Archive July 2000 – December 2000
Sunday, December 31, 2000 |
Two good (and long) ways to end the year???
Background – Amphibious Warfare- A rather long-winded essay on the state of the art in amphibious warfare.
US Navy – ???and a four year old report that is still relavent – life aboard the nuclear ballistic missile submarine USS Florida.
- MSNBC: Standing nuclear watch
Saturday, December 30, 2000 |
Indian Navy – INS Sindhushastra, the first Indian submarine capable of firing Klub anti-shipping
cruise missiles, has arrived in India.
- The Hindu: Klub-capable submarines
South African Navy – The South African Navy’s first tactical exercise in many years, performed with the German Navy, has taught it many valuable lessons.
South African Navy – The South African Navy will acquire three Class 209 Type 1400 MOD submarines from Germany, to complement the purchase of four Meko A200 patrol corvettes..
Friday, December 29, 2000 |
French Navy – the French Navy has placed an order for 2 multipurpose amphibious warfare ships to replace the Orage and Ouragan. These ships will be similar to US Navy LHAs/LHDs.
US Marines Through emerging concepts like Operational Maneuver from the Sea and Ship-to-Objective Maneuver, the US Marines are expanding their expeditionary reach.
Thursday, December 28, 2000 |
Background: The World in 2015 – A summary of the CIA’s Global Trends 2015 report, on what the world will look like in 15 years, and what threats the US will face.
Indian Navy – While indigineous attempts to build a nuclear submarine are still a dream, India may attempt to again lease a nuclear submarine from Russia in order to perserve its nuclear know-how.
Wednesday, December 27, 2000 |
Chinese Navy – A well reasoned essay on why the Chinese can never successfully invade Taiwan.
- Strategy Page: China and the forgotten anniversary
Russian Navy – The Russian Navy has started shakedown tests on its 13th Akula-class nuclear attack submarine.
Canadian Navy HMCS Charlottetown will join the Truman battle group for its 6 month deployment, the 3rd time a Canadian vessel has served as an integrated member of a US battle group
US Navy – A review of Navy Secretary Danzig’s contributions.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy Secretary Richard Danzig – Beyond the status quo
Indian Navy – The Indian Navy will be setting up a Far Eastern Command, to aid its operations within the Indian Ocean.
- The Hindu: Far eastern naval command on the anvil
Brazilian Navy – The Oberon-class submarine Tonelero sank at its moorings apparently due to a valve malfunction in the hydraulic system .
Saturday, December 23, 2000 |
Royal Navy – It will take 12 months to repair all of the Royal Navy’s nuclear attack submarines which have cracks in their reactor piping.
Royal Australian Navy – The US has threatened to downgrade military co-operation with Australia if European companies obtain an ownership stake in the Australian Submarine Corporation.
- The Australian: US threat to sink strategic alliance
French Navy – The French government has confirmed that the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle’s propellers were poorly made.
- Agence French Press: France’s jinxed aircraft carrier: propellers badly manufactured
US Navy – US Navy ships have resumed making short port calls in the Persian Gulf.
Thursday, December 21, 2000 |
US Navy – The USS Harry S Truman canceled a port visit to Naples, Italy after a terrorist threat was made to the base.
- CNN: Port visit for U.S. warship diverted after terrorist threat
- MSNBC: U.S. Navy base put on high alert
US Navy – A review of the accomplishments of departing Navy Secretary Richard Danzig over the last 2 years.
- San Diego Union Tribune: Navy secretary proved an able reformer
Wednesday, December 20, 2000 |
Israeli Navy – Israel’s 3 new submarines are at sea, on alert for a possible war with Syria. The submarines are rumored to be armed with nuclear tipped missiles.
- Jerusalem Post: Israeli submarines said to be placed on high alert
Indian Navy – The Indian Navy and Coast Guard will receive additional assests to help curb infiltration near Mandapam by Tamil Tigers.
Asia-Pacific – Background
- International Herald Tribune: Japan and Australia Expect Gains in Asia-Pacific Security
Tuesday, December 19, 2000 |
US Coast Guard – US Coast Guard helicopters rescued thirty-four crew members from the cruise ship Seabreeze 1 off Virginia. There were no passengers onboard.
- BBC: Cruise ship crew survive storm ordeal
- CNN: Cruise ship sinks day after crew rescued
- Virginian Pilot: Risk pays off in Coast Guard rescue
Monday, December 18, 2000 |
Royal Navy – The Royal Navy is being forced to mothball HMS Invincible because it does not have the funds to operate her.
- Daily Telegraph: Fighting Invincible to be mothballed
Russian Navy – The Russian and US Navies will cooperate on developing joint submarine rescue teams.
- Agence France Presse: Russia and the United States to Cooperate on Sub-Rescue Teams
Friday, December 15, 2000 |
Royal Australian Navy – Two Collins-class submarines reported for duty today, after being upgraded to limited operational capability. All 6 Collins-class submarines still need completely new combat systems.
Thursday, December 14, 2000 |
US Navy – The Chagos islanders, who won the right to return to their homeland last month, will now sue the US for compensation for being illegally thrown off their island home. The US admits it cannot stop them from resettling on their home islands, but will not allow then to return to Diego Garcia itself.
- The Guardian: Diego Garcia exiles to seek £4bn from US
Wednesday, December 13, 2000 |
US Marines – After another fatal crash of the MV-22 Osprey, the Marine Corps has grounded the aircraft again.
- Washington Post: Marines suspend Osprey flights after crash
Taiwanese Navy – The Taiwanese Navy states that most of its S-2T Tracker antisubmarine warfare planes are not in flying condition any more and would like to replace them with P-3C Orions.
- Taipei Times: Navy warns planes are falling apart
Tuesday, December 12, 2000 |
Nigerian Navy – The Nigerian Navy has been instructed to sink any vessels caught stealing oil from its oil export terminals.
Sri Lankan Navy – The Sri Lankan Navy celebrated its 50th birthday by commissioning 3 vessels – an off-shore patrol vessel and 2 deep sea patrol ships.
Monday, December 11, 2000 |
Royal Navy – Security will be beefed up at Faslane for the Trident force stationed there; the Royal Marine Fleet Marine Protection Group will be moving into new headquarters there in the spring.
Sunday, December 10, 2000 |
Canadian Navy – Enforcing its sovereignty over Arctic territory will be costly for the Canadian military.
- Ottawa Citizen: Arctic defence costs could cripple military
US Navy – The US Navy’s investigation into the USS Cole bombing has found that security was lax on the Cole.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy finds Cole lax on security
Pacific – Background – The navies of Pacific states are beginning to cooperate to handle the non-traditional threats that their countries face.
- International Herald Tribune: Asia-Pacific Military Cooperation Is a Good Work in Progress
Saturday, December 9, 2000 |
Canadian Navy – As the size of its military force decreases, Canada is rapidly losing its ability to police its own sovereignty in the Arctic.
- Ottawa Citizen: Arctic sovereignty at risk
US Navy – Security is being tightened at Norfolk Naval Base.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy boosts security at Norfolk with barrels, signs
French Navy – The problem with the propellors on the aircraft carrier Charles De Galle may be due to corruption in the French government.
- Times of London: Procurement scandal puts French carrier in dock
Royal Navy – The Spanish government has asked the British government to remove the damaged nuclear attack submarine HMS Tireless from Gibraltar, the British have refused.
US Navy – More details about the buzzing of the USS Kitty Hawk by Russian aircraft.
- Washington Times: US ship took 40 minutes to respond to order
Thursday, December 7, 2000 |
US Coast Guard – The US Coast Guard has activated a reserve port security team to go to the Persian Gulf and secure a port there so US Navy ships can dock and give their crews shore leave. Since the bombing of the USS Cole, US Navy ships in the Gulf have been at sea continuously, with the exception of replenishment ships.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy, Coast Guard security force to go to gulf
Indian Navy – The Chief of the Naval Staff of India has outlined two themes for the coming years: "building bridges of friendship across the seas" and "self reliance through indigenisation."
US Navy Exercise Joint Endeavor North 2000 is a completely computer run exercise involving the US and Norwegian navies.
- Virginian Pilot: US, Norway test joint battle readiness
Wednesday, December 6, 2000 |
US Navy – First person accounts of the attack on the USS Cole.
- USA Today: Personal stories surface after Cole blast
Indonesia Navy – 37 Indonesia Navy ships are deployed around Papau to discourage its citizens from seeking independence.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Indonesian warships deployed around Papua
Chinese Navy – The Chinese Navy will not attend the Indian International Fleet Review in February 2001.
- Indian Express: Maritime diplomacy runs aground as China backs off fleet review
Tuesday, December 5, 2000 |
Canadian Navy – The destroyer HMCS Huron will laid up for an indefinite time, as there are not enough sailors to man her.
- The Lookout: Huron parked
Taiwanese Navy – Interesting insight into the acquisition mindset of the Taiwanese Navy – " The less you do, the less mistakes you make."
- Taipei Times: Navy confirms interest in Kidd-class destroyers
Indian Navy – Navy Day in India was celebrated with a display of Indian Navy firepower
- The Hindu: Naval might on display
Monday, December 4, 2000 |
Columbian Navy – The story behind the submarine being built by Columbian drug lords with Russian submariners’ help to smuggle drugs into the US.
- New York Times Magazine: The submarine next door
Canadian Navy – HMCS Victoria, the first of the Upholder-class attack submarines transferred from the Royal Navy to the Canadian Navy, has been commissioned.
- Daily News: Navy welcomes new ‘racing car’
- Halifax Herald: First new sub enters service
Yemen – Background – It now appears that those who attacked the USS Cole were veterans of the war in Afganistan.
- Washington Post: Cole attack rooted in Afghan War
Sunday, December 3, 2000 |
Canadian Navy – The Halifax-class frigates will be updated to use the evolved Sea Sparrow missile.
- Ottawa Citizen: Missile upgrade will beef up frigates’ defence
Russian Navy – The Baltic Fleet will take to sea for only one exercise in 2001.
- Military News Agency: Baltic Fleet to Hold Own Training Voyage, Take Part in NATO Exercise
Indian Navy – The Indian Navy will commission 9 warships and 4 spy planes in 2001.
- Agency French Presse: India to commission nine warships, four spy planes in 2001
US Navy – The US Navy estimates it will cost $240 million to repair the USS Cole.
- Washington Post: Navy estimate for Cole repairs is $240 million
Saturday, December 2, 2000 |
Russian Marines – the head of the Russian Marines reflects on combat lessons learned recently in Checnya.
- BBC Monitoring: Russian Marines Apply Lessons of Chechnya to Combat Training
Israeli Navy – The Commander-in-Chief of the Israeli Navy describes his plans for their 3 new Dolphin-class submarines.
Friday, December 1, 2000 |
Russian Navy – The Norwegian Navy’s timeline of the Kursk incident, and their lessons learned from it.
- Jane’s: Learning lessons from the Kursk
Thursday, November 30, 2000 |
Norwegian Merchant Marine – Why the US and Russian navies have come to rely on Norwegian merchant shipping to help them out in difficult situations.
- Associated Press: Norwegian ships ready if disaster hits
Indian and Japanese Coast Guards – have been exercising together.
- The Hindu: Safety at sea, their common mission
Wednesday, November 29, 2000 |
US Navy – A video documentary, with a large number of clips, depicting life aboard a ballistic missile submarine, the USS Wyoming.
- C-SPAN: Aboard a boomer: The USS Wyoming
South African Navy – Fisherman shipwrecked on Gough Island have been rescued by the South African Navy.
- Daily Telegraph: Helicopter saves three on rocks in Atlantic
US Coast Guard – An interview with the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, outlining their ever-expanding roles.
Tuesday, November 28, 2000 |
US Navy – The USS Harry S. Truman carrier battle group and USS Nassau amphibious ready group have set sail from Norfolk for the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf. They will be relieving the USS George Washington carrier battle group and the USS Saipan amphibious ready group.
- Virginian Pilot: Truman battlegroup sets sail today
Monday, November 27, 2000 |
US Navy – Port security at most US Navy ports is lax. Bahrain, headquarters of the 5th Fleet, is an exception to the rule.
- US News and World Report: A lesson in readiness: Could the bombing of the USS Cole been prevented?
US Navy – Aboard the command ship USS Coronado, new experiments are being conducted in command and control.
- Los Angeles Times: Navy takes a scene out of Hollywood
Japanese Navy – A former Japanese naval officer accused of leaking US and Japanese naval secrets to a Russian military attache has pleaded guilty.
Sunday, November 26, 2000 |
Indian Navy – The second of three Krivak-class frigates built in Russia for India was launched yesterday.
- The Hindu: INS Trishul launched in Russian waters
Australian and New Zealand Navies – A combined Australian and New Zealand defence force is being proposed as the most effective means of ensuring security in the region.
Chinese Navy – Russia turned over to China the second of two Sovremenny class destroyers China has ordered from Russa.
- Associated Press: China takes delivery of Russian destroyer
South African Navy – SAS Protea is steaming to Gough Island to rescue 3 fisherman who have been stranded there for 7 days due to a fishing accident.
- Sunday Times of South Africa: MAYDAY: Navy’s frantic bid to save stranded fisherman.
Saturday, November 25, 2000 |
French Navy – The aircraft carrier Charles de Galle will be out of action until the spring, due to what is believed to be a defect in the design or metal of its propellers.
US Navy – The USS Hawes became the first US warship to transit the Suez Canal since the attack on the USS Cole.
Russian Navy – The Russian Navy is using explosions set off near the Kursk to prevent other navies from getting too close to the sunken submarine.
Thursday, November 23, 2000 |
Russian Navy – Russian-flagged cargo ships are spying on US and Canadian naval operations in the waters off Washington State and British Columbia.
- National Post: Russian spy ships operating off B.C. coast: CIA
Israeli Navy – the Israeli Navy has a contingency plan to evacuate Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip by sea if necessary.
- Jerusalem Post: Navy has contingency plan to evacuate Gaza settlers by sea
Wednesday, November 22, 2000 |
Malaysian Navy – the Malaysian Navy has stepped up patrols by its Special Forces, or Paskal, to protect its islands on which holiday resorts are located from attack by pirates based in the Phillipines.
- Christian Science Monitor:
To save divers’ paradise, Malaysia fights lawlessness
US Navy – the USS Cole attack, placed in a thoughful "big picture" perspective by William Arkin.
- Washington Post: The five stages of tragedy
Tuesday, November 21, 2000 |
Royal Navy – Security is not what is should be in the Royal Navy as well as the US Navy, as some retired folks out for a drive penetrated the security of Faslane, where the Royal Navy’s Trident nuclear deterrent is kept.
- Daily Telegraph: Pensioners breach Faslane defences
Royal Navy – 30 Royal Navy ships, 100 RAF aircraft, and Army troops are taking part in a 6 week exercise, Operation Swift Sword, with the armed forces of Oman.
Royal Navy – The new Merlin helicopter has been grounded due to a recent crash whose cause is yet to be determined.
- Daily Telegraph: Crash grounds new Navy helicopters
Monday, November 20, 2000 |
Royal Navy – a lack of combat ready pilots has grounded over one quarter of the Royal Navy’s Sea Harriers.
- Daily Telegraph: Lack of combat-ready pilots grounds Navy’s Sea Harriers
Royal Navy – it has been discovered that HMS Tireless, the Trafalgar-class nuclear attack submarine currently docked in Gibraltar awaiting repairs, was much closer to a meltdown of its nuclear reactor than was previously admittted.
- Times of London: Nuclear sub ‘came close to meltdown’
Royal Navy – 18 ships of the Royal Navy have been pledged to the new European Union rapid reaction force.
- Times of London: British forces to bear EU stars insignia
Royal Navy – due to a fire on HMS Fearless, HMS Argus is now part of the Amphibious Ready Group off Sierra Leone.
- Daily Telegraph: Desperate Navy sends training ship into action
US Navy – the US Navy’s Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) communications system was sabotaged by protestors last year and was disabled for 24 hours. This is the fifth time the system has been vandalized.
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinnel: ELF case may turn the tables
Friday, November 17, 2000 |
French Navy – the French carrier Charles De Gaulle has achieved an initial operating capability. Unfortunately, while exercising in the Carribean, the ship has suffered propeller problems which forced it to return early to its base in Toulon for repairs. Meanwhile the Aeronavale faces new challenges as a new era of French naval aviation begins with the impending deployment of the Rafale.
- Janes’: France expands reach as carrier takes up role
- Virginian Pilot: French carrier won’t stop in Norfolk after breaking propeller
- Janes’: Aeronavale faces multirole challenge
Thursday, November 16, 2000 |
South Korean Navy – North Korea claims that South Korean Navy ships are violating its territorial waters in a bid to reignite tensions between the 2 countries.
- Associated Press: N. Korea says South violates waters
Brazilian Navy – The French Navy has turned over the aircraft carrier Foch to the Brazilian Navy, which will operate A-4 Skyhawks from it.
Indian Navy – the Indian Navy is participating in exercises simulating the defence of Gujarat.
- Times of India: Five day military exercises begin in Gujarat
US Navy – the US Navy states that it is usual for sentries on its ships to not carry loaded weapons.
- Washington Times: Lookouts on USS Cole carried empty weapons
Taiwan – Background – a cogent description of the threat Taiwan faces from Chinese ballistic missiles, and how the Chinese intend to regain Taiwan through force.
- Washington Times: China prepares for war with the US over Taiwan
Wednesday, November 15, 2000 |
Sorry for the gap, but I’ve been hard at work on a number of other projects lately. I’ll resume updates today, and catch up the last 10 days in the next day or so.
Royal Navy – 42 Commando Royal Marines from the HMS Ocean amphibious ready group have arrived again off of Sierra Leone, and are carrying out "show of force" amphibious exercises. The British Army, meanwhile, is helping to plan a major offensive against the rebels.
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): British Army plots downfall of rebels in Sierra Leone
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): British show of strength to deter Sierra Leone’s rebels
Russian Navy – The Russians are boasting that their aircraft are shadowing and harrassing the USS Kitty Hawk battlegroup in the Sea of Japan.
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Russian planes buzzed US carrier 3 times
Saturday, November 4, 2000 |
US Navy – The inhabitants of the Chagos Islands, which includes Diego Garcia, were unlawfully evicted from their homes in the late 1960’s, a High Court judge in London has ruled. The islanders are to be returned to their original homes immediately. It is unclear what is to become of the air and naval base on Diego Garcia itself???
Royal Navy – Further information on the "generic defect" that is found in the nuclear reactors of all Royal Navy SSN’s.
US Navy – A further listing of operational readiness problems in the fleet due to budget shortfalls???
- Washington Times: ‘Drastic cutbacks’ hurt Navy readiness
Friday, November 3, 2000 |
Sorry, no news today as I’m down with the flu. I should be back on-line by Saturday.
Thursday, November 2, 2000 |
US Navy – Life aboard the ballistic missile submarine USS Rhode Island – how they train to avoid the fate of the Kursk.
- Florida Times Union: Crew trains to avoid Kursk fate
US Navy – The USS Cole is loaded aboard the Blue Marlin for the trip home.
- Virginian Pilot: Cole loaded for trip home
US Navy – The Service Life Extension Program for the Landing Craft Air Cushion vehicles is being modified to speed up the process and reduce its cost.
- Janes: US Navy redefines LCAC SLEP
Wednesday, November 1, 2000 |
US Navy – US Navy ships have been temporarily forbidden to transit the Suez Canal. This is putting a definite crimp on the ability to shift US forces between the Mediterranean and the Gulf.
US Navy – Two interviews with Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig, in which he paints his vision of an Internet-enabled US Navy as well as the future of the US Navy.
- Red Herring: Richard Danzig creates a sea change
- Janes’: Richard Danzig, Secretary of the Navy
Tuesday, October 31, 2000 |
US Navy – The USS Cole is on her way home.
- Washington Post: USS Cole departs ‘proudly’, with help
Royal Navy – The HMS Ocean amphibious ready group is on its way to Sierra Leone.
- Times of London: Britain sends 600 Royal Marines to Sierra Leone
Monday, October 30, 2000 |
US Navy – The USS Kitty Hawk battle group is exercising in Operation Foal Eagle, off Korea.
- Stars and Stripes: Kitty Hawk planes hunt subs as part of Foal Eagle exercise
US Navy – The USS Harry Truman is ready to make its first operational deployment. Construction on the ship was started in 1989, the keel was laid in 1993???
- Virginian Pilot: Carrier Truman is ready for initial deployment
Indian Navy – How and why the Indian and Pakistani navies should get along.
- Rediff: The road to good neighborliness
Indian Navy – The Chief of the Naval Staff of India feels his country is failing to take advantage of the potential of the Indian Ocean.
- The Hindu: Country neglecting potential of Indian Ocean
Sunday, October 29, 2000 |
Royal Navy – The Royal Navy is sending a task force back to Sierra Leone, headed by HMS Ocean which is in the Mediterranean and has 42 Commando embarked. The UN has requested these troops, which will remain off shore as a rapid reaction force.
- BBC News: Britain prepares Sierra Leone force
- Times of London (registration required): UK to send task force to Sierra Leone
US Navy – First person accounts of the attack on the USS Cole.
- Washington Post: ‘I just didn’t want to die on the ship’
US Navy – The US Navy is interested in basing nuclear attack submarines on Guam.
- Stars and Stripes: Navy wants subs based in Guam
US Navy – The USS O’Brien is delivering humanitarian aid to East Timor.
- Associated Press: US ship brings aid to East Timor
Royal Navy – While the stranded HMS Tireless in Gibraltar continues to cause controversy, there is more information now available about what is wrong with her reactor and how serious it is.
- BBC News: Experts to discuss crippled UK sub
- Guardian: Nuclear sub was hours from meltdown
Friday, October 27, 2000 |
OK, this brings us up-to-date:
US Navy – The US Navy has given up on saving the LST USS LaMoure County, and will have her towed to a port in Chile and scrapped.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy gives up on saving ship grounded near Chile
- Virginian Pilot: LaMoure County sailors to return Saturday
US Navy – The USS Cole will be placed on a Norwegian transport ship Blue Marlin and shipped back to the US for repairs. Meanwhile, Janes’ points out that this sort of event is to be expected as the US Navy shifts to more and more operations involving the littorals???
- CNN: Transport ship for USS Cole to arrive in Aden on Saturday
- Janes: Attack on US ship shows vulnerabilities
Yemen – Background – how the Yemeni’s feel about the US in their country.
- Washington Post: Influx of U.S. Personnel Makes Yemenis Wince
US Navy???Meanwhile, an investigative report reveals that security is extremely loose around US Navy ships at ports in the United States.
- ABC News: Naval insecurity
- ABC News: Testing the waters
Royal Australian Navy – the RAN is considering construction of a Littoral Support Ship, to help it in future interventions in Asia.
- Sydney Morning Herald: New breed of aircraft carrier grabs the Navy’s attention
Royal Navy – the RN has recalled all its nuclear powered attack submarines for safety checks on their reactors.
Russian Navy – Again, the lack of funds is the Russian Navy’s fundamental problem.
- Washington Post: Russia’s submarine disaster may be tied to economic pressures
Sri Lankan Navy – Tamil Tiger rebels attacked and sank a Sri Lankan naval vessel in Trincomalee harbor.
- The Hindu: LTTE destroys naval craft
Thursday, October 26, 2000 |
I hope to perform a catch-up of naval news tomorrow. In the interim???
Russian Navy – There were 23 survivors of the Kursk’s explosion, according to a note found on the body of one of the sailors who has been recovered by divers.
- BBC News: Kursk survivors’ slow death
Wednesday, October 25, 2000 |
I’m back from an excellent meeting in Germany. I hope to do a full update / catch-up on Thursday or Friday, but here are 2 stories to get us going again???
U.S. Navy – How the USS Cole disaster should have been avoided???
- Washington Post – William Arkin: Why Americans died in Yemen
Russian Navy – Russian and Norwegian divers are attempting to retrieve the Russian sailors’ bodies from the Kursk.
- BBC News: Divers cut hole in Kursk
Saturday, October 14, 2000 |
This is the last NOSI update until Tuesday October 24.
US Navy – Latest on the USS Cole
- Washington Post: Yemenis insist accident caused USS Cole blast
- Washington Post: Officers say ship was an easy mark
- Virginian Pilot: Threatening signs have been growing in turbulet, poor Yemen
- Washington Times: Officer calls refueling stop at Aden port ‘buffoonery’
Friday, October 13, 2000 |
US Navy – More news on the apparent terrorist attack on the USS Cole. The Cole was on its way to the Gulf to join in enforcing the oil embargo preventing Iraq from exporting oil except under UN supervision.
- BBC News: Blast holes US warship
- BBC News: Policing the Gulf
- Time: Attack on US ship signals new wave of terror
- CNN: Pentagon suspects terrorism in blast that tore into US destroyer
Thursday, October 12, 2000 |
US Navy – Breaking News – The USS Cole, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, was attacked by an explosive laden zodiac boat while in harbor in Aden. There are at least 4 US Sailors dead and 20-30 injured. There is a large hole in the hull but the ship is not in danger of sinking.
US Navy – the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Monterey has become the second "smart ship," with fewer problems so far than the first "smart ship."
- Virginian Pilot: Guided-missile cruiser Monterey becomes ‘Smart Ship’
Royal Navy – One third of the Royal Navy’s Sea Harrier pilots are threatening to resign rather than move to new bases under RAF control.
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Harrier pilots threaten to quit
Tuesday, October 10, 2000 |
A few minutes for a quick update, after all???
US Navy – The US Navy chose EDS to install and operate the Navy Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI). NMCI, once deployed, with give the Navy and Marine Corps a single world wide intranet, thus reducing barriers to collaboration, cooperation and integration between different units. The hope is that this will revolutionize the Navy’s day-to-day operations.
- ABC News: Military operations go high-tech
- Dow Jones: In a suprise, Electronic Data gets $6.9B Navy contract
US Navy – The US Navy may have to scrap the heavily damaged
tank landing ship LaMoure County that ran aground off Chile.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy may have to scrap ship that ran aground off Chile
US Navy – The US Navy is rethinking its plans to scrap one of its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), the Avalon, in the wake of the Kursk disaster. The DSRVs will be replaced by a system that many feel is inferior.
- San Diego Union Tribune: Rescue sub may be saved
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – the JMSDF will soon be empowered by Japanese law to board and inspect vessels if they are deemed a threat to Japanese security.
- The Hindu: Bill to remove shackles on Japanese Navy
Royal Navy – The Royal Navy is retiring its fast fleet tankers Olwen and Olna a year or two before their replacements, the Wave Knight and Wave Ruler are commissioned, as an economy measure.
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Tanker sales will put Navy safety at risk
Monday, October 9, 2000 |
Apologies for the lack of news the last few days. Unfortunately, I am a bit swamped this week, preparing for a presentation at a meeting in Germany next week, in addition to my normal work. NOSI may be updated this week, but look for the next regular update to be around Tuesday October 24th.
Wednesday, October 4, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – The US, Japanese, South Korean and Singapore navies have begun the first combined submarine rescue exercise in the Pacific, Exercise Pacific Reach 2000.
- Los Angeles Times: Multinational sub rescue exercise begins
U.S. Navy – The US Navy is making its case for a larger fleet, from 300 to 360 ships.
Monday, October 2, 2000 |
Editorial note – you have undoubtedly noticed by now that from time to time I insert Background articles into NOSI, to help us better understand the reasons why naval forces are deployed to and engaged in various operations. I don’t especially seek such articles out, but when I come across good ones I add them into the daily mix.
Background – US – The importance of the CINCs – a fascinating series of 3 articles showing the importance of the CINCs to US foreign policy today.
- Washington Post: A 4-star foreign policy?
- Washington Post: An engagement in 10 time zones
- Washington Post: Standing up to State and Congress
Sri Lankan Navy – The Tamil Tigers sunk a Sri Lankan Navy patrol boat.
- Times of India: LTTE sinks navy craft in northwestern Sri Lanka
Royal Navy – a Royal Navy task force that is circling the globe will be exercising off Pearl Harbor this week.
- Honolulu Star Bulletin: British, French ships here for maneuvers
Friday, September 29, 2000 |
Malaysian Navy – Malaysia is sending Army and Navy units to guard its islands that contain tourist resorts against attacks from Phillipine Muslim guerillas.
- Times of India: Malaysia sends troops to guard resort islands
Russian Navy – The Russian aircraft carrier Minsk is now an amusement park in China.
- The Guardian: Russian aircraft carrier now park
Thursday, September 28, 2000 |
Royal Navy – The Royal Navy task force off Yugoslavia, led by HMS Invincible, have assisted in rescuing survivors from the Greek ferry that sunk in the Aegean.
- BBC News: British ships end rescue efforts
US Navy – The commanding officer of the LST LaMoure County was relieved of his command, after running aground off Chile. No decision has been made whether to repair the ship.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy relieves CO of LaMoure County, ship grounded off Chile
US Navy and US Coast Guard – The Navy and Coast Guard have captured for the first time a supply ship that aids speedboats smuggling drugs into the US.
- Los Angeles Times: US captures supply ship for drug boats
US Navy – The oiler LeRoy Grumman collided during refueling with the Spanish frigate Numancia.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy oiler and Spanish frigate have minor collision
Wednesday, September 27, 2000 |
Background – Yugoslavia
- Gwynne Dwyer: Yugoslavia – the last act
U.S. Navy – Marines aboard the USS Austin and Croatian soldiers are participating in an amphibious exercise entitled "Phiblex 2000."
- Associated Press: U.S., Croat naval forces hold exercise in Adriatic Sea
Royal Navy – A Royal Navy task force of 15 ships, led by HMS Invincible, HMS Fearless and HMS Ocean is exercising off Yugoslavia.
- Daily Telegraph: British, US navies exercise near coast
- Reuters: US war game in Adriatic, UK Navy in Mediterranean
Tuesday, September 26, 2000 |
Royal Australian Navy – The frigate HMAS Newcastle will stand by off the Solomon Islands to assist in peace talks, if needed.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Australian ship due in Solomon Islands
Sri Lankan Navy – The Sri Lankan Navy destroyed several Sea Tiger gunboats in a running gun battle.
- Times of India: Navy destroys rebel boats in eastern Lanka
Canadian Navy – Aboard HMCS Calgary in the Persian Gulf.
- Calgary Herald: Female sailor puts stereotypes out to sea on HMCS Calgary
Saturday, September 23, 2000 |
There will not be a NOSI column on Sunday, we’ll be back on Monday. Today is "Down Under Day" in tribute to the Olympics in Sydney???
Royal Australian Navy – Aboard HMAS Waller, one of the Collins-class attack submarines. A frank description of the problems with the boat is provided.
- Sydney Morning Herald: Submariners listening to the ships and whales
- Sydney Morning Herald: Underwater duckling may yet emerge as a beauty in battle
Royal New Zealand Navy – How New Zealand has been integrating its new ANZAC frigates into its operations.
Friday, September 22, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – In order to help make its case for a larger nuclear attack submarine fleet, the U.S. Navy is starting to be more open about its submarines and their operations and their value.
- Los Angeles Times: Pentagon set to do more talking about its ‘Silent Service’
U.S. Navy – A "safety stand down" has been ordered that requires all ships in the fleet to take a full day to review safety and navigation procedures, to help avoid further accidents.
- CNN: Entire fleet halted as Navy chief orders safety review
- Virginian Pilot: Navy chief orders one day safety stand down after accidents
Russian Navy – A Russian ship, Admiral Pantilev, accidentally fired on a Russian town during a naval exercise.
- Agence French Presse: Russian ship accidentally fires sea-to-shore missile
Thursday, September 21, 2000 |
India Background – Why India is increasingly important to the U.S.
- Los Angeles Times: Courtship of India: a strategic match
U.S. Navy – Sanctions placed by the U.S. government are hampering relations between the Indian and U.S. navies.
- Times of India: US sanctions hampering military ties
Chinese Navy – the Chinese Navy has made recent port visits to Pearl Harbor and Everett.
- WorldNetDaily: Chinese Navy visits U.S. base
Wednesday, September 20, 2000 |
Indian Navy – India’s Marine Commandos have many missions.
- The Hindu: Marine commandos set to display their skills
Indian Navy – India will host an "International Fleet Review" in February 2001. 22 navies are expected to participate.
Indian Navy – INS Delhi and INS Kora are visiting Shanghai, China. INS Aditya, a tanker, and a missile corvette, INS Kuthar are visiting Pusan, South Korea. All 4 ships will then visit Japan.
Tuesday, September 19, 2000 |
We are experiencing some technical problems and will be back tomorrow hopefully???
Saturday, September 16, 2000 |
Phillipine Navy – Phillipine armed forces are engaged in a pitched battle with rebels on the island of Jolo, who are holding a number of hostages. The battle apparently is an attempt to rescue the hostages. The Phillipine Navy has set up a blockade of the island.
- BBC News: Battle rages in Jolo jungle
U.S. Navy – The USS Tarawa amphibious ready group delivered food and shelter materials to the population of devastated East Timor.
- Associated Press: U.S. aid delivered to East Timor
U.S. Navy – The Congressional Budget Office issued a report yesterday stating the US military is woefully underfunded and needs an additional $50 billion / year to maintain its current size and committments.
- Washington Post, Thomas Ricks: Report: Pentagon underfunded
Thursday, September 14, 2000 |
Russian Navy – in what is heralded as an important precedent for the Russian legal system, the Russian Supreme Court upheld the acquittal of an ex-navy officer who was jailed on espionage charges after exposing the perilous state of Russia’s decaying nuclear fleet.
U.S. Navy – the commander of naval air forces in the Pacific feels he has too many missions and too few resources to carry them out.
- WorldNetDaily: Admiral feels U.S. not ready
Wednesday, September 13, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – the USS La Moure County, an LST, ran aground today off Chile while conducting amphibious exercises. There was minor damage to the ship but no injuries to the crew.
- Virginian Pilot: Norfolk-based Navy ship runs aground off Chile
Russian Navy – Typhoon-class ballistic missile submarines are to be converted to freighters to carry nickel from mines in Russia’s north to Murmansk. The freighters will be manned by naval crews.
- Times of London (registration required): Red October subs put to work as freighters
Russian Navy – the Russian government continues to attempt to persecute (and prosecute) those who document its illegal activities in disposing of nuclear waste from submarine reactors
- Christian Science Monitor: Russia’s nuclear whistle blower lands back in court
Tuesday, September 12, 2000 |
Royal Navy – More details have emerged on the British assault in Sierra Leone. In addition to elements of the 1 Bn The Parachute Regiment and the SAS, elements of the Royal Marines Special Boat Squadron took part in the attack.
- Times of London (registration required): SAS emerged from swamp to launch deadly attack
Royal Navy – The British Type 23 frigate HMS Grafton has run aground while trying to negotiate narrow fjords close to the town of Droebak which is 19 miles from Oslo. The ship has sustained damage to the bow, but there were no injuries.
- BBC News: British frigate runs aground
Monday, September 11, 2000 |
Royal Navy – In a daring dawn raid, members of the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment and the SAS freed 6 British Army hostages being held by rebels in Sierra Leone. The Paras suffered casualties of 1 killed and several wounded. The Royal Navy ship Sir Percivale, in Freetown harbor, is being used as a casualty receiving ship.
- BBC News: Bloody end to Sierra Leone hostage drama
- BBC News: Dramatic rescue operation
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Paras free hostages in jungle
- Daily Telegraph – John Keegan (registration required): Gang’s bold front collapses in the face of real soldiers
Royal Navy – Part of Portsmouth naval base is to be handed over to a civilian shipbuilder, with day-to-day maintenance of warships in the remaining naval area also being privatised. The Royal Navy is making the changes in an attempt to ease its financial plight.
- Times of London (registration required): Navy retreats at Portsmouth
East Asia Background – The Japanese and Chinese have agreed to provide each other with advance notification of future maritime incursions.
- Economist: New tensions twixt Japan and China
Sunday, September 10, 2000 |
Royal Navy – More problems with the propulsion system of Britain’s Swiftsure-class nuclear attack submarines, leading to further readiness woes.
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Nuclear subs hit by safety fears
U.S. Navy – Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig has been shaking up the U.S. Navy since taking his post two year ago. Insiders say he has an excellent chance of being Secretary of Defense in a Gore administration.
- Washington Post: Churning the waters
Columbian Navy – The Russian mafia appears to have been assisting in the construction of the drug smuggling submarine found under construction in Columbia this week. Apparently this is not the first time that drug running has been tried in submarines???
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – An officer of the MSDF has been accused of passing operational U.S. Navy intelligence to the Russian Navy. This is the first major spy scandal in Japan since 1980.
- Reuters: Japan worries over U.S. military secrets to Russia
- CNN: Japanese naval officer allegedly spied for Russia
Saturday, September 9, 2000 |
Russian Navy – The Russian military will be cut in size by one third by 2003, with the Russian Navy being reduced in size by 50,000 personnel.
Russian Navy – A German journalist claims in an article in the Berliner Zeitung Daily that a guided missile from a Russian warship sank the Kursk. The Russian’s deny the story.
- BBC News: Kursk own-goal theory ‘totally false’
- ABC News: Russia denies missile hit sub
U.S. Military – A cogent discussion of why morale is low in the U.S. military.
- Christian Science Monitor: Low morale saps US miltiary might
Friday, September 8, 2000 |
NATO – a report from submarine rescue exercise Sorbet Royal 2000, off Turkey, aboard the Turkish submarine Hizirreis.
- Associated Press: Sub crews learn sound of rescue
Columbian Navy – The Columbian government has uncovered a team of Columbian drug smugglers who were constructing a 100 foot long submarine for drug smuggling.
- Associated Press: Columbian drug smugglers built sub
U.S. Navy – Even more on the readiness debate???
- Christian Science Monitor: The real state of U.S. readiness
- ABC News: Battling over military readiness
Thursday, September 7, 2000 |
U.S. Marines – The U.S. Marines have cleared the MV-22 Osprey and AH-1W Cobra to resume flight operations. The CH-53E Super Stallions remain grounded.
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy has provided Russia with an intelligence assessment of what caused the loss of the Kursk.
U.S. Navy – An recent report by the Navy Inspector General has concluded that funding shortages are impairing the combat performance of naval aviators.
Wednesday, September 6, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – Due to a lack of funds, the U.S. Navy is spending more time in port this fiscal year than it intended to – it simply does not have the funds available to send ships to sea.
- Stars and Stripes: Shortage of cash for fuel leaves Navy ships parked at pier
U.S. Navy – F-18 Hornets are wearing out faster than expected. They will need to undergo a Service Life Extension Program in order to remain in service, the funding for which will cut into funds available to purchase the aircraft which will be their successors.
- Virginian Pilot: Hornets wear out too fast, Navy says
Tuesday, September 5, 2000 |
NATO – NATO is about to begin Operation Sorbet Royal 2000, its largest ever submarine rescue exercise. The exercise is held every 3 years, and was scheduled for this time before last month’s sinking of the Kursk.
- Associated Press: NATO launches submarine exercise
Columbian Navy – The Colombian navy intercepted a speedboat off its Pacific coast on Sunday and seized three tons of cocaine.
- Associated Press: Colombian navy nets 3 tons of cocaine in Pacific
Friday, September 1, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – The destroyer Nicholson and fast combat support ship Detroit collided during refueling. Damage to both ships is said to be minimal. There were some minor injuries to the Nicholson’s crew.
- Virginian Press: Two Navy ships collide during refueling
U.S. Navy – Most U.S. forces are ready to perform wartime missions, but if we had to fight two simultaneous major conflicts we would run a high risk of increased casualties because of shortfalls in the ability to move, supply and protect troops. The Navy was specifically noted for a lack of carrier aircraft, especially EA-6B Prowlers.
- Associated Press: Pentagon says forces are ready for one war, but maybe not two
Thursday, August 31, 2000 |
Russian Navy – A clearer explanation of the current U.S. Navy hypothesis that an explosion of a torpedo during loading or launching is what caused the sinking of the Kursk. The Kursk’s crew was felt to be well trained and it is unlikely that a seamanship error caused the loss.
- New York Times: 2 U.S. submarines recorded death agony of Kursk
- Washington Post: U.S. theory – on board blast sank sub
Canadian Navy – Men and women aboard Canada’s warships are having sex at sea – which is forbidden by regulations – much more often than is officially acknowledged, according to a study commissioned by the Canadian Navy to help determine whether women should serve on its new Upholder-class attack submarines.
- Toronto Star: Canadian navy crews turn warships into Love Boats
Chinese Navy – A Chinese company has acquired the former Russian aircraft carrier Kiev, for the purpose of scrapping her.
- Washington Post: China acquires Russian carrier
Wednesday, August 30, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – One of the consequences of the Kursk’s sinking may very well be decreased funding for the U.S. Navy, as one of its potential adversaries is shown to be a paper tiger.
- Washington Post: U.S. Navy hopes sink with Kursk
Russian Navy – Sonar data being analyzed from the U.S.S. Memphis, a Los-Angeles class nuclear attack submarine that was monitoring the Kursk, supports the hypothesis that a torpedo exploded during loading or firing, which then set off a larger explosion nearly 2 minutes later that sunk the submarine.
Tuesday, August 29, 2000 |
Royal Navy – At the present time, 6 out of 7 of the Trafalgar-class nuclear attack submarines are not fit for operational service.
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Six of seven killer subs unfit for service
Russian Navy – The Russian Navy’s fundamental problem is a lack of funds – "The Kursk got its name because the city of Kursk was taking care of the submarine, supplying it with food, televisions, videos???We are talking about the submarine, which is one of the most important vessels in the Russian navy. And a nonstate initiative is supporting it. It shows the state is unable to run the fleet."
- Los Angeles Times: Russian Navy adrift in an ocean of problems
Monday, August 28, 2000 |
Yugoslavian Navy – Yugoslavian forces last week boarded in the Adriatic Sea and detained a U.S. cargo vessel carrying humanitarian food aid to Kosovo.
- Washington Post: Yugoslavs detained U.S. ship
U.S. Marines – the U.S. Marines have suspended all flights of the MV-22 Osprey, AH-1W Cobra, and CH-53 Sea Stallion, for unrelated safety reasons.
Background: U.S. Forces Readiness – Ready???or not?
- Washington Post: A look at the readiness debate – Part 1
- Washington Post: A look at the readiness debate – Part 2
Sunday, August 27, 2000 |
Russian Navy – Evidence has been uncovered that the cause of the explosions on the Kursk may have been a malfunction occuring during tests of a new version of the Squall torpedo.
- Sunday Times of London (registration required): Secret torpedo test ‘blew sub apart’
Russian Navy – A fascinating seismic analysis of the Kursk’s explosions from Terry Wallace and Dr. Keith Koper at the University of Arizona, which estimates the force of the explosion to be between 0.5 and 1 ton. I am grateful to Micha Schellingerhout from the Netherlands for sharing this!
- University of Arizona: Forensic Seismology and the Sinking of the Kursk
Friday, August 25, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy is playing down its work in helping to recover the wreckage of the Gulf Air crash, to avoid offending Arab sensibilities.
- Associated Press: U.S. plays down rescue efforts
Australian Navy – because of the bad press the Collins-class submarines have been receiving, the Australian Navy is not meeting its recruiting goals to man the submarines.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Navy fails to entice submariners for Collins class
Russian Navy – A Russian Captain who participated in the rescue operation and whose son was lost on the Kursk says the Russian Navy did its best, but fell short due to a lack of equipment. Meanwhile, the Norwegian company whose divers reached the submarine say the earliest it could be raised would be next year.
- BBC News: Captain who tried to save his son
- BBC News: Reforming Russia’s military
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Sub crew ‘entombed until next summer’
Thursday, August 24, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – U.S. Navy helicopters are assisting in the search for survivors from yesterday’s Gulf Air Airbus 320 crash off Bahrain.
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy claims that although it has been asked to double the number of intelligence missions its submarines have undertaken in the last 10 years, the number of submarines in service has been cut nearly in half in the same time.
- Associated Press: U.S. wants more subs for intelligence missions
Wednesday, August 23, 2000 |
Russian Navy – more on the Kursk.
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): British team hits at Russian ‘Cold War’ deceit
- Times of London (registration required): British homage to the dead
- Janes: Did collision trigger explosion?
Tuesday, August 22, 2000 |
Russian Navy – Norwegian divers are helping the Russians to more fully investigate the site around the Kursk. The Russians are interested in raising the submarine.
- BBC News: Russia mourns Kursk crew
- BBC News: Kursk crew’s last words
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Divers end rescue after finding Kursk flooded
- Times of London: The Kursk: British divers confirm that all crew are dead
- Times of London: Nuclear fleet a disaster in waiting
Monday, August 21, 2000 |
Russian Navy – Norwegian divers have successfully opened the outer and inner hatch of the Kursk, and found the compartment behind it totally flooded. There is now no hope of finding anyone alive on the Kursk. The British submersible LR5 will not be used.
- BBC News: Sub crew ‘all dead’
- BBC News: Disaster exposes military decline
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Russians argue as divers give the go-ahead for submarine rescue
- Times of London (registration required): Sealed hatch foils divers
Sunday, August 20, 2000 |
Russian Navy – Norwegian divers have been unsuccessful in unscrewing Kursk’s rescue hatch. There is a crack in the hatch and the British rescue submarine may be unable to dock with it. The Russians now believe the crew is dead.
- BBC News: Divers struggle with Kursk hatch
- CNN: Nuclear sub video reveals ‘massive damage’
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): British rescue team told: submarine crew are dead
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): War games
Piracy – An account of a pirate attack on a merchant ship in specific, and an overview of piracy in general.
- New York Times Magazine: Bandits in the global shipping lanes
Saturday, August 19, 2000 |
Russian Navy – Russian rescue submersibles continue to attempt docking with the Kursk’s rescue hatch, without success. The British rescue submersible LR5 should be on the scene today.
- BBC News: Frantic push to reach Kursk crew
- Janes’ Defence Weekly: Did collision trigger explosion?
- Times of London (registration required): Russia pins last hopes on British rescue team
Russian Navy – What does the future hold for the Russian Navy after the Kursk crisis? The outlook remains bleak???
- BBC News: Russia’s rusting navy
- Janes’ Defence Weekly: Tradgedy may lead to purge, but no new funds
- Janes’ Sentinnel: Russian Navy: assessment
Taiwanese Navy – Taiwan has outlined an invasion scenario, detailing the forces available on each side.
- Janes’ Defence Weekly: Taiwan paints a scenario of invasion by China
Friday, August 18, 2000 |
Russian Navy – A Russian rescue capsule reached the escape hatch on the Kursk, but was unable to latch on. The Royal Navy rescue team should reach the Kursk tomorrow.
- BBC News: Rescuers reach stricken sub
- CNN: Setback for sub rescue mission
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Obstacle course faces Navy team bound for Kursk
- Times of London (registration required): Sub blast may have killed most of crew
Thursday, August 17, 2000 |
Russian Navy – the Royal Navy rescue crew which is proceeding to the site of the Kursk report seeing a video of the sub on the ocean bottom which shows she suffered a high energy explosion from the bow to the conning tower. It appears less and less likely that there are survivors left. U.S. intelligence reports there has been no sign of life onboard since the explosion.
- BBC News: Stricken sub ’severely damaged’
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Putin attacked over delay as trapped crew fall silent
- Times of London (registration required): Russians accept British help to save sub
Wednesday, August 16, 2000 |
Russian Navy – Rescue attempts continue for the Kursk’s crew. The Royal Navy may be involved in future rescue attempts.
Please note that the below links are to the main stories on each site. There are related stories on each site as well, which can be gotten to from these main story pages. Finally, if you have not registered for the Times of London and the Daily Telegraph, I encourage you to do so. They are, I believe, amongst the finest papers available on the Internet.
- BBC News: New sub rescue attempt launched
- BBC News: UK sub rescue flight takes off
- Times of London (registration required): Save our souls comes cry from the deep
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Submarine running out of air as first rescue attempt fails
Tuesday, August 15, 2000 |
Russian Navy – A rescue operation is underway to evacuate more than 100 sailors from the Oscar II class submarine on the bottom of the Barents Sea.
- BBC News: Submarine rescue ‘under way’
- Janes: Russian Submarine Disaster – Update
- Daily Telegraph (registration required): Russia launches sub evacuation operation
- Times of London (registration required): Kursk hits Putin’s dream of naval glory
Monday, August 14, 2000 |
Russian Navy – A Russian Navy Oscar II class nuclear submarine is stranded at the bottom of the Barents Sea; the commander of the Russian Navy says rescue efforts are unlikely to succeed.
- BBC News: Russian submarine in ’serious’ danger
Sunday, August 13, 2000 |
NOSI will resume a normal daily publication schedule on Tuesday.
Chinese Navy – Two Chinese Navy ships will visit the Everett Naval Station next month, as part of an exchange with the U.S. Navy.
- Herald of Everett: 2 Chinese warships to dock in Everett
Chinese Navy – Recent Chinese excursions into Japan’s economic exclusion zone may cause Japan to cancel loans to China.
Australian Navy – HMAS Tobruk has returned from its peacekeeping mission in the Solomon Islands.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Australian warship arriving home from Pacific peace mission
Thursday, August 10, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – The Amphibious Ready Group comprising the U.S.S. Wasp, U.S.S Oak Hill and U.S.S. Trenton and the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit have returned home after a 6 month deployment, during which they participated in Exercise Dynamic Mix 2000.
- Virginian Pilot: Three Navy ships return as two leave
Monday, August 7, 2000 |
Indian Navy – INS Mysore, which is currently on an around-the-world cruise, will exercise with the French Navy off France and Africa later this month. This will be the second exercise this year between the Indian and French navies.
Uruguayian Navy – The Uruguayan minesweeper Valiented collided with a Panamanian-flagged freighter and was cut in half and sunk.
Sunday, August 6, 2000 |
Pakistan Navy – A recent Indian Navy intelligence report states that the Pakistan Navy is more of a threat to India than was previously thought.
- Frontier Post: Pakistan ahead of India in naval technology
Canadian Navy – A description of the training undergone by and scenarios faced by the Canadian Navy’s boarding parties.
- Canadian Press: High-seas boardings commonplace for
navy commandos
Saturday, August 5, 2000 |
Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy boarded the ship GTS Katie in order to free its cargo of Canadian Army equipment, which was being held hostage as part of a contract dispute.
- Ottawa Citizen: ‘We have attack from helicopters’
- Ottawa Citizen: The storming of the Katie
Nigerian Navy – The Nigerian Navy attacked a gang of pirates in the waterways near Warri.
- This Day: Navy smashes gang of sea pirates
Thursday, August 3, 2000 |
Canadian Navy – It appears the Canadian Navy will board the ship GTS Katie and return it to port with its cargo of Canadian Army supplies.
- Ottawa Citizen: Military set to seize GTS Katie
Royal Australian Navy – The annual northern fleet concentration period, one of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest naval exercises, begins today off Darwin.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Ships arrive in Darwin for big naval exercise
Wednesday, August 2, 2000 |
Canadian Navy – Two Canadian warships – HMCS Athabaskan and HMCS Montreal – have drawn alongside a cargo vessel that is effectively holding hostage Canadian Army military equipment that is being returned from Kosovo to Canada.
- Toronto Star: Ship, military cargo staying put
- Washington Post: Canada’s Army embroiled in conflict on the high seas
Russian Navy – The Russian President is attempting to implement a new military strategy which will siphon resources from the Strategic Rocket Forces to the Navy, Army and Air Force which are resource starved.
- Christian Science Monitor: Putin tries big shift in military strategy
Monday, July 31, 2000 |
Taiwanese Navy – the Taiwanese Navy will hold routine amphibious exercises this week near the Taiwan Strait
U.S. Navy – The USS Chancellorsville, a guided missile cruiser, will make a port of call in Qindgao, China this week. Chinese vessels will reciprocate with ports of call in Hawaii and Seattle later this year.
- Agence French Presse: US Warship to Visit Chinese Port of Qindgao
Saturday, July 29, 2000 |
Canadian Navy – The last Oberon-class submarine was decommissioned yesterday. They will be replaced by 4 Upholder-class submarines in the near future.
- Daily News: Last Oberon-class sub sails into navy history
U.S. Navy – The Navy will not be able to increase its number of nuclear submarines to the numbers it needs to meet operational committments, according to a senior admiral.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy unlikely to build its goal of attack submarines
Friday, July 28, 2000 |
Warning – Updating of NOSI will most probably be irregular over the next 2 weeks.
Pakistani Navy – The opening of the Pakistan Navy’s new port at Ormara last month will affect the strategy and tactics of both the Indian and the Pakistan navies in a future war.
- Rediff on the Net: Pakistani navy gets new port
U.S. Navy – The former presidential yacht Sequoia has found a new home. I took a tour of her once, while she was on a goodwill cruise around the U.S. – she is a beautiful ship!
- Virginian Pilot: Presidential yacht gets prestigious plans
Thursday, July 27, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – The U.S. military has again begun working closely with the Indonesian military for the first time since East Timor was devastated by Indonesian troops and militiamen last year. The U.S. is concerned that Indonesia could disintegrate under the weight of multiple religious and separatist conflicts.
- Associated Press: U.S. military is forging ties with Indonesian forces
- New York Times (registration required): Aid Mission by the U.S. Revives Tie to Indonesia
U.S. Navy – A description of what electric drive propulsion for a warship entails???
Wednesday, July 26, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – A day in the life of VAW-124, an early warning squadron flying E-2C Hawkeyes, aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise.
- Virginian Pilot: Ship assignments shift, so aviators must adjust
Australian Navy – Australians are begining to feel that their "special relationship" with the U.S. is undergoing unfavorable changes.
- Los Angeles Times: The New Politics of the Pacific Sends Shudders Through Australia
Tuesday, July 25, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy is improving Sailors’ quality of life by providing each with an e-mail account to stay in touch with home during deployments.
- Seatttle Post Intelligencer: Carrier crew uses e-mail to stay in touch with loved ones back home
U.S. Marines – the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit has returned home after a 6 month deployment to the Pacific. During the cruise they assisted UN peacekeeping efforts on East Timor; exercised in the Persian Gulf with Kuwait, Quatar and Oman; and stood by to assist if necessary in evacuations from war-torn Eritrea.
- San Diego Union Tribune: Troops return to admirers
Sunday, July 23, 2000 |
No NOSI on Monday, I’ll be lecturing at the Surface Warfare Institute of Medicine’s Officer Indoctrination Course in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Taiwanese Navy – The Taiwanese Navy placed into commission the Anchorage-class amphibious landing ship U.S.S. Pensacola and 3 missile patrol boats. The landing ship, along with 2 Newport-class LSTs will form Taiwan’s amphibious rapid response force.
- Associated Press: Chen commissions naval ships
- Agence French Presse: Taiwan to beef up naval strength
- Reuters: Old U.S. landing craft enters service with Taiwan
Indonesian Navy – The Indonesian Navy will now play a more active role in attempting to subdue the violence between Christians and Muslims in the Malukus Islands.
- Agence French Presse: Navy to help clear "Jihad warriors" from Malukus
Saturday, July 22, 2000 |
Royal Navy – An attempt to sue the British government for the sinking of the Argentinian Navy cruiser General Belgrano during the Falklands War has failed.
- BBC News: Belgrano legal action fails
U.S. Marines – Is it time to take the U.S. Marines off of Okinawa, and position them somewhere else in the Pacific? Pro and Con
- New York Times (registration required): Take the Marines off Okinawa
- Los Angeles Times: Reselling Asians on US forces
Friday, July 21, 2000 |
Chinese Navy – Russia has finished work on the second Sovremenny class frigate it is building for China, and sea trials have begun. Delivery is expected by the end of the year. The ship is armed with the SS-N-22 anti ship cruise missile.
- Washington Times: Russia readies warship for China
Nigerian Navy – Nigerian Navy Sailors are being encouraged to become more proficient in small arms handling, to better help them maintain internal security and defend their fragile democracy in concert with the Nigerian Army.
- Africa News Online: Navy Pledges to Defend Democracy
Thursday, July 20, 2000 |
Indian Navy – the Indian Navy commissioned it’s 10th Kilo-class submarine, INS Sindushastra. It is to be equipped with the Klub anti ship missile.
- Times of India: Navy acquires Russian missile sub
- The Hindu: New missile-firing sub being commissioned
- Rediff.com: Indian Navy’s first missile-firing submarine commissioned
U.S. Marines – The U.S.M.C. Harrier fleet has been grounded, due to an excessive number of recent accidents, which have been attributed to a lack of spare parts and maintainence difficulties.
- Washington Post – Up in Arms
Wednesday, July 19, 2000 |
French Navy – The French Navy’s stealth missile frigate, Aconit, is currently on an around-the-world cruise, with the majority of its time being spent in Southeast Asia. It is currently visiting Singapore.
- Times of India: French warship in Singapore for joint exercise
Indian Navy – Pro and (mostly) con on whether the Indian Navy should purchase the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov from Russia, by Admiral J.G. Nadkarni (retired)
Monday, July 17, 2000 |
Sorry for the lack of updates the last 2 days, but I am again out-of-commission with a bad case of the flu. Should be back in a day or so???
Saturday, July 15, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – A collision at sea has occured, during underway replenishment, between the USS Denver and the USNS Yukon off Hawaii. Both ships were heavily damaged but no injuries were reported.
- CNN: Two U.S. Navy ships collide in Pacific; vessels damaged, no injuries reported
- CNN: Cause of U.S. Navy collision at sea under investigation
Royal Navy – The United Kingdom has been accused of violating Argentinian airspace this week when overflying Argentinian fishing boats, near the Falkland Islands.
Friday, July 14, 2000 |
Background – Falklands – In a conference on the future of the Falkland Islands, Britian vowed to continue its military committment to the islands for as long as it is needed. There are felt to be large oil holdings off the islands.
- The Times (registration required): Britian to stand by Falklands
Royal Navy – HMS Tireless, one of the Royal Navy’s nuclear attack submarines, is undergoing repair at Gibraltar after suffering a coolant leak in its propulsion system while underway in the Mediterranean. Some of the locals are not pleased???
- The Guardian: Gibraltar protests at nuclear sub repair
Thursday, July 13, 2000 |
Indonesia Navy – More on the Indonesian Navy capture of boats that were smuggling weapons to the riot-torn province of North Maluku.
- Agence France Presse: Navy swoops on Maluku guns shipment
U.S. Navy – A report by the General Accounting Office claims that most U.S. Navy ships do not have adequate defenses against cruise missiles.
- Washington Post: Report: Navy ships vulnerable
Wednesday, July 12, 2000 |
Indonesia Navy – The Indonesian Navy has captured two boats that were smuggling weapons to the riot-torn province of North Maluku.
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Indonesian Navy intercepts gunship heading for Malukus
Chinese Navy – On a port visit to Kuala Lumpur, senior Chinese Navy officials stated that one of the Navy’s roles will be to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea.
- Agency French Presse: China’s Armed Forces Pledge Key Role in Regional Peace
Tuesday, July 11, 2000 |
Indian Navy – The Indian Navy must maintain control over the 1,200 islands in its territory in the Indian Ocean to ensure these islands are not used by those who have no title to them.
- The Hindu: Effective control of Indian Ocean vital
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – The JMSDF will form its first special operations unit next year.
- Janes’ Defense Weekly: Japanese navy to launch special operations unit
Monday, July 10, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy is lobbying hard for a 360 ship fleet to protect U.S. interests worldwide, up from the current count of 305 ships.
- Virginian Pilot: Navy intensifies drive to build more ships
Indian Navy – The Indian Navy is undertaking a number of goodwill cruises around the globe in the next 2 years, for diplomatic reasons.
- Times of India: Navy takes to diplomacy in a big way
Sunday, July 9, 2000 |
Ghanan and Nigerian Navies – Lessons learned in littoral warfare in Africa during operations other than war in Liberia.
- Africa News Online – Lessons from Liberia
Royal Australian Navy – The Collins class submarine HMAS Waller performed extremely well in the recent RIMPAC 2000 exercise, penetrating the the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln’s surface screen during the exercise.
- Australian Financial Review: Collins-class sub shines in Hawaii war games
Saturday, July 8, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – U.S. Navy submariners claim their forces have been cut to dangerously low levels, given the wide spectrum of missions they are now called upon to execute. By next year the U.S. will be down to 50 SSN’s, a 50% reduction from Cold War strength.
- San Diego Union: Navy sub commanders decry shortage of subs
Virginian Pilot – Life aboard the ballistic missile submarine U.S.S. Maryland.
- Virginian Pilot: Ballistic missile submarine pays Norfolk rare visit.
Friday, July 7, 2000 |
Background – Electromagnetic weapons – We are becoming increasingly vulnerable to electromagnetic weapons, which emit a blast of electromagnetic radiation which toasts the electronics of any device within its range. There are suggestions that such weapons have already been used surreptitiously in wars and in terrorist operations. These weapons can be easily made at home???
- New Scientist: Just a normal town???
U.S. Navy – Continuing on the terrorist thread???activists have claimed they sabotaged the U.S. Navy’s Extremely Low Frequency (ELF) communications system which is used to send information to ballistic missile submarines at sea. The sabotage was carried out by cutting down utility poles which supported transmission lines.
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinnel – Activists say they downed Navy’s link to subs
Thursday, July 6, 2000 |
U.S. Navy – The U.S. Navy announced that the first of 32 DD-21 class land attack destroyers would be named the Admiral Elmo M. Zumwalt, after the former Chief of Naval Operations.
- Associated Press: Navy announces plan for 21st century ship
U.S. Navy – To increase the number of Sailors in the U.S. Navy, entrance standards are being lowered and Sailors are being given higher pay. In the short term, these changes are working.
- Bergen Record: Lower standards, higher pay help shrink shortage of sailors
Wednesday, July 5, 2000 |
Iranian Navy – The United States now has evidence that the governments of Iran and the United Arab Emirates are assisting Iraq in its illegal oil smuggling operations, at a nice profit to each. Meanwhile, Iran continues to maintain publically that it is helping to enforce the sanctions againts Iraq.
- Los Angeles Times: Iran Opens Key Isle to Iraqi Oil Smugglers, U.S. Says
- Reuters: U.S. welcomes Iran’s halting of two Iraqi tankers
Indonesian Navy – The Indonesian Navy has been coordinating the search for survivors from the sunken ferry that was carrying refugees from the Moluccas.
- BBC News: Ferry survivors’ dreadful ordeal