RUSI – The Indo-Pacific is vital for the UK’s prosperity, but that does not make it the military’s main effort. The military’s craving for relevance in the theatre risks a strategic blunder.
PLAN hospital ship completes first medical tour on Xisha, Nansha islands
China Military Online – Recently, the PLA Navy (PLAN) hospital ship Youhao (Hull 862) docked at Zhanjiang Port, Guangdong Province, after completing the first medical tour on the Xisha and Nansha islands and reefs in South China Sea.
China, Russia Quietly Expanding Arctic Partnership, Says Panel
USNI News – China is subtly installing a larger presence in the Arctic through an extensive partnership with Russia in areas ranging from multi-use ports and airfields to energy extraction.
Navy Wants 100 Unmanned Ships Monitoring Middle East Waters by Next Year
USNI News – The United States and its allies want a force of 100 unmanned surface vessels patrolling waters from the Red Sea into the Persian Gulf by next summer, the commander of U.S. 5th Fleet said on Tuesday.
Mind the Gap Part 2: The Cross-Strait Potential of China’s Civilian Shipping Has Grown
War on the Rocks – In August 2021, I discussed how China’s civilian roll-on/roll-off car ferries and vehicle carriers could significantly enhance its ability to launch an amphibious assault on Taiwan. Having updated the numbers and looked more closely at how they translate into military potential, I believe the capacity of China’s civilian fleet is considerably greater and more threatening than it appeared at that time.
Depth From Above: Reinventing Carrier ASW
CIMSEC – A long-term solution is needed to restore fixed-wing ASW capability, and fiscal reality demands this solution be flexible and affordable. Rather than build a new dedicated ASW aircraft, it may be better to instead develop a series of ASW pods and a more flexible aircraft suitable for both ground attack and ASW since either type of store can be carried on the pylons with equal ease.
Inside Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford’s Two-Month Operational Stress Test
USNI News – After years of delays, the Navy’s first-in-class aircraft carrier is underway on a two-month operational stress test of the carrier’s new systems and air wing as the ship and its crew prepare for an extended deployment early next year.
Turkey drops underwater “microphones” in the Aegean Sea to “listen” to Greek submarines
Greek City Times – With the use of underwater microphones, which will be dropped into the sea by UAVs, Turkey is trying to deal with the inability to locate Greek submarines in the waters of the Aegean Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean.
(Thanks to Alain)
EABO Degraded Logistics in the WEZ: Self Propelled Semi-Submersible Solutions
CIMSEC – The Marine Corps is faced with an intensified challenge of contested logistics as it employs its novel concept of Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO). EABO calls for Marines to act as Stand-in Forces using low profile, highly mobile Expeditionary Advance Bases (EAB) that will likely be within an enemy’s Weapons Engagement Zone (WEZ). Supplying these bases will be difficult since their location is expected to frequently shift, and reliance on the conventional global logistics chain may not be responsive in a contested environment. A possible solution is the use of unmanned or autonomous Self Propelled Semi-Submersibles (SPSS) to provide logistics support. It is important to consider how SPSS will be classified under domestic and international law, and what rights and obligations will be imposed on them during peacetime and armed conflict.
Suspected Ukrainian Explosive Sea Drone Made From Recreational Watercraft Parts
USNI News – A small, unmanned watercraft of unknown origin washed up from the Black Sea on the shore of Crimea, near Russia’s naval base in Sevastopol, late last month.
Israel and Lebanon reach ‘historic’ maritime border deal
The Guardian – Lebanon and Israel have reached a historic agreement demarcating a disputed maritime border between the countries.
The Power Improvement Project for the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers
Navy Lookout – HMS Dauntless has completed sea trials as the first ship to undergo a major upgrade to resolve the propulsion problems that have plagued the Type 45 destroyers. As part of our series covering these issues, here we report on progress and some of the technical aspects of the work.
The Navy Information Warfare Communities’ Road to Serfdom
CIMSEC – It is now more apparent than ever that the information warfare community has not been, on balance, a good bargain for all four restricted line communities. This outcome is not surprising for several reasons, but none more so than this: Despite what senior Navy leaders may have said about information warfare over the past decade or so, what they have done and continue to do reveals that they do not believe information warfare is a warfighting domain on par with the traditional warfighting communities.
The Navy Accused Him of Arson. Its Own Investigation Showed Widespread Safety Failures.
Pro Publica – After the USS Bonhomme Richard fire, investigators found missing fire hoses, a broken sprinkler system and other systemic failures. The Navy is still accusing a sailor of arson, against the advice of a military judge.
The Type 075 LHD: Development, Missions, and Capabilities
China Maritime Studies Institute – When the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its first Type 075 class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) in April 2021, it represented an important advance in power projection capability for China’s maritime forces. For the first time, the PLAN had an amphibious warship capable of hosting significant rotary wing forces while acting as the flagship for an amphibious task force. Now with three Type 075 class ships either in or soon to be in service, the PLAN has expanded its amphibious capability even further. The Type 075’s dedicated aviation support capability, ability to conduct wet well operations, and expanded command and control and medical facilities reflect capabilities that previously did not exist within the PLAN amphibious fleet. With the Type 075 LHD, the PLAN clearly intends to bolster its ability to project power from the sea in order to protect China’s overseas interests, but will require time for amphibious task forces to become fully proficient.
How Israel is preparing for potential hostilities with Hezbollah over a gas rig
Breaking Defense – Israeli defense forces have been ordered on alert in the country’s north following the breakdown of negotiations between Israel and Lebanon regarding a gas rig, the latest surprising twist that brought the dispute over the huge gas reservoirs in the Mediterranean to a potential boiling point.
Educating Maritime Geostrategists for the Naval Services
CIMSEC – To really serve as an effective steady-state influencer deeply involved in great power competition, the U.S. naval services need to invoke the roadmap laid out in the Triservice Maritime Strategy to create more than mission commanders. The services need to create a cohort of geostrategists.
Navy’s LCS combining gear problem didn’t interrupt ‘historic’ global deployment
Breaking Defense – The problem, which arose in late December 2020, has largely subsided for the operational fleet, according to a recently deployed commodore.
Why Erdogan Might Choose War With Greece
War on the Rocks – A myriad of issues divide Athens and Ankara, but Erdogan has now focused his rage upon Greece’s militarization of its Aegean islands. While the Greek military presence there has remained largely consistent over the last several decades, Ankara insists that it is in violation of the 1923 and 1947 treaties that established Greece’s sovereignty over the islands.
Former Bonhomme Richard Sailor Ryan Sawyer Mays Acquitted of Arson
USNI News – A military judge today acquitted a young sailor accused by the Navy of setting a 2020 fire that ultimately destroyed an amphibious warship as it neared completion of a major modernization and overhaul.
New Images Reveal Russia’s ‘Missing’ Submarine Belgorod In ArcticRussian Doomsday Sub Belgorod Spotted in the Arctic
Naval News – Media hype claims that a unique Russian submarine, the Belgorod, has ‘vanished’. This may be exaggerated. Naval News can share images of the submarine operating on the surface in the Arctic.
Israel Shipyards Launches New S-45 Offshore Patrol Vessel
Defense Post – Shipbuilder Israel Shipyards has launched its new multi-mission offshore patrol vessel (OPV) S-45 for enhanced coastal protection by the Israeli Navy.
(Thanks to Alain)
Groton as a Case Study For Building Naval Capital Towns
CIMSEC – The process to build a naval capital town is incredibly difficult and requires decades of patience. The main issue for Groton has been funding. The end of the Cold War made a downturn in defense spending inevitable, with significant impacts on the submarine shipbuilding industry and the communities that support the industry. Reversing declining trends in labor over the past three decades will be an uphill battle for naval capital towns like Groton.
US Marines warn against Navy’s FY24 decommission scheme
Defense News – Only 45% of the amphibious ship fleet is ready today, compared to the Navy’s 80% readiness goal. And that fleet could shrink dramatically if the Navy gets its way.
Swedish Submarine Rescue Ship Heads To Investigate Pipeline Sabotage
War Zone – Swedish authorities said the submarine rescue ship was heading out amid reports of a new unexplained surge in gas flowing from one pipeline.
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