US Navy – Submarine rescue exercise Sorbet Royal 2002 is taking place off of Denmark.

• Virginian Pilot: Sub rescuers briefly gripped by danger oceans away
  

US Navy – More on the fire aboard the USS Dolphin

• San Diego Union Tribune: Sub adrift at sea; 43 rescued

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines have engaged in their first firefight in Afghanistan.

• CNN: UK marines in Afghan firefight

French Navy – The aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle is exercising with the Saudi Navy.

• Arabic News: Saudi – French maneuvers
  

US Navy – An essay on how the US Navy is transforming itself.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Capture the Vision
  

Indian Navy – India is preparing for war with Pakistan over Kashmir, part of the preparation involves shifting 5 naval vessels to its west coast.

• The Statesman: Naval patrol off Pak waters, Air Force gears up
• Associated Press: Indian Warships Go Toward Pakistan
  

• BBC: India and Pakistan: The military balance
  

US Navy – The research submarine USS Dolphin has caught fire at sea. The crew have been safely evacuated, the sub’s fate is uncertain.

• BBC: US submarine on fire
  

• CNN: Navy research sub catches fire off California
  

Royal Navy – Spare parts for Royal Navy Sea King helicopters are in short supply.

• Ananova: Warships go to sea without anti-submarine helicopters

US Navy – The Pentagon wants to make future robots more like biological systems.

• Voice of America: Pentagon Studies Insects and Lobsters
  

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia is stepping up naval patrols to cut down on piracy and clashing amongst fisherman.

• The Jakarta Post: Navy steps in to combat piracy

Nigerian Navy – ???while the Nigerian Navy is also interceding to break up hostilities amongst fisherman.

• This Day: Navy Deploys Patrol Boats to Prevent Inter-Fishermen’s Clash

Thai Navy – Thailand has fired its first Harpoon surface-to-surface missile.

• Bangkok Post: Navy fires its first B25m Harpoon missile

Royal Marines – Simon Jenkins with a reasonable overview of the Royal Marines’ trials and tribulations in Afghanistan.

• The Times: Mad dogs and our men go out in the Afghan sun
  

Editorial Note – New URL for NOSI – Effective immediately, NOSI has a new, shorter, and easier to remember address: http://www.nosi.org.

The old NOSI address (http://nosi.editthispage.com) will continue to work for the forseeable future, and will be the address you will continue to see on your screen. I will warn you when it no longer works. In the meantime, feel free to use and publicise http://www.nosi.org and to update your bookmarks and links.

US Navy – Is Fleet Week in New York City a terrorist target?

• BBC: US warning on terror weapons

Singaporean Navy – Singapore and Thailand are holding a joint naval exercise in the South China Sea.

• The Straits Times: Singapore-Thai naval exercise on

Canadian Navy – Canada is likely to loose its indigineous warship construction capability.

• Globe and Mail: Rock planning to sink shipyards

Canadian Navy – Canada’s Sea King helicopters have no useful self-defense capability.

• Halifax Herald: Military ignored Sea King crews’ advice

Royal Australian Navy – ???while Australia is unhappy with the 40 year-old SH-2 Seasprite helicopters that it is acquiring.

• The Age: Australia dudded on choppers, says Labor

US Navy – A fascinating behind-the-scenes look by James Fallows at the Joint Strike Fighter competition that explains how Lockheed won the contract from Boeing.

• The Atlantic: Uncle Sam Buys and Airplane

Canadian Navy – Aboard Canada’s CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft, on fisheries patrol.

• Comox Valley Record: ‘They know we’re watching them’
  

Royal Marines – John Keegan on the sad fate of the Royal Marine’s commander in Afghanistan – he is being savaged by New Labour’s spin doctors.

• Daily Telegraph: Labour is putting spin before security in Afghanistan
• Daily Telegraph:
  Brigadier put troops before politics

US Navy – Project Minuteman, an attempt by the Office of Naval Research to deploy intelligent, networked sensing agents in battlefield conditions to gather intelligence and carry out attacks.

• Vunet: Navy recruits network of unmanned vehicles
  

Background – Transformation – William Arkin on the poor job the US Secretary of Defense has done on explaining what makes a weapon system transformational and worth funding, and what makes a weapons system non-transformational and not worth funding.

• Washington Post Dot Mil: Icons of the Crusade
  

Canadian Navy – A navy, like an army, fights on its stomach???

• Halifax Herald: Over 1,000 meals made daily in HMCS Fredericton’s galley

Indonesian Navy – Why Indonesia sent 6 warships to East Timor this week.

• Sydney Morning Herald: Gunboats will backfire on the generals
  

• Sydney Morning Herald: Jakarta warship told to leave Dili

Royal Marines – The continued trials and tribulations of the Royal Marines.

• Daily Telegraph: Marines’ chief under fire for Afghan ‘farce’
• BBC: Afghan Marines chief replaced

US Marines – A review of the MV-22 Osprey program.

• Sea Power: Osprey Set to Resume Flight Testing in April

Editorial Note – It is not my practice to cover army or air force open source intelligence. However, I will from time to time link to articles that give insight into army or air force operations and the lessons learned from them that may have applicability to future navy or marine operations. Hence, the article about the 101st Airborne’s patroling in Afghanistan on Friday, and the article below on Bosnia.

US Army – A long and well-written essay on peacekeeping in Bosnia with the US Army 3rd Infantry Division. The essay makes two interesting points. First, it illustrates how difficult it is to do peacekeeping well, and how the US could do it better. Second, it shows how the US Army is not an expeditionary force, and how much the US Army could learn from the US Marines about expeditionary forces. It is going to be very difficult to get buy-in from the US Army for the Medium Combat Brigades. (note that this article was written just before 9/11)

• The Atlantic: Peace is Hell

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia has sent its navy in a tactless show of force to the East Timor Independence celebrations.

• Reuters: Indonesian Navy Casts Cloud Over Timor Celebration

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwanese legislators do not want to purchase Kidd-class destroyers from the US.

• Taipei Times: Legislators express reservations about purchase of Kidds
  

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy is on high alert against terrorist threats.

• The Statesman: Waves of terror on high seas

US Coast Guard – The US Navy and US Coast Guard are engaged in Operation Noble Eagle, the coastal patrol and maritime homeland security operation around the United States.

• Jane’s: ëNoble Eagleí enhances navy and coast guard joint operations for homeland defence

RAF – RAF helicopters are standing by to the evacuate passengers from a ferry in the North Sea that has had 2 fires on board.

• BBC: Ferry fires put out
  

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines are operating again in the field, in Operation Condor

• BBC: News blackout on Afghan battle

Iranian Navy – Iran has purchased high-speed catamaran missile patrol boats from China.

• Washington Times: Inside the Ring

Royal Navy – How the UK may build its new aircraft carriers – in modules.

• Jane’s: Thales reveals CVF build strategy

Chinese Navy – China’s first naval port of call on their around the world cruise – Singapore.

• The Straits Times: China warships’ first visit to S’pore

Chinese Navy – China will start another large exercise across the straits from Taiwan.

• The Straits Times: 100,000 PLA troops in drills near Taiwan

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan successfully tested a Hsiungfeng II surface to surface missile.

• Taipei Times: Navy Successfully Fires Hsiungfeng II Missiles

Merchant Shipping – How the war on terrorism could change the shape of shipping by changing the concept of “flags of convenience” for merchant ships.

• The Economist: Brassed off

Chinese Navy – The Chinese Navy has embarked on its first global circumnavigation.

• Associated Press: Chinese navy’s first global voyage

US Navy – The US is considering opening a naval gunnery and bombing range in Eritrea.

• Voice of America: US Contemplates Military Ties with Eritrea
  

US Navy – The US Navy is developing ways to make submarine propellers more quickly.

• Science Daily: Cutting Edge Technology To Better Shape Submarine Propellers

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy is short of personnel, it will therefore be able to maintain 3 ships in the Arabian Gulf indefinitely.

• National Post: Canada had trouble manning warships

US Marines – The current state of Marine aviation.

• Marine Corps Gazette: State of Marine Aviation
  

Royal Marines – Royal Marine operations in Afghanistan are on hold, after the SAS who serve as their recon troops are quarantined after the outbreak of a mystery illness at their base.

• Daily Telegraph: How the Marines found Operation Snipe could not fly

US Army – An excellent essay in which the reporter goes on a several-day long patrol with a company of the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan. It gives excellent insight into what the “war” on the ground is like — more and more like Vietnam every day.

• Washington Post: GIs Battle ‘Ghosts’ in Afghanistan
  

Russian Navy – The salvage of the bow of the Kursk is about to get underway.

• BBC: Bad weather delays Kursk mission
  

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia tries to do more to fight terrorism???

• The Straits Times: S’pore Strait patrols keep pirates at bay

Thai Navy – ???but the pirates keep scoring victories???

• BBC: Missing Taiwanese tanker found

Royal Australian Navy – Australia beefs up its defenses.

• The New Zealand Herald: Australia’s fortress to cost $56bn
  

Royal Marines – More from being on patrol in Operation Snipe.

• BBC: ‘I saw new ammunition’
  

US Navy – Will the Growler replace the EA-6B Prowler?

• Seattle Post Intelligencer: Prowler replacement is still up in the air
  

US Navy – What the US Pacific Fleet and its allies are doing for the war on terrorism.

• Sea Power: “We Will Win This Fight”

Royal Marines – Now that it’s over, the debate begins: Operation Snipe, boon or bust?

• Daily Telegraph: Criticism of Marines’ role rejected by defence chief

German Navy – Will the purchase of the German submarine maker HDW by a US firm lead to the transfer of its technology to Taiwan for use in the submarines promised to it by the US?

• Handelsblatt: European Commission Concerned About US Investment in HDW

US Navy – How the Navy Marine Corps Intranet will help the US military carry out its missions.

• Sea Power: Why NMCI? “What We Can Be”

Royal Marines – Operation Snipe is over, with no contact being made with the enemy.

• BBC: Marines hail Afghan ‘success’
  

• CNN: UK Marines end Operation Snipe

US Navy – Plans for making CVN-77 a radically new type of aircraft carrier have been scaled back.

• Virginian Pilot: New carrier won’t be as advanced as once planned
  

Israeli Navy – Israel sank an arms ship delivering arms to the Gaza Strip.

• Ha’aretz: Israel sank arms ship bound for Gaza Strip

South African Navy – South Africa has acquired 6 ex-German Navy mine sweepers.

• All Africa: Bargain Ships Offer Training Option
  

US Navy – CINCPAC on how the US Navy must fix its acquisition system to allow it to more rapidly field needed new technologies and get more bang for the buck for its procurement dollars.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: We Can Fix Acquisition

Canadian Navy – Canada’s second Upholder-class submarine may not enter service until 2005.

• Daily News: Cracks may hold up new subs
  

Canadian Navy – What it is like to fly in a 40 year old Sea King helicopter.

• Toronto Star: Flying a relic called Sea King
• Toronto Star: That was one wild ride

Royal Navy – Why England should not return Gibraltar to Spain.

• Daily Telegraph:A defensive Rock

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia claims its navy is not battle ready.

• The Straits Times: Indonesian forces need ‘resources, direction’

Chinese Navy – Looks like the ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag will not be converted into a floating casino after all???

• The Straits Times: Tight security around old carrier in China raises suspicions

Indian Navy – The Light Combat Aircraft will be adapted for naval use.

• The Statesman: Work on naval LCA variant so

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan will order the EH-101 helicopter.

• The Guardian: Japan navy deal for GKN
  

US Marines – How wearable computing will provide an augmented reality that may help Marines on the battlefield of the future.

• Associated Press: Wearable computers enhance the world we see

US Coast Guard – The role that project Deepwater can play in homeland security.

• Sea Power: Deepwater and Homeland Security

History – US Navy – America’s first nuclear-armed guided missile submarines – the submarines carring the Regulus I missile.

• Los Angeles Times: Submarines’ Secret History Surfaces

US Marines – Non-lethal weapons currently being worked on in the labs include???

• Associated Press: Gooey, Smelly Weapons Under Study
  

Royal Marines – Two excellent accounts of being on patrol with 45 Commando in Afghanistan.

• BBC: ‘I saw flames leap a hundred feet’
  

• Sunday Times: Marines losing war with thin air
  

US Navy – An overview of the cooperative engagement capability.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: CEC Provides Theater Air Dominance
  

Indian Navy – The Indian and French navies, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, will exercise next week.

• The Hindu: Fernandes to witness Indo-French joint Naval exercises

US Navy – The home ports of several Trident ballistic missile submarines will be shifted around as some of the submarines are converted to carry cruise missiles.

• Associated Press: Ga. Worries Over Submarine Departure

US Coast Guard – The USCG cutter HarriettLane has rescued a large number of Haitians from a sinking sailboat near the Bahamas.

• Virginian Pilot:
  Portsmouth-based Coast Guard cutter rescues 73 Haitians

US Navy – The role the Military Sealift Command is playing on the war on terror.

• Sea Power: MSC Delivers! The Military Sealift Command Today

Israeli Navy – Israeli has launched INS Herev, the first of two Nirit-class missile boats.

• Jerusalem Post: Navy launches new blue-and-white missile boat

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan’s project to produce French Agosta-class submarines has suffered a blow after a terrorist attack in Karachi kills a number of the French engineers working on the project.

• Pakistan News Service: Karachi attack may delay submarine project
• The International News: Work on Agosta subs to continue, says French minister

US Marines – SECNAV says all the MV-22 Osprey’s problems have been fixed.

• Associated Press: Navy chief declares all Osprey problems fixed

Royal Navy – Britain says it would keep its military bases on Gibraltar if it turns Gibraltar’s sovereignty over to Spain.

• BBC: Gibraltar ’causes cabinet rift’
  

RAF – 100 people were evacuated by RAF Rescue from an oil rig that had been hit by a fishing boat.

• BBC: Rescued rig staff taken ashore

Royal Marines – On patrol with 45 Commando in Operation Snipe, showing what an unusual conflict it is on the ground.

• The Independent: Good morning, Afghanistan: On patrol with the Royal Marines

Chinese Navy – Chinese ships have made their first port call in South Korea.

• China Daily: Chinese navy ships make maiden stopover in South Korea
  

US Marines – Lessons learned from the Marine’s operations in Afghanistan.

• Sea Power: Corps Considerations: Lessons Learned in Phase One

Background – Indonesia – Thomas Friedman on why Indonesia needs to be treated as a friend by the US, and not as an enemy.

• New York Times: The War on What?
  

Royal Navy – More on the consequences of the scrapping of the Royal Navy’s Sea Harrier fleet.

• Daily Telegraph: Cuts ‘rip heart out of defence strategy’
• Daily Telegraph: Sea Harrier’s demise puts Britain’s fleet in peril for six years
• Daily Telegraph: Offensive capability ‘will be enhanced’
• Daily Telegraph: Our best all-weather fighter

Taiwanese Navy – A spy ship has been spotted off Taiwan.

• Taipei Times: Military on alert following spy-ship sighting off north

Bangladesh Navy – The Bangladesh Navy will be asked to patrol its rivers and enforce shipping regulations in order to prevent shipping disasters.

• Reuters: Bangladesh navy to patrol rivers after ferry disaster

US Marines – The challenges facing helicopter operations at high altitudes.

• Marine Corps Gazette: Are We Properly Prepared for Helicopter
  Operations in Afghanistan?
  

South African Navy – What role will the navy play in South Africa’s new expeditionary military strategy?

• All Africa: Fundamental Change in Military Strategy for SA
  

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Are the Japanese trying too hard to be helpful in the war on terrorism?

• Asahi: Prod from Japan raises eyebrows in Tokyo

US Navy – Reenlistment rates are soaring in the US Navy.

• Virginian Pilot: More sailors re-enlist
  

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines are not encountering opposition for far in Operation Snipe.

• The Times: Marines say al-Qaeda unable to fight on

US Navy – The US Navy is facing a shipbuilding crisis???

• Sea Power: The True Needs of the Navy ??? And the Deepening Crisis in Naval Shipbuilding

Background – Saudi Arabia – William Arkin on how the Saudi’s are having a negative influence on the war on terrorism.

• Washington Post Dot Mil: Our Saudi ‘Friends’

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy is playing a significant leadership role in the Arabian Sea.

• Canadian Press: Navy playing significant command role in Operation Apollo, navy head says

US Coast Guard – On patrol for icebergs with the International Ice Patrol.

• Associated Press: Searching for killer icebergs seen as titanic responsibility

Background – Iraq – William Arkin dissects the current war plan against Iraq, and points out that how the US fights will determine how the end game evolves, and that current planning does not consider the end game???

• Los Angeles Times: Planning an Iraqi War but Not an Outcome

Background – NATO – NATO is at a crucial point in deciding what it will look like and what is will be capable of doing in the future.

• Economist: A moment of truth

Royal Navy – HMS Sheffield is to be placed in reduced readiness.

• Ananova: Sheffield successor to leave front-line service

German Navy – Aboard the German frigates making a port of call in Pakistan.

• Karachi News: Two German frigates berth at Karachi as part of coalition against international terrorism

Indian Navy – The US and Indian navies are planning joint exercises together.

• Hindustan Times: Indo-US military exercise in Agra
• BBC: India and US plan war games

Royal Marines – 45 Commando is making slow progress on the ground in Afghanistan.

• Daily Telegraph: Frustrated marines track enemy to hills

US Navy – How antisubmarine warfare is currently being performed by the US Navy.

• Sea Power: Network-Centric ASW: A View From the Fleet

Background – Iraq – The challenge of nation building in a post-Saddam Iraq.

• Economist: Putting Humpty together again

Royal Marines – With 45 Commando on Operation Snipe.

• Daily Telegraph: We know our enemy – these guys are good

US Navy – A US Navy oiler fired on small boats that approached it in the Straits of Hormuz.

• CNN: U.S. Navy fires on small boats thought to be pirates

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia and the US are cultivating a close naval relationship.

• The Straits Times: US wants closer military ties with KL, Jakarta

Columbian Navy – Columbia seized a large amount of cocaine at sea.

• Voice of America: Colombian Navy Seizes 2 Metric Tons of Cocaine
  

Background – Russia – The US and Russian militaries are cooperating more closely than ever.

• Washington Post: Anti-Terror War Binds U.S., Russian Militaries

Background – Iraq – Another strategy for toppling Saddam, by military analyst Austin Bay.

• Strategy Page: Invasion Iraq

Background – Saddam Hussein – What Saddam is *really* like???an interview with “Blackhawk Down” author Mark Bowden.

• The Atlantic: It’s Not Easy Being Mean

Royal Marines – 45 Commando is on the move again in Afghanistan, mounting Operation Snipe.

• BBC: British troops in fresh al-Qaeda hunt
  

• Daily Telegraph: Hundreds of US troops back up Royal Marines

Sri Lankan Navy – Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers are battling again at sea.

• Reuters: Sea clash upsets Sri Lanka truce

Russian Navy – Russia will close its base at Cam Ranh Bay this weekend.

• BBC: Russia closes Vietnam naval base

Canadian Navy – HMCS St. John’s deploys to the Arabian Sea.

• CBC: Canadian warship joins anti-terrorism effort

Royal Australian Navy – Why Australia passed on purchasing the British Upholder-class submarines, leaving them for Canada to buy.

• Ottawa Citizen: Why Australia rejected Canada’s ‘new’ submarines
  

Royal Navy – More strikes loom for Royal Navy dockyards.

• Jane’s: UK naval base workers begin industrial action

US Navy – The Ready Reserve Force ship Cornhusker State returns home from delivering supplies to the Persian Gulf.

• Virginian Pilot: With no fanfare, crane ship returns after 6 months at sea

US Navy – The CNO says he wants the littoral combat ship.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy leader makes case for new ships designed to speed quietly to hot spots
  

Background – War on Terrorism – Excellent essay by Robert Kaplan on how Samuel Huntington’s theories are being proven correct by the war on terror.

• The Atlantic: Looking the World in the Eye

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia’s new submarines will be used for deep water, rather than littoral, operations.

• The Strait Times: KL subs for use in international waters

German Navy – More on the German naval task force off the Horn of Africa.

• BBC: Germany to lead Horn force
  

US Navy – Aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, in the Arabian Sea, where air support missions continue to be flown around the clock.

• Virginian Pilot: Kennedy air wing commander says ship is performing well

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The Japanese are diving on the wreck of the suspected spy ship they sunk last year, to learn its secrets.

• BBC: Japan starts probe into mystery ship

US Marines – What role does artillery have to play in expeditionary maneuver warfare?

• Marine Corps Gazette: Artillery Support in EMW

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan will buy the Kidd-class destroyers???while the US grows much closer to Taiwan.

• Agence France Presse: Navy to sign Kidd deal, report says
• Washington Post: In Fact and in Tone, U.S. Expresses New Fondness for Taiwan

Canadian Navy – Yet another problem with the Upholder-class submarines???possible cracks in diesel exhaust valves.

• Associated Press: Canada pulls subs bought from Britain from service

German Navy – Germany has assumed command of the naval task force off the Horn of Africa; its ships will make port calls in Pakistan soon.

• Voice of America: Germany to Command Naval Task Force Off the Coast of Africa
  

• Pakistan News Service: German Frigates ships to reach Karachi

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The US will sell another Aegis installation to Japan; and the US has asked Japan to contribute an Aegis-equipped destroyer and P-3 Orions to the task force in the Arabian Sea.

• Reuters: Possible U.S. sale of Aegis to Japan passes hurdle

US Navy – The role of research and development in the US Navy.

• Sea Power: The Department of the Navy’s
  Science and Technology Strategy

Indian Navy – The Brahmos missile will not be ready for service for several years.

• Hindustan Times: BrahMos missile years away from induction on ships, aircraft

US Navy – Northrop Grumman wins the contract to design the DD-X.

• Associated Press: Grumman Lands Navy Warship Contract
• Washington Post: Northrop Wins Navy Contract

US Navy – Did the US Navy play a role in the recent coup in Venezuela?

• The Guardian: American navy ‘helped Venezuelan coup’
  

US Navy – The USS Kitty Hawk makes a port call in Hong Kong.

• The Straits Times: US warships sail into HK as China’s ban on visits ends

US Navy – How bats can help improve naval sonars.

• Science Daily: Bat Sonar And Anti-Submarine Warfare

US Navy – How the US Navy Sea Systems Command is changing to meet the current needs of the US Navy.

• Sea Power: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Navy Transformation

Background – War on Terrorism – Ralph Peters on how the US can make friends of Muslims – leave the Arab Muslims alone, and court the non-Arab Muslims.

• Wall Street Journal (registration required): A Remedy for Radical Islam