Defense News – The U.S. Navy is close to declaring initial operational capability on its second and final Littoral Combat Ship mission package, the mine countermeasures package, as it awaits a final report from the service’s test and evaluation office.
A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats: Strengthen the Afloat Community, Strengthen the Coast Guard
CIMSEC – As the U.S. Coast Guard undergoes a period of “prolific” acquisitions, the service must resolve a lurking specter: How to fill all of these ships with qualified personnel?
China Maritime Report No. 25: More Chinese Ferry Tales: China’s Use of Civilian Shipping in Military Activities, 2021-2022
Chinese Maritime Studies Institute – This report provides a comprehensive assessment of Chinese civilian shipping support to the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), examining civil maritime-military activities from October 2021 through September 2022. As of 2022, the PLA and its reserve civilian merchant fleet are still probably unable to provide significant amphibious landing capabilities or the maritime logistics in austere or challenging environments necessary to support a major cross-strait invasion of Taiwan. However, large volume lift exercises conducted in 2022 suggest that the PLA has made significant progress in the use of civilian vessels for the large-scale lift of PLA troops and equipment into undefended ports, a capability that may be leveraged in a military assault on Taiwan. This report also discusses other civil maritime-military activities not previously observed, including the use of civilian vessels and infrastructure to conceal PLA troop movements, operations from austere ports, use of ocean-going vessels to transport PLA forces along inland waterways, and logistics support for China’s South China Sea outposts.
China’s Type 054B Next-Gen Frigate Under Construction?
Naval News – A new warship hull widely assumed to be the Type 054B next generation frigate for the Chinese Navy (PLAN) has commenced final assembly at Hudong Shipyard in Shanghai.
Chinese Investment in Western Hemisphere Raising Concerns for U.S., Says SOUTHCOM Commander
USNI News – The United States is facing increased competition in a number of sectors, especially from China in the Western Hemisphere, raising new security concerns, the head of U.S. Southern Command said Thursday.
Japan Issues Military Equipment Wishlist That Includes Hypersonic Weapons, Unmanned Systems
USNI News – Japan’s Ministry of Defense this week issued a document detailing new military equipment it’s developing, with rationales and status updates for programs ranging from hypersonic weapons to unmanned underwater vehicles.
Marine Corps Reactivates Base On Guam
Naval News – The U.S. Marine Corps reactivated a new base on Guam.
The Type 32 frigate programme – over before it began?
Navy Lookout – There are strong indications the five Type 32 frigates that would follow on from the Type 31 programme will be axed due to lack of funding. Here we look at the implications of this decision and its impacts on industry and the future RN fleet.
Northrop Grumman makes play to add power, space on DDGs for weapons
Defense News – The U.S. Navy’s next-generation destroyer is slated to provide more space and power for new weapons that today’s Arleigh Burke destroyers cannot accommodate — but the DDG(X) program continues to be delayed. With those new weapons needed now, Northrop Grumman is pitching a way to free up space and weight on existing ships for additions like lasers and microwave weapons.
The Zircon: How Much of a Threat Does Russia’s Hypersonic Missile Pose?
RUSI – Russian moves to operationalise the Zircon hypersonic missile represent an important development, but the significance – especially in terms of the current conflict – should not be overstated.
Navy Refines Littoral Combat Ship Shore Training
USNI News – A look at the simulators used by the US Navy to train crews of the littoral combat ships.
US Navy suspends work at four West Coast dry docks over seismic risks
Defense News – The U.S. Navy will immediately suspend submarine repair work at four dry docks in Washington state, following new concerns about their ability to withstand seismic activity.
Iranian Navy Flotilla Heading to Rio de Janeiro
USNI News – A two-ship Iranian surface group is set to arrive today for a port visit in Rio de Janeiro as part of a round-the-world cruise.
Is China building new, more advanced frigate than Type 054A? Experts say novel warships are natural devt but media reports are speculative
Global Times – China is building a new type of advanced frigate, which is larger and more advanced than its current Type 054A class, overseas media reported on Friday, citing commercial satellite images.
Indonesian Navy Commissions New Hospital Ship
Naval News – On January 19, 2023, Indonesian shipbuilder PT PAL delivered a second hospital ship, the “Dr. Radjiman Wedyodiningrat” (pennant number 992), to the Indonesian Navy.
The B-21’s possible future role in maritime strike
Breaking Defense – Little is known about the details of the newly unveiled B-21 bomber, but IISS’s Ben Ho writes that from what we know, its mission set could expand to the sea.
South African navy to host Russian, Chinese counterparts for maritime exercise
China Daily – South Africa will host the naval forces from China and Russia during the multilateral maritime exercise scheduled to take place next month in Durban and Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal.
Qatar launches ‘Al Fulk’ warfare vessel in Italy
Doha News – Qatar took part in the launching ceremony of the ‘Al Fulk’ landing platform dock warship in Italy’s Palermo shipyard.
(Thanks to Alain)
A U.S.-China War Over Taiwan: How Bad Could It Get?
1945 – James Holmes says that if things don’t go China’s way, Beijing could try for a rematch at a more auspicious time, and it lays colossal weight on the island.
Women in Greek Navy submarines
El Snorkel – An immersion into the depths of submarines and talks with Greek officers and non-commissioned officers. (In Spanish)
(Thanks to Alain)
The Maritime Fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific: Indonesia and Malaysia Respond to China’s Creeping Expansion in the South China Sea
Chinese Maritime Studies Institute – China now is attempting to expand its control to the southernmost extent of its nine-dash-line claim in the South China Sea, in waters ever closer to Indonesian and Malaysian shores. This area of the South China Sea, spanning from Indonesia’s Natuna Islands to the South Luconia Shoals, has greater strategic importance than the Spratly or Paracel Island chains farther to the north. Whereas the Spratlys have for centuries been regarded as “dangerous ground” and commercial mariners have avoided them, the vital sea lines of communication (SLOCs) connecting the Pacific and Indian Oceans flow through this part of the southern South China Sea. Therefore, these areas are far more vital to international commerce and navigation than the dangerous grounds closer to China’s Spratly Islands outposts.
The Imperative of Political Navigation—India’s Strategy in the Indian Ocean and the Logic of Indo-U.S. Strategic Partnership
US Naval War College Review – The dissonance between the positions of India’s Nehruvian strategic community and of the Indian strategic establishment, especially regarding the freedom-of-navigation operations the U.S. Navy long has conducted in India’s exclusive economic zone, is rooted in realpolitik considerations, especially China’s rise as a great power, and the difference between international law and politics.
Japan Matters If China Invades Taiwan
1945 – James Holmes writes that more musclebound Japan Self-Defense Forces capable of defending the homeland on their own can restore some semblance of sanctuary in the Western Pacific, bolstering the alliance’s ability to vanquish cross-strait aggression. Japan guards the base while U.S. forces go abroad—sounds like an excellent division of labor.
Is China A Mahanian Sea Power?
1945 – James Holmes writes that it wasn’t that long ago that suggesting that China is enamored of Alfred Thayer Mahan’s ideas about sea power was a laugh line. Nowadays it’s common sense.
The U.S. Marine Corps: Now An Access-Denial Force To Fight China?
1945 – James Holmes writes that straits are narrow seas by definition. So think about the Ryukyu defensive line as a series of short interlocking cordons overshadowed by missiles fired from shore, sea, or aloft. That’s a workable operational design.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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