Defense Technology International – LCS-2 Makes Waves

On a clear, calm day in late March, on only the ship’s fifth full day at sea, the crew saw how fast the Navy’s second Littoral Combat Ship (LCS-2), designed by General Dynamics, could go…

San Diego Union Tribune – Navy helicopter pilots see their profile rise

Their $33 million helicopters are new. There’s an aircraft-carrier briefing room with their name on the door now. And they get extra parking spaces on the multimillion-dollar real estate of the carrier flight deck. All the attention feels a little odd, Navy helicopter pilots say.

US Naval Institute Proceedings – More Henderson, Less Bonds

Not only do Influence Squadrons save money by deploying lower-priced ships, their sheer numbers also allow for more presence, a U.S. Navy version of the on-base percentage in Major League Baseball.

Defense Technology International – Endurance UAV + Small Deck = ?

Can you develop an unmanned aircraft that can provide Predator-like endurance and payload capability from the flightdeck of something as small as a Littoral Combat Ship?

Defense Technology International – Ice Gap

Is the SecDef taking stock of American icebreaking capabilities?

Orbis – How the United States Lost the Naval War
of 2015

Years of strategic missteps in oceans policy, naval strategy and a force structure in decline set the stage for U.S. defeat at sea in 2015. After decades of double-digit budget increases, the People’s Liberation Army (Navy) was operating some of the most impressive systems in the world, including a medium-range ballistic missile that could hit a moving aircraft carrier and a super-quiet diesel electric submarine that was stealthier than U.S. nuclear submarines. Coupling this new asymmetric naval force to visionary maritime strategy and oceans policy, China ensured that all elements of national power promoted its goal of dominating the East China Sea. The United States, in contrast, had a declining naval force structured around 10 aircraft carriers spread thinly throughout the globe. With a maritime strategy focused on lower order partnerships,and a national oceans policy that devalued strategic interests in freedom of navigation, the stage was set for defeat at sea. This article recounts how China destroyed the USS George Washington in the East China Sea in 2015. The political fallout from the disaster ended 75 years of U.S. dominance in the Pacific Ocean and cemented China’s position as the Asian hegemon.

Thanks to Cris for the link!

Defense Technology International – It’s A Hovercraft! It’s A Catamaran! But Wait…

As early as September, the Office of Naval Research could pick one of three companies to build a prototype of the Transformable Craft, or T-Craft, one of the most extraordinary marine craft ever proposed.

Defense Technology International – Gates Says Navy Needs to Ask Itself Hard Questions

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates made a roomful of Navy officers and Naval industry types choke on their lunch yesterday afternoon at the Air Sea Space convention when he flat out told them that the Navy budget is going to remain flat in the near-term, and that the service has to ask itself “whether the nation can really afford a Navy that relies on $3 [billion] to $6 billion destroyers, $7 billion submarines and $11 billion carriers.”

BBC – US Navy asked to share submarine detail

A US nuclear attack submarine could have been responsible for the sinking of a French trawler off the Cornish coast, a submarine expert has said.

Virginian Pilot – After many issues, the Enterprise is ready for battle

Commissioned in 1961, the Enterprise is the oldest nuclear carrier in the fleet. Repair crews found damage and decay – from rotted pipes to fried electronics – far beyond what they’d expected.

Washington Post – Plans to allow women and gays, ban smoking shake world of Navy submarines

Imagine 150 fraternity brothers packed into a container the size of a three-bedroom house. Announce you are breaking hallowed traditions by taking away their cigarettes and admitting women. Then lock the doors and push the container deep into the sea, for months at a time. That’s what the Navy, after decades of contemplation and controversy, has decided to do with its Submarine Force, an elite fraternity of 13,000 active-duty sailors that has been patrolling the oceans for 110 years.

Virginian Pilot – Revolutionary combat ship could change face of Navy

Where are all the sailors? That’s usually the first question visitors ask when they step aboard the Independence. The littoral combat ship’s unusually small crew – it takes 40 sailors to operate the $700 million vessel – is only the beginning of what sets it apart.

Defense Technology International – More From the Littoral Combat Ship

With a crew of just 40 sailors, everyone aboard the Littoral Combat Ship Independence — the General Dynamics and Austal-made LCS, bidding against Lockheed Martin’s USS Freedom for the ultimate Navy contract — is expected to wear multiple hats.

Christian Science Monitor – Navy T-39N jet crash: Why train with low-level flights?

Investigators are searching for the cause of a US Navy T-39N trainer jet crash in Georgia. Before the crash, the plane was seen flying at low levels, which can be ‘terribly unforgiving,’ an expert says.

Thanks to Jordan for the link!

Defense Technology International – Aboard the USS Independence

It doesn’t really look like anything you’ve ever seen, and while its’s capabilities are still far form proven–or even fully understood, even by the Navy–I have to admit that walking up the dock to the brand new Littoral Combat Ship USS Independence this morning in Key West, Florida, was a pretty cool experience.

Virginian Pilot – Va. Beach-based Navy ship captures six pirates

For the fourth time in two weeks, the US Navy has been involved in a confrontation with pirates. The Little Creek-based dock landing ship Ashland captured six suspected pirates Saturday after they shot at the ship in the Gulf of Aden.

Defense Technology International – Fire Scout’s First Drug Bust

A U.S. Navy Fire Scout made its first drug bust April 3 off the deck of the USS McInerney.

Virginian Pilot – Pirate season starting, and Navy’s gearing up

With monsoon season ending, pirates near the Horn of Africa are ratcheting up their efforts again – and so is the U.S. Navy.

Associated Press – Norfolk-based Navy frigate captures 5 pirates

U.S. naval forces say they’ve captured five pirates after exchanging fire with them, sinking their skiff and confiscating a mother ship.

Virginian Pilot – Navy brings new $2.3 billion submarine to life in Norfolk

It’s been months since shipbuilders tightened the final bolts and completed the last welds on the Navy’s newest fast-attack submarine, the New Mexico. But the final piece didn’t fall into place for the New Mexico’ s new Navy career until Saturday, when the ship’s sponsor, Cindy Giambastiani, gave the order: “Officers and crew of USS New Mexico, man our ship and bring her to life!” With that cue, the crew of about 130 ran onto the submarine, marking its official entry into active service.

San Diego Union Tribune – Nimitz pilots waged a different war this time

Navy fighter pilots flying over Afghanistan last fall and winter dropped fewer bombs than in the past, thanks to less-lethal battlefield orders from the top general there and better communication with people on the ground.

Virginian Pilot – More ships to Florida? Navy may snub Hampton Roads on new combat ships

As Hampton Roads’ leaders try to fend off plans to move a Norfolk-based aircraft carrier to Mayport, Fla., a top naval officer said the Florida base also has the upper hand to get another prize that Norfolk hoped to share. Mayport Naval Station “is the primary site we’re looking at” for the East Coast homeport of the new littoral combat ships, Adm. Gary Roughead, the chief of naval operations, told a congressional panel.

United States Naval Institute Proceedings – Got Sea Control?

The United States and United Kingdom have the most powerful combined naval force on the planet. Does this mean we can control the seas where and when we want? Maybe not.

US Naval Institute Proceedings – Finding Our Balance at Sea

The U.S. Navy needs to restructure for all types of maritime conflict.

US Naval Institute Proceedings – Fortress at Sea? The Carrier Invulnerability Myth

America’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, especially in today’s irregular, asymmetric warfare climate, could be little more than slow-moving targets.