NAVY LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA January 2021 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Volume 5, Issue 1

DOWN THE VOICEPIPE do you hear there!

COMING UP

Executive meeting Monday 01st. March 2021 at 1700 NLWA Sundowner 07th. February 2021 at 1700 HMAS Perth Memorial Foundation Inc Executive meeting February 20th. 2021at 1000. HMAS PERTH (I) Memorial Service St Johns Church Fremantle 28th. February 2021 at 1200pm

Hec Waller Memorial Regatta February 2021 HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Exhibition Perth Town Hall 01st. March 2021

ALL ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THIS NEWSLETTER ARE PRINTED IN GOOD FAITH AND DON’T NECESSARY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF THE NAVY LEAGUE OF AUSTRALIA RAN COLLINS CLASS SUBMARINE

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Navy League of Australia Western Australia Division News update

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2021, a year that will see us continue the exceptional capital works program we commenced last year, expanding on it as we go. This year is also a year I’m sure each and every one of us hopes to see some normality return to our lives and that of the world. I hope everyone has had a thoroughly enjoyable festive season and for those lucky enough to have had a break, that you feel well rested and ready to tackle the year head on. Our eluded to, our upgrade works still continue though at a slightly slower pace due to a very hot and unrelenting summer thus far. That being said we have managed a little bit more painting and have taken delivery of, and assem- bled, an additional six chairs for our meeting room. We are awaiting quotes on external cladding which will project a totally different look to anyone passing by and will enhance the modern feel of other upgrades in the vicinity. The Automatic External Defibrillator recently purchased has arrived and we plan to hold the first of our previously spoken of workshops in the not too distant future. The first of these workshops will be a couple of hour’s hands on experience on how to use the AED. Stand by for more information on this. A meeting was held with the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds and her team who has shown interest in not only Navy League but the proposed memorial to HMAS PERTH I as previously spoken about. Minister Reynolds was very interested in what we had to say and gave us a considerable amount of her time, far more than we were expecting and no doubt far more than she really had to give and for that we cannot thank her enough. We have been given a brief overview of planned upgrades to existing museums in and around the Fremantle area which, although not as advanced as our planned memorial, will make Fremantle a very sought after location, particularly among the Ex-Service community and those with an interest in things military. Personally, I believe these projects will strengthen ties already formed and will have very much an educational underpinning which will preserve our mili- tary history for generations to come. There appears to be some really exciting times coming over the ensuing years and we very much look forward to watching the progress. I’m sure Navy League, particularly the WA Division, look forward to a continued great relationship with the Minister and her team. Unfortunately there hasn’t been a great deal to offer in this newsletter due to members being away, ADF Reduced Activity Periods and as mentioned, the unrelenting sauna we seem to be living in here in the west which has stopped a lot of people in their tracks. All this will change in February, regardless of the weather with activities on three of the four weekends of the month, those being the NLWA Annual Sundowner, HMAS PERTH Memorial Regatta and the HMAS PERTH Memorial Church Service. Photos and a few words will be included in the February newsletter. Our next getaway is taking place over the weekend of 6 and 7 March 2021 and so far this one is the biggest yet with some 22 people attending so far. No doubt more interest will be generated as we get nearer the time.

Regards Brad

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Scrolls from the National Maritime Museum donat- ed to the Foundation.

Marque purchased for the presentations of HMAS Perth (I) Foundation and Navy League WA.

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A sad end for HMS Active, sunk in Pakistan navy drill

© Provided by Daily Mail MailOnline logo HMS Active, a Royal Navy frigate which survived active duty in the Falklands War, has met its end during a Paki- stan navy drill. The Type 21 frigate - decommissioned by the Royal Navy in 1994 and sold to Pakistan which renamed her the PNS Shah Jahan - was blown up in a training exercise on January 12. Video released by the Pakistan Navy showed the ship being struck by a torpedo in the North Arabian Sea before splitting in half and disappearing beneath the waves.'So sad,' one Twitter user wrote. 'Served on her from 89-91 and saw her in Bahrain in 2013. Great memories of my time onboard.'

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a large ship in a body of water: HMS Active was commissioned in July 1977 and went on to participate in the Falk- lands War, departing on May 10, 1982. File image of HMS Active above HMS Active was commissioned in July 1977 and went on to participate in the Falklands War, departing on May 10, 1982. File image of HMS Active above The navy drill on January 12 saw the Pakistan Navy Fleet firing live weapons, with the frigate among the targets that were destroyed with anti-ship missiles and torpedoes. It hits the frigate which subsequently breaks in half from the impact. In a statement, the Pakistan Navy said: 'In an impressive fire power display, #PakNavy demonstrated combat readiness & War Fighting capabilities through Live Weapon Firing at North Arabian Sea. 'Missiles & Torpedoes launched from #PakNavy Submarines successfully en- gaged intended targets.' The Navy Lookout tweeted: 'Pakistani Navy has destroyed PNS Shah Jahan during SINKEX in the Arabian sea.

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a boat floating on a body of water: In a statement, the Pakistan Navy said: 'In an impressive fire power display, #PakNavy demonstrated combat readiness & War Fighting capabilities through Live Weapon Firing at North Arabian Sea' In a statement, the Pakistan Navy said: 'In an impressive fire power display, #PakNavy demonstrated combat readi- ness & War Fighting capabilities through Live Weapon Firing at North Arabian Sea' 'Type 21 frigate, ex-HMS Active transferred to Pakistan 1994.' HMS Active was commissioned in July 1977 and went on to participate in the Falklands War, departing on May 10, 1982. Following its service in the Falklands War, Active was decommission in September 1994. It was sold to Pakistan the same month and renamed the Shah Jahan.

6 The Royal Navy's HMS Active HMS Active served as a general purpose frigate in the Royal Navy. The Type-21 Class frigate was built in Southamp- ton, launched in 1972 and commissioned in July 1977. Active participated in the Falklands War with Argentina, form- ing part of the main British fleet. The frigate set out from HMNB Devonport on May 10, 1982. The ship was used to escort supply convoys and carry out shore bombardment missions at night.

© Provided by Daily Mail HMS Active served as a general purpose frigate in the Royal Navy On the night of June 13, 1982, HMS Active shelled on Argentine positions during the Battle of Mount Tumbledown. By the mid-1980s, in common with the other surviving Type 21s, HMS Active suffered from hull cracking. Following its service in the Falklands War, Ac- tive was decommissioned in September 1994 . It was sold to Pakistan the same month and renamed the Shah Jahan. From 1998–2008, the ship underwent extensive modernisation at the Naval Base Karachi and was reclassified as guid- ed missile destroyer. Her wartime performance included in deployments in patrolling off the Gulf of Aden, Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, and Arabian Sea. PNS Shah Jahan was sunk as a target by the Pakistan Navy on January 12.

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NORWEGIAN FIRM AWARDED CONTRACT TO SCRAP FRIGATE HELGE INGSTAD

By Baird Maritime - January 22, 2021

Photo: NDMA The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) has awarded local company Norscrap West a contract for the scrapping of the frigate HNoMS Helge Ingstad, which sank following a colli- sion with a commercial tanker on November 8, 2018. Norscrap was selected following the con- clusion of a competitive tender process wherein three other companies participated. The contract has an approximate value of NOK60 million (US$7.12 million). Scrapping of the frigate is expected to be completed by the end of 2021. The decision was made to have Helge Ingstad scrapped after Norwegian defence officials estimated that the vessel’s repairs would cost more than a newbuild warship of similar size and capacity

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ROYAL NAVY SURVEY SHIP JOINS SEARCH FOR UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE OFF LITHUANIA

By Baird Maritime - January 22, 2021

HMS Echo (foreground) and LNS Kursis conducting HODOPS in the Baltic Sea (Photo: Lithuani- an Naval Force) The Royal Navy survey ship HMS Echo has been in the Baltic Sea with the Lithuanian Naval Force on operations to hunt for unexploded ordnance, some of which date back to before the First World War. Echo was joined by the former British Hunt-class minehunter HMS Dulverton, which now belongs to the Lithuanian Naval Force as LNS Kursis. The two ships worked together on historical ordnance disposal operations (HODOPS). Echo‘s advanced sonar suite, which is normally utilised for gathering oceanographic data and supporting submarine operations, is be- ing used to locate and detect munitions lying on the seabed.

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Biden administration plans detailed review of Navy modernisation plans

22 JANUARY 2021 By: Stephen Kuper As the new Biden administration gets its feet under the desks and prepares to face a world of increased great power rivalry, finalising Navy modernisation plans appear to be a high priority for the Pentagon and White House. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the US Navy emerged as the single greatest naval power in the world, buoyed by an immense industrial might, domestic naval demands and that of a growing network of global allies positioned it well for the challenges of the Cold War. Surging out the other side of the Cold War victorious it seemed as if none could challenge this unassailable might of the US Navy, driven by a qualitative and quantitative edge over all its potential adversaries. Today, as we look not only across the Indo-Pacific but more broadly around the globe, many established and rising powers are expanding the capability and composition of their respective naval forces as tensions contin- ue to mount in the post-COVID world. The basis of this unprecedented maritime dominance stems back to 1890 and the work of American naval strategist Alfred Thayer Mahan, The Influence of Sea Power upon History, which outlined: "Whether they will or not, Americans must now begin to look outward. The growing production of the country demands it." A rapidly developing and powerful communist China is seeking to shake off the last vestiges of the 'Century of humiliation' and ascend to its position as the undisputed economic, political and strategic world leader. Fur- ther challenging the previously unrivalled dominance of the global maritime commons by the US is the resur- gence of an increasingly modernised Russian Navy and the proliferation of advanced, increasingly capable weapons systems, once previously only the exclusive domain of the world's premier powers.

10 Despite the mounting challenges, the US Navy has increasingly struggled to cohesively and consistently respond to the myriad emerging challenges, placing ever-growing responsibilities for regional maritime security on key regional allies and partners, including Australia. This has become increasingly obvious as the fleet grapples with the impact of budget con- straints associated with introducing new fleet units, and ballooning modernisation and sustainment costs, and of course competing with the other services for access to limited funding. Now, as the Biden administration enters the halls of power, it is firmly set on reviewing and, if needed, overhauling the 30- year naval shipbuilding plan and Future Naval Force Study (FNFS) of the previous Trump administration. To this end, as part of the confirmation hearings, President Biden's pick for Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, has used written responses to detail the agenda, with Paul McLeary of Breaking Defense detailing the initial plans. At the core of Austin's written respons- es was his plans to "review both the Future Naval Force Study and shipbuilding plan in detail and work with Navy leader- ship to develop a well calibrated shipbuilding plan", while also expanding the details of "Navy’s assessment of current and future risks in performing its assigned missions, and in supporting the requirements of the joint force, and work with Navy leadership to address those risks". Prepare to counter Beijing Building on the comments of Austin is his incoming State Department counterpart, Antony Blinken, who outlined the Biden administration's commitment to countering Beijing and its rising assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific: "China’s military mod- ernisation, coupled with its aggressive and coercive actions, presents an increasingly urgent challenge to our vital interests in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world." Blinken adds that the Biden administration "will view China as our most serious global competitor and, from a defence perspective, the pacing threat in most areas". Responding to these challenges, Austin reinforced the comments of Blinken, calling on the US Navy to undergo a whole- scale modernisation and overhaul of the fleet structure and platforms, stating it will need "new concepts and capabilities to counter China across the spectrum of conflict; update US force posture in the region, including through the Pacific De- terrence Initiative; and strengthening our alliances and partnerships".

There is going to have to be some negotiation These points come following ongoing points of difference between the US Navy and Marine Corps and former defence sec- retary Mark Esper, which was highlighted by Admiral Michael Gilday at September's US Naval Institute annual Defense Fo- rum Washington event: "I think that we made a lot of progress in the last year with Secretary Esper and his staff in terms of coming to a place where there was a realisation that we’ve under-invested in naval forces for too long and we needed to, not double down, but increase the investment in naval forces, perhaps at the expense of other areas. That we were making the argument that we believe we need overmatch in the maritime, based on the adversaries that we’re facing. "We think that our analysis withstood the rigors through the [Future Naval Force Study], in a CAPE-led analytical effort, and delivered an FNFS and dis- cussions about a topline in [fiscal year 2022] that would support an increase in those investments."

11 For ADM Gilday, the plans identified by the former defense secretary are best encapsulated in the 'Battle Force 2045' con- cept to "maintain American dominance on the seas" in response to growing concerns about Beijing's ambitious naval ex- pansion and modernisation plans, which aim to see the rising power emerge as a 'Tier One' military power by 2049. In particular, concerns about China's rapid recapitalisation and modernisation has seen the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) evolve into one of the world's most powerful and modern navies, capable of global reach on an increasing scale, with aircraft carriers, ballistic missile submarines, amphibious warfare ships and next-gen large surface combatants all on the shopping list. As part of the plan, former secretary Esper's force structure concept echoes the plans established by think tanks the Hudson Institute and CAPE, which focused on delivering a lighter fleet, with fewer aircraft carriers and large surface combatants (namely cruisers and destroyers) in favour of smaller, more flexible unmanned ships, with significant growth in the attack submarine fleet. Esper's detailed plans called for a significant expansion in the number of vessels available to the fleet – however, this force structure will also include an increasing number of unmanned and optionally manned surface and subsurface vessels, including: • 140-240 unmanned and optionally manned surface and subsurface vehicles; • 60-70 small surface combatants, up from the current requirement for 52; • 50-60 amphibious warfare ships, up from the current requirement for 38; • 70-90 combat logistics force ships, a massive increase from the current requirement of 32; and • Immediately begin building three Virginia Class attack submarines per year, up from two per year today. The core focus for Esper is very clearly maintaining continued US maritime dominance, with Esper explaining the proposal being a response to serious concerns regarding force atrophy, overworking and challenges to modernisation and sustain- ment across the fleet, with some stand out cases drawing particular ire and frustration for fleet commanders being asked to do more with less. Despite these ambitions, ADM Gilday explained in detail the very real implications of an increasingly limited financial re- source base for the US Navy and broader US Armed Forces, explaining, "We can’t afford a navy much bigger than about 306 to 310 ships, based on the composition of the fleet that we have today. And so it is going to require more Navy topline. We have found money inside the Navy budget, but not enough to sustain that effort to give you the numbers that you really need to fight in a [Distributed Maritime Operations/Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment] fight." Expanding on these comments, ADM Gilday speaking to Megan Eckstein of the US Naval Institute (USNI) detailed the US Navy's need for an increasing number of submarines, fewer major surface combatants, a growing number of small surface combatants, balanced by more uncrewed vessels, more logistics vessels and a new composition for the joint Navy/Marine Corps am- phibious warfare fleet.

12 Additionally, ADM Gilday stressed the importance of increasing US investment in critical research and development programs to develop hypersonic weapons and directed energy platforms for missile defence roles – a key component of this shift is en- suring the success of the new Constellation Class guided missile frigates and avoiding, as he puts it, "monstrosities" when it comes to the next-generation guided missile destroyer, which will replace the Arleigh Burke Class vessels. ADM Gilday ex- plained to Eckstein, "I think we have challenges up on the Hill, particularly the Navy, with respect to unmanned. And with DDG Next. So we are fighting the ghosts of our past, whether it’s LCS, Zumwalt, the challenges we’ve had with Ford – we need to explain how we’re not going to repeat the mistakes we’ve had in the past. And we can’t just say it, we have to show them what we are doing systematically to build a little bit, test a little bit, and then move to scaling – but when our confidence is high enough to do so." These ongoing challenges, which will dictate the structure and capability of the US Navy in coming decades, will have an im- portant impact on Australia's own maritime security, naval force posture, structure and platform acquisition in coming years. Your thoughts As an island nation, Australia is defined by its relationship with the ocean. Maritime power projection and sea con- trol play a pivotal role in securing Australia’s economic and strategic security as a result of the intrinsic connection between the nation and Indo-Pacific Asia’s strategic sea-lines-of-communication in the 21st century. Further compounding Australia's precarious position is an acceptance that 'Pax Americana', or the post-Second World War 'American Peace', is over, the world is now a multi-polar, contested environment. In response, Austral- ia will require a uniquely Australian approach and recognition that the nation is now solely responsible for the se- curity of its national interests, with key alliances serving a secondary, complementary role to the broader debate. Australia cannot simply rely on the US, or Japan, or the UK, or France to guarantee the economic, political and strategic interests of the nation. China is already actively undermining the regional order through its provocative actions in the South China Sea and its rapid military build-up. To assume that Australia will remain immune to any hostilities that break out in the region is naive at best and criminally negligent at worst. As a nation, Australia can- not turn a blind eye to its own geopolitical, economic and strategic backyard, both at a traditional and asymmet- ric level, lest we see a repeat of Imperial Japan or the Iranian Revolution arrive on our doorstep. It is clear from history that appeasement does not work, so it is time to avoid repeating the mistakes of our past and be fully pre- pared to meet any challenge. There is an old Latin adage that perfectly describes Australia’s predicament and should serve as sage advice: "Si vis pacem, para bellum" – If you want peace, prepare for war.

13 US Navy halts deliveries of Freedom-class littoral combat ship

By: David B. Larter January 19

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The Freedom-class LCS Detroit sails through the Caribbean Sea. Detroit suffered a casualty to its propulsion system in October 2020. (MC2 Anderson Branch/U.S. Navy) WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has halted deliveries of Lockheed Martin’s Freedom-class littoral com- bat ship, citing a design flaw with the ship’s transmission. In a statement to Defense News, the Navy pointed to “a material defect” with the ship’s combining gear, a complex transmission that transmits power generated by the ship’s engines to its waterjet propulsion system, and said it is working to design a fix for in-service littoral combat ships while holding off on tak- ing delivery on new ships. The Freedom LCS was designed by Lockheed Martin and built by Fincantieri’s Marinette Marine ship- yard. The combining gear with the defect was designed by the German firm RENK AG. The Navy, Lock- heed and RENK AG have worked together on a fix, which will likely take months to install for each ship, according to a senior Navy official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The acknowledgement of the design flaw — early failure of the ship’s high-speed clutch bearings — con- firms the Navy’s suspicions first reported by Defense News in December. Navy officials have expressed confidence, however, that the service is on a good path to fixing the defect and getting the ships to a use- ful place.

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US Navy prepares major surge of littoral combat ship deployments

It's the latest effort to help put the littoral combat ship's troubles to rest. By: David Larter In a statement, the Navy said it is working to ease the burden on commanders and enable them to still make use of the ship, even as the Navy works through the process of testing the proposed fix. “A design fix has been developed and is in production, to be followed by factory and sea-based testing,” a Navy statement read. “The Navy is determining the plan to install this fix on ships in the Fleet. “The fix will be installed and tested on new construction ships prior to the Navy taking deliveries of those ships. Measures have been implemented to mitigate risk to the in-service Freedom variant ships while the Navy moves swiftly to correct the deficiency and minimize operational impacts.” The modified combining gear will be tested at the RENK AG factory and on a new ship at sea before it is accepted, said Rear Adm. Casey Moton, the head of the unmanned and small combatants office at Naval Sea Systems Command.

15 “The planned redesign of the defective bearings will be rigorously tested both on land at the manufactur- ing facility and at sea on a new construction ship before it is accepted and installed in-service,” Moton said in a statement. The Navy told Lockheed Martin it believes the combining gear issue was a “latent defect,” meaning the service expects the company will be responsible for the repairs, according to a senior Navy official. Lock- heed has not yet responded to the the Navy and no agreement has yet been reached over how those re- pairs will be paid for. But just how much those repairs will cost is not yet know, said Capt. Danny Hernandez, spokesman for the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. “The cost of the repair will be determine once a government-approved solution has been identified,” Hernandez said. Lockheed Martin said in a statement that it is committed to fixing the combining gear issue. “In partnership with the U.S. Navy, Lockheed Martin is aggressively pursuing a resolution to the gear issue the Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship is currently experiencing,” the statement read. The Navy has put out a class advisory on the Freedom variant, which restricts some operations of the ship. But a source familiar with the issue told Defense News that as designed, it can operate up to 34 knots even with restrictions in place in various configurations. The advisory restricts certain configura- tions that put stress on the failing clutch bearings, two sources confirmed to Defense News. The Freedom-class LCS has been bedeviled by issues with its combining gear, which is arguably an im- perfect solution engineered to meet the 40-knot-plus speed requirement. The string of combining gear casualties dates back to at least late 2015, when the LCS Milwaukee broke down on its maiden voyage to its home port in Mayport, Florida, and had to be towed into the Little Creek base in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Early the next year, the LCS Fort Worth suffered a casualty to the combining gear in port when sailors accidentally ran the system without lube oil running through it. The early issues, however, are likely not the same as the clutch bearing failures that prompted the Navy to halt deliveries, however. Early in 2020, LCS-9 (USS Little Rock) suffered a breakdown of its combin- ing gear, which was followed in October by the casualty to LCS-7 (USS Detroit). Detroit was forced to hobble back to port from a deployment to Latin America, but a power failure en route, forcing the Navy to have it towed to port.

16 $1bn for new naval guided missiles

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds announced today (25 January 2021) a $1 billion develop- ment of advanced guided weapons for the Royal Australian Navy. She said the investment would be made across the current and future submarine and surface combatant fleets, to provide the Australian Defence Force with more options to protect Australia’s interests. “These new capabilities will provide a strong, credible deterrent that will ensure stability and security in the region,” Senator Reynolds said.

The project will provide the Royal Australian Navy with long-range anti-ship missiles, ex- tended range surface-to-air missiles, advanced lightweight torpedoes and land strike capa- bilities. These will have ranges exceeding 370 kilometres for anti-ship and surface-to-air missiles and 1500km for maritime land strike missiles. Senator Reynolds said the new weapons will enhance the protection of Australia’s maritime resources and borders, and hold adversaries at much greater distances. She said when aligned with the ongoing state- of-the-art combat system development and national shipbuilding programs, it represents an investment of up to $24 billion, building a “lethal and highly responsive” navy for dec- ades to come.

“This investment is part of the Morrison government’s $183 billion Naval shipbuilding plan, which will see up to 23 classes of vessels built here in Australia, creating thousands of jobs and significant opportunities for Australian industry,” Senator Reynolds said.

17 Qld Maritime Museum’s trial re-opening

After being seriously hit by the coronavirus pandemic last year, the heritage-listed Queensland Maritime Museum will reopen to visitors this weekend in a trial run to see if it has a future, the Brisbane Times reports. The museum was set to close forever on New Year’s Eve due to volunteer and revenue shortages, but with January historically being its busiest period, the museum is giving it another go. Its online petition to be included in the state-funded Queensland Museum Network attracted more than 10,000 signatures in the past month. QMM chief executive Emma Di Muzio said the museum’s board decided to run a weekend reopening trial after being closed to the public since November 1, and March to September before that.

18 19 UK Defence Journal Home Sea Bow added to new Type 26 Frigate HMS Glasgow

The Type 26 Frigate how it will look in UK service.

HMS Glasgow, currently being built has now had her bow sectionattach BAE tweeted the following.

Eight of these ships will replace the eight dedicated anti-submarine Type 23 frigates which will reach the end of their active lives by the mid 2030s. In addition to the Clyde built Type 26, five Rosyth built Type 31 general purpose frigates are intended to replace the general-purpose Type 23s currently in service and also coming towards the end of their long careers.

According to the Royal Navy:

“Just over half of HMS Glasgow is now complete or under construction, out of eight planned vessels in the class (all are named, three have been ordered, two are in build at Govan – HMS Cardiff is No.2).

Once the fore and aft sections are complete they will be joined on the hard in front of the block hall, before the bridge/main mast are craned into place. The completed ship will then be ‘launched’ by being lowered into the Clyde via a barge, then towed downstream to BAE’s yard at Scotstoun to complete fitting out. The 26s replace the ‘souped-up’ anti-submarine Type 23s which will begin retiring from service later this decade after more than 30 years on patrol, while still to come are five Type 31 general duty frigates which have yet to be named and will replace their five Type 26 counterparts like for like.”

It should be noted that the above quote from the Royal Navy is incorrect, the five Type 31 Frigates which have yet to be named will actually replace their five Type 23 general purpose frigate coun- terparts like for like.

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Computer generated image of KANYON / Poseidon featured in Russian MoD video showing new Russian strategic weapons

Russia’s Poseidon Nuclear Torpedo Base To Be Ready By Summer 2022

The coastal base for strategic unmanned underwater Poseidon craft will be ready in the summer of 2022. The construction of maintenance and storage infrastructure for the new strategic weapon will be completed.

Xavier Vavasseur 27 Jan 2021

By TASS Russian news agency Trials of the first carrier are nearing completion. The timely creation of the base will extend the life cycle of the weapon, the Izvestia daily writes. Maintenance and storage base, warehouses and workshops are built for Poseidon to prepare the weapon for combat duty and launches. The construction is to be completed in June 2022 according to the technical assignment obtained by the daily. The re- habilitation of the territory is to be completed by the same time.

The Defense Ministry has not disclosed the deployment location of submarines armed with Poseidon. In late 2020, it said the creation of the complex was proceeding successfully. The crew of the first submarine carrier is mastering the new weapon. “It often happened in Soviet time that a new warship arrived in the home port of call and there was nothing except a floating berth. It was first necessary to create the weapon and then think about provision. It is impossible to act in the way at a current development stage of science and technology,” Hero of Russia Rear Admiral Vsevolod Khmyrov said. Poseidon is a sophisticated weapon and it takes effort to maintain it in proper order, he added.

Former submarine commander Captain 1st rank Igor Kurdin said Soviet mistakes often denied a chance to aircraft-carrying and other big ships to moor at berths in unequipped bases. “They had to stay anchored and generate power themselves. It means they consumed the resource without sailing out. Submarines were deployed in bases built in 1950s. They were inconvenient, to put it mildly. The timely creation of infrastructure will extend the life cycle of new hardware,” he said.

The first information about Poseidon appeared in late 2015. The media reported about a super powerful nuclear torpedo, which destroys coastal infrastructure and delivers guaranteed unacceptable damage to the adversary.

21 The nuclear-powered craft has an unlimited range. Experts believe its size allows carrying a warhead that exceeds the yield of ordinary intercontinental ballistic missiles. The Sarov N-90 experimental submarine was used to test the new weapon. Since 2008, it test fired mockups and prototypes. The Belgorod K-329 special-designation submarine will be the first carrier of Poseidon. It was built by modified project 09852. Another submarine for Poseidon is being built. Media said the Khabarovsk nuclear submarine is to be floated by the autumn of 2021. Besides Poseidon, President Vladimir Putin announced another five weapons of strategic deterrence in March 2018. They will guarantee powerful Russian retaliation to any nuclear surprise attack and will make the US global missile defense senseless, the Izvestia said.

About Poseidon Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo

Images via Covert Shores According to Covert Shores, the Project 09851 Khabarovsk (пр.09851 “Калитка-СМП” “Хабаровск”) submarine is likely the main launching platform of the Poseidon “Intercontinental Nuclear-Powered Nuclear-Armed Autonomous Torpedo” (also known as 2м39 ‘Poseidon’ [Посейдон] / ‘Status-6’ [Статус-6] / ‘Skif’ [Скиф] seabed launched variant / NATO: KANYON).

Poseidon is the largest torpedo ever developed in any country. At around 2 meters (6.5 ft) in diameter and over 20 meters (65 ft) long, it is approximately twice the size of submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) and thirty times the size of a regular ‘heavyweight’ torpedo.

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Henderson Shipyard lauded as sovereign capability ‘powerhouse’

|27 JANUARY 2021 By: Reporter Defence Minister Linda Reynolds has commended the progress of the federal government’s SEA 1905 Phase 1 during a visit to the Henderson Shipyard in Western Australia. According to Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds, the federal government’s plan to explore a variant of the offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the new Mine Countermeasures and Survey Vessels under project SEA 1905 Phase 1, has helped establish Henderson ship- yard in Western Australia as a sovereign capability “powerhouse”. During her visit to the Henderson precinct on Monday, 25 January, Minister Reynolds welcomed the progress made in recent years, which she said has brought forward the delivery of the replacements of the Huon Class vessel from the 2030s to the mid 2020s. “These vessels will help Navy navigate more confidently throughout the region, and safely clear minefields with the use of autono- mous technologies,” she said. Defence has released an ‘Invitation to Register and Request for Information’ on Austender for various components of the mission management system, the integration of the system, and the construction of a toolbox of robotic and autonomous systems that the new vessels will require. “This is all part of the Morrison government’s unprecedented investment in a National Naval Shipbuilding Enterprise, with Henderson being one of the two major shipbuilding hubs in Australia, along with Osborne in South Australia,” Minister Reynolds said. At present, Henderson is housing the construction of three classes of vessels, which include: • 21 Guardian-Class vessels; • 10 of the 12 Arafura Class OPVs; and • Six Evolved Cape Class vessels. This would build on the eight ships already built and delivered from Western Australia, with another eight ships currently under con- struction at Henderson. “With a total of up to 45 ships to be built in WA, shipbuilding has gone from zero to boom in seven years because of the Morrison gov- ernment’s significant investment. Our commitment to shipbuilding in Australia is unprecedented in its scale and ambition,” Minister Reynolds said. The Anzac Class fleet is also undergoing a major midlife upgrade at Henderson, which includes upgrades to systems modernisation activities, and quality-of-life improvements for the crew. “Today, around half of Australia’s surface combatant fleet and all six Collins Class submarines are home ported in WA,” Minister Reyn- olds said. “With plans highlighted in the 2020 Force Structure Plan to build two multi-role sealift and replenishment ships, a Pacific Support Ves- sel, and an ice-rated replacement for Ocean Protector in Australia, additional major docking facilities will be required in the near fu- ture to supplement the capability of the Captain Cook Graving Dock in Sydney. “The construction of such a facility would be an enormous boost to our sovereign shipbuilding and sustainment industry, and the West Australian government’s forward leaning approach and commitment to this work is crucial to Defence.” Minister Reynolds added: “I have witnessed first-hand the hive of activity at Henderson that demonstrates the Morrison government’s determination and commitment to creating a sovereign industrial shipbuilding capability.” 25

CHANGE OF COMMAND

Outgoing Commanding Officer of HMAS Stirling Captain Ains- ley Morthorpe, left, hands command to Captain Gary Lawton on the quarterdeck at Fleet Base West, Western Australia. Photo: Leading Seaman Ronnie Baltoft

When Captain Gary Lawton was selected as the new Commanding Officer of HMAS Stirling, it felt more like a homecoming to his favourite city than another Navy posting. “It’s wonderful to be back at Stirling. It is a beauti- ful base with a sense of space, the ocean and fabulous beaches. It really is home to me,” he said. Captain Lawton previously served for many years on the island with Navy’s Submarine Force and said he was looking forward to the next chapter in his career. “The opportunity to come back to Western Australia and work with the great people at Stirling in supporting our Fleet, and helping our sailors and officers flourish, was one I was not going to pass up,” Captain Lawton said. “I look forward to the challenge of overseeing the safe redevelopment of the establishment over the next few years and in terms of a personal challenge, in any spare time I have, you’ll find me swimming, cycling and train- ing for the next Busselton Triathlon.” Captain Lawton assumed the role during a small ceremony on the Stirling Quarterdeck on December 4, 2020, taking the reins from Captain Ainsley Morthorpe after almost two years. Captain Morthorpe’s efforts at Stirling were rewarded recently with the base awarded the Governor’s Cup for the shore establishment that has excelled in all aspects of operations, safety, training, and support to the Fleet for 2020. Speaking fondly of his time as Commanding Officer, Captain Morthorpe recalled the beauty and wildness of the landscape, something he used to his advantage when exploring his passion for photography. “It has been my great pleasure to be able to steward the wonders of our incredible and historic island, including the ospreys, little penguins, tammar wallabies, and not to forget the tiger snake,” Captain Morthorpe said. “I’ve enjoyed learning the stories of the island from the ancient Wadjuk tribe’s Dreamtime stories to Captain Stirling and Fremantle’s adventures on the island before the colony of Perth was established. There is so much history that I have been able to share with visitors and the community.” Captain Lawton and Captain Morthorpe agreed the diverse teams, units, personnel and operations at Stirling were an amazing demonstration of the integrated capabilities offered by Navy nationwide. Captain Morthorpe summed up his time at the base in a heartfelt message to personnel. “The most amazing thing about Stirling is that almost everything the Navy does collectively is also done right here on the island,” he said. “It has been a real privilege and joy to be able to play a leadership role in all of this. I have looked forward every day to coming to work on this base.”

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Captain Gary Lawton RAN

Captain Gary Lawton was born in Southampton, England into a naval family in May 1966. He combined travel and a vari- ety of jobs before being commissioned as a Midshipman into the Royal Navy in September 1988. Qualifying as a subma- riner in 1991 in HMS Torbay, he later navigated HMS Talent from 1993 until 1995 gaining significant operational experi- ence in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. Following the completion of his short career commission in September 1996, Lawton joined the Royal Australian Navy in February 1997. Lawton served in HMAS Collins as Sonar Officer and Operations Officer between 1997 and 2000. Upon completion of the Submarine Executive Officers Course in December 2000, he was the commissioning Executive Officer of HMAS Dechaineux until December 2001. During this period HMAS Dechaineux undertook a major South East Asian oper- ational deployment and Lawton was selected to undertake the Royal Netherlands Navy Submarine Command Course in 2002. On successfully completing ‘Perisher’, he then completed the United States Navy Prospective Commanding Officers Course in September 2002. Lieutenant Commander Lawton was a student on the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2003 and joined Sea Train- ing Group - Submarines as the Deputy Commander Submarine Sea Training, responsible for the maintenance of opera- tional standards in the Submarine Force in 2004 and assumed Command of HMAS Rankin in March 2005. The highlight of his time in HMAS Rankin was a six month Pacific deployment, including Exercise RIMPAC and hosting the USN Subma- rine Command Course, in 2006. Following promotion to Commander, Lawton served as the Head of Submarine Warfare Training, responsible for subma- riner Officer, Sailor and Command Team training, until May 2008. He then represented the RAN at the Naval Undersea Warfare Centre, Newport, Rhode Island as the Operational Requirements Development Manager for the BYG-1 submarine combat system and the CBASS heavyweight torpedo. Upon return to Australia in July 2010, Lawton was briefly appointed as Training Authority - Submarines prior to a two and a half year posting as the Director Submarine Operations at Head- quarters Joint Operations Command in November 2010. Lawton then served on the training and tactical development staff of Commander Submarine Forces Pacific in Pearl Har- bor, Hawaii from 2013-2016. On return to Western Australia, he was the Deputy Commander Australian Submarine Force before once again commanding HMAS Rankin from December 2017 to December 2018, and then HMAS Farncomb until November 2019 when he was promoted to Captain. Lawton was then the Director of Submarine Policy and Plans at Navy Headquarters in Canberra. Captain Lawton assumed command of HMAS Stirling in December 2020.

27 US stresses South China Sea support amid China ‘pressure Secretary of State Antony Blinken has reaffirmed the United States commitment to the support of Southeast Asian nations in a long-running dispute with China over sovereignty in the South China Sea.

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The US rejects China's maritime claims in the South China Sea 'to the extent they exceed the maritim... The US rejects China's maritime claims in the South China Sea 'to the extent they exceed the maritime zones' permitted under inter- national law [File: Nicholas V Huynh/Handout via Reuters] The new top diplomat for the US made the commitment in a phone call with his Filipino counterpart, Teodoro Locsin, on Wednesday. Locsin had earlier lodged a formal diplo- matic protest over Beijing’s decision to allow its coastguard, which is active in the disputed waters, to open fire on foreign vessels. Blinken “pledged to stand with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of PRC pressure,” the State Department said in a statement following the call, referring to China by its formal name. Blinken and Locsin agreed that the alliance between the US and the Philippines was “vital to a free and open Indo- Pacific region”. Blinken “stressed the importance of the Mutual Defense Treaty for the security of both nations, and its clear application to armed attacks against the Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the Pacific, which includes the South China Sea”, the State Department added. The US and the Philippines have been military allies for decades, but since Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte came to office in 2016 he has shifted the country closer to China despite Beijing’s more assertive claims in the South China Sea and construction of military bases and artificial islands in the disputed seas. On Wednesday, Blinken sought to challenge that, saying the US rejects China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea “to the extent they exceed the maritime zones” permitted under international law. Over the weekend, the US also sent a carrier group through the waterway to promote “freedom of the seas”. China is planning its own military drills this week.

‘Threat of war’ Last Friday, China passed legislation allowing its coastguard to use “all necessary means” to stop or prevent threats from foreign vessels, including demolishing structures built by other countries on reefs also claimed by China.After initially dismissing the law as “none of our business”, Locsin changed his mind and lodged a diplomatic protest, call- ing the move a “threat of war”. “While enacting law is a sovereign prerogative, this one – given the area involved or for that matter the open South China Sea – is a verbal threat of war to any country that defies the law; which, if un- challenged, is submission to it,” Locsin added. The new Chinese law also permits coastguard to board and inspect foreign vessels in waters China considers its own, posing more problems given the scope of Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea. China claims about 90 percent of the strategically important waterway, based on its controversial “nine-dash line”. An international tribunal in The Hague rejected the Chinese claim in 2016, following a case brought by the Philippines but China refuses to recognise the ruling. China maintains a constant presence of coastguard ships hundreds of kilometres off its mainland, near disputed is- lands and often within the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) of its neighbours. They have often been accused of acting aggressively, disrupting fishing boats and energy exploration. Aside from the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also have claims on the sea. Standing with friends, allies Blinken’s call to Locsin is also seen as part of a renewed commitment to the region under the new administration of US President Joe Biden. In multiple calls and statements, he and his top security officials have underscored support for Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, all traditional allies of the US. On Wednesday, Biden told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that his administration is committed to defend- ing Japan, including the Senkaku Islands, which are also claimed by China, which calls them the Diaoyu Islands. State Department spokesman Ned Price has also warned China about menacing Taiwan after it repeatedly sent more than a dozen military fighters and bombers through the island’s air defence zone. “We will stand with friends and allies to advance our shared prosperity security and values in the Indo-Pacific region – and that includes deepening our ties with Democratic Taiwan,” Price said in a statement. “Our commitment to Taiwan is rock-solid.”

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Submarine escape, rescue and abandonment system contract termination 21 January 2021

In April 2018, following an open tender process, Phoenix International Australia was selected to deliver a de- ployable submarine rescue system for use with both the Collins and Attack class submarine fleets. Following a series of delays in 2019 and 2020, the Department of Defence initiated an independent review of the project in August 2020. The Government has considered the outcomes and recommendations of the review and has agreed to termi- nate the contract with Phoenix International Australia by mutual agreement. The Government has directed the Department of Defence and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabi- net to conduct a comprehensive investigation to inform lessons learnt into procurement practices and relevant accountabilities which is underway. The Department of Defence will now work with Phoenix to reach settlement, which will include addressing ar- rangements with Phoenix and its subcontractors. The Royal Australian Navy retains a suitable submarine rescue system supporting the Collins class submarines under an existing contract with James Fisher Defence Australia. This system can be sustained into the late 2020s, affording the Government time to consider the acquisition of a replacement system, which will be re- quired to support the larger crew size of the Attack class submarine. Media contacts Issued by Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT Email: [email protected]

29 Navy League WA Or HMAS Perth (I) Memorial Polo Shirts with or without pocket $45 + Postage

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