BBC – South Korean warship sunk by ‘close-range explosion’
Last month’s mysterious sinking of a South Korean warship was due to a “close-range” explosion under the ship, a preliminary inquiry has found.
South Korean Navy – Playing for time
Economist – Playing for time
If North Korea did deliberately destroy a South Korean warship, what next?
Chinese Navy – Chinese Military Seeks to Extend Its Naval Power
New York Times – Chinese Military Seeks to Extend Its Naval Power
The Chinese military is seeking to project naval power well beyond the Chinese coast, from the oil ports of the Middle East to the shipping lanes of the Pacific, where the United States Navy has long reigned as the dominant force, military officials and analysts say.
Chinese Navy – Chinese navy movements south of Okinawa leave Japan on edge
Mainichi Daily News – Chinese navy movements south of Okinawa leave Japan on edge
A fleet of 10 Chinese navy vessels, including two submarines, were spotted passing through the high seas between Okinawa’s main island and Miyako Island on Thursday, the Japanese Defense Ministry has announced.
South Korean Navy – South Korea raises bow of sunken warship
BBC – South Korea raises bow of sunken warship
South Korea has raised the front half of a warship which sank last month near the disputed sea border with the North.
Military Space – X-37B military spaceplane launches from Cape Canaveral
BBC – X-37B military spaceplane launches from Cape Canaveral
A prototype spaceplane developed for the US military has been launched into orbit from Florida.
South Korean Navy – North Korean torpedo 'sank South Korean warship'
Daily Telegraph – North Korean torpedo ‘sank South Korean warship’
South Korea’s military believes a torpedo fired from a North Korean submarine sank its navy ship last month, based on intelligence gathered jointly with the United States.
US Navy – Plans to allow women and gays, ban smoking shake world of Navy submarines
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.
Geopolitics / China – The Geography of Chinese Power
New York Times – The Geography of Chinese Power
Robert D. Kaplan writes that China’s blessed geography is so obvious a point that it tends to get overlooked in discussions of the country’s economic dynamism and national assertiveness. Yet it is essential: It means that China will stand at the hub of geopolitics even if the country’s path toward global power is not necessarily linear.
Royal Navy – Warship rescues Britons stranded in Santander
The Times – Warship rescues Britons stranded in Santander
More than 300 Britons who travelled across Europe or arrived from South America and the United States in the hope of being evacuated by the “British armada” were rewarded yesterday with a place on HMS Albion.
US Navy – Revolutionary combat ship could change face of Navy
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.
Royal Navy – (Ashkirk?) – Royal Navy called in to repatriate Britons stranded by volcanic ash
The Times – Royal Navy called in to repatriate Britons stranded by volcanic ash
Two Royal Navy warships have been deployed to the English Channel to rescue stranded Britons. HMS Ark Royal and HMS Ocean are ready to start a Dunkirk-style relief mission. A third Royal Navy vessel, HMS Albion, is already on its way to Santander in Spain to pick up troops and “may be able to be of help.”
New York Times – ‘Little Ships’ Rerun Finds Its Own Dunkirk
South Korean Navy – South Korean president in vow over sunken warship
BBC – South Korean president in vow over sunken warship
South Korean President Lee Myung-bak has vowed to respond “resolutely” to the sinking of a warship last month near the sea border with the North.
South Korean Navy – North Korea denies sinking South's warship
BBC – North Korea denies sinking South’s warship
North Korea has denied sinking a South Korean warship near their disputed maritime border last month.
US Marines – Afghan Marksmen – Forget the Fables
New York Times – Afghan Marksmen – Forget the Fables and The Weakness of Taliban Marksmanship and Afghan Marksmanship: Pointing, Not Aiming
CJ Chivers describes in great detail why Afghanis on both sides are such bad shots.
US Navy – More From the Littoral Combat Ship
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.
South Korean Navy – 'External blast' probably sank S Korean naval ship
BBC – ‘External blast’ probably sank S Korean naval ship
An “external explosion” probably sank the South Korean naval vessel which went down near North Korean waters last month, an investigator says.
Royal Navy – UK sets up Chagos Islands marine reserve
BBC – UK sets up Chagos Islands marine reserve
The UK government has created the world’s largest marine reserve around the Chagos Islands. Islanders, who were evicted to make way for the US air base on the island of Diego Garcia, say a reserve would effectively bar them from returning.
US Navy – Navy T-39N jet crash: Why train with low-level flights?
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!
US Navy – Aboard the USS Independence
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.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan wary of Chinese military vessels
Associated Press – Japan wary of Chinese military vessels
Two Chinese submarines and several warships were spotted in international waters off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa at the weekend, and Tokyo is investigating what the military vessels were doing there, the defense minister said Tuesday.
Russian Navy – Addicted to Bulava
Defense Technology International – Addicted to Bulava
The Russian Navy is keen to have the new submarine-launched Bulava ICBM (SS-NX-30) in service despite moderate trial success demonstrated so far. On March 19 the top official from Navy headquarters was cited by RIA Novosti saying that another stage of trials is planned for the end of June.
Geopolitics / Asia – New Silk Roads
Economist – New Silk Roads
Since the Silk Road fell into disuse six centuries ago, Asian commerce has been carried not by land but by sea along coasts and island chains, first on monsoon winds and now in the holds of diesel ships. The story of Asia’s post-war miracle is above all a maritime one…The miracle is inconceivable without the ship-borne container…The broad lines of Asian security mirror this watery theme. Since the Pacific War of 1941-45, the United States has enforced a Pax Americana through naval strength and a perimeter of island allies, from Australia to Japan. If American dominance is challenged, it will be at sea. The rise of China and India as military powers has been marked by a large increase in their navies…But Anthony Bubalo and Malcolm Cook of the Lowy Institute in Sydney argue in The American Interest that such a perspective is bumping up against the limits of usefulness.
US Navy – Va. Beach-based Navy ship captures six pirates
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.
US Navy – Fire Scout's First Drug Bust
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.
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