US Marines – The role played by US Marine aviators in Operation Anaconda. San Diego Union Tribune: Confidence replaced Marines’ anxiety US Navy – The USS Harry Truman is overhauled in near-record time. Virginian Pilot: Truman repairs done early, under budget Background – Iraq – An excellent essay that details how US foreign policy thinking [...]

Chinese Navy – China continues to move into strategic choke points around the world through its acquisition of port facilities, using its pseudo-commercial entities as cover. Washington Times: Inside the Ring US Navy – What life was like for the Theodore Roosevelt’s crew who had to keep its air group functioning for the last 6 [...]

US Navy – Why the Navy Area Wide missile defense program was canceled. Washington Post: Rise and Fall of a Navy Missile US Coast Guard – The Coast Guard begins to realize the immense resources needed to inspect all ships coming into the US. New York Times: Coast Guard Encounters Big Hurdles in New Effort [...]

Romanian Navy – The Romanian Navy is attempting to buy Type 22-class frigates from the Royal Navy. Jane’s: Romania seeks to buy ex-RN Type 22s US Navy – Aboard the USS Vella Gulf, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser. Virginian Pilot: Vella Gulf rushes toward home US Navy – How the reserves are helping in the war on [...]

Royal Navy – HMS Illustrious has returned home from the Arabian Sea. She has been replaced on station by HMS Ocean BBC: HMS Illustrious returns from Afghanistan US Navy – USS Theodore Roosevelt has returned home, members of her air wing comment on their missions. Virginian Pilot: Triumphant air wing flies home Virginian Pilot: Hearts [...]

Royal Marines – How the lessons learned by 45 Commando in the Falklands may serve them well in Afghanistan. Daily Telegraph: ‘We don’t need food, just ammunition – and tons of it’ Russian Navy – Plans are underway to raise the Kursk’s bow section. BBC: Russian navy to raise Kursk bow US Navy – A [...]

Royal Marines – More on the Royal Marines of 45 Commando as they prepare for battle. Their deployment is called Operation Jacana, their mission is to hunt for Mullah Omar. Daily Telegraph: The men who will take the mountains Sunday Times: Britainís elite commandos lack the right altitude to take on Al-Qaeda Sunday Times: Action [...]

Chinese Navy – Chinese Navy ships will not be visiting the US this year, as a protest over the visit of the Taiwanese defense minister to the US. CNN: China’s navy rules out U.S. visit Canadian Navy – Canada is considering the purchase of a reconnaisance satellite to track ship and aircraft movement in the [...]

US Navy – More on the upcoming SEAL organizational and training changes. Virginian Pilot: Navy alters SEAL structure and training Jane’s: New US SPECWAR structure revealed US Navy – A study suggests that forward basing of more ships would give the US Navy much more bang for its bucks. Virginian Pilot: More ships overseas are [...]

US Navy – The US Navy is reconsidering using Yemen as a refueling port. Reuters: US team in Yemen to mull reviving fleet refuel deal Russian Navy – There may have been survivors on the Kursk for days. Associated Press: 23 May Have Been Alive in Sub for Days Royal Australian Navy – The readiness [...]

Iranian Navy – North Korea is supply gunboats to Iran. Washington Times: N. Korea gunboat shipment helps Iran expand military Royal Marines – 45 Commando is ready to go. Daily Telegraph: ‘Everyone is very excited and feels quite privileged’ Merchant Marine – Lloyds of London declares it will no longer refer to ships as “she.” [...]

Royal Marines – Sir John Keegan on how the British military is being stretched too thinly around the world. Daily Telegraph: Afghanistan stretches the red and green lines too thin Royal Navy – More on the retirement of the dock landing ship HMS Fearless. BBC: HMS Fearless arrives home Royal Australian Navy – Australia is [...]

Royal Marines – 45 Commando, who have mountain warfare expertise, will deploy to Afghanistan to join in the ground battle against the Taliban. BBC: Commandos head to Afghanistan Daily Telegraph: Britain sends 1,700 troops to war in Afghanistan The Times: Marines to hunt Mullah Omar US Navy – The SEALs are streamlining their organization, and [...]

French Navy – The French Navy has seized a ship carrying illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean. BBC: French navy ‘halts immigrants’ Germany Navy – The Germany Navy is being criticized for not having adequate equipment to perform its missions. Reuters: German Armed Forces Under Fire for Shortcomings US Navy – The pilot of the EP-3 [...]

US Marines – With the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit inside Afghanistan. Los Angeles Times: Marines Close to the Front, Far From the Action Portugese Navy – The Portugese Navy is bankrupt and has been ordered back to port. Daily Telegraph: Portuguese navy runs out of money US Navy – How the US Navy is using [...]

US Navy – Reflecting of the sucess of unmanned aircraft in the war in Afghanistan, the US Navy is reconsidering the role of unmanned submarines – unmanned underwater vehicles, or UUVs. Associated Press: U.S. Navy mulls robot submarines Canadian Navy – HMCS Vancouver rescued a boatload of refugees in the Arabian Sea. Canadian Press: Frigate [...]

Royal Navy – Excerpts from the memoirs of John Nott, which were published today. Nott was the UK’s Defense Secretary during the Falklands War. It is always fascinating to learn the politics behind the strategic and tactical decisions made in wartime. (There are 7 parts to the excerpts, to read them all follow the Related [...]

German Navy – Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft will be based in Kenya and will be used to help patrol the shipping lanes off the Horn of Africa. They join the German Navy task force based in Djibouti which is patroling the same area. Of interest is that maritime patrol aircraft from at least Germany, Canada, [...]

Canadian Navy – The submarine HMCS Windsor returns to sea. Daily News: Patched-up sub sails again US Navy – A US Navy pilot, listed as missing in action in Iraq since 1991, may be alive and in prison in Iraq. For full details, follow the link entitled “Scott Speicher: Dead or Alive?” Virginian Pilot: MIA [...]

US Coast Guard – On patrol with the Coast Guard’s Port Security Units. Seattle Post Intelligencer: Elite Coast Guard units are patrolling state’s waters Background – Transformation – An excellent review and update on where the US military currently is regarding transformation. The author hypothesizes that transformation is one of the casulaties of September 11. [...]