Nigerian Navy – The Nigerian Navy will recommission some laid up vessels to help it more aggressively patrol the Niger delta region, to prevent piracy against oil producing installations. Africa News Online: Grounded combat vessels for reactivation Royal Marines – 42 Commando Royal Marines are agressively patrolling the area around Freetown, having completely replaced 1 [...]

Sri Lankan Navy – The Sri Lankan Navy sank several supply ships of the Tamil Tigers in a gun battle. Associated Press: Sri Lanka’s Tamil war spills to sea Chinese Navy – The Chinese Navy will soon test fire indigeneously produced cruise missiles just north of Taiwan. Japanese and American surveillance ships are reported in [...]

U.S. Navy – Although the U.S. denies it will get directly involved in the conflict in Sri Lanka, it continues to keep a close eye on the conflict, with a task force steaming near Sri Lanka and P-3C Orions keeping watch on the area from their base on Diego Garcia. The Indian Navy remains prepared [...]

U.S. Navy – Elements of a U.S. Navy battlegroup have moved south from the Gulf to the southen Arabian Sea, as a show of solidarity with government forces in Sri Lanka. The Hindu: U.S. moving warships towards Sri Lanka Asian Background – In a definite break from the past, the Pentagon is refocusing its war [...]

U.S. Navy – U.S. Navy, Marine, Air Force and Army forces are participating in Exercise Natural Fire 2000 in Keyna, along with forces from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The exercise is described as a peace operation that stresses how to cope with natural disasters and humanitarian crises. Associated Press: Exercises train African, U.S. forces Indian [...]

Indonesian Navy – The U.S. has quietly resumed military cooperation with Indonesia, particularly the Indonesian Navy and Air Force. New York Times: U.S. quietly resumes military ties with Indonesia Royal Australian Navy – The Australian Navy will not purchase Kidd-class destroyers from the U.S. Navy, feeling they are not good value for the dollar. Australian [...]

Royal Marines – Effective immediately, 42 Commando Royal Marines will begin replacing 1 Bn The Parachute Regiment on the ground in Sierra Leone. The paras will be withdrawn to the UK. A UK Military Assistance Training Team will arrive imminently in Sierra Leone to train and equip the army of Sierra Leone. The plan is [...]

U.S. Navy – The Cyclone-class patrol craft Firebolt along with its sister ship Chinook, is off on a six month cruise to South America. The purpose of the cruise is primarily anti-narcotics, with a secondary diplomatic role. Virginian Pilot: Small Navy ship, the coastal patrol craft Firebolt, plays a big role

U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy has retired its tugboat fleet, and contracted the work out to civilian tugs. Virginian Pilot: Navy retires tugboat fleet, private boats to take over Royal Navy – The Royal Navy is also strapped for funds for training, with Sailors “pretending” to fire during live-fire exercises. BBC News: Shell ban [...]

U.S. Navy – A day in the life of the U.S.S. Houston, a Los Angeles class attack submarine, and the interesting insights her crew have into their lives. San Antonio Express-News: Sub Culture

Royal Marines – Royal Marines from 42 Commando aboard HMS Ocean have carried out exercises to demonstrate they can rapidly reinforce 1 Bn Parachute Regiment ashore in Freetown, if needed. BBC News: Marines stage beach landings This is London: Marines fly into Sierra Leone Chinese Navy – Russia has supplied China with new SSN-22 Sunburn [...]

U.S. Navy – A day in the life of the U.S.S. Kentucky, a Trident class ballistic missile submarine. The submarine service, particularly the ballistic missile submarine force, have the highest re-enlistment rates in the Navy. This article points out some of the reasons, including pay and benefits, but even more importantly sense of purpose and [...]

East Asian Naval Background – In a forward to it’s 2000-2001 edition, Jane’s Fighting Ships stated that the potential exists in East Asia for sudden and violent military activity due to the multiple tensions that exist between countries in the region and the fact that most have rising naval budgets. Jane’s Fighting Ships: Potential for [...]

U.S. Coast Guard – The U.S.C.G. has its resources stretched to the breaking point, and is facing severe readiness problems. Given too many tasks from too many masters, and being severely underfunded, the U.S.C.G. faces tough choices in the near future. U.S.A. Today: Readiness problems plague Coast Guard too U.S. Navy – the U.S. Navy [...]

Royal Navy – A complete list of Royal Navy ships operating off Sierra Leone. This is London: The British task force Nigerian Navy – The German Navy, Royal Navy, and U.S. Navy are all interested in helping Nigeria to revive its Navy. The German Navy ships Brandenburg and Emden, which previously were exercising with the [...]

Royal Navy – HMS Ocean and HMS Illustrious have arrived off Sierra Leone. 42 Commando is remaining embarked, for the time being. Her Majesty’s Government states that mission creep will not set in??? BBC News: UK ships near Sierra Leone BBC News: UK troops’ role to be clarified BBC News: UK forces out by mid-June [...]

Taiwan Background – An analysis of open source satellite imagery by the Federation of American Scientists concludes that the Chinese Air Force is less of a threat to Taiwan than the U.S. states. ABC News: Group: China less of a threat to Taiwan U.S. Navy – Coming to the defense of Taiwan, if attacked by [...]

Royal Navy – Mission creep sets in for the British forces in Sierra Leone – they will apparently be used to “stabilize” the situation until more UN peacekeepers arrive. 1 Bn The Parachute Regiment is now dug in around the Freetown airport. SAS units and the Paras’ Pathfinder reccee unit are agressively patroling the area [...]

Royal Navy – A summary of UK forces off Sierra Leone. HMS Illustrious will arrive within 24 hours, HMS Ocean by the weekend. MOD: Sierra Leone – UK Forces Summary Indian Navy – The upcoming joint naval exercises between India, Vietnam, and Japan which are designed to coordinate anti-pirate efforts in the South China Sea [...]

U.S. Navy – U.S. Navy SEALs are said to be operating off Sierra Leone, observing the events in that country as they unfold. Associated Press: U.S. Navy Commandos Off West Africa Royal Navy – The evacuation of British and European nationals has been completed successfully. HMS Illustrious has also been dispatched to the theater of [...]