Defense Technology International - The backbone of a modern, 21st-century navy isn't its surface combatants or submarines. It is the large amphibious and/or logistic support ships it can deploy to trouble spots around the world, carrying helicopters, hospital facilities, an embarked landing force, supplies, fuel and a suite of C4I facilities. The Netherlands is planning to build its largest ship ever to be able to do just that.

Defense Technology International - The Royal Netherlands Navy is pursuing an Integrated Mast concept for a "radically new" naval sensor and communications suite for anti-air and surface warfare.

Defense Technology International - Both landing platform dock (LPD) ships of the Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN), HrMs Johan de Witt (L 801) and Rotterdam (L 800) are en-route to an area southwest of England today for the first exercise of the NLMARFOR one-star battle staff using the command facilities on the new, yet-to-be-commissioned, Johan de Witt.

Aviation Week - Escaping from a stricken submarine stranded on the bottom of the sea is a dangerous business. But escaping from a sub that's still on the surface can be just as perilous -- especially as many submarines have no life rafts and crew members are forced to rely on individual survival gear.

BBC - Marine accident experts investigating the sinking of a French trawler off the English coast last year have said the accident was caused by a submarine.