U.S. Navy – Tests have shown that the Russian tanker seized by U.S. Navy forces earlier this week on suspician of illegally smuggling Iraqi oil was filled mainly with Iranian oil, with some Iraqi oil also present. The disposition of the tanker has yet to be decided.

• Associated Press: US: Russian Tanker Had Iraqi Oil

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy’s aging fleet of Sea King helicopters is becoming increasingly unreliable and unable to accomplish the missions they are assigned.

• Canadian Press: Sea King Humiliates Canadian Troops

Sri Lankan Navy – A Sri Lankan naval vessel was sunk after being rammed by a rebel suicide craft filled with explosives, during fighting on land and at sea in northern Sri Lanka.

• Associated Press: Sea Battles Rage Near Sri Lanka

Iranian Navy – Iranian Navy patrol boats have seized 10 tankers suspected of smuggling Iraqi oil, in violation of UN sanctions. The seizure is seen as a way for Iran to start to develop a closer relationship with the United States.

• BBC News: Iran Seizes Iraqi Oil Shipments

U.S. Navy – The USS Russell has seized another Russian tanker suspected of smuggling oil out of Iraq. Tests are being performed to determine the origin of the oil. The Royal Dutch Shell Group claims the oil comes from Iran.

• BBC News: U.S. Seizes Tanker in Gulf
• Agence France Presse: Shell Claims Oil on U.S.-Intercepted Russian Tanker in Gulf

Iranian Navy – The Iranian Navy seized an Iraqi tanker that was suspected of smuggling oil out of Iraq. This is the first time that Iran has made such a seizure.

• BBC News: Iran Seizes Iraqi Tanker

Sri Lankan Navy – 2 Sri Lankan Navy Dvora-class gunboats were sunk by artillery fire from Tamil Tiger rebels near the northernmost part of Sri Lanka in a fierce gun battle.

• BBC News: Rebels Sink Sri Lankan Gunboats

U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy has denied allegations by environmentalists that anti-submarine exercises off the Bahamas in March caused 11 whales to beach themselves. During the exercises, revised sonobuoys were tested.

• Associated Press: Navy Defends Anti-Sub Exercise

Russian Navy – Russian President Alexander Putin observed Northern Fleet naval exercises, as a show of support for the Russian Navy.

• Associated Press: Putin Observes Missile Test Launch

U.S. Coast Guard – Vice Adm. John E. Shkor, Commander of the Coast Guard in the Atlantic, states that his forces are working at an unmaintainable operations tempo, and has therefore ordered his forces to reduce operations by 10%, across the board.

• Associated Press: Coast Guard will cut Atlantic operations by 10 percent

Royal Navy – RFA Fort George remains off Mozambique, its 5 Sea King helicopters continuing to assist in humanitarian relief efforts.

• BBC News: RAF Mozambique crews to return

U.S. Navy – Vice-Adm. Charles Moore, commander of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet has stated Iraq continues to smuggle large amounts of oil by bribing Iran to use its coastal waters to avoid detection.

• Associated Press: U.S. Navy commander says Iraq smuggling record amounts of oil

Taiwan Background – A new, classified Pentagon report states that Taiwan is more vulnerable to attack than had been generally thought. The main reason is the Taiwanese military’s isolation from the international community, which has led to them falling behind in the information-based revolution in military affairs.

• Washington Post: Pentagon Fault’s Taiwan’s Defense Capabilities

NOSI resumes publication, with an updated style.

U.S. Marines – The 1,100 Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit are participating in Operation Dynamic Response 2000 within Kosovo until mid-April. Also participating are 900 other troops from the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Argentina. The exercise falls on the 1 year anniversary of the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia.

• ABC News: U.S. Sending Reinforcements to Bolster Kosovo Presence
• Associated Press: U.S. troops in Kosovo for war games

U.S. Marines – Meanwhile, 1,400 Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit landed in Kuwait to participate in joint exercise Eager Mace 2000, which will last for 3 weeks.

• L.A. Times: U.S. Marines Storm Kuwait for Joint Drill

NOSI is on vacation until March 29th – see you then!

Phillipine Navy – Inside China Today: Nine Chinese Boats Allowed To Shelter In Philippine-Claimed Shoal – The Phillipine Navy allows nine Chinese fishing vessels to weather out a storm in a shoal off Luzon.

Polish Navy – Boston Globe: U.S. frigate getting new life in Polish Navy – The U.S.S. Clark (FFG-11) is in the process of being transferred to our new NATO ally.

U.S. Navy – Nando: New Navy sub well-equipped for tradition of secret missions – A description of some of the capabilities the U.S.S. Jimmy Carter may have when it finally sets sail.

Royal Navy – Daily Telegraph (Registration Required): Marines sent to Mediterranean as fears grow of Balkan flare-up – Royal Marines from 42 Commando will be embarked onboard HMS Ocean, which will depart for a Mediterranean cruise on March 27th. The Royal Marines will carry out routine exercises during the cruise, but will be available if there is trouble during elections in Montenegro this summer.

Royal Navy – BBC News: UK Increases Mozambique Aid – Sea Kings from 820 Squadron embarked aboard RFA Fort Georege are in operation carrying supplies to stranded communities inland.

Russian Navy – Sydney Morning Herald: Townsfolk Take on the Navy – Citizens of Gadzhiyevo, Russia are actively campaigning against the placement of a nuclear waste dump consisting of decommissioned nuclear submarines outside their city.

Royal Navy – BBC News: Aid Race For Mozambique – RFA Fort George arrives off Mozambique, and its 5 Sea Kings go into action.

French Navy – Sydney Morning Herald: Now Race is on to Help Madagascar – The Helicopter Carrier Jeanne D’Arc is being diverted from Mozambique to Madagascar.

Background – BBC News: Madagascar Left Reeling – Overlooked in the news about Mozambique is that Madagascar was severely hit by the same storm.

Indian Navy – Rediff.com: Er, is it Dishqooo or Dakkan? – life at sea aboard an Indian Navy frigate.

Russian Navy – BBC News: Iran Buys Kamikaze Dolphins – Russian Navy dolphins, trained for special operations, are being auctioned to the highest bidder.

French Navy – Rediff.com: C’est la vie! – interview with a Super Etendard pilot who flew combat missions over Kosovo from the Foch.

French Navy – Rediff.com:Life Onboard Foch – paints a somewhat bleak picture of life in the French Navy.

French Navy – Rediff.com: C’est la guerre! – a descriptiong of life on the aircraft carrier Foch, during the recent Indian – French exercises.

Chinese Navy – BBC News: China’s Military Might – an overview from last summer.

Russian Navy, South Korean Navy – Russia Today: Russia and South Korea to Hold First Ever Joint Military Exercises – Two Russian ships will exercise with the South Korean Navy.

Royal Navy – Reuters: UK Sends Aid Ship to Mozambique – more about the RFA Fort George, which will be provisioned with 5 Sea King helicopters, food, water, medicine and a sickbay. Prime Minister Blair is keen that the UK is seen to be doing its best for a fellow member of the Commonwealth.

U.S. Navy – Washington Post: U.S. Scales Back Mozambique Troops – the deployment of the Navy SEALs has been canceled.

Portugese Navy – Washington Post: More Rain Looms in Mozambique – 45 Portugese Marines have been sent to aid in the relief effort.

French Navy – Times of India: French Navy Invited for Joint Exercise – A French Navy task force exercised last week with the Indian Western Naval Command; this week it will exercise with the Indian Eastern Naval Command. The task force consists of the anti-submarine frigate, Tourville, a light frigate ship Commandant Blaison, and a supply and command ship, Var.

Royal Navy – BBC News: Supply Ship Boosts UK Mozambique Aid – RFA Fort George is being diverted from the Persian Gulf to Mozambique. It should arrive in a week.

U.S. Navy – Washington Post: U.S. Troops Headed to Mozambique – U.S. Navy SEALs will be among the troops???

Taiwanese Navy – Fox News: Threats Abound as China, Taiwan, US Confront Dangerous Period – the Chinese make new threats, and the USS Kitty Hawk has apparently put to sea???

Urkanian Navy – Ukranian Navy: Ukraine Navy to Hold Exercises with Russia, NATO – to foster better relations with both navies???

French Navy – The Hindu: Nuclear Power is a Deterrent, Says French Admiral – who is commanding the task force currently exercising with the Indian Navy???

Indian Navy – Rediff.com: India Takes ‘A Great Step Ahead’ With The French Navy – as the two exercise together in the Indian Ocean.

North Korean Navy – Times of India: North Korea Says Tension Rising in Yellow Sea

U.S. Navy – U.S. Navy: Status of the U.S. Navy As Of February 28, 2000

Russian Navy – Russia Today: Cash-Strapped Russian Soldiers Pillage Submarines

U.S. Navy – Russia Today: U.S. Navy Inspects, Releases Russian Ship In Gulf

New Zealand Navy – Australian Financial Review: New Zealand Has Its Own Defence Interests

Taiwanese Navy – Inside China Today: <a href="U.S. Admiral Expresses Great Concern at China's Threats to Taiwan

U.S. Navy – Russia Today: U.S. And Russia To Hold Talks on Intercepted Tanker

Russian Navy – Russia Today: Russian Navy to Resume Exercises in Mediterranean

Taiwanese Navy – Inside China Today: Taiwan Vessel With 21 Crew Missing

Taiwanese Navy – FOXNews: China Warns US Navy Commander Over Taiwan

Taiwanese Navy – Paper War Games

Taiwanese Navy – U.S. Pacific Commander Expresses Concern Over Threats to Taiwan

U.S. Navy – LA Times: ‘Old Economy’ Newport News is Seen Anew

Indian Navy – Times of India: French Task Force Comes to Mumbai – The French task force includes the aircraft carrier Foch.

Taiwanese Navy – International Herald Tribune: On Taiwan, the Drumbeat of Military Alarm

U.S. Marines – Washington Post: US Kosovo Reinforcements Considered – The 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, embarked onboard the USS Bataan (LHD5) Amphibious Ready Group, may get the call to go ashore.

Piracy – Sunday Telegraph: Retired Gurkhas enlist to fight pirate attacks

U.S. Navy – U.S. Navy: Status of the U.S. Navy as of February 22, 2000

U.S. Navy – Inside China Today: No Plans for Naval Deployment Near Taiwan

Royal Navy – MSNBC: Is Britain’s Royal Navy Out of Fuel?

U.S. Navy – BBCNews: Russian Tanker Leaves Oman

Royal Navy – BBCNews: French Debut for Trident Submarine