Archive January 2002 – June 2002


Sunday, June 30, 2002

South Korean Navy – South Korean and North Korean gunboats fought a pitched battle, resulting in casualties on both sides.

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan would like to become more self-sufficient, in a naval sense.

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan is offering China listening posts on its territory in return for naval protection.


Saturday, June 29, 2002

US Marines – How the US Marines will continue to seabase their forces in the future.


Friday, June 28, 2002

US Navy – The Chinese are continuing their harrassment of US surveillance aircraft, including EP-3 and P-3 aircraft.

Royal Marines – 45 Commando is using roving checkpoints in their hunt for Al-Qaida members.

Indian Navy – Will India be purchasing Scorpene-class submarines from France?


Thursday, June 27, 2002

US Navy – The US Navy is being criticized for being too conservative in its design of CVN-77.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The spy ship sunk last year has been found to have been armed.

US Navy – Iraq is moving its oil smuggling operations from tankers to wooden dhows.

Royal Marines – Spanish conspiracy theories about Gibraltar.

Russian Navy – Russia has no freedom of the press, when it comes to reporting naval or environmental news.

US Merchant Marine – How to help the US Merchant Marine survive.


Wednesday, June 26, 2002

US Coast Guard – The Deepwater contract has been awarded.

US Coast Guard – Why Deepwater is important to the USCG and to the US.

Thai Navy – Thailand may buy two frigates from the UK.

Argentinean Navy – An Argentine icebreaker is heading towards Antarctica to help free a trapped German ship.


Tuesday, June 25, 2002

Chinese Navy – China would like to buy 8 more Kilo-class submarines from Russia, armed with Klub anti-ship missiles. What China needs next is an over-the-horizon targeting system.

Royal Australian Navy – HMAS Arunta and HMAS Melbourne will soon be taking up station in the Persian Gulf.

Italian Navy – Italy will purchase the Joint Strike Fighter, in its land-based and naval-based versions. The naval versions will presumeably replace its AV-8B Harriers on the Giuseppe Garibaldi.

Indonesia Navy – Indonesia’s navy wants to be less political and more professional.

Background – Flags of Convenience – One of the many reasons why flags of convenience are bad.

Background – Micro Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – Progress is being made on UAVs the size of flies.

Background – US Bases in the Persian Gulf – How the US is increasing its presence in the Persian Gulf, and in doing so making Saudi Arabia irrelevant to US defense interests.


Monday, June 24, 2002

Royal Marines – Royal Marines on patrol in Afghanistan have discovered another large arms cache.

French Navy – The French frigate L.V. Le Henaff will make a port of call in Ghana.

US Marines – More about the current CARAT exercises in Malaysia.

Russian Navy – The Russian Navy is interceding in a fishing dispute between Norway and Russia.

Background – Iraq – William Arkin on how we need to absorb the lessons of the first Gulf War, as we go about planning the second – we need to be bolder in our thinking and planning. Take the lesson of Engagement Area Thomas, for example???


Sunday, June 23, 2002

US Marines – The US and Malaysian armed forces are conducting joint exercises.

US Navy – Military exercises will continue into the forseeable future without pause in the Phillipines with US and Phillipine forces.

Background – Electronic Warfare – Options for replacement of the US Navy’s EA-6B electronic warfare aircraft.


Saturday, June 22, 2002

Phillipine Navy – Phillipine forces have killed the leader of the Abu Sayyaf terrorist organization at sea.

US Navy – The US looks again to a catamaran design to replace the USS Inchon as a mine warfare command ship.

History – Cuban Missile Crisis – Did Russian submarines almost use nuclear-tipped torpedoes against US ships in 1962?


Friday, June 21, 2002

Royal Marines – 45 Commando is being withdrawn from Afghanistan.

US Navy – The USS George Washington battlegroup deploys.

Canadian Navy – Canada’s Sea King helicopters are finally getting self-defense suites.

US Navy – The US Navy has purchased one of the fastest supercomputers in the world.

US Marines – An overview of the operational logistics associated with the Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF).


Thursday, June 20, 2002

Russian Navy – The Kursk salvage is now over.

Israeli Navy – A senior Israeli defense official states that Israel needs to develop a sea-based deterrent force.


Wednesday, June 19, 2002

US Navy – Why congressional meddling makes the military procurement system such a mess – the US Navy passes on converting a cruise ship hull to a floating barracks – the USS Pork.

Royal Navy – Her Majesty’s Government insists there is no deal to sell HMS Invincible to India.

Chinese Navy – China’s two new Sovremenny-class destroyers under construction will be much better armed than their sister ships already in the Chinese Navy.


Tuesday, June 18, 2002

Canadian Navy – The Victoria-class submarines will not receive air independent propulsion upgrades until 2012, instead of in 2007.

Russian Navy – Another piece of the Kursk’s bow has been lifted from the sea.

US Navy – The US is trying to figure out how many sailors it actually needs to operate its ships.

British Merchant Marine – Is the UK not taking prudent precautions in shipping nuclear waste around the world?

Canadian Navy – Another Victoria-class submarine begins sea trials.

US Navy – Naval aviatiors will soon receive new googles designed to protect their eyes from the effects of lasers.


Monday, June 17, 2002

Israeli Navy – Israel denies its submarines are part of its nuclear deterrent.

Argentinian Navy – A Russian research ship is trapped in an iceflow in Anarctica; a South African research ship and an Argentine icebreaker have been dispatched to rescue it.

US Navy – How modern business practices are being used to improve the US Navy.

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan’s Navy has been recalled to base.

Background – Submarines – A review of the submarine arms race in South East Asia.


Sunday, June 16, 2002

Israeli Navy – More evidence that Israel’s 3 attack submarines are armed with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles and therefore are part of its nuclear deterrent.

US Marines – Another installment in the series on how US Marines are made at Parris Island.


Saturday, June 15, 2002

US Navy – The USS George Washington battlegroup is about to deploy to relieve the USS John F Kennedy battlegroup.

US Navy – The US again tests a ship-based anti-ballistic missile system – successfully.

Background – Guerilla Warfare – James F. Dunnigan on how to defeat a guerilla insurgency.


Friday, June 14, 2002

Chinese Navy – China will buy more Kilo-class submarines from Russia, meanwhile US Navy officers are helping run Taiwanese war games.

Russian Navy – The Russian Navy is considering the use of seals as underwater rescuers.

Indian Navy – A listing of the Indian ships that were deployed off of Pakistan that have returned to port, the aircraft carrier Viraat was part of the task force.

US Navy – What the SOSUS system is being used for these days???monitoring "biologicals."

French Navy – France has seized a ship thought to be carrying tons of cocaine.

US Marines – How Pakistan has been a valuable ally to the US Marines in their war against terror.


Thursday, June 13, 2002

US Navy – Some F-14’s have been cleared to return to duty at sea.

Royal Navy – An overview of the threats to shipping in the Straits of Gibraltar.

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy launched a fast patrol vessel.


Wednesday, June 12, 2002

Indian Navy – India has pulled its ships off the west coast of Pakistan and returned them to base.

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy must be vigilant as its ships pass through the Straits of Gibraltar to prevent terrorist attacks against them.

US Navy – Aboard the USS LaSalle, flagship of the 6th Fleet, in the Mediterranean, as it hunts for criminals and terrorists.


Tuesday, June 11, 2002

Columbian Navy – Who should own the islands of Providence and San Andres in the western Carribean, which are a key base in the war on drugs – Columbia, Nicaragua, or no one?

US Navy – The US Navy decides to rehabilitate, rather than reject, problem Sailors.

Taiwanese Navy – Could a Northrup – HDW partnership bring submarines to Taiwan? Meanwhile Taiwan considers carving a new submarine base out of a mountain for its submarines.

Royal Navy – al-Queda had plans to attack ships patroling the Straits of Gibraltar.

Royal Australian Navy – Australia and Singapore are conducting exercise Singaroo 702.

US Navy – Thomas Ricks on the new US policy of advocating pre-emptive strikes

Background – Caspian Sea – More on the militarization of the Caspian Sea.


Monday, June 10, 2002

Sri Lankan Navy – Sri Lanka is looking to China to strengthen its navy.

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy is patroling the Gulf of Mannar more carefully.

US Navy – A look at the state-of-the-art in underway replenishment.

Background – Merchant Marine – A new way to secure containers against tampering from terrorists.

Background – War on Terrorism – William Arkin on why we should listen more to our Australian allies in the war on terrorism.


Sunday, June 9, 2002

US Navy – The USS Tortuga has run aground during exercises off of North Carolina but has been freed.

Royal Marines – Operation Buzzard continues in Afghanistan.

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy says it is ready to go.

Taiwanese Navy – Is Taiwan producing stealthy missile craft?

Background – East Asia – Why China is paranoid about defense.


Saturday, June 8, 2002

US Navy – The wave-piercing catamaran test platform Joint Venture (HSV-X1) is to participate in unidentified military support operations in the US Central Command area of responsibility.

Royal Navy – More reasons why the Sea Harriers are being phased out.
Canadian Navy – Why the conversion of the Upholder-class submarines is so complex and taking so long.


Friday, June 7, 2002

US Navy – An update on the condition of the USS Dolphin.

Taiwanese Navy – Will Taiwan get German 209-class submarines via the US?

Background – Kashmir – Edward Luttwak on why he thinks the Indian Navy will not blockade Karachi’s harbor.

Background – Airpower – Part 3 of a series – airpower finally lives up to its promises in Iraq, Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan.


Thursday, June 6, 2002

Canadian Navy – What life is like aboard Canada’s Upholder-class submarines – a cruise aboard HMCS Windsor told in text, audio, and video.

Canadian Navy – All 4 Upholder-class submarines have problems with faulty diesel exhaust valves.

US Navy – F-14 Tomcats are not being allowed to be launched by catapult until their nose wheel assemblies are inspected for corosion.

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines are performing humanitarian duties while patroling in Afghanistan.

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia has formally signed a deal to purchase Scorpene-class submarines from France.

US Navy – An essay by the Chief of Naval Operations on what the US Navy needs to look like in the future.


Wednesday, June 5, 2002

Russian Navy – More fragments of the Kursk’s bow were recovered today.

Thai Navy – More on the border tensions between Thailand and Myanmar.

US Navy – Why the tactical component network (TCN) outperforms the cooperative engagement capability (CEC) – and why CEC will be funded and TCN will not.

Background – Kashmir – William Arkin’s analysis of the possibility of nuclear war between India and Pakistan.


Tuesday, June 4, 2002

Indian Navy – India may acquire HMS Invincible along with her Sea Harriers.

Burmese Navy – Burmese warships are patrolling waters off Song, Lam, Khan and Khinok islands, the site of outstanding border disputes with Thailand.

Nigerian Navy – Nigeria continues its war against oil poachers.

US Marines – Thomas Ricks on how the US Marines first official report on the war in Afghanistan criticizes the US military from leading from the rear – that is, running the war from Central Command’s HQ in Tampa, Florida. The Marines argue that the HQ should be in theater.

Background – Information Warfare – James Bamford on whether the NSA is up to the tasks facing it in the war on terrorism.

US Coast Guard – A detailed review of the role the Coast Guard plays in homeland defense.


Monday, June 3, 2002

Royal Marines – A woman is allowed to join the logistic ranks of the Royal Marines, for the first time.

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan’s navy says it can defend Pakistan from India’s navy.

Russian Navy – The salvage of the Kursk’s bow is underway.

Royal Navy – HMS Portland has stopped an Iraqi ship trying to smuggle oil out of Iraq.


Thursday, May 30, 2002

Royal Marines – Royal Marines have taken up blocking positions along the Pakistan – Afghanistan border in Operation Buzzard.

US Navy – What the US Navy hopes to get out of next year’s budget.

US Marines – The new role of the Marines’ reserve division artillery regiment – to be corps-level artillery.

NOSI will take a short break and will publish next on Monday. See you then.


Wednesday, May 29, 2002

Indian Navy – The strategy behind the Indian Navy’s deployment off the port of Karachi – bottle up Pakistan from a naval and economic perspective.

US Navy – US has signed an agreement with Sri Lanka to allow the fueling and servicing of its ships and aircraft in Sri Lanka.

US Navy – The USS John Stennis battlegroup returns home, after a tour in the Arabian Sea.

Indian Navy – India expresses interest in purchasing the Royal Navy’s Sea Harriers.

US Marines – The Marines are experimenting successfully with the WestPac Express, a high-speed vessel (HSV), used to support the III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa.


Tuesday, May 28, 2002

Royal Navy – The new Astute-class nuclear attack submarines will be based at Faslane.

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia will upgrade the engineering plants of a number of its warships, it is also beginning humanitarian relief exercises this week with the US Navy.

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan is searching for the black boxes from the 747 that crashed off the Straits of Taiwan.

Background – Weapons of Mass Destruction – William Arkin on how the Bush Administration is now fighting Cold War #2 – against weapons of mass destruction.

Background – Nuclear Weapons – A well written essay on what the threat is from nuclear weapons or radiological weapons, with a number of scenarios.


Monday, May 27, 2002

US Navy – WWII – I’ll probably start posting a few more history articles as I come across them. Here is an appropriate article for today (Memorial Day in the United States) – a succinct, yet insightful history of the US Navy in World War II. Be sure to read all 5 parts.


Sunday, May 26, 2002

US Navy – The story of what happened when a SEAL team insertion went wrong during the early phases of Operation Anaconda. The pitched ground battle that ensued is similar to "Blackhawk Down" – call it "Chinook Down."

Canadian Navy – What Canada’s CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft have been up to in the Gulf.

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy’s new carriers will be too large to dock at its main base at Portsmouth.

Background – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles – James F. Dunnigan with a nice history of UAVs.


Saturday, May 25, 2002

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy has been tasked with helping to prevent the flow of illegal immigrants into England.

US Marines – Personal Unmanned Aerial Vehicles are being developed by the Marines.

US Navy – Aboard the USS Shoup, a new Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer.

US Navy – The USS Dolphin has been towed back to port.

US Navy – The information technology involved in building the Joint Strike Fighter.

US Navy – A more detailed explanation of the SEALs restructuring.

Background – William Arkin – A nice description of analyst William Arkin, whose writings I link to regularly. Meet the person behind the opinions.

Background – Iraq – Thomas Ricks on how the Pentagon is lobbying to push back or cancel the invasion of Iraq.


Friday, May 24, 2002

US Navy – Submarine rescue exercise Sorbet Royal 2002 is taking place off of Denmark.

US Navy – More on the fire aboard the USS Dolphin

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines have engaged in their first firefight in Afghanistan.

French Navy – The aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle is exercising with the Saudi Navy.

US Navy – An essay on how the US Navy is transforming itself.


Thursday, May 23, 2002

Indian Navy – India is preparing for war with Pakistan over Kashmir, part of the preparation involves shifting 5 naval vessels to its west coast.

US Navy – The research submarine USS Dolphin has caught fire at sea. The crew have been safely evacuated, the sub’s fate is uncertain.

Royal Navy – Spare parts for Royal Navy Sea King helicopters are in short supply.

US Navy – The Pentagon wants to make future robots more like biological systems.

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia is stepping up naval patrols to cut down on piracy and clashing amongst fisherman.

Nigerian Navy – ???while the Nigerian Navy is also interceding to break up hostilities amongst fisherman.

Thai Navy – Thailand has fired its first Harpoon surface-to-surface missile.

Royal Marines – Simon Jenkins with a reasonable overview of the Royal Marines’ trials and tribulations in Afghanistan.


Wednesday, May 22, 2002

Editorial Note – New URL for NOSI – Effective immediately, NOSI has a new, shorter, and easier to remember address: http://www.nosi.org.

The old NOSI address (http://nosi.editthispage.com) will continue to work for the forseeable future, and will be the address you will continue to see on your screen. I will warn you when it no longer works. In the meantime, feel free to use and publicise http://www.nosi.org and to update your bookmarks and links.

US Navy – Is Fleet Week in New York City a terrorist target?

Singaporean Navy – Singapore and Thailand are holding a joint naval exercise in the South China Sea.

Canadian Navy – Canada is likely to loose its indigineous warship construction capability.

Canadian Navy – Canada’s Sea King helicopters have no useful self-defense capability.

Royal Australian Navy – ???while Australia is unhappy with the 40 year-old SH-2 Seasprite helicopters that it is acquiring.

US Navy – A fascinating behind-the-scenes look by James Fallows at the Joint Strike Fighter competition that explains how Lockheed won the contract from Boeing.


Tuesday, May 21, 2002

Canadian Navy – Aboard Canada’s CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft, on fisheries patrol.

Royal Marines – John Keegan on the sad fate of the Royal Marine’s commander in Afghanistan – he is being savaged by New Labour’s spin doctors.

US Navy – Project Minuteman, an attempt by the Office of Naval Research to deploy intelligent, networked sensing agents in battlefield conditions to gather intelligence and carry out attacks.

Background – Transformation – William Arkin on the poor job the US Secretary of Defense has done on explaining what makes a weapon system transformational and worth funding, and what makes a weapons system non-transformational and not worth funding.


Monday, May 20, 2002

Canadian Navy – A navy, like an army, fights on its stomach???

Indonesian Navy – Why Indonesia sent 6 warships to East Timor this week.

Royal Marines – The continued trials and tribulations of the Royal Marines.

US Marines – A review of the MV-22 Osprey program.


Sunday, May 19, 2002

Editorial Note – It is not my practice to cover army or air force open source intelligence. However, I will from time to time link to articles that give insight into army or air force operations and the lessons learned from them that may have applicability to future navy or marine operations. Hence, the article about the 101st Airborne’s patroling in Afghanistan on Friday, and the article below on Bosnia.

US Army – A long and well-written essay on peacekeeping in Bosnia with the US Army 3rd Infantry Division. The essay makes two interesting points. First, it illustrates how difficult it is to do peacekeeping well, and how the US could do it better. Second, it shows how the US Army is not an expeditionary force, and how much the US Army could learn from the US Marines about expeditionary forces. It is going to be very difficult to get buy-in from the US Army for the Medium Combat Brigades. (note that this article was written just before 9/11)

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia has sent its navy in a tactless show of force to the East Timor Independence celebrations.

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwanese legislators do not want to purchase Kidd-class destroyers from the US.

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy is on high alert against terrorist threats.

US Coast Guard – The US Navy and US Coast Guard are engaged in Operation Noble Eagle, the coastal patrol and maritime homeland security operation around the United States.


Saturday, May 18, 2002

RAF – RAF helicopters are standing by to the evacuate passengers from a ferry in the North Sea that has had 2 fires on board.

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines are operating again in the field, in Operation Condor

Iranian Navy – Iran has purchased high-speed catamaran missile patrol boats from China.

Royal Navy – How the UK may build its new aircraft carriers – in modules.

Chinese Navy – China’s first naval port of call on their around the world cruise – Singapore.

Chinese Navy – China will start another large exercise across the straits from Taiwan.

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan successfully tested a Hsiungfeng II surface to surface missile.

Merchant Shipping – How the war on terrorism could change the shape of shipping by changing the concept of "flags of convenience" for merchant ships.


Friday, May 17, 2002

Chinese Navy – The Chinese Navy has embarked on its first global circumnavigation.

US Navy – The US is considering opening a naval gunnery and bombing range in Eritrea.

US Navy – The US Navy is developing ways to make submarine propellers more quickly.

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy is short of personnel, it will therefore be able to maintain 3 ships in the Arabian Gulf indefinitely.

US Marines – The current state of Marine aviation.

Royal Marines – Royal Marine operations in Afghanistan are on hold, after the SAS who serve as their recon troops are quarantined after the outbreak of a mystery illness at their base.

US Army – An excellent essay in which the reporter goes on a several-day long patrol with a company of the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan. It gives excellent insight into what the "war" on the ground is like — more and more like Vietnam every day.


Thursday, May 16, 2002

Russian Navy – The salvage of the bow of the Kursk is about to get underway.

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia tries to do more to fight terrorism???

Thai Navy – ???but the pirates keep scoring victories???

Royal Australian Navy – Australia beefs up its defenses.

Royal Marines – More from being on patrol in Operation Snipe.

US Navy – Will the Growler replace the EA-6B Prowler?

US Navy – What the US Pacific Fleet and its allies are doing for the war on terrorism.


Wednesday, May 15, 2002

Royal Marines – Now that it’s over, the debate begins: Operation Snipe, boon or bust?

German Navy – Will the purchase of the German submarine maker HDW by a US firm lead to the transfer of its technology to Taiwan for use in the submarines promised to it by the US?

US Navy – How the Navy Marine Corps Intranet will help the US military carry out its missions.


Tuesday, May 14, 2002

Royal Marines – Operation Snipe is over, with no contact being made with the enemy.

US Navy – Plans for making CVN-77 a radically new type of aircraft carrier have been scaled back.

Israeli Navy – Israel sank an arms ship delivering arms to the Gaza Strip.

South African Navy – South Africa has acquired 6 ex-German Navy mine sweepers.

US Navy – CINCPAC on how the US Navy must fix its acquisition system to allow it to more rapidly field needed new technologies and get more bang for the buck for its procurement dollars.


Monday, May 13, 2002

Canadian Navy – Canada’s second Upholder-class submarine may not enter service until 2005.

Canadian Navy – What it is like to fly in a 40 year old Sea King helicopter.

Royal Navy – Why England should not return Gibraltar to Spain.

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia claims its navy is not battle ready.

Chinese Navy – Looks like the ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag will not be converted into a floating casino after all???

Indian Navy – The Light Combat Aircraft will be adapted for naval use.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan will order the EH-101 helicopter.

US Marines – How wearable computing will provide an augmented reality that may help Marines on the battlefield of the future.

US Coast Guard – The role that project Deepwater can play in homeland security.

History – US Navy – America’s first nuclear-armed guided missile submarines – the submarines carring the Regulus I missile.


Sunday, May 12, 2002

US Marines – Non-lethal weapons currently being worked on in the labs include???

Royal Marines – Two excellent accounts of being on patrol with 45 Commando in Afghanistan.

US Navy – An overview of the cooperative engagement capability.


Saturday, May 11, 2002

Indian Navy – The Indian and French navies, including the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, will exercise next week.

US Navy – The home ports of several Trident ballistic missile submarines will be shifted around as some of the submarines are converted to carry cruise missiles.

US Coast Guard – The USCG cutter HarriettLane has rescued a large number of Haitians from a sinking sailboat near the Bahamas.

US Navy – The role the Military Sealift Command is playing on the war on terror.


Friday, May 10, 2002

Israeli Navy – Israeli has launched INS Herev, the first of two Nirit-class missile boats.

Pakistani Navy – Pakistan’s project to produce French Agosta-class submarines has suffered a blow after a terrorist attack in Karachi kills a number of the French engineers working on the project.

US Marines – SECNAV says all the MV-22 Osprey’s problems have been fixed.

Royal Navy – Britain says it would keep its military bases on Gibraltar if it turns Gibraltar’s sovereignty over to Spain.

RAF – 100 people were evacuated by RAF Rescue from an oil rig that had been hit by a fishing boat.


Thursday, May 9, 2002

Royal Marines – On patrol with 45 Commando in Operation Snipe, showing what an unusual conflict it is on the ground.

Chinese Navy – Chinese ships have made their first port call in South Korea.

US Marines – Lessons learned from the Marine’s operations in Afghanistan.

Background – Indonesia – Thomas Friedman on why Indonesia needs to be treated as a friend by the US, and not as an enemy.


Wednesday, May 8, 2002

Royal Navy – More on the consequences of the scrapping of the Royal Navy’s Sea Harrier fleet.

Taiwanese Navy – A spy ship has been spotted off Taiwan.

Bangladesh Navy – The Bangladesh Navy will be asked to patrol its rivers and enforce shipping regulations in order to prevent shipping disasters.

US Marines – The challenges facing helicopter operations at high altitudes.


Tuesday, May 7, 2002

South African Navy – What role will the navy play in South Africa’s new expeditionary military strategy?

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Are the Japanese trying too hard to be helpful in the war on terrorism?

US Navy – Reenlistment rates are soaring in the US Navy.

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines are not encountering opposition for far in Operation Snipe.

US Navy – The US Navy is facing a shipbuilding crisis???

Background – Saudi Arabia – William Arkin on how the Saudi’s are having a negative influence on the war on terrorism.


Monday, May 6, 2002

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy is playing a significant leadership role in the Arabian Sea.

US Coast Guard – On patrol for icebergs with the International Ice Patrol.

Background – Iraq – William Arkin dissects the current war plan against Iraq, and points out that how the US fights will determine how the end game evolves, and that current planning does not consider the end game???

Background – NATO – NATO is at a crucial point in deciding what it will look like and what is will be capable of doing in the future.


Sunday, May 5, 2002

Royal Navy – HMS Sheffield is to be placed in reduced readiness.

German Navy – Aboard the German frigates making a port of call in Pakistan.

Indian Navy – The US and Indian navies are planning joint exercises together.

Royal Marines – 45 Commando is making slow progress on the ground in Afghanistan.

US Navy – How antisubmarine warfare is currently being performed by the US Navy.

Background – Iraq – The challenge of nation building in a post-Saddam Iraq.


Saturday, May 4, 2002

Royal Marines – With 45 Commando on Operation Snipe.

US Navy – A US Navy oiler fired on small boats that approached it in the Straits of Hormuz.

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia and the US are cultivating a close naval relationship.

Columbian Navy – Columbia seized a large amount of cocaine at sea.

Background – Russia – The US and Russian militaries are cooperating more closely than ever.

Background – Iraq – Another strategy for toppling Saddam, by military analyst Austin Bay.

Background – Saddam Hussein – What Saddam is *really* like???an interview with "Blackhawk Down" author Mark Bowden.


Friday, May 3, 2002

Royal Marines – 45 Commando is on the move again in Afghanistan, mounting Operation Snipe.

Sri Lankan Navy – Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers are battling again at sea.

Russian Navy – Russia will close its base at Cam Ranh Bay this weekend.

Canadian Navy – HMCS St. John’s deploys to the Arabian Sea.

Royal Australian Navy – Why Australia passed on purchasing the British Upholder-class submarines, leaving them for Canada to buy.

Royal Navy – More strikes loom for Royal Navy dockyards.

US Navy – The Ready Reserve Force ship Cornhusker State returns home from delivering supplies to the Persian Gulf.

US Navy – The CNO says he wants the littoral combat ship.

Background – War on Terrorism – Excellent essay by Robert Kaplan on how Samuel Huntington’s theories are being proven correct by the war on terror.


Thursday, May 2, 2002

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia’s new submarines will be used for deep water, rather than littoral, operations.

German Navy – More on the German naval task force off the Horn of Africa.

US Navy – Aboard the USS John F. Kennedy, in the Arabian Sea, where air support missions continue to be flown around the clock.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The Japanese are diving on the wreck of the suspected spy ship they sunk last year, to learn its secrets.

US Marines – What role does artillery have to play in expeditionary maneuver warfare?


Wednesday, May 1, 2002

Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan will buy the Kidd-class destroyers???while the US grows much closer to Taiwan.

Canadian Navy – Yet another problem with the Upholder-class submarines???possible cracks in diesel exhaust valves.

German Navy – Germany has assumed command of the naval task force off the Horn of Africa; its ships will make port calls in Pakistan soon.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The US will sell another Aegis installation to Japan; and the US has asked Japan to contribute an Aegis-equipped destroyer and P-3 Orions to the task force in the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – The role of research and development in the US Navy.


Tuesday, April 30, 2002

Indian Navy – The Brahmos missile will not be ready for service for several years.

US Navy – Northrop Grumman wins the contract to design the DD-X.

US Navy – Did the US Navy play a role in the recent coup in Venezuela?

US Navy – The USS Kitty Hawk makes a port call in Hong Kong.

US Navy – How bats can help improve naval sonars.

US Navy – How the US Navy Sea Systems Command is changing to meet the current needs of the US Navy.

Background – War on Terrorism – Ralph Peters on how the US can make friends of Muslims – leave the Arab Muslims alone, and court the non-Arab Muslims.


Monday, April 29, 2002

US Navy – The new CINCPAC states his views on how the US should aid Taiwan.

US Marines – Part 2 of a series on what life is like today in boot camp at Parris Island.

Indian Navy – Why the US and India are growing closer.

Indian Navy – The Brahmos surface-to-surface missile has been successfully test fired.

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy is acquiring an airborne early warning capability through the acquisition of Ka-31 helicopters.

Background – Malaysia and Singapore – As Singapore reclaims more land from the sea, neighboring Malaysia gets nervous and jealous. Could this process result in a conflict between the two nations?

Background – Israel – A possible scenario by the military historian Martin Van Creveld on how events in the Middle East may play out.

Background – Iraq – The current strategy to topple Saddam.

Background- Fourth Generation Warfare – A new way to describe asymetrical warfare – 4G warfare.


Sunday, April 28, 2002

US Marines – An overview of the US Marine Jungle Warfare Training Center on Okinawa.

US Navy – The US plans longterm to have more carrier battlegroups in the Western Pacific, to act as a counter to China.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japanese ships are again making port calls in South Korea.

Canadian Navy – HMCS Preserver and HMCS Iroquois have returned home from the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – The USS John F. Kennedy may be able to keep Mayport, Florida as her home port, rather than being redeployed to Japan when the USS Kitty Hawk is retired as Japanese attitudes towards nuclear-powered ships are changing.

US Marines – The Marines helicopter fleet is getting very old???.

US Navy – The current state of the DDX program.


Saturday, April 27, 2002

Royal Marines – With 45 Commando in Afghanistan.

Russian Navy – The Kursk’s last voyage to the scrapyard.

Canadian Navy – It will cost very little to fix Canada’s dented submarine.

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia’s Chief of the Navy on how territorial claims to the Spratly Islands are the greatest threats his country faces.

Indian Navy – The US Navy and Indian Navy will help to patrol the Malacca Straits.

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia states the US Navy and Indian Navy are welcome to help patrol the Malacca Straits.

Background – ASEAN – ASEAN is increasing in importance as an alliance.

Russian Navy – After a summit on how to share the resources of the Caspian Sea fails, the Russian Navy is told to hold military exercises in the Caspian Sea this summer.

US Marine Corps – Flight testing resumes on the MV-22.

US Navy – US Navy ships will begin refueling in Sri Lanka.

Background – Information Warfare – The US Navy Post Graduate School is training cyberwarriors.

Background – Open Source Intelligence – A dark day for open source intelligence in Greece, as a group of English plane spotters are found guilty of espionage for gathering open source intelligence in Greece.

Background – Terrorism – Are we overestimating the terrorist threat – a historical look???


Friday, April 26, 2002

US Navy – A list of ships that have been damaged while serving in the Middle East.

US Navy – More about life on the USS Bataan during her recent deployment in the Arabian Gulf.

US Navy – Meanwhile the USS George Washington performs predeployment workups.

Greeek Navy – The Greek’s recommission another ex-Dutch Kortenaer-class frigate.

Sri Lankan Navy – The Tamil Sea Tigers push their truce with Sri Lanka.

US Navy – The key role tankers have played in the air over Afghanistan.

NATO Navies – The NH-90 helicopter program appears to be on solid ground.

Canadian Navy – The Canadian’s are beginning to claim the Upholder-class submarines are lemons, the British disagree.

Background – Targeting – William Arkin on why targeting micromanagement must stop.


Sunday, April 21, 2002

Russian Navy – How Russian shipyards are trying to stay alive.

German Navy – The Germans have been asked to take over the naval operation near the Horn of Africa.

US Navy – The US Navy needs to spend more on new aircraft.

US Navy – What life was like aboard the USS Bataan when it was off Afghanistan.

US Coast Guard – The US Coast Guard is changing its drug-interdiction tactics.

US Navy – How the Cyclone-class patrol ships are being used for homeland defense.

US Navy – An interview with the just-retired commander of the US 5th Fleet in the Middle East.

Background – Nuclear Triad – What the new triad will look like, and the Navy’s role in it.

Background – South East Asian Navies – A good review of the arms race beginning in South East Asia.

Please note that NOSI will be next updated on Thursday.


Saturday, April 20, 2002

US Navy – Seabees have landed to build airstrips in the Phillipines.

US Navy – At sea aboard the USS Cole.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The US has asked Japan for more help in the Arabian Sea, including deployment of Aegis destroyers.

Royal Navy – The survivability of Royal Navy warships remains impaired due to development problems with the new active decoy round.

Background – Caspian Sea – Disputes over Caspian Sea oil continue, a naval buildup on all sides continues.

Background – Airpower – Part 2 of a history of the use of airpower in war. This month – airpower’s failure in Vietnam.


Friday, April 19, 2002

Royal Marines – On the ground in Afghanistan with 45 Commando.

US Navy – CINCPAC says the US Navy is interested in using the base in Vietnam at Cam Ranh Bay.

US Navy – The F-18E Super Hornet is experiencing its first carrier qualifications aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.

Indian Navy – Is India’s project to build nuclear powered submarines too secretive?

US Marines – US Marines will be exercising with Phillipine units off the Phillipines.

US Marines – The Marines are outsourcing their airlift – to the Russians.


Thursday, April 18, 2002

US Navy – The controversy over low frequency sonar and how it affects marine mammals has taken a new twist after September 11.

Indonesian Navy – Indonesia and Malaysia pledge to patrol the Straits of Malacca more actively in an attempt to reduce piracy.

Iranian Navy – Iran will soon launch its own destroyer.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The Japanese debate broadening the role of their forces.

Background – Unmanned Vehicles – How the battlefield is being transformed by unmanned devices.

Background – Peacekeeping – John Keegan on how not to perform peacekeeping.


Wednesday, April 17, 2002

Royal Marines – 45 Commando has begun operations in Afghanistan.

Taiwanese Navy – Chinese spy ships are probing Taiwan’s defenses.

New Zealand Navy – The ANZAC frigates are developing cracks in their hulls.

Romanian Navy – The Romanian Navy purchase of Royal Navy Type 22 frigates is moving forward.

US Navy – How the US has covered the Mediterranean Sea without a carrier for the last 6 months.

US Navy – The USS Bataan amphibious ready group is returning home from the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – The USS Cole continues its workup.

US Navy – The MH-60S begins to enter service.


Tuesday, April 16, 2002

Royal Navy – On the Atlantic Patrol with HMS Newcastle.

Indian Navy – Now that the fighting in Sri Lanka has stopped, is it time for a Pax Indica in the Indian Ocean?

Malaysian Coast Guard – Malaysia will set up a Coast Guard.

US Marines – Life with the Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team.

Background – Mark Helprin summarizes the war on terror to date.


Monday, April 15, 2002

Finnish Navy – The role of camouflage in modern naval warfare.

US Navy – The command ship USS Blue Ridge returns to its homeport after 3 months at sea.

Royal Marines – More on the targets the Royal Marines have been assigned.

US Navy – The US Navy is using NASA satellite data to aid its forces on the ground in Afghanistan.

Background – Military Space – How military space assets have assisted the war on terror.

Background – Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and Terrorists – What are the prospects for terrorists acquiring WMD? Pretty good???


Sunday, April 14, 2002

US Navy – The James River Reserve Fleet of maritime ships is no longer a national asset, instead it has become an environmental liability.

US Navy – US ships may again make port calls in Hong Kong.

Royal Marines – What the Royal Marines can expect to face in Afghanistan.

US Coast Guard – The Coast Guard and coastal defense.

US Navy – A review of the US Navy’s FY2003 budget request.


Saturday, April 13, 2002

Canadian Navy – What the Canadian Navy has accomplished in the Persian Gulf in the last 6 months.

US Navy – The US Navy is outsourcing its training.

US Navy – How the Internet is accessed by Sailors at sea.

US Navy – What the Navy Marine Corps Intranet means to the US Navy

Background – Precision Guided Weapons (PGMs) – PGMs continue to fall in price, making them more affordable to use???

Background – Precision Guided Weapons (PGMs)???while some evidence for just how precise they were in Afghanistan is now being documented???


Friday, April 12, 2002

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy is exercising with the Nigerian Navy.

Royal Navy – Dockyard strikes may impede the operational readiness of the Royal Navy’s Trident fleet.

US Navy – Where the US Navy currently is with unmanned aerial vehicles, and where it would like to go.

Background – Transformation – Recently we’ve been reading how transformation will occur slowly, from the bottom up. Now there is evidence that Secretary Rumsfield will attempt to accelerate transformation from the top down, with his choices for new service chiefs and CINCs.

Background – Information Warfare – In the field, just like at work, more bandwidth is better bandwidth — and a lack of bandwidth is severely hampering US military operations.


Thursday, April 11, 2002

US Navy – More information on the potential of a subtype of unmanned undersea vehicles – the Sea Glider.

US Navy – The US Navy is phasing out its CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters that are used for vertical replenishment.

US Navy – The US Navy is thinking of not retiring the USS Constellation next year, when the USS Ronald Reagan enters service.

US Navy – The US Navy is not interested in converting cruise ships under construction to command ships.

French Navy – Two French warships are making a port call at Mumbai, before exercising with the Indian Navy.

Indian Navy – India is about to commission a new guided missile patrol craft.

Canadian Navy – Canadian ships continue to rotate through their Gulf task force.


Wednesday, April 10, 2002

US Navy – 75% of all munitions dropped by US Navy and Marine Corps aircraft in Afghanistan hit their targets.

US Navy – What life is like for submariners.

US Navy – A review of upcoming Trident-class submarine conversions.

Taiwanese Navy – The US has bids from 7 companies to produce submarines for Taiwan.

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia agrees to purchase French Scorpene-class submarines.

US Navy – A proposal for a new conventional triad for the 21st century: long-range land-based aviation, flexible special forces that require a minimal logistic infrastructure, and the sea services


Tuesday, April 9, 2002

US Navy – US and Yemen have agreed to allow warships to again refuel at the port of Aden, 17 months after the attack on the USS Cole.

US Navy – The US will move back to one carrier in the Arabian Sea.

Royal Marines- 40 Commando is already engaged in combat inside Afghanistan.

US Navy – More on the potential of unmanned submarines.

US Navy – Submarines are the ultimate intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platform.


Monday, April 8, 2002

US Navy – The EP-3 that was forced down near China 1 year ago has been rebuilt and will reenter service by the end of the year.

Nigerian Navy – The Nigerian Navy continues to capture pirates who are stealing oil from drilling platforms.

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines have permission to pursue enemy troops from Afghanistan into Pakistan.

Royal Australian Navy – Australia will increase its defense budget next year, in recognition of the high operational rate of their navy.

Background – Containerized Cargo – An excellent review of how the container is now a potential terrorist weapon.


Sunday, April 7, 2002

Taiwanese Navy – An interview with the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs who pledges diesel submarines and Kidd-class destroyers will be delivered to Taiwan.

Russian Navy – The Russians say they will be out of Cam Ranh Bay by July. Who will be allowed to use the port in the future is uncertain.

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy’s CVF program continues to move forward, slowly.

Background – Air-to-Air Combat – How Head Mounted Displays may revolutionize aerial combat.


Saturday, April 6, 2002

Royal Navy – The early retirement of Sea Harriers will strip the Royal Navy of crucial air defense capabilities.

Royal Navy – Is the UK government repeating the same mistakes it made 20 years ago before the Falklands war?

Background – – Sir John Keegan on whether the UK could send an expeditionary task force to sea today, if required.

Background – Simulation / Wargaming – The state-of-the art in computerized simulation and virtual reality for the military.


Friday, April 5, 2002

French Navy – A French patrol boat based in New Caledonia is making a port visit in New Zealand.

Finnish Navy – The navies of Finland and Sweden are pooling their maritime surveillance assets.

US Marines – The US Marines continue their development of non-lethal weapons.

US Marines – The latest prototype lethal weapon – a new assault rifle for US forces.

Background – Strategy – Ralph Peter’s insightful strategy for fighting the war on terrorism.


Thursday, April 4, 2002

Royal Australian Navy – The amphibious transport and command ship HMAS Kanimbla returns home from the Arabian Sea.

Canadian Navy – The supply ship HMCS Protecteur is about to depart for the Arabian Sea.

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines confront steep challenges in Afghanistan.

US Navy – Testing of the EA-6B Prowler ICAP III version has begun.


Wednesday, April 3, 2002

South Korean Navy – The US will sell the South Korean Navy Aegis weapons systems for installation on three South Korean destroyers.

Iraqi Navy – Iraq has been accused of a plot to blow up US warships in the Persian Gulf.

History – Falklands – A fascinating analysis of the diplomatic, intelligence, and military ineptitude that led the UK and Argentina towards an avoidable conflict 20 years ago.

Background – Falklands – Meanwhile, life today in the Falklands is excellent for the locals.


Tuesday, April 2, 2002

US Navy – The US Navy is exercising on Vieques again.

US Navy – The US Navy says it does not want to return to Yemen for refueling; using the French naval base in Djibouti may be a better idea.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – For the first time since WWII the JMSDF and Chinese Navy will exchange port visits.

Background – Airpower – First part of a two-part article on how airpower is finally fulfilling its prophecy and becoming more capable of winning wars.


Monday, April 1, 2002

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines in Afghanistan will be used for night time raids against Taliban mountain bases.

US Navy – The Ready Reserve’ s cargo ships are standing by to assist. While not needed at this time for Afghanistan, they could be used if the war is widened to include Iraq.

Indian Navy – More on the lease the Indian Navy has signed with Russia for a nuclear powered attack submarine.


Sunday, March 31, 2002

US Marines – The role played by US Marine aviators in Operation Anaconda.

US Navy – The USS Harry Truman is overhauled in near-record time.

Background – Iraq – An excellent essay that details how US foreign policy thinking is evolving in the Bush administration, and how this evolution in thinking will be used to depose Saddam Hussein.


Saturday, March 30, 2002

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.

US Navy – What life was like for the Theodore Roosevelt’s crew who had to keep its air group functioning for the last 6 months.

Royal Navy – Although they are supposed to be the replacement for Sea Harriers, no contract has been let yet to upgrade the RAF Harriers GR.7 to GR.9 status.

US Navy – A look at what the Cooperative Engagement Capability can do for a battlegroup commander.


Friday, March 29, 2002

US Navy – Why the Navy Area Wide missile defense program was canceled.

US Coast Guard – The Coast Guard begins to realize the immense resources needed to inspect all ships coming into the US.

US Marines – An essay that tries to define what Ship To Objective Maneuver means to the US Marines.


Thursday, March 28, 2002

Romanian Navy – The Romanian Navy is attempting to buy Type 22-class frigates from the Royal Navy.

US Navy – Aboard the USS Vella Gulf, a Ticonderoga-class cruiser.

US Navy – How the reserves are helping in the war on terror.

Background – Strategy and Tactics – James Fallows asks why did the USAF change their tactics in Afghanistan – was it to keep the Navy out of the war?


Wednesday, March 27, 2002

Royal Navy – HMS Illustrious has returned home from the Arabian Sea. She has been replaced on station by HMS Ocean

US Navy – USS Theodore Roosevelt has returned home, members of her air wing comment on their missions.

US Navy – A US Navy ship has again been denied a port call in Hong Kong by China.

Background – Unmanned Submersible Vehicles – A sleek diving robot has been developed to perform ocean research, it can stay at sea for 5 years.


Tuesday, March 26, 2002

Royal Marines – How the lessons learned by 45 Commando in the Falklands may serve them well in Afghanistan.

Russian Navy – Plans are underway to raise the Kursk’s bow section.

US Navy – A review of what naval aviation has accomplished in Afghanistan to date.

Background – Iraq – James F. Dunnigan with a scenario for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein using a small force that moves with great speed.


Monday, March 25, 2002

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.

US Navy – A history of the Global Positioning System (GPS), including the key role played by the US Navy with its Transit navigation satellites.

Background – Nuclear Weapons – Sir John Keegan on why the US and UK are modifying their strategies for the use of nuclear weapons against rogue states.

Background – Iraq – An air campaign targeted against the ultimate mobile target – Saddam – will have great difficulty in succeeding.


Sunday, March 24, 2002

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.

Canadian Navy – Canada is considering the purchase of a reconnaisance satellite to track ship and aircraft movement in the Arctic to help it enforce its sovereignty.

US Navy – Is the DDX class of ships a production project or a R&D project?

US Navy – Is the US Navy already considering cutting its purchase of F/A-18 E/Fs and JSFs?


Saturday, March 23, 2002

US Navy – More on the upcoming SEAL organizational and training changes.

US Navy – A study suggests that forward basing of more ships would give the US Navy much more bang for its bucks.

US Navy – Has the US figured out a way to get conventionally power submarines to Taiwan? A US bank has purchased a controlling share in Germany’s Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft shipyard, which is the world’s premier exporter of conventional submarines.

Background – Transformation – Ralph Peters on how the post-colonial era has barely begun, and diplomats around the world are in denial about it.


Friday, March 22, 2002

US Navy – The US Navy is reconsidering using Yemen as a refueling port.

Russian Navy – There may have been survivors on the Kursk for days.

Royal Australian Navy – The readiness of the Australian armed forces is being undermined by shrinking defense budgets.

US Navy – The Naval Reserve Force is playing a crucial role in the war against terrorism; but it is tremendously underfunded.


Thursday, March 21, 2002

Iranian Navy – North Korea is supply gunboats to Iran.

Royal Marines – 45 Commando is ready to go.

Merchant Marine – Lloyds of London declares it will no longer refer to ships as "she."

Background – Transformation – Chuck Spinney on why transformation is tough – it has to overcome deeply entrenched interests.


Wednesday, March 20, 2002

Royal Marines – Sir John Keegan on how the British military is being stretched too thinly around the world.

Royal Navy – More on the retirement of the dock landing ship HMS Fearless.

Royal Australian Navy – Australia is considering adopting the Standard SM-2 surface to air missile for use aboard its Perry-class frigates.

Background – Information Warfare – A nice example of what the next generation of the digital battlefield will look like.


Tuesday, March 19, 2002

Royal Marines – 45 Commando, who have mountain warfare expertise, will deploy to Afghanistan to join in the ground battle against the Taliban.

US Navy – The SEALs are streamlining their organization, and changing how they will train and deploy.

US Navy – New Zealand will continue to refuse to allow US Navy nuclear powered ships to dock in its ports.

Background – Transformation – Frederick Kagan on why he thinks America today is similar to Britain in the 1930’s in terms of defense challenges faced, and why he believes transformation is important to America’s future defense needs.


Monday, March 18, 2002

French Navy – The French Navy has seized a ship carrying illegal immigrants in the Mediterranean.

Germany Navy – The Germany Navy is being criticized for not having adequate equipment to perform its missions.

US Navy – The pilot of the EP-3 downed over China gives his version of the story.

Background – Information Warfare – The use of information warfare in Afghanistan.


Sunday, March 17, 2002

US Marines – With the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit inside Afghanistan.

Portugese Navy – The Portugese Navy is bankrupt and has been ordered back to port.

US Navy – How the US Navy is using instant messaging technology in combat between its ships and its allied ships.

US Navy – The US Navy would like to provide ashore housing for its junior enlisted sailors, who must now live aboard ship while in port.

US Navy – The military aspect of homeland defense.


Saturday, March 16, 2002

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.

Canadian Navy – HMCS Vancouver rescued a boatload of refugees in the Arabian Sea.

Background – Transformation – An interview with the US Army’s Chief of Staff on his initiative to create Medium Brigades within the US Army that will have more combat punch than light infantry but still be easily and quickly deployable around the world. He states that he wants the US Army to be more like the US Marines Corps, and sees them as a model!

Background – Information Warfare – James F. Dunnigan on likely targets for cyberwarriors.


Friday, March 15, 2002

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 Reports links on the right side of the page under the Amazon ad.)

US Marines – Marine Cobra attack helicopters continue to provide close air support in Afghanistan.

NATO – A look at operations inside NATO’s Supreme Allied Command Atlantic during a recent wargame in Poland.


Thursday, March 14, 2002

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, the US and the UK are working in the region as part of the coalition.

Royal Australian Navy – HMAS Canberra has replaced HMAS Adelaide in the Gulf.

US Navy – An extensive review of the Aegis Combat System, Cooperative Engagement Capability,
Naval Surface Fire Support, Theater Ballistic-Missile Defense, Mine Warfare, SQQ-89 Surface-Ship ASW System, Ship Self-Defense System, Surface Combatant Modernization, and the
Integrated Defensive Electronic Countermeasures System.

Background – Information Warfare – In information warfare, for every measure, there is a countermeasure.


Wednesday, March 13, 2002

Canadian Navy – The submarine HMCS Windsor returns to sea.

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?"

US Navy – The battle is joined for the USS John F Kennedy battlegroup.

Background – Iraq – The British are preparing their bases on Cyprus for "actual operations," presumeably against Iraq.

Background – Iraq – The current US thinking and plans about how to oust Saddam Hussein.


Tuesday, March 12, 2002

US Coast Guard – On patrol with the Coast Guard’s Port Security Units.

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.


Monday, March 11, 2002

Royal Marines – Royal Marines aboard HMS Ocean in the Arabian Sea await the call to action.

US Navy – If you have been wondering how P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft can be used to monitor ground operations over Afghanistan, Somalia, and Yemen, wonder no more. This excellent set of articles describes how the P-3’s with the aircraft improvement program (AIP) modification are conducting ground surveillance as well as surface ship surveillance throughout the Arabian Sea. The lessons learned here are being applied to the requirements specifications of the P-3’s successor.


Sunday, March 10, 2002

French Navy – Aircraft from the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle are flying strike missions in Afghanistan.

Italian Navy – The Italian Navy has been criticized for inadequate search and rescue efforts.

US Navy – The USS Peleliu’s amphibious ready group has returned home.

US Coast Guard – Why the LORAN system is still important for navigation, and how it is maintained.

Background – US strategic thought – A fascinating essay by Ralph Peters on why the US should stop pursuing stability as its goal in international relations, and should instead embrace instability.


Saturday, March 9, 2002

Royal Navy – The dock landing ship HMS Fearless is to be scrapped before her replacement enters service. The Royal Navy’s Sea Harriers will be retired early and will be replaced by upgraded RAF Harrier GR9s – The Royal Navy’s carriers will thereby lose their organic air defense capability.

Canadian Navy – Why is Canada having so many problems with it’s Upholder-class submarines?

Background – US Strategy in the Pacific – An essay reviewing the Bush administration’s current strategy in the Pacific.


Friday, March 8, 2002

US Navy – The USS John F. Kennedy battlegroup has relieved the USS Thedore Roosevelt battlegroup in the Red Sea.

US Navy – A US task force is exercising in the Baltic Sea, in the biggest NATO exercise since the Cold War.

Canadian Navy – More on the flooding aboard the submarine HMCS Windsor – what happened was worse than originially revealed.

US Marines – How Civil Affairs personnel can aid a Marine air-ground task force.


Thursday, March 7, 2002

Canadian Navy – HMCS Windor’s sea trials lasted only a few hours instead of two weeks. More troubles with the ex-Upholder class submarines for Canada.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan is considering a request from Australia to provide underway replenishment for its ships in the Arabian Sea. As usual, there are complications involved for the Japanese.

US Marines – Marine Sea Cobra and Sea Stallion helicopters from the USS Bon Homme Richard have been sent to aid US troops battling in the mountains in eastern Afghanistan; as replacements for damaged and lost US Army Apache and Chinook helicopters.

US Navy – The past, present and future of naval intelligence.

Background – Transformation – Ralph Peters on transformation and the military; and the relationship of the US Army’s upcoming medium brigades and the US Marines.


Wednesday, March 6, 2002

Background – Open Source Intelligence – The case for open source intelligence in the war against terrorism.

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy’s role in hunting terrorists in the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – A cogent and succint summary of the air war to date in Afghanistan and the lessons learned.

Background – The Ground War – Ralph Peters on why casualties, though regretable, must be acceptable to us if we are to triumph over terrorism.

Background – Iraq – More and more indicators point to a campaign to unseat Saddam Hussein.

Background – Information Warfare – James F. Dunnigan on why Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union are breeding grounds for criminal hackers.


Tuesday, March 5, 2002

Russian Navy – The Kursk will be scrapped by the end of the year.

Canadian Navy – The Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown has returned home from the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – Training aboard the USS Winston Churchill.

US Air Force – The story of the Combat Controllers on the ground, who call in the air strikes.

Background – Terrorism – A chilling look at our progress on stopping the next attack.


Monday, March 4, 2002

US Navy – A summary of the accomplishments of the maritime quarantine in the Arabian Sea to date.

US Navy – The Spruance-class destroyer USS Ray is decommissioned.

Background – Nuclear Threat – The US is taking the possibility of terrorists having a nuclear weapon quite seriously – a shadow government is now up and running outside of Washington DC.

???while the search for such weapons intensifies???

Background – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Background – Jihad in the UK – Jihad is being actively preached in the United Kingdom as well as in the US; UK law enforcement agencies again can do little to stop it.


Sunday, March 3, 2002

Russian Navy – The Russian Navy’s decomissioned but not yet scrapped extensive fleet of nuclear submarines continues to pose an extreme environmental hazard, but the Russians will not accept outside help in trying to eliminate the problem.

US Coast Guard – Aboard the USS Shamal, a Cyclone-class coastal patrol craft, showing how the US Navy and US Coast Guard are working more closely together in coastal defense.

Background – Islam – Thomas Friedman on how the US and Middle Eastern states need to tear down the walls of ignorance and dishonesty between them in order to achieve a lasting victory in the war on terrorism.

Background – Terrorism – An excerpt from a new book that documents the presence and acts of Islamic terrorists within the US and how US law enforement agencies have been unable to address the threat due to legal restrictions on their operations.


Saturday, March 2, 2002

US Marines – Aboard the USS Peleliu with the Marines of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit who are now homeward bound from Afghanistan.

US Navy – The US Navy’s shipbuilding budget is currently inadequate, says CINCLANT.

Royal Navy – How the lessons learned from the Falklands have influenced naval affairs 20 years later.

Background – Special Forces – Sir John Keegan believes the way to combat terrorism is not with high tech alone, but with high tech coupled to special forces.


Friday, March 1, 2002

US Navy – CINCLANT confirms the US Navy almost ran out of smart weapons in Afghanistan.

US Navy – The USS Theodore Roosevelt finally gets into port.

US Marines – US Marines are receiving unique urban combat training in US towns.


Thursday, February 28, 2002

US Marines – Based upon their recent successes in Afghanistan, the Marines and Special Operations Command will strive to collaborate more closely in the future.

US Marines – An overview of current Marine procurement programs including the Osprey, Advance Amphibious Assault Vehicle, Landing Craft Air Cushion, Joint Strike Fighter, Lightweight Howitzer, and others.

Background – Operations Other Than War – The US Secretary of Defense has stated he is against using US military forces for operations other than war. This is quite a change from the prior administration.

Background – Saudi Arabia – Thomas Friedman on two potential futures for the Saudis.


Wednesday, February 27, 2002

US Navy – An overview of several US Navy shipbuilding and conversion programs.

US Coast Guard – How the number one job of the US Coast Guard has shifted from search and rescue to homeland defense.

Background – Collateral Damage – William Arkin on how little we currently know about collateral damage and civilian casualties from airstrikes in Afghanistan.


Tuesday, February 26, 2002

Please keep those Comment Forms coming folks! I’ve received over 20 in the last 2 days, which is more than I’ve received in the last 2 years. I have already received many excellent suggestions for improvements. In a week or two I will summarize the feedback I have obtained, and address many of your questions. Thanks again!

Irish Navy – The Irish Navy is playing a bigger role in search and rescue operations.

Swedish Navy – The corvette Visby is undergoing sea trials.

US Coast Guard – Aboard several USCG cutters, patroling at sea.

Background – Donald Rumsfield – An in depth interview with the US Secretary of Defense. Amongst the interviewers is the military historian Sir John Keegan.

Background – War gaming – A preview of the war game "Millennium Challenge 2002."


Monday, February 25, 2002

US Navy – One reason the US cannot attack Iraq today – a shortage of smart munitions.

Russian Navy – The view from Moscow – A lack of discipline caused the loss of the Kursk.

US Navy – A review of naval and marine operations of coalition forces in Afghanistan, to late January.

US Coast Guard – The Coast Guard Auxillary is forming air units.

US Navy – How port security is evolving in the Hampton Roads area.


Sunday, February 24, 2002

Special Request – Send Comments Please – This week marks NOSI’s 2 year anniversary. I know that hundreds of you read NOSI every day, but unfortunately I receive feedback about NOSI from very few of you. Could I therefore ask you to take a minute to fill out our brief Comments Form to give us some feedback so that we may further improve NOSI. I thank you in advance for your time.

US Navy – The USS Theodore Roosevelt achieves the 10,000 trap of its deployment.

US Marines – Marines are training with the latest chemical and biological warfare protection gear.

US Marines – What life was really like in the early days at Camp Rhino.

Background – Pakistani Nucs – Do a significant number of Pakistani’s believe the only hope they have for the future is an apocalyptic nuclear exchange with India?


Saturday, February 23, 2002

US Navy – The USS Wasp Amphibious Ready Group, with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard, deploys to relieve the USS Bataan Amphibious Ready Group.

US Navy – CINCPAC on how important US allies are in the war on terrorism.

Iranian Navy and Taiwanese Navy – Iran’s navy has received Crotale-compatible surface to air missiles from China; meanwhile the US still cannot figure out how to supply Taiwan with diesel submarines.

Background – Hunt for Bin Laden – Has the hunt, now being run by the SAS and Delta, moved to Indian Kashmir?

Background – Iraq – Has an attack on Iraq by summer become a foregone conclusion?

Background – Paul Wolfowitz – James Fallows on deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, how he is influencing the pursuit of the war against terrorism, and his future view of the world.


Friday, February 22, 2002

US Navy – US Navy P-3 Orions are flying intelligence missions over rebel strongholds in the Phillipines.

US Marines – US Marines have been helping to provide radar coverage at the Olympics.

Russian Navy – Another twist to the case of a former Russian naval officer being tried for treason over his revealing of how nuclear waste is being disposed of illegally by the Russian Navy.

US Navy – Preliminary lessons learned on network-centric warfare from the US Navy War College’s Global 2000 war game.


Thursday, February 21, 2002

US Navy – Difficulties faced between target designators on the ground and pilots at high altitude and how US forces are trying to resolve them.

US Navy – The USS Theodore Roosevelt sets a record for most continuous days at sea.

US Navy – How reservists are helping port security.

Canadian Navy – The supply ship HMCS Preserver rescued two sailors stranded at sea in the Arabian Sea.

Background – US defense budget – How the proposed US defense budget fails to transform.


Wednesday, February 20, 2002

Canadian Navy – A new Canadian task force is deploying to relieve the one already in the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – The USS John F. Kennedy battlegroup sets sail for the Arabian Sea.

Russian Navy -The Russian Navy has officially stated that the evidence continues to point towards a torpedo explosion as the cause of the Kursk’s sinking, a collision with another submarine has now been officially eliminated as a cause.

Royal New Zealand Navy – Without any fast jets left in its own air force to train against, the Royal New Zealand Navy is training against warbirds.

Royal Marines – The Royal Marines accidentally invaded Spain instead of Gibraltar in a training exercise.


Tuesday, February 19, 2002

NOSI has been difficult to reach for the last few days due to problems at our Web hosting provider. These problems appear to have resolved, and we will be publishing again on Wednesday.


Monday, February 18, 2002

US Marines – The life of a Marine recruit at Parris Island.

US Marines – None of the Marine KC-130’s in Afghanistan are outfitted with night vision gear – while the KC-130’s stateside do have night vision gear. Why?

Royal New Zealand Navy – New Zealand’s navy has been assisting in the salvage of a grounded vessel leaking oil off its shore.

US Navy – An essay on the challenges of wargaming network centric warfare.


Sunday, February 17, 2002

US Navy – The USS John F. Kennedy continues to work up with her air wing.

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy intercepted and sunk a vessel in the Arabian Sea that was smuggling drugs.

US Coast Guard – A 10 part series on the difficulties in attempting to enforce homeland security.

US Navy – An essay on what is wrong with wargaming in the US Navy today – an over reliance on technology, rather than human analysis, in the games.


Friday, February 15, 2002

US Navy – The Streetfighter concept – for a Littoral Combat Ship – is moving ahead.

Russian Navy – The Russian Navy is moving ahead with the design of 4th generation nuclear attack submarines.

US Coast Guard – Flying search and rescue missions with the US Coast Guard in Alaska.


Thursday, February 14, 2002

US Navy – William Arkin on the latest numbers on who did what in the air war in Afghanistan.

US Marines – The role played by the US Marines Chemical and Biological Incident Response Team in the Anthrax attack on the US Capitol.

Background – Terrorism – Why tracking down terrorists in Europe is so difficult???using Germany as an example.


Wednesday, February 13, 2002

Royal Navy – HMS Vanguard, part of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, begins her first major refit.

US Marines – The status of the US Marine Corps reserve.

Background – Smart Weapons – James F. Dunnigan on why the US continues to have such a shortage of smart weapons.


Tuesday, February 12, 2002

Background – Open Source Intelligence – The history of open source intelligence in the US military.

US Navy – The USS Theodore Roosevelt may set a record for consecutive days at sea.

Canadian Navy – HMCS Halifax has returned from the Arabian Sea.

Background – Budget – William Arkin on how the new defense budget discourages transformation.


Monday, February 11, 2002

US Coast Guard – Aboard the USCGC Albacore, being pushed beyond its limits.

US Navy – P-3C and EP-3 Orion aircraft continue their surveillance of Somalia and Yemen.

Canadian Navy – HMCS Victoria, Canada’s first Upholder-class submarine, remains in drydock undergoing refitting, which is running significantly longer than expected. It has been over a year since it arrived in Canada.

US Navy – The MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter is slowly entering service.

US Navy – The Chief of Naval Operations on why funding readiness is more important than funding new ships.

Background – Transformation – Transformation *is* occuring, just more slowly than hoped for???

Background – Saudi Arabia and Egypt – How to help choke off terrorism – tell the governments of Egypt and Saudi Arabia to stop their anti-American diatribe. Thomas Friedman agrees and says these countries need to see the truth for their own good.


Sunday, February 10, 2002

US Navy – A description of the sorts of special operations that US Navy SEALs have been performing in Afghanistan.

US Navy – Lessons learned for the submarine community, one year after the accidental sinking of the Ehime Maru.

Canadian Navy – HMCS Vancouver has seized a tanker suspected of smuggling oil out of Iraq, in violation of UN sanctions.


Saturday, February 9, 2002

US Navy – An EA-6B Prowler squadron’s members return from Afghanistan.

Russian Navy – The presence of ice on the Kursk is hindering its scrapping.

Royal Navy – An interview with First Sea Lord Admiral Sir Nigel Essenhigh.


Friday, February 8, 2002

US Navy – The USS Mount Whitney will participate in Exercise Strong Resolve 2002, an operation other than war exercise, in the Baltic.

US Navy – The top Pakistani general visited the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

US Navy – An overview of the capabilities of the upcoming LPD-17 class.

Background – Military Internet Use – James F. Dunnigan on why the Internet gives officers tasked with guarding operational security ulcers.

Background – Terrorism – A former CIA agent argues the only way to fight terrorism is with overwhelming force.


Thursday, February 7, 2002

German Navy – The German Navy’s largest deployment since World War II is taking place off the Horn of Africa in support of the war against terrorism.

US Navy – The US Navy has elected to purchase other things than new ships in its next budget.

Background – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – William Arkin on the threats faced by UAV’s from both friends and foes.

Background – Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) – Just exactly who does have WMD?


Wednesday, February 6, 2002

Indian Navy – India hopes to sign a lease with Russia for two nuclear submarines.

US Navy – The USS John F. Kennedy nearly collied with the oiler USS Leroy Grumman during underway replenishment operations.

US Marines – US Marines are helping to guard the Newport News ship yard.

Chinese Navy – The Chinese are about to test again their new sea-launched ballistic missile, the JL-2.


Tuesday, February 5, 2002

US Navy – The airfield on Midway Island, currently run by a private company, may close.

US Marines – The US Marines helicopter fleet is rapidly reaching block obsolescence.

US Navy – The USS John F Kennedy will begin sea trials this week.

Background – Targeting – The ultimate goal – decrease the time from sensor to shooter to minutes, if not seconds???

Background – Turkey – How important is Turkey as an ally? Very important.


Monday, February 4, 2002

US Marines – US Marines are participating in Exercise Edged Mallet in Kenya.

Royal Air Force – RAF Rescue helicopters rescued crewman from a number of sinking vessels during some fierce storms off of England.

Background – Enduring Freedom – A summary of Operation Enduring Freedom to date, from the US Air Force’s perspective. To read this article, you’d never know the US Navy was even involved. Always interesting to read the other service’s point of view!

Background – NATO – Thomas Friedman on how our NATO allies are becoming irrelevant to the US due to their antiquated military technology.


Sunday, February 3, 2002

Here is some leisurely Sunday reading material???

Background – Special Operations / Black Hawk Down – I have recently seen the movie "Black Hawk Down," and I commend it to anyone who is interested in special operations. I suspect that this highly realistic movie is as close as one can come to experiencing a special operation short of actually being on one.

The situation in Somalia in 1993 is somewhat similar to the situation in Afghanistan today. The original mission in Somalia was humanitarian relief, that was changed to nation building which was opposed by hostile warlords. In Afghanistan the original mission was war, and it is now evolving into nation building, which is also being opposed by hostile warlords.

What lessons were learned in Somalia that can be applied to Afghanistan? Here are some articles on Somalia that supply the necessary background.

  • PBS Frontline documentary: Ambush in Mogadishu – The interviews with the key players in this documentary are fascinating reading for deriving lessons learned.
  • Philadelphia Inquirer: Black Hawk Down – This is the original newspaper series.

Saturday, February 2, 2002

US Navy – How US Navy ships can be defended against unconventional threats.

US Navy – A ship-based anti-ballistic missile system successfully completed a test firing.

Background – Afghanistan – James F Dunnigan on how the drug trade is more important that hunting al Qaeda members to many Pushtuns.


Friday, February 1, 2002

US Coast Guard – The US Coast Guard needs faster patrol boats to keep up with its foes.

US Navy – The operations of the US Navy attack submarine force will again move into the black world.

Royal Air Force – Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft conversion work continues forward at a glacial pace.


Thursday, January 31, 2002

Royal New Zealand Navy – The Royal New Zealand Navy hopes to construct 3 new vessels: a multirole vessel capable of carrying troops and equipment, and two offshore patrol vessels. These 3 vessels will be built instead of a third new frigate.

Canadian Navy – Sabotage against Canadian Navy helicopters appears to be confined to only 1 aircraft.

US Navy – The John F. Kennedy’s air wing is perfoming its final predeployment workup, without its carrier.

Background – Afghanistan – Who exactly was lifted out of Afghanistan and into Pakistan when the Taliban collapsed in southern Afghanistan in December? An analysis of the politico-military situation inside Pakistan today.


Wednesday, January 30, 2002

Royal Navy – A little gunboat diplomacy between the Royal Navy and the Spanish Coast Guard off Gibraltar.

Indian Navy – How the Indian Navy may obtain a nuclear strike capability.

US Navy – More details on the USS Greeneville’s collision with the USS Ogden.

US Navy – The US Navy’s senior leaders have been told to ask for more new shipbuilding funds.

Background – Terrorism – Thomas Friedman on how the West must begin to understand what is happening in its own backyard, in the chemical reaction between Western societies and their own mosques and Muslim diasporas.


Tuesday, January 29, 2002

US Navy – The USS Greeneville has collided with the USS Ogden in the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – The crew of the USS John F. Kennedy are working hard to get ready to deploy.

Canadian Coast Guard – Canadians must do more to defend their shores against terrorism.

Background – Afghanistan – The current situation on the ground faced by special forces in Afghanistan, with commentary by the editor of Jane’s World Armies.

Background – Secretary Rumsfield – William Arkin argues the US Secretary of Defense has been more talk than action in terms of transforming the military over the last year.


Monday, January 28, 2002

US Navy – Over the Arabian Sea, on patrol with US Navy P-3C Orions, looking for Al-Qaida members trying to flee Afghanistan by ship.

US Marines – What the Taliban’s caves looked like to the US Marines searching them.

US Navy – The USS Peleliu amphibious ready group will take a shore leave in Australia.

Background – Saudi Arabia – Has the time come for the US to leave Saudi Arabia?

Background – Cryptography – Why and how the balance of power has shifted between the codemakers and the codebreakers – and the national security implications of this.


Sunday, January 27, 2002

US Coast Guard – There are felt to be numerous terrorist targetson the Great Lakes, including locks, ports, and nuclear power plants.

Russian Navy – The disassembly of the Kursk continues.

US Navy – The USS John F Kennedy battlegroup will not go to sea until it is ready.

Canadian Navy – HMCS Halifax is on its way home from the Arabian Sea.


Saturday, January 26, 2002

Chinese Air Force – The Chinese are outfitting their Su-30 attack aircraft with antiship cruise missiles, thus giving their air force a more potent antiship strike capability.

US Merchant Marine – The Bush administration has admitted there is a huge shortage of US Merchant Marine sailors to man the Ready Reserve Force of merchant ships in time of war.

US Marines – The current plans to resume MV-22 Osprey flight testing.


Friday, January 25, 2002

Russian Navy – The latest review of what is known about the Kursk incident, concluding that the explosion that sunk her came from within due to the volitility of the liquid hydrogen peroxide fuel used in its torpedoes. It asks: can this happen again?

Canadian Navy – At sea aboard HMCS Iroquois. The Canadian’s Sea King helicopters are performing suprisingly well.

US Navy – Siblings serving together aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Background – al Qaeda – An analysis of the leadership and management style of Osama Bin Laden, and how that has contributed to al Qaeda’s success.


Thursday, January 24, 2002

US Navy – The USS Peleliu amphibious ready group has been replaced by the USS Bon Homme Richard amphibious ready group in the Arabian Sea.

US Marines – The US Marines say the recent spate of helicopter crashes is not related to the chronic underfunding of maintenence that has plagued the services for the last few years.

Canadian Navy – At sea, aboard HMCS Vancouver.

US Navy – How coalition forces work in close concert in the Arabian Sea.


Wednesday, January 23, 2002

Canadian Navy – Plans are being worked out to keep a Canadian Navy presence in the Arabian Sea until 2003.

Background – Ports – More on why US ports make tempting terrorist targets.

Background – Special Forces – More details on Special Forces operations in Afghanistan.


Tuesday, January 22, 2002

Chinese Navy – China has ordered two additional Russian Sovremenny destroyers to augment the pair it deployed in late 2000.

US Navy – The maintainence woes aboard the USS John F. Kennedy are longstanding, and are the result of too little maintainence funding for too long.

US Navy – The US Navy is extensively using satellite communications capabilities based in Auckland, New Zealand.

Background – Afghanistan – James F. Dunnigan on how to get your way in Afghanistan – bribery.


Monday, January 21, 2002

2001 World Naval Operational News Highlights

  • The biggest story this year was the huge role that US and allied navies have played in the war on terrorism.
  • Several recurring themes were identified throughout this year’s naval news stories, many of which persist from last year:
    • The continuing enforcement of economic sanctions and no-fly zones against Iraq, who remains able to successfully circumvent the economic sanctions on the exporting of oil.
    • The Russian Navy promising – and failing – to rebound from its doldrums, this year abandoning its base in Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam.
    • Piracy in the South China Sea, which is worsening as Indonesia descends into anarchy.
    • The tension in the Taiwanese Straits between Taiwan and China.
    • Further consolidation of the US ship building industry.
    • The ascendency of the Indian Navy, demonstrated during this year’s International Fleet Review, and its suprising new alliance with the US Navy.
    • Territorial disputes over islands in the South China Sea, such as the Spratly Islands, which is what the EP-3 was really investigating.
    • Clampdown on the entry of illegal immigrants into countries, evidenced by the aggressive actions of the Malaysian and Royal Australian navies.
    • Underfunding of the US Coast Guard, which was unable to meet its missions before September 11, let alone after that date.
    • The woes of the MV-22 Osprey, which is desperately needed to replace the US Marines aging rotary wing force.
    • Concern over the damaging effect that certain types of sonars have on marine mammals.
  • The most professional amphibious operation of the year was the landing of US Marine Expeditionary Units within Afghanistan, several hundred miles from the sea.
  • The only ship-to-ship combat of the year was between the Sri Lankan Navy and the Tamil Tigers; and the Japanese Coast Guard and the (presumed) North Korean Navy.
  • The most intriguing naval news story of the year was that US nuclear attack submarines continue to carry out clandestine intelligence missions to place taps on undersea fiber optics cables to intercept data traffic on them.
  • The most strategically significant naval news story of the year is the "coming out" of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force with its first overseas deployment outside Japan since World War II, and how it may serve in the future as a counter balance to the Chinese Navy.
  • The most technically significant naval news story this year was the rise of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, and what its maritime applications will be, as demonstrated by the Global Hawk’s demonstration flight to Australia early in the year.
  • The most narrowly averted naval disaster of the year was the downing of the US Navy EP-3 intelligence aircraft by the Chinese Air Force, and the continuing harrassment of US intelligence aircraft since that incident.
  • The most tragic naval news story of the year was the accidental sinking of the Japanese fishing trawler by the USS Greeneville.
  • The most bizarre naval news story of the year was the inabilty of the Swedish Navy to go to sea for the last 7 months of the year because it had been banned from allowing its sailors to work overtime.
  • The most humorous naval news story of the year was the plight of the former Soviet aircraft carrier Varyag, which waited for years for permission to transit the Bosphorus Strait, and after doing so, broke its tow and went adrift for some distance in the Aegean before being successfully taken in tow again.
  • The most technically impressive naval news story of the year was the raising of the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk from the sea bed and her return to port for scrapping.
  • The quietest naval story of the year was the cancelation of the US Navy’s DD-21 class destroyers. This program seemed to have no clear supporters to oppose its cancelation.
  • The non-story of the year was the US defense review, which never reached any solid conclusions are resulted in any definite plans.
  • And finally, the naval news story of the year with the most potential long term significance was the dangerous overemphasis placed on avoiding collateral damage when making targeting decisions in Afghanistan by the US. What targets were missed in the name of "safety?"

Statistics

In 2001, there were news stories linked to on 311 / 365 days – that is on 85% of the days.

In 2001, NOSI linked to 1,077 articles covering 916 news stories.

The news stories linked to covered the operational activities of 43 nation’s navies, coast guards, and marine corps:

United States – 396 stories

United Kingdom – 75 stories

Russia – 54 stories

Australia – 30 stories

India – 29 stories

Canada – 21 stories

Taiwan – 20 stories

China – 14 stories

Japan – 12 stories

France – 9 stories

Malaysia – 9 stories

Sri Lanka – 6 stories

South Korea – 6 stories

Pakistan – 5 stories

Phillipines – 5 stories

Israel – 4 stories

Iran – 3 stories

Italy – 3 stories
Indonesia – 3 stories

Singapore – 3 stories
New Zealand – 3 stories
Turkey – 2 stories

Romania – 2 stories
Tamil Sea Tigers – 2 stories
Egypt – 2 stories

Argentina, Bahrain, Chile, Columbia, Denmark, Ghana, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Nigeria, North Korea, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uruguay, Venezuela – 1 story

???and 117 Background news stories

In 2001, 92,436 pages of information were read on NOSI by 39,079 users.


Sunday, January 20, 2002

US Marines – The US Marines have turned over their base at Kandahar airport to the 101st Airborne Division.

US Navy – The Carl Vinson battlegroup is returning home.

Royal Australian Navy – Should the RAN be given sole responsibilty for rescue of asylum-seekers in Australian waters?

Background – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – Defense contractors are bullish on the future prospects of UAVs.

Background – CIA – More on the CIA’s growing military capability and its use in the war on terrorism.


Saturday, January 19, 2002

US Navy – A US Navy EP-3 intelligence aircraft was again intercepted at close range by Chinese Air Force aircraft.

US Navy – The US Navy has been criticized for doing little to transform itself in the last year, in comparison to the US Army and US Air Force.

NATO – The NATO Submarine Rescue System design process is moving forward.


Friday, January 18, 2002

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy is willing to keep a contingent in the Arabian Sea indefinitely.

US Navy – Additional repairs to the USS John F Kennedy that are needed to bring her up to operational conditions may lengthen the stay of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in theater.

US Navy – More on how aircraft carriers have justified their continuing existence due to the war against terror.

Background – Targeting – William Arkin on how, in an effort to do everything possible to minimize civilian casualities, the US has been fighting the air war in Afghanistan with one arm tied behind its back.

Background – Supergun – The saga of the Iraqi Supergun continues – do they or don’t they have one?


Thursday, January 17, 2002

Canadian Navy – Life aboard the Canadian Navy supply ship HMCS Preserver in the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the Chief of Naval Operations stated that more money is needed to allow the Navy to continue to do its job properly.

US Marines – The new Marine camouflage pattern is now being issued.


Wednesday, January 16, 2002

US Marines – Life at Kandahar airport appears to not be very safe for US Marines – there are suspicions of tunnel complexes running through the airport and Marines fear they will soon come under attack.

US Marines – US Marines are hunting cave complexes in Eastern Afghanistan.

Canadian Navy – Canadian CP-140 Auroras are on patrol in the Arabian Sea.

US Marines – US special forces, including Navy SEALs and Marines, have landed in the Phillipines to aid the Phillipine government’s fight against Islamic terrorists.


Tuesday, January 15, 2002

US Navy – US sailors receive a pay raise in an attempt to retain more of them in service.

US Navy – The US Navy is considering converting a cruise ship which is under construction to a command and control ship.

German Navy – Germany naval units are participating in the patrols off Africa hunting for al Quaeda members. Speedboats have been recently sent to assist them.


Monday, January 14, 2002

US Navy – How garbage is disposed of from a US Navy aircraft carrier.

Palestinian Navy – The Palestinian Authority’s Navy has no useable ships left.

US Navy – The varied roles that women have aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

Royal Australian Navy – Meanwhile women are fleeing the Australian armed forces.


Sunday, January 13, 2002

Israeli Navy – The Israeli Navy has attacked a Palestinian Navy base in Gaza, destroying 2 patrol boats.

US Navy – More details have emerged about the plot to attack US warships in Singapore.

Royal Navy – It has been proposed the United Kingdom and Spain will share ownership of Gibraltar. No news on how this will effect the Royal Navy base there.

US Navy – Chemical warfare training aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt.


Saturday, January 12, 2002

US Navy – The USS John F. Kennedy will do her pre-deployment live fire training off of North Carolina and Virginia, and not off Vieques.

Canadian Navy – The Canadians are starting to rotate their ships in the Arabian Sea.

Royal Australian Navy – A RAN frigate’s crew has been accused of disorderly conduct during a shore leave on Christmas Island.

Background – Strategy – A defense lesson from Afghanistan for European nations, by analyst Edward Luttwak.


Friday, January 11, 2002

US Coast Guard – The US Coast Guard has received all of the US Navy’s Cyclone-class patrol craft to use in patrolling US shores and ports.


Thursday, January 10, 2002

Royal Navy – A program for upgrading the Royal Navy’s Trafalgar-class submarines is over budget and over time.

Indian Navy – India will be deploying new antiship missiles to counter new antiship missiles aboard new Chinese destroyers.

Background – Air bases – Why aircraft carriers are important – air bases are fleeting assets???while carriers are not.


Wednesday, January 9, 2002

US Navy – The EA-6B Prowler electronic warfare aircraft, though still highly capable, is beginning to get a bit long in the tooth???

US Navy – US allies in the Arabian Sea are playing a key role in maintaining the naval blockade against al-Qaida.

US Marines – With the Marines of the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Company on the ground in Afghanistan.

US Navy – Making the US Navy knowledge-centric to give it an edge over its adversaries will be a challenge, but is necessary.


Tuesday, January 8, 2002

Russian Navy – A Russian journalist and former naval officer has been found guilty for his stories on the illegal disposal of nuclear waste.

US Coast Guard – More details of how difficult it is to secure our ports.

Background – Strategy – A summary of the war to date.


Monday, January 7, 2002

Israeli Navy – More on the ship seized by Israeli Navy commandos suspected of trying to supply arms to the Palestinian Authority.

US Navy – The US Navy has admitted its sonars were responsible for harming whales during an exercise off the Bahamas in 2000.

Royal Navy – HMS Triumph, which fired some of the first cruise missiles to strike Afghanistan, has returned home from the Gulf.

Background – Saudi Arabia – Ralph Peters on how the Saudi’s are the US’s enemies, not it’s friends, and must be dealt with as part of the war against terrorism.


Sunday, January 6, 2002

US Navy – A terrorist plot against the USS Carl Vinson while on port call at Changi Naval Base in Singapore was foiled by the Singapore government.

US Marines Corps – Why the MV-22 Osprey remains important to the US Marines, and how useful it would have been in Afghanistan.

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The Japanese minesweeper Uraga has returned from its deployment to the Arabian Sea.

US Navy – How the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt celebrated New Years.


Saturday, January 5, 2002

US Navy – The life of a COD, a US Navy C-2 Greyhound Carrier Onboard Delivery plane.

US Navy – Aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt there is a multinational crew.

US Navy – The US Navy Chief of Naval Operations outlines his vision for where he wants the US Navy to go in the next few years.

US Navy – Commanders of the Navy’s Pacific and Atlantic fleets have sent a message to supervisors warning them not to disclose future ship movements.

Royal Australian Navy – An overview of the battle between the boat people who wish to emmigrate to Australia, and the government that wishes to keep them out, using its navy.


Friday, January 4, 2002

Israeli Navy – Israeli forces have seized a ship carrying weapons destined for the Palestinian Authority.

US Navy – Maritime patrol aircraft from the US, UK, and France are conducting extensive reconnaissance flights over Somalia.

US Navy – The USS Theodore Roosevelt has been at sea for 106 days.


Thursday, January 3, 2002

German Navy – A German task force has sailed to join the coalition task force in the Arabian Sea.

US Marines – Additional details on the recent Marine raid near Kandahar.

Background – US Ports – The difficulties faced in trying to secure US ports from terrorist attacks.


Wednesday, January 2, 2002

US Marines – The US Marines have searched a compound used by Mullah Omar.

US Navy – Aboard a US Navy P-3C keeping its eyes on possible routes of escape in the Arabian Sea.

Background – Strategy – William Arkin commenting on how the strategy followed by U.S. policymakers undermined the objective of bringing Osama bin Laden and the Taliban top leaders to justice.

To read news stories from previous months and years, use the calendar in the upper right hand corner of the page or use the Archive.

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