RUSI – With the growing threat posed by Russia’s Northern Fleet and increased demand in the Indo-Pacific, the Royal Navy must overcome its submarine challenges to remain relevant.
Outsourcing Security at Sea—The Return of Private Maritime-Security Companies and Their Role in Twenty-First-Century Maritime Security
US Naval War College Review – Tracing the historical, political, and economic dynamics behind the medieval emergence and eventual disappearance in the nineteenth century of mercenary naval forces illuminates the modern development of private maritime-security companies to address piracy.
China Maritime Report No. 41: One Force, Two Force, Red Force, Blue Force: PLA Navy Blue Force Development for Realistic Combat Training
China Maritime Studies Institute – Since the mid-2010s, there has been a concerted effort to professionalize a PLAN “blue force” as an opposition force, or OPFOR, in maritime exercises and training. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) routinely refers to its blue forces as metaphorical “whetstones” used to sharpen the PLA for a future fight against enemies of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Efforts to develop a PLAN blue force appear to have accelerated over the past several years in response to Chairman Xi Jinping’s decade-long demand for more realistic combat training.
This report examines recent developments in the PLAN’s blue force. It comprises four sections. Part one provides background on PLAN efforts to professionalize its maritime blue force. Part two describes the PLAN’s blue force training units. Part three examines companies producing equipment and virtual environments for China’s blue force units, while part four discusses current blue force capabilities. The report concludes with a summary of findings and implications for the United States, its allies, and partners.
Marine Corps Force Design: A Smart U.S. Plan to Counter China
National Interest – General Eric Smith, the new Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, has reaffirmed his commitment to the “Force Design” initiative, originally launched by his predecessor, General David Berger. This strategy focuses on adapting the Marine Corps for island warfare in the Western Pacific, particularly in countering China’s ambitions.
Take the Conn! Steering a Course For Technical Talent in Modern Naval Warfare
CIMSEC – The naval services – the Navy and Marine Corps – lack an implementation plan for how they will cultivate STEM talent. To succeed in 21st century naval warfare, the naval services must take a holistic approach to recruiting, education, and retention if they are to effectively compete with today’s advanced threats and the multitude of adversaries. Without clear actions and the right personnel, the naval services’ efforts to improve warfare today will remain, at best, aspirational.
How a sailor shortage is crippling ship maintenance at sea
Defense News – The Navy’s manning shortages are curbing the service’s ability to repair its ships while at sea, according to a watchdog report released Monday.
HMS Cardiff joins HMS Glasgow in dry dock fitting out at Scotstoun
Navy Lookout – The Type 26 frigate programme achieved another milestone last week with two ships now in the fitting out phase. HMS Cardiff joined the first class, HMS Glasgow in dry dock at Scotstoun.
(Thanks to Alain)
F/A-18 Super Hornet Appears With Unprecedented Heavy Air-To-Air Missile Load
The War Zone – This is the first time we have seen four AIM-174B very long-range air-to-air missiles on a Super Hornet, along with pods and other missiles.
First Clear Images Of The Italian Submarines Being Built For Qatar
Naval News – A new class of submarine, under construction for the Qatari Emiri Navy, has broken the surface. The submarine is under testing in La Spezia on the Italian coast.
Should the Royal Navy consider an alternative approach to Multi-Role Support Ship design?
Navy Lookout – In this guest article, Robert Moyse argues that the RN should take inspiration from the US Marine Corps and consider cheaper, smaller and more numerous vessels to meet the MRSS requirement.
A Timeline of the 2024 Sabina Shoal Standoff
USNI News – Sabina Shoal, known to the Philippines as Escoda and by China as Xianbin Jiao, is the latest flashpoint in the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing. Located 75 nautical miles from the Philippine province of Palawan, the standoff at the maritime feature started in April following claims by the Philippines that China began an island reclamation project.
British assault ship has spent over seven years in port
UK Defence Journal – HMS Bulwark, one of the Royal Navy’s two amphibious assault ships, has spent a significant amount of time out of active service, accumulating over 2,730 days in port, according to data from Open Source Intelligence analyst @TBrit90.
Carrier Captain In Combat: What Went On During 7 Months Under Fire Around The Red Sea
The War Zone – We go in-depth with Capt. Chris “Chowdah” Hill about the Eisenhower’s grueling and dangerous deployment that faced a bevy of new tactical realities.
US sees increasing risk of Russian ‘sabotage’ of key undersea cables by secretive military unit
CNN – The US has detected increased Russian military activity around key undersea cables, and believes Russia may now be more likely to carry out potential sabotage operations aimed at disabling a critical piece of the world’s communications infrastructure, two US officials told CNN.
A progress report on hypersonics—doubtful US weapons for the Western Pacific
The Strategist – Bill Sweetman on why hypersonic weapons may alway remain the weapons of the future for the U.S.
How Navy chiefs conspired to get themselves illegal warship Wi-Fi
Navy Times – Senior enlisted leaders among the littoral combat ship Manchester’s gold crew installed and secretly used their very own Wi-Fi network during a deployment.
As the ship prepared for a West Pacific deployment in April 2023, the enlisted leader onboard conspired with the ship’s chiefs to install the secret, unauthorized network aboard the ship, for use exclusively by them.
So while rank-and-file sailors lived without the level of internet connectivity they enjoyed ashore, the chiefs installed a Starlink satellite internet dish on the top of the ship and used a Wi-Fi network they dubbed “STINKY” to check sports scores, text home and stream movies.
Marines Testing Low-Profile Vessels, Oil Industry Support Ships to Resupply Distant Outposts
USNI News – The Marines are testing vessels inspired by narco-boats and support ships used to supply oil rigs to see how they could resupply Marines fighting across the Indo-Pacific.
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Set For Major Organizational Change
Naval News – The Ministry of Defense in Tokyo has announced the largest-ever organizational restructuring in the history of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Chinese Icebreaker Mission to Arctic ‘Clear Signal’ of Beijing’s Polar Ambitions, Says Expert
USNI News – Sending three icebreakers into Arctic waters for the first time is “a clear signal” that Beijing is serious about pursuing its great power ambitions commercially, scientifically, diplomatically and militarily in the polar regions
Australia Conducts First Maintenance of US Nuclear Submarine
MarineLink – A U.S. nuclear-powered submarine will undergo maintenance in Australia for the first time on Friday, a key step by AUKUS partners to deter aggression in the Indo-Pacific, the defense ministers of Australia, Britain and the United States said.
(Thanks to Alain)
Houthis Strike Two More Crude Tankers in the Red Sea, Another Tanker Continues to Burn
USNI News – The Yemen-based Houthis attacked crude oil tankers Panama-flagged M/V Blue Lagoon I, owned by a Panamanian company and operated by a Greek one, and M/V Amjad, a Saudi-flagged, owned and operated ship, on Sept.2.
Royal Fleet Auxiliary sailors seeking fair pay hold fifth round of industrial action
Navy Lookout – Today officers and crew serving in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are holding further strikes. As previously reported,the RFA that provides the Royal Navy’s critical afloat logistic support is in steep decline as it is increasingly unable to find people to crew its ships.
What lessons did the US Army learn from the Gaza aid pier mission?
Defense News – The Army is reviewing the $230 million pier operation and what it learned from the experience. One of the takeaways, according to a senior Army official, is that the unit needs to train under more challenging conditions to be better prepared for bad weather and other security issues it faced.
Beluga whale alleged to be Russian ‘spy’ found dead in Norway
The Guardian – A beluga whale nicknamed Hvaldimir, first spotted in Norway not far from Russian waters while wearing a harness that prompted rumours he might be a spy for Moscow, has been found dead.
Russia’s Karakurt-Class Corvettes – Slow, But Forward
Naval News – On August 26, the Russian Navy commissioned another corvette (formally “small missile ship”) of the project 22800 / Karakurt-class. The Amur, is the fifth vessel of its class, armed with the Kalibr-NK missile system, to raise the Russian flag.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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