BBC – Iran has seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman.
What do Red Sea assaults mean for global trade?
BBC – Global supply chains could face severe disruption as a result of the world’s biggest shipping companies diverting journeys away from the Red Sea.
U.S. Hits Houthi Targets in Yemen with Strike Fighters, Warships and Submarines
USNI News – The U.S. and the United Kingdom conducted a series of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen Thursday in retaliation for nearly three months of attacks on commercial shipping in the Middle East.
Chinese PLA-linked vessels map the Indian Ocean for submarine warfare
Washington Post – Chinese research vessels with ties to the People’s Liberation Army are conducting sweeping surveys of the undersea floor in the Indian Ocean, collecting data that could be crucial in deploying submarines in a region that is a critical energy supply line for Beijing in the event of a war with Taiwan.
(Thanks to Alain)
At-Sea Billet Gaps Rise to 22,000 for E1-E4 Sailors, CNP Says
USNI News – The Navy currently has 22,000 gaps in at-sea billets for ranks E1-E4, an issue compounded by the Navy’s failure to meet its 2023 recruiting goals, the sea service’s chief personnel officer said Wednesday.
Iran’s IRGC Shows Off New Warship
Covert Shores – Iran showcased another batch of new boats for the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp). The exact number of new vessels in these parades needs to be taken with a pinch of salt. But there is no doubt that the IRGC’s naval branch is growing in size and capability. It is gaining some increasingly potent equipment and some modern vessels. This time a new missile boat stole the show. The Abu Mahdi class is the latestmissile corvette for the IRGC. It is a catamaran with low-observable shaping and a generally futuristic appearance.
(Thanks to Alain)
The Anti-Ship Missile Arsenal Houthis Are Firing Into The Red Sea
War Zone – Yemen’s Houthis are the first to use anti-ship ballistic missiles in anger and have a diverse array of anti-ship cruise missiles, too.
TKMS hands over third Meko frigate to Egyptian Navy
DefenceWeb – ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) has handed over the frigate Al-Qadeer to the Egyptian Navy during a ceremony in Germany, marking the third of four German-built frigates to be transferred to the North African nation.
(Thanks to Alain)
Securing the Red Sea: How Can Houthi Maritime Strikes be Countered?
RUSI – Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Middle East have been rudimentary, despite using theoretically advanced weaponry. However, it may prove difficult for the West to effectively degrade Houthi capabilities.
Deployment of the first women to serve in South Korean submarines
Yonhap – South Korea deployed its first group of women members of submarine crews as part of efforts to increase the role of women in the military.
(In French)
(Thanks to Alain)
Hard choices for the West in Red Sea stand-off
BBC – The mass attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels against vessels in the Red Sea on 9 January was their biggest yet and it signals two things. Firstly, the Iranian-backed Houthis, who control their country’s Red Sea coastline, are not backing down in the face of international pressure. Secondly, they clearly have a powerful arsenal of missiles and drones and they are not afraid to launch them at Western warships.
Russian War against Ukraine Lessons Learned Curriculum Guide
NATO – NATO’s lessons learned to date from the War in the Ukraine.
Wargaming the Future: Educating the Fleet in Multi Dimensional Warfare
CIMSEC – Educational wargaming is underutilized and possesses the potential to teach warfighters intricate modern doctrine and force capabilities. Historically, analytical wargaming has functioned as a critical tool for military leadership, offering insights into force capabilities and aiding decision-making through experiential learning. Yet, within the US Navy and Marine Corps, the potential of digital or electronic wargaming as an educational platform for junior officers and Midshipmen remains largely untapped.
Fleet Forces Working on New Navy War Plan, Learning Lessons from Red Sea Deployments
USNI News – Fleet Forces Command is working on a new plan to take a peacetime naval force and develop a construct for a U.S. Navy at war.
Seeking 75 ships ready for combat, Navy turns to new readiness orgs
Defense News – The U.S. Navy’s surface fleet, still short of its readiness goal of 75 combat-credible surface ships at any given time, is pursuing new ways to boost its readiness.
Navy chief to prioritize getting more ships ready for action
Defense News – The chief of naval operations said Tuesday the service must “get more players on the field” as international crises demand more of the naval force, in her first major address since taking the helm of the Navy two months ago.
Russian subs to sail more under Arctic sea-ice
Barents Observer – Operations under the sea-ice will be one of the top priorities for our submariners in 2024, Russia’s Northern Fleet underlines.
US and UK navies repel largest Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping
BBC – UK and US naval forces have repelled the largest attack yet by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on shipping in the Red Sea.
Retired Saudi Admiral On Why Arabs Won’t Join Red Sea Task Force
War Zone – Only one Arab country has joined Operation Prosperity Guardian even though Iranian-backed Houthis threaten shipping in their region.
Mark Twain Would Understand the Venezuela vs. Guyana Crisis
National Interest – Despite a ruling from the International Court of Justice instructing Venezuela to stay its hand while the court adjudicates the territorial dispute, President Nicolás Maduro announced that he would “immediately” grant licenses permitting exploration and extraction to go forward. Maduro also announced that the Venezuelan armed forces would institute a military command to operate in Essequibo. What happens next? Mark Twain would have some interesting thoughts.
Royal Navy deploys HMS Richmond to bolster UK naval presence in the Gulf region
Navy Lookout – HMS Richmond is heading to the Gulf region in response to the serious maritime security situation in the Red Sea.
Is the Royal Navy in crisis?
Navy Lookout – A series of reports in the media in the first week if this year have brought the Navy’s personnel, funding and support problems into sharp focus. Here we provide some more context to the reports and the potential implications.
Indian Navy Retakes Merchant Ship From Armed Hijackers in the Arabian Sea
USNI News – Indian Navy commandos secured the hijacked Liberian-flagged MV Lila Norfolk last week after a 24-hour confrontation off the Somali Coast in the Arabian Sea. This swift response comes as New Delhi reinforces its presence in the area, surging ships and aircraft to deter attacks on international shipping in the Western Indian Ocean Region.
Japan sends Naval Deployment to the Indian Ocean
Wavell Room – Japan has a naval deployment in the Indian Ocean. This is a milestone for deeper Naval cooperation.
Mothballing two assault ships could spell ‘the beginning of the end’ for the Royal Marines, critics say amid sailor shortage crisis
Daily Mail – Two amphibious warships are set to be ‘mothballed’ in a move critics have said could spell ‘the beginning of the end’ for the Royal Marines, as the Navy tries to tackle a sailor shortage crisis.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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