US Navy – An update on the condition of the USS Dolphin.

• San Diego Union Tribune: Dolphin inspected after fires, flooding

Taiwanese Navy – Will Taiwan get German 209-class submarines via the US?

• Agence France Presse: Report says US company to build subs
  

Background – Kashmir – Edward Luttwak on why he thinks the Indian Navy will not blockade Karachi’s harbor.

• The Globe and Mail: The great game gets serious
  

Background – Airpower – Part 3 of a series – airpower finally lives up to its promises in Iraq, Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan.

• The Atlantic: The American Way of War

Canadian Navy – What life is like aboard Canada’s Upholder-class submarines – a cruise aboard HMCS Windsor told in text, audio, and video.

• CBC: Submarine Diary
  

Canadian Navy – All 4 Upholder-class submarines have problems with faulty diesel exhaust valves.

• CBC: All four submarines share valve problem

US Navy – F-14 Tomcats are not being allowed to be launched by catapult until their nose wheel assemblies are inspected for corosion.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy halts carrier flights of F-14s for check
  

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines are performing humanitarian duties while patroling in Afghanistan.

• Daily Telegraph: Troops get to root of Afghan decay

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia has formally signed a deal to purchase Scorpene-class submarines from France.

• The Straits Times: KL signs deal to buy 3 French submarines

US Navy – An essay by the Chief of Naval Operations on what the US Navy needs to look like in the future.

• Sea Power: Presence, Power, Precision: The United States Navy in the 21st Century

Russian Navy – More fragments of the Kursk’s bow were recovered today.

• CNN: More Kursk fragments recovered

Thai Navy – More on the border tensions between Thailand and Myanmar.

• The Straits Times: Thai-Myanmar tensions rise several notches

US Navy – Why the tactical component network (TCN) outperforms the cooperative engagement capability (CEC) – and why CEC will be funded and TCN will not.

• US Naval Institute Proceedings: Sunk Costs Sink Innovation
  

Background – Kashmir – William Arkin’s analysis of the possibility of nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

• Washington Post: Kashmir: Hype and Reality
  

Indian Navy – India may acquire HMS Invincible along with her Sea Harriers.

• Sky News: India May Buy UK Warship

Burmese Navy – Burmese warships are patrolling waters off Song, Lam, Khan and Khinok islands, the site of outstanding border disputes with Thailand.

• Bangkok Post: Junta deploys warships in disputed seas

Nigerian Navy – Nigeria continues its war against oil poachers.

• Vanguard: Navy Destroys N65m Vessels Used for Illegal Operations
  

US Marines – Thomas Ricks on how the US Marines first official report on the war in Afghanistan criticizes the US military from leading from the rear – that is, running the war from Central Command’s HQ in Tampa, Florida. The Marines argue that the HQ should be in theater.

• Washington Post: Un-Central Command Criticized
  

Background – Information Warfare – James Bamford on whether the NSA is up to the tasks facing it in the war on terrorism.

• Washington Post: Too Much, Not Enough
  

US Coast Guard – A detailed review of the role the Coast Guard plays in homeland defense.

• Sea Power: The Coast Guard’s Role in Homeland Defense
  

Royal Marines – A woman is allowed to join the logistic ranks of the Royal Marines, for the first time.

Daily Telegraph: First woman wins Marines’ green beret

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan’s navy says it can defend Pakistan from India’s navy.

• Frontier Post: Navy capable of thwarting aggression

Russian Navy – The salvage of the Kursk’s bow is underway.

• BBC: Russia launches final Kursk mission
  

Royal Navy – HMS Portland has stopped an Iraqi ship trying to smuggle oil out of Iraq.

• BBC: Navy frigate stops Iraqi smugglers
  

Royal Marines – Royal Marines have taken up blocking positions along the Pakistan – Afghanistan border in Operation Buzzard.

• Washington Post: British Fortify Pakistani Border
• BBC: UK Marines in new Afghan mission

US Navy – What the US Navy hopes to get out of next year’s budget.

• Sea Power: President Seeks Multibillion Increases for Defense, Homeland Security
  

US Marines – The new role of the Marines’ reserve division artillery regiment – to be corps-level artillery.

• Marine Corps Gazette: The Force Artillery Mission and 14th Marines
  

NOSI will take a short break and will publish next on Monday. See you then.

Indian Navy – The strategy behind the Indian Navy’s deployment off the port of Karachi – bottle up Pakistan from a naval and economic perspective.

• Gulf News: Indians in ‘a position to destroy oil installations’
  

US Navy – US has signed an agreement with Sri Lanka to allow the fueling and servicing of its ships and aircraft in Sri Lanka.

• Reuters: U.S. Ships to Refuel in Sri Lanka

US Navy – The USS John Stennis battlegroup returns home, after a tour in the Arabian Sea.

• CNN: USS John C. Stennis back at home
• CNN: Eager Stennis sailors head home

Indian Navy – India expresses interest in purchasing the Royal Navy’s Sea Harriers.

• Hindustan Times: India keen on purchase of British Sea Harriers
  

US Marines – The Marines are experimenting successfully with the WestPac Express, a high-speed vessel (HSV), used to support the III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa.

• Sea Power: The Marines Have Landed ??? Again

Royal Navy – The new Astute-class nuclear attack submarines will be based at Faslane.

• The Scotsman: Faslane to win nuclear order
  

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia will upgrade the engineering plants of a number of its warships, it is also beginning humanitarian relief exercises this week with the US Navy.

• Agence France Presse: Navy to recondition all its frigates and 22 warships
• Express India: US Navy ships arrive for joint exercise in Indonesia

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan is searching for the black boxes from the 747 that crashed off the Straits of Taiwan.

• Taipei Times: Military search mobilization largest in its history

Background – Weapons of Mass Destruction – William Arkin on how the Bush Administration is now fighting Cold War #2 – against weapons of mass destruction.

• Los Angeles Times: A Policy In From the Cold
  

Background – Nuclear Weapons – A well written essay on what the threat is from nuclear weapons or radiological weapons, with a number of scenarios.

• New York Times Sunday Magazine: Nuclear Nightmares

US Navy – WWII – I’ll probably start posting a few more history articles as I come across them. Here is an appropriate article for today (Memorial Day in the United States) – a succinct, yet insightful history of the US Navy in World War II. Be sure to read all 5 parts.

• The Atlantic: Victory at Sea

US Navy – The story of what happened when a SEAL team insertion went wrong during the early phases of Operation Anaconda. The pitched ground battle that ensued is similar to “Blackhawk Down” – call it “Chinook Down.”

• Washington Post: Part I: Bravery and Breakdowns in a Ridgetop Battle
• Washington Post: Chronology
• Washington Post: Part 2: A Wintry Ordeal at 10,000 Feet
• Washington Post: The Rescue

Canadian Navy – What Canada’s CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft have been up to in the Gulf.

• Halifax Herald: Military secret

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy’s new carriers will be too large to dock at its main base at Portsmouth.

• The Guardian: Navy’s new carriers are too big for British ports
  

Background – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – James F. Dunnigan with a nice history of UAVs.

• Strategy Page: Drone Wars

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy has been tasked with helping to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants into England.

• The Times: Navy and RAF enlisted to prevent people-smuggling
  

US Marines – Personal Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are being developed by the Marines.

• Wired: Why War Is Really Just a Game

US Navy – Aboard the USS Shoup, a new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.

• Seattle Post Intelligencer: New warship will set standard for tomorrow’s Navy
  

US Navy – The USS Dolphin has been towed back to port.

• Los Angeles Times: All at sea

US Navy – The information technology involved in building the Joint Strike Fighter.

• Technology Review: Design and Conquer

US Navy – A more detailed explanation of the SEALs restructuring.

• Sea Power: SEAL Force Restructured To Stabilize Deployments
  

Background – William Arkin – A nice description of analyst William Arkin, whose writings I link to regularly. Meet the person behind the opinions.

• Washington Post: Explosive Analyst

Background – Iraq – Thomas Ricks on how the Pentagon is lobbying to push back or cancel the invasion of Iraq.

• Washington Post:
  Military Bids to Postpone Iraq Invasion

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