The Times – Hard fight in the desert, soft targets in the cities
The Taliban knew the marines were coming and they left a ghost town littered with bombs before leaving their stronghold.
Russian Navy – Russia to buy navy ship from France
Associated Press – Russia to buy navy ship from France
Moscow plans to buy a French amphibious assault ship, the first such purchase from a NATO country, as the Kremlin seeks to reaffirm Russia’s global reach. The Defense Ministry also plans to license the production of four more ships of the Mistral class in Russia under the guidance of French engineers.
Afghanistan – Time for Decisiveness on Afghanistan
The Atlantic – Time for Decisiveness on Afghanistan
Robert D. Kaplan writes that Obama needs to get behind his chosen general and put the spectacle of indecisiveness behind him. Otherwise, in the coming months, the Democrats may be seen as having lost a war. And if that happens, not even the Nobel Peace Prize will rescue his reputation.
Miscellaneous – NORAD goes maritime
Defense Technology International – NORAD goes maritime
NORAD has a maritime mission? It most certainly does.
Chinese Navy – Chinese new naval flotilla sets sail for Gulf of Aden while merchant vessel still held by pirates
Xinhua – Chinese new naval flotilla sets sail for Gulf of Aden while merchant vessel still held by pirates
A new Chinese naval flotilla was deployed to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia on Friday to protect merchant vessels against rampant pirates that still hold a Chinese ship for ransom. The flotilla of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has been the fourth task force of its kind that China has sent to the region since the end of last year.
Iranian Navy – Iran domestic submarines join naval fleet
PressTV – Iran domestic submarines join naval fleet
Iran’s domestically manufactured fleet of lightweight submarines makes great strides after three mid-jet Ghadir-class submarines come on stream.
(Thanks to Justin for the link!)
Royal Australian Navy – Extreme concern in Australia over subs
Defense Technology International – Extreme concern in Australia over subs
Senior members of the Australian government are “extremely” concerned about the availability of their nation’s AU$6 billion ($5.5 billion) Collins-class submarines, which face serious operational restrictions because of chronic mechanical problems, notably the state of the diesel engines, and maintenance issues. The ship’s original combat system never worked and has already been changed at a cost of nearly AU$1 billion.
French Navy – Somali pirates seized after firing on French ship
Associated Press – Somali pirates seized after firing on French ship
European Union naval forces captured seven Somali pirates after they tried to take over a French fishing vessel, which repulsed the attack with gunfire.
Royal Navy – Cost cuts blamed for Nimrod crash
BBC – Cost cuts blamed for Nimrod crash
An independent review into a fatal 2006 Nimrod crash, which killed 14 service personnel, has accused the MoD of sacrificing safety to cut costs.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japanese Destroyer Hits South Korean Ship
New York Times – Japanese Destroyer Hits South Korean Ship
A Japanese navy destroyer collided with a South Korean freighter in the waters off southern Japan on Tuesday, setting off fires on both boats and injuring three crew members.
Royal Navy – Navy surrenders one new aircraft carrier in budget battle
The Times – Navy surrenders one new aircraft carrier in budget battle
The Royal Navy has agreed to sacrifice one of its two new aircraft carriers to save about £8.2 billion from the defence budget.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan navy holds review
Straits Times – Japan navy holds review
Japan’s navy held its triennial fleet review on Sunday, its first major demonstration of power under the country’s new government, which has vowed to cut back on some of its already limited activities overseas.
Wargaming – U.S. tested 2 Afghan scenarios in war game
Washington Post – U.S. tested 2 Afghan scenarios in war game
Greg Jaffe on how the US is using wargaming to explore its options in Afghanistan
Afghanistan – Morale dips for American marines in Afghanistan
The Times – Morale dips for American marines in Afghanistan
In a remote part of Helmand troops are dismayed by the ambivalence of locals and a sense that the Taliban can outlast them.
US Navy – U.S. UAVs protecting ships from Somali pirates
Associated Press – U.S. UAVs protecting ships from Somali pirates
For the first time, sophisticated U.S. military surveillance drones capable of carrying missiles have begun patrolling waters off Somalia in hopes of stemming rising piracy.
US Navy – Naval Hawks Over Arabian Seas
StrategyPage – Naval Hawks Over Arabian Seas
One of the U.S. Navy’s two RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs recently returned from the Middle East, after a field test of its capabilities. The aircraft made over 60 flights and spent over 1,000 hours in the air. The flights were over land and sea areas, even though the UAV sensors are designed mainly to perform maritime reconnaissance. U.S. Air Force Global Hawk maintenance personnel assisted the navy in tending to the navy RQ-4 while it was on the ground, and for landings and takeoffs. The UAV was operated by navy personnel back in the United States at Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The aircraft was officially called the BAMS-D (Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstrator).
Royal Navy – UK navy forces to return to Iraq
BBC – UK navy forces to return to Iraq
British naval personnel are to return to Iraq to train local forces.
Royal Navy – Almost The Last, Defender
Defense Technology International – Almost The Last, Defender
HMS Defender – launched October 21 on the River Clyde in Scotland – would originally not even have marked the half-way point in the Type 45 destroyer program. Today the ship is the last but one of the class being bought by the Royal Navy.
US Navy – Navy's newest warships top out at more than 50 mph
Associated Press – Navy’s newest warships top out at more than 50 mph
The Navy’s need for speed is being answered by a pair of warships that have reached freeway speeds during testing at sea.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan: No base decision soon
Washington Post – Japan: No base decision soon
Washington concerned as new leaders in Tokyo look to redefine alliance.
Royal Navy – Naval Ratings
Defense Technology International – Naval Ratings
In an example of how the British military is being forced to take capability “holidays” resulting from the operational pressures of Afghanistan, the British Army has just carried out Apache Deck training with HMS Ocean for the first time since 2005.
Chinese Navy – China vows to free hijacked ship
BBC – China vows to free hijacked ship
China has pledged to make an “all out” effort to rescue a cargo ship with 25 crew on board that has been hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean.
US Navy – Underwater AIM-9X
Defense Technology International – Underwater AIM-9X
In the open ocean, a submarine can be stealthy – by using depth and maneuverability – to avoid air attack. But tactical options have become more limited in littoral operations that require operating in shallow water where evasion is difficult. The new AIM-9X is an air-to-air missile, but with a special underwater shroud (in a combination called the Littoral Warfare Weapon), it can be carried in an unmodified configuration and fired from a submarine’s vertical launch tube.
Royal Navy – Nuclear Deterrent: Subtraction
Economist – Nuclear Deterrent: Subtraction
Britain’s nuclear-submarine fleet may shrink.
Afghanistan – Stanley McChrystal’s Long War
New York Times Magazine – Stanley McChrystal’s Long War
Is it just too late — politically and militarily — for the general to win in Afghanistan?
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