian maritime forces be brought to bear against the United States and its allies? This question is particularly critical as fears of inadvertent escalation in Ukraine increase. Understanding the answer requires a close reading of what Russian military theorists themselves write about warfare, matched with an examination of maritime geography; combat power; and intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR-T). Constraints in all of these areas mean that rather than solely seeking out targets at sea for a series of navy-on-navy fights, Russian maritime forces are likely to be more effective at operations that focus on striking “critical objects” on land rather than ship-to-ship combat at sea.
First Look At Poland’s New Miecznik Frigate
Naval News – A visualization of Babcock’s Arrowhead-140PL design, which was chosen for Poland’s Miecznik (Swordfish) frigate procurement program, was unveiled last week.
Can the UK supply anti-ship missiles to Ukraine?
Navy Lookout – The UK government says it will send further lethal aid to help defend Ukraine from invasion. Various media reports also say Britain will send anti-ship missiles, including the venerable Harpoon system. Here we consider how realistic that may be and other options to hold the Russian navy at risk in the Black Sea.
Littoral Combat Teams Need Light Infantry, Not Less
USNI Proceedings – Current proposals for littoral combat teams stretch too few people too thin.
Aboard The Marine’s First F-35B-Packed ‘Lightning Carrier’
War Zone – The Marines turned USS Tripoli into a ‘Lightning Carrier’ packed with over 20 F-35Bs. We were there.
US Navy’s unmanned vessel plans need improvement, watchdog agency says
Navy Times – While the U.S. Navy is steaming full speed ahead in developing unmanned surface and undersea drones to augment the fleet of the future, the information technology and artificial intelligence that will drive these platforms remains a work in progress. The sea service needs to better map out its efforts, according to a government watchdog report released this week.
Extended Russian Ukraine Invasion has Stranded Merchant Mariners, Crippled Wheat Production
USNI News – Nearly six weeks into the war in Ukraine, merchant ships in the Black Sea have become stranded, halting the import and export of vital commodities, a situation that could have wide-ranging impacts on the global economy. With the Black Sea blockaded by Russia and Ukraine placing mines around its ports, merchant ships can neither come nor go, leaving the mariners aboard stuck in a war zone.
The Marine Corps and the Naval Campaign: The Necessary Context of Debate
War on the Rocks – For the Marine Corps to fulfill its core purpose, it needs to anticipate and respond to the future battlefield’s challenges and ensure that it can be a critical and decisive component of a modern naval campaign. It may be true that the Marine Corps is still here precisely because of its ability to radically reshape itself to meet the emerging demands of warfare. Change, however, is never an easy process, and criticisms surrounding the Marine Corps’ current initiatives are not a radical departure from historical resistance to change within the service.
Russia’s Most Powerful Warship In The Black Sea Is Operating In A Pattern
Naval News – The Ukrainian Navy was no match for the massive concentration of Russian naval forces in the Black Sea. Yet Russia’s most impressive warship there, the Slava class cruiser Moskva, has mostly remained out of sight. We can shine a light on what she has been up to so far in the war.
Netherlands To Extend The Life Of Walrus Class Submarines
Naval News – The Dutch Ministry of Defence announced that the service life of the Walrus-class submarines will be extended.
(Thanks to Alain)
Despite Setback, U.S. Army Forges Ahead With Maneuver Support Vessel (Light)
Naval News – The U.S. Army’s Maneuver Support Vessel-Light (MSV-(L)) is intended to replace the Army’s Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM-8) with a new vessel that can sail at speeds much faster than the venerable LCM-8 and also carry a heavier cargo payload. The MSV(L) will be able to carry a single U.S. Army’s M1A2SEP Main Battle Tank onto the beach.
Nigeria Acquires New Warship for Maritime Security
Business Post – Nigeria is set to boost its coastal and regional waters security with the acquisition of a new warship, Landing Ship Tank – 100, Nigerian Navy Ship KADA (NNS KADA).
(Thanks to Alain)
Marines Load Record 16 F-35Bs Aboard USS Tripoli Test of ‘Lightning Carrier’ Concept
USNI News – The Marines broke a record on Sunday when they loaded the most 16 F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters ever aboard a big-deck amphibious warship.
Navy and Marines Divided Over the Amphibious Fleet’s Future as Delays and Cancellations Mount in FY 2023 Budget Request
USNI News – After years of working together on naval integration, there is a growing split between the Navy and Marine Corps, showing how the services have come to an impasse over the future of the amphibious fleet.
Beware Buyer’s Remorse: Why the Coast Guard Needs to Steer Clear of the LCS
CIMSEC – With all the negative publicity surrounding the Navy’s littoral combat ship (LCS) program, it would seem self-evident the Coast Guard has no interest in acquiring the LCS as a hand-me-down. However, with the recent publishing of “In Dire Need: Why the Coast Guard Needs the LCS,” a newly found interest in acquiring problematic navy platforms may be growing and deserves to be judged on its merits.
Navy, Marines push ‘campaigning forward’ strategy as vital to deterring China
Defense News – The upcoming National Defense Strategy will highlight “campaigning forward” as a pillar of future operations, and top naval leaders say the force is already moving in this direction.
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