National Interest – James Holmes writes that the Thresher and Scorpion crews were lost at sea is a tragedy. That the U.S. Navy learned from the disasters and made itself better means they did not die in vain. Machiavelli would nod knowingly at the institutional inertia that preceded the accidents—and salute the learning process that followed.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
U.S. Marines Lobbing Cruise Missiles—A Preview Of Pacific War
Forbes – On Sept. 20, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy showed off one tactic that could be critical to the plan. Marines slipped ashore on an uninhabited island near Guam. They picked a target on a military bombing range and relayed the coordinates to a Navy cruiser. Minutes later, a Tomahawk cruise missile slammed onto the range.
Land-Based Anti-Ship Missiles And The U.S. Marine Corps: Options Available
Naval News – Peter Ong reports on the Land-Based Anti-Ship Missile (LBASM) options on the table for the USMC and US Army ground forces to use against threatening enemy ships, with the latest from Virtual Modern Day Marine Expo 2020.
These Are The Pentagon’s Highly Questionable Proposals For A Navy With More Than 500 Ships
War Zone – The U.S. Navy’s forthcoming force structure review may call for a fleet with up to 534 ships and submarines, including various kinds of unmanned vessels. The is far bigger than the existing Congressionally-mandated goal of a 355-ship fleet, which has long proven to be a struggle for the service to achieve. Plans for an even larger force could run into significant budgetary, recruiting, sustainment, and other hurdles.
Don’t Let China Conclude Its Opportunity Is ‘Now or Never’
USNI Proceedings – James Holmes writes that Chinese President Xi Xinping rules at a perilous, turbulent time. History is replete with strategic leaders who saw a window of opportunity and resolved to act before it slammed shut.
How to Succeed in Navy Flight School (By Really Trying)
USNI Proceedings – The learning curve is steep, and the T-6B Texan trainer is complex. An instructor pilot offers advice on how to prepare and perform well in this environment.
Between Scylla and Charybdis: ASEAN and the U.S.-China Contest for the South China Sea
CIMSEC – ASEAN and its members are in an increasingly dangerous dilemma. They are under mounting pressure to choose between the U.S. and China in their competition for political and military preeminence in the region. In response, ASEAN member states are maneuvering to maintain their ‘neutrality’ and pursue ASEAN ‘centrality’ in international affairs affecting the region. Their perspectives and roles in this great power competition merit closer examination, as well as how they are adapting to it, and what—if anything—ASEAN can do.
Don’t Send This Aircraft Carrier to the Persian Gulf
National Interest – That’s James Holme’s advice to senior decisionmakers who appear set on deploying the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to the Persian Gulf region just six months after the flattop completed an epic seven-month cruise during which the crew broke all records for consecutive days at sea. Crewmembers spent 205 days at sea, enjoying zero R&R time in port as the ship skirted the pandemic.
India’s Strategy For the Indian Ocean in Light of COVID-19 and Confrontation With China
CIMSEC – Paradoxically, though COVID-19 has weakened India’s economic ability to fund its naval infrastructure and assets program for the Indian Ocean, it has enabled India to strengthen its links with Indian Ocean micro-states through the humanitarian assistance delivered by the navy. Meanwhile, land confrontation with China at Galwan has encouraged India to deepen its military links with other maritime powers operating in the Indian Ocean. In an unstated but evident balancing fashion, this is enabling India to improve its maritime position in the Indian Ocean vis-à-vis China.
The Pathway Toward Containment: Fleet Actions for the United States and ASEAN Plus 5
CIMSEC – The coalition model in the Gulf of Aden helped offset the investment the U.S. had to make in terms of military capability and national treasure. As global commerce routes travel through the Gulf of Aden, it rightfully took a globally-sourced solution to solve the situation. Now as the rules-based system is being challenged in the region of Southeast Asia, it should take a Southeast Asian solution, with outside partners offering help. Only with partners and allies can nations begin to push back the tide of revisionist China and uphold the international rule of law.
Russian Warship Kazanets Collided With A Cargo Vessel In The Baltic Sea
War Zone – The incident occurred in dense fog, but the Russian corvette reportedly had its tracking system deactivated.
New Intelligence: Chinese Copy Of US Navy’s Sea Hunter USV
Naval News – A candid photograph posted on Chinese social media sheds light on a Chinese project to develop a drone-ship similar to the U.S. Navy’s Sea Hunter. The trimaran is remarkably similar to the Sea Hunter in almost every respect.
USS Carl Vinson Preparing for First F-35C, ‘Advanced Carrier Air Wing’ Deployment
USNI News – Next year, the most advanced carrier air wing in history will sail to the Pacific aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). Last week, the Carrier Air Wing 2 took the first steps in getting its new F-35C Joint Strike Fighters and CMV-22B Ospreys integrated into the air wing and aboard the carrier.
America’s top Marine says the US must shake up its military presence in the Pacific
Defense News – The way the United States military has had forces arrayed in the Pacific for the last 70 years must change to meet a new threat environment, the US Marine Corps’ top general said Wednesday, arguing that the force must be in more places and spread across a wider area.
The Pentagon is eyeing a 500-ship Navy, documents reveal
Defense News – The Pentagon’s upcoming recommendation for a future Navy is expected to call for a significant increase in the number of ships, with officials discussing a fleet as large as 530 hulls.
Italy Resurgent: Defending National Interests in the Mediterranean
CIMSEC – Italy must stand ready, as one of the most advanced countries on the basin, to guarantee freedom of navigation and the protection of its national interests in order to guarantee respect for international law.
Marines’ New Amphibious Combat Vehicles Will Start Arriving at Units Ahead of Schedule
Military.com – Marine Corps modernization officials said Tuesday that the service has completed testing of its new amphibious combat vehicle, or ACV, and will begin fielding the replacement to the older amphibious assault vehicle next month, ahead of schedule.
The hapless attack sub Boise could return to the fleet in 2023 after 8 years sidelined
Defense News – It has been five years since the attack submarine Boise returned from its last patrol, and this whole time she has been waiting on some loving care and attention in the shipyards.
The US Navy Has Drifted Badly Off Course
Defense One – Three main failures are imperiling the sea service, writes the service’s former chief learning officer.
How Robert O’Brien helped steer the Pentagon toward a bigger Navy
Politico – Next month, President Donald Trump’s national security adviser is expected to make a highly unusual visit to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine to lay out the commander in chief’s vision for a bigger Navy.
Marine Corps’ Builds New Littoral Regiment, Eye On Fake Chinese Islands
Breaking Defense – The Marine Corps is moving quickly to develop a new kind of infantry unit to challenge Chinese claims on small islands in the Pacific, while the Navy is developing new and smaller ships to move and supply them once they deploy.
Unraveling China With Soft Balancing: Malaysia, ASEAN, and the South China Sea
CIMSEC – If China follows the international rule of law it will grow stronger and become more respected. Its growing integration with the region need not be accompanied by a growing sense of mistrust. China needs ASEAN to maintain its growth, and ASEAN needs China and the U.S. for both growth and security, respectively. Once this is understood and reflected in the policies of great powers, new dynamics will not only benefit ASEAN Members, but ultimately China and the U.S. as well.
Royal Navy tests world’s most advanced torpedo against Plymouth warship
Plymouth Herald – The Royal Navy has tested the world’s most advanced torpedo against one of its own warships – and it is now on the cusp of being added to Silent Service’s hunter-killer and nuclear-deterrent submarines’ arsenal.
(Thanks to Alain)
US Marines wants to move fast on a light amphibious warship. But what is it?
Defense News – The U.S. Marine Corps is moving as fast as it can to field a new class of light amphibious warship, but it remains unclear what it will do, where it will be based or what capabilities it will bring to the fight.
Southeast Asia: A New Strategic Nexus for Japan’s Maritime Strategy
CIMSEC – With all branches of Japan state power now investing in Southeast Asian maritime security, this region is cementing as a new nexus in Japan’s maritime strategy. The scope, strategic intent, and likely future development of Japan’s maritime security activities in Southeast Asia merits closer examination.
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