US Navy – Training aboard the USS Constellation.

• The Times: War games prepare crew for Iraq action

Merchant Marine – Cunard and P&O cruise lines are taking antiterrorist precautions seriously.

• Sunday Mirror: Gurkha & SBS Guard on Our Cruise Liners

Background – War on Terror – William Arkin on how the war on terror is moving into the shadows.

• Los Angeles Times: The Secret War – Frustrated by intelligence failures, the Defense Department is dramatically expanding its “black world” of covert operations
  

Background – Readiness – Just how underfunded and underprepared were US forces by the end of the Clinton administration?

• Naval War College Review: Are US Forces Unprepared and Underfunded?

US Navy – The USS Kitty Hawk carrier battlegroup sets sail from Japan.

• The Daily Yomiuri: Kitty Hawk sets sail for parts unknown

US Navy – The Navy’s four shipyards respond directly and rapidly to the Navy’s needs.

• Sea Power:
  The Lessons Learned–Times Four

Background – War on Terror – More on Hezbollah and the threat it poses to the US.

• New Yorker: Party of God

History – What lessons can be learned from the Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam that can be applied to the current crisis with Iraq?

• The Atlantic: A Near Miss
• The Atlantic: The Temptation of War

US Navy – The Military Sealift Command’s ships are standing by to carry equipment to the Gulf.

• Virginian Pilot: Sealift ships standing by to carry makings of a war
  

Canadian Navy – Canada’s new submarines will not be armed until 2004.

• Citizen Special: Faulty subs won’t be armed until 2004
  

US Navy – The US will start swapping ship crews in Perth, Australia. This will allow ships to be forward deployed for longer periods of time.

• Australian Associated Press: Big US navy boost for WA
  

French Navy – A French patrol boat is making a port call in New Zealand.

• IRN: French Naval Vessel in Lyttleton

Background – History – James F. Dunnigan on how seemingly insignificant developments influenced land and naval warfare.

• StrategyPage:
  Top Ten Little Known 20th Century Developments that Changed Warfare

US Navy – The US has searched a vessel in the Mediterranean suspected of harboring al Qaeda operatives.

• Reuters:
  U.S. Navy Searches Suspect Vessel in Mediterra

Royal Navy – HMS Nottingham is about to begin its voyage home to the UK.

• BBC: In pictures: Recovery of HMS Nottingham
• BBC: Warship prepares to head home

Background – Unmanned Underwater Vehicles – More details on underwater gliders.

• Tech Central Station: It’s a Buoy!

US Navy – Navy’s surface force is ready for the challenges of the 21st century.

• Sea Power: Change, Innovation, Transformation
  Today’s Surface Force: Ready to Move at Flank Speed Into the 21st Century

US Navy – The US Navy is being urged to reach further with its new aircraft carrier designs.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy urged to expedite new carriers
  

US Navy – How the US intends to replace Vieques.

• Reuters: U.S. Navy Training Goes Virtual as War Games Move
  

US Marines – The Marines begin their push for seabasing.

• Associated Press: Marine commandant touts `sea bases’ at Panhandle conference
  

Indian Navy – India is undertaking a goodwill tour of the Gulf.

• Times of Oman: 2 Indian Navy ships due in Raysut

NAVINT – Antony Preson’s NAVINT, with naval news from France, Belgium, and the UK.

• Sea Power: France Unveils Plans For New Barracuda SSNs

US Marines – Urban combat training with the Marines.

• Copley News Service: Urban warfare lessons: Marines learn tricks, hazards in mock town

Merchant Marine – A review of the marine terrorism threat.

• Washington Times: Maritime terrorism next?

Merchant Marine – What Singapore is doing to protect against marine terrorism.

• The Business Times: No-go zones already in place in S’pore waters

US Navy – A look at the problems surfacing during implementation of the Navy Marine Corps Intranet.

• The Business Times: Big tech headache for US Navy computer project

US Navy – USS Lake Erie forges the way to the future with sea-based missile defense.

• Sea Power: Missile Defense???”From the Sea”

US Navy – More on the upcoming deployment of the USS Constellation.

• Los Angeles Times: Constellation Prepares to Ship Out to Gulf Region
  

US Navy – A US intelligence officer loses his lawsuit against the Russian owners of a ship which he claims attacked his vision with a laser. The ship was said to be gathering intelligence on US ballistic missile submarines. Is the US failing to support its people when they are injured in the line of duty?

• Washington Times: Navy officer loses suit against Russians

Chinese Navy – A detailed analysis of possible ways China could invade Taiwan.

• Naval War College Review: How China Might Invade Taiwan

Royal Navy – The UK will be sending 4 minesweepers to the Gulf.

• The Guardian: British minesweepers diverted to Gulf
  

Merchant Marine – A review of the threats terrorists pose to supertankers.

• New York Times: A Vulnerable Time to Be Moving Oil by Sea

US Navy – A review of the progress being made by the US in sea-based missile defense.

• Washington Times: Navy finds its role in missile defense

Background – Joint Operations – Information technology should aid, rather than impede, joint operations.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Joint Operational Art Is Alive

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan launches its last in a class of guided missile frigates, similar to the US Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigates.

• Agence France-Press: Taiwan launches guided missile frigate
  

Merchant Marine – There is general agreement that the French tanker explosion off of Yemen was caused by a terrorist boat hitting it.

• BBC: Yemen says tanker blast was terrorism

Royal Navy – The UK is thinking of partnering with the French in the design and construction of its new aircraft carriers.

• Daily Telegraph: MoD looks at carrier deal with French

US Navy – The US is testing a new command and control trainer which simulates the operations of a carrier battlegroup.

• Virginian Pilot: Facility helps Navy find ”battle rhythm”

US Navy – The USS Constellation battlegroup is being deployed early to the Gulf.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Task force ordered to gulf
  

US Navy – A detailed description of the Maritime Prepositioning Forces at Diego Garcia.

• East African Standard: Floating armouries to allow rapid land raid
  

US Navy – The agile and adaptive Navy-Marine Corps team transforms itself to meet the future.

• Sea Power: Power and Access ??? From the Sea
  

Background – Secretary of Defense Rumsfield – The attacks on Secretary Rumsfield begin again, with him being described as a better war secretary than defense secretary. An interesting survey by Thomas Ricks.

• Washington Post: Rumsfeld’s Style, Goals Strain Ties In Pentagon
  

Background – War on Terror – Ralph Peters on how the terrorist bombing in Indonesia will backfire against the terrorists.

• Wall Street Journal: The Eastern Front: The Bali Attack is a Sign of the Terrorists Desperation

US Navy – Is the US considering establishing a naval base in the Sao Tome and Principe islands, in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea off of West Africa?

• CNSNews – Oil-Rich African Islands Seen An Possible Location For US Military Base

US Navy – The US and UK are actively working on neutralizing Iraq’s air defense capabilities.

• Associated Press: Airstrikes in Iraq focus on key southern air base
  

Background – Intelligence Satellites – The use of commercial imaging satellites is increasing rapidly in the US military.

• ISR:
  Unclassified Space Eyes –
  Commercial Remote-Sensing Industry’s Time Has Come In Defense Markets
  

US Coast Guard – How the Coast Guard responded to the events of 9-11.

• Sea Power: U.S. Coast Guard Activities New York: Eyewitness to War
  

Background – War on Terror – William Arkin on how the logic regarding the war on terror is becoming circular???

• Washington Post Dot Mil: The Circle of American Vulnerability
  

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan is celebrating the 50 year anniversary of the JMSDF.

• RIA Novosti: International Naval Parade in Tokyo Bay Features Russian Warships

US Navy – The CNO’s Seapower vision takes shape in the Surface Combatant Family of Ships.

• Sea Power: A Cornerstone Force of Proven Strength

Background – Iraq – More from James Fallows on what will be need to turn Iraq into a democracy – and why so many in the US military are against invading Iraq.

• The Atlantic: Proceed With Caution

Background – Korea – A detailed look at Korean espionage activities, including naval operations, against Japan.

• Washington Post:
  N. Korea’s Secret Mission –
  Details Emerge of Long-Term Spy Project to Gain Influence in Japan

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan chases a Chinese spy ship away from its coast.

• Agence France-Presse: Taiwan chases away Chinese spy ship in south-east

US Marines – US and Royal Marines exercise together in urban warfare.

• Virginian Pilot: Marines train for risky combat field — cities
  

Background – Merchant Marine – More needs to be done to protect merchant shipping against terrorist attacks, the merchant mariners suggest naval escorts???

• The Economist: Shipping Security
• The Guardian: Seafarers want Navy escort
  

Background – South America – An outstanding, but lengthy essay on the challenges that the US faces in building strong lasting relationships with its South American allies. The insight into the true naval capabilities of some of the countries in South America is quite enlightening.

• Naval War College Review: Our Special Correspondent: Letter from South America

Royal Navy – HMS Grafton partakes in a large drugs bust in the Caribbean.

• Daily Telegraph: Axe-threat Navy’s £60m drugs haul

Canadian Navy – Canada is having difficulties maintaining its committment in the Gulf.

• Halifax Herald: Navy checking out several options for next Operation Apollo rotation
  

US Marine Corps – Operations in Afghanistan with the 1st Force Reconnaissance Company Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

• Marine Corps Gazette: Force Reconnaissance Missions
  

Background – War on Terror – A reminder of the danger posed to the US by Hezbollah – and that it is bankrolled by Iran.

• The New Yorker: Party of God
  

Merchant Marine – The US now believes that it was a terrorist act that caused the explosion aboard the French supertanker off Yemen.

• CNN: U.S.: Tanker blast was terrorist act
  

US Navy – Autonomous underwater vehicles that glide through the ocean.

• Science Daily: Robots Powered By The Ocean Itself

US Navy – An interview with Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark in which he further explains Sea Power 21.

• Sea Power: Teamwork, Flexibility, & Sustained Combat Power
  

Background – Bunker Busting – Does the US need a new family of nuclear weapons to bust bunkers? Was all that hope in thermobaric bombs misplaced?

• Popular Science:
  The bunker nightmare goes nuclear

Background – Iraq – If you did not read the Booknotes transcript of Eliot Cohen discussing his new book Supreme Command, try this brief interview instead. A look inside the mind of the man helping to shape the Bush Administration’s stategy towards Iraq.

• The Times: All the President’s Men

Royal Navy – HMS Sheffield is to be paid off early.

• Daily Telegraph: Navy signals Sheffield: You are to be paid off

US Navy – A review of the Sea Power 21 vision for the future.

• Sea Power: Special Report: Sea Power 21

Background – Iraq – James F. Dunnigan comments on some of the rumors swirling around planning for an invasion of Iraq.

• StrategyPage: Rumors, Rumors, we got Rumors about Iraq

US Marines – Marines exercising in Kuwait are attacked by terrorists, 1 Marine is killed.

• BBC: ‘Terrorists’ blamed for US marine attack
  

Merchant Shipping – The shipping industry begins to realize it needs to do more to protect its ships against piracy.

• Shipping Times: Security threats in Malacca Strait: cooperation urged

US Navy – The Chief of Naval Operations opines on his vision for the future of the US Navy.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Sea Power 21 – Projecting Decisive Joint Capabilities
  

???and finally, a personal note. Yesterday, our reseach laboratory was privileged to host a visit by Secretary of the Navy Gordon England who came to review the progress and status of our Virtual Naval Hospital digital library. It was simply a delight to spend an hour briefing the Secretary, whom we found to be a warm, intelligent and articulate individual. I can assure you the US Navy is in good hands!

• Iowa City Press Citizen: U.S. naval secretary visits UI – Hospital’s Web site draws praise
  

• Associated Press: Navy secretary visits University of Iowa
• Cedar Rapids Gazette: UI Web site wows Navy chief
• Daily Iowan: UI’s virtual hospital wows Navy
  

Merchant Marine – The US will help investigate the mysterious explosion aboard a supertanker off Yemen. The preliminary US impression is that it was not a suicide bombing incident.

• BBC: US to help tanker explosion probe
  

Royal Navy – To pay for its 2 new aircraft carriers, the Royal Navy will lose more destroyers and frigates and minehunters.

• Daily Telegraph: Navy to lose 10 ships in carriers deal

Pakistani Navy – The Chief of Pakistan’s Navy admits it is outgunned by its adversaries.

• Sify News: New Pak naval chief admits force’s falls

US Navy – An overview of US prepositioning of Army and Marine equipment, ashore and at sea.

• National Journal: Military puts war preparations in high gear

Background – Command and Control – What happened to the idea that execution authority should be delegated to the lowest possible level? Technology is unfortunately reversing this???

• Air Force: Reach Forward

Merchant Shipping – A French-flagged supertanker has been struck, possibly by a suicide craft, off Yemen and is ablaze.

• BBC: Craft ‘rammed’ Yemen oil tanker
• CNN: Yemen probes French tanker blast

US Navy – The first woman to command a US Navy warship has passed away.

• The Economist: Kathleen McGrath

US Marine Corps – The new generation of multiple integrated laser engagement system (MILES) training equipment in now online.

• Marine Corps Gazette: The New Generation of MILES

US Navy – More on the fascinating Boeing proposal to build a “Wing in Ground” aircraft to supplement containerships in the heavy-lift logistics role.

• Daily Telegraph: Biggest-ever plane will carry an army
• Boeing Frontiers: The Pelican: A Big Bird for the Long Haul

Background – War on Terror – Rick Atkinson on the parallels between the first year of World War II and the first year of the War on Terror.

• Washington Post:
  The Lessons of Global War

Background – War on Terror – John Keegan opines on the new National Security Strategy.

• Daily Telegraph: The Weight of American Empire
  

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan releases photos of the salvaged wreck of the North Korean spy ship it sank last year.

• BBC: In pictures: Sunken ‘spy’ ship
  

Royal Navy – HMS Ark Royal is participating in an amphibious exercise in the Mediterranean, named Destined Glory 2002.

• The Independent: Ark Royal’ leads exercise as Nato shows its muscle

Royal Navy – A look at the armour and naval assests the UK may contribute to a war against Iraq.

• The Times: Britain prepares tanks for war against Saddam

US Navy – The USS Kearsarge is spending some time exercising in the Gulf of Mexico as the first stand-in mine hunter command ship since the decommissioning of the USS Inchon in June. For the exercise it will be embarking mine sweeping helicopters. Will this capability be taken to the Persian Gulf?

• Scripps Howard: Assault ship heads here

US Navy – Life aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, currently off of Afghanistan – an interview with her air wing.

• National Post: U.S. sailors wait for war just 30 hours from Iraq
• National Post: In a floating city, sailors line up for the dentist
  

US Navy – More on the status of the Pacific Fleet’s aircraft carriers.

• The Sun: Pacific Fleet carriers on alert

US Marines – US Marines will be exercising with Phillipine Marines in the Phillipines.

• INQ7: 600 US Marines in RP-US
  Talon-Vision-02 war exercise
  

History – U.S. Destroyers Contributed Mightily to the Korean War Effort.

• Sea Power: Siege, Gambit, and Scramble

US Navy – Could the US have seven carrier battlegroups in the Gulf by January 1?

• Washington Post: U.S. Bolstering Forces in Gulf

Phillipine Navy – The Phillipines will use paramilitary forces to help it claim sovereignty over part of the Spratly Islands.

• Inquirer News Service: Militiamen to secure
  RP-claimed Spratly isles
  

US Navy – Lockheed Martin Delivers the 75th Aegis Weapons System.

• Sea Power: The Importance of Being Prepared

Background – Iraq – A nice summary of the various points of view regarding an invasion of Iraq.

• The Atlantic: Iraq Considered

US Navy – 6 carrier battlegroups could be off Iraq by January 1, 2003.

• Reuters: U.S. Carrier Deployments Could Hold Iraq Key
  

Royal Navy – The aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious enters the shipyard for an extended 2 year refit.

• The Herald: Illustrious docks for £100m Rosyth refit
  

US Marines – More lessons learned from Afghanistan.

• Virginian Pilot: Commanders hail successes in Afghanistan

US Navy – The SECNAV says we are still at the beginning of the war on terror.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy secretary says terrorism war will be protracted
  

Indian Navy – The Indian – US exercises have concluded.

• NewIndPress: Indo-US joint naval exercises concludes

US Navy – The Navy Dive Team saves, seals, scrapes, and salvages ships.

• Sea Power: Making the Impossible Look Easy

Royal New Zealand Navy – New Zealand is taking delivery of its Kaman SH-2G Sea Sprite helicopters.

• Stuff: Navy helicopter may not be as badly damaged as first thought

US Marines – Some lessons learned on the ground in Afghanistan.

• Knox News: Among GIs’ problems in Afghanistan: Their own stuff

History – An interview with former naval officer Peter Huchthausen who is the author of several recent books about the Soviet submarine fleet and its service disasters.

• Associated Press: Filmmakers Crave Soviet Navy History
  

Background – Leadership – Transcript of an interview with Eliot Cohen, author of the book “Supreme Command: Soldiers, Statesmen, and Leadership in Wartime.” The interview covers what are the key traits of successful wartime leaders.

• C-SPAN: Booknotes