NAVY NEWS WEEK 47-1

26 November 2017

Yemen’s Houthis threaten to attack warships, oil tankers if ports stay closed Yemen’s armed Houthi movement said on Sunday it could attack warships and oil tankers from enemy countries in retaliation against the closure of Yemeni ports by a Saudi-led military coalition last week Saudi Arabia has blamed the Iran- allied Houthis for firing a ballistic missile towards Riyadh airport on Nov 4. Two days later, the Saudi-led coalition responded by closing access to Yemeni ports, saying this was needed to stop arms reaching the Houthis. The United Nations says the closure could cause a famine in Yemen that could kill millions of people if ports are not reopened. “The and oil tankers of the aggression and their movements will not be safe from the fire of Yemeni naval forces if they are directed by the senior leadership (to attack),” the Houthis’ official media outlet Al Masirah said on its website, citing a military . Yemen lies beside the southern mouth of the Red Sea, one of the most important trade routes in the world for oil tankers, which pass near Yemen’s shores while heading from the through the Suez Canal to Europe. The Houthis, fighters drawn mainly from Yemen’s Zaidi Shi‘ite minority and allied to long-serving former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, control much of Yemen including the capital San‘aa. The Saudi-led military alliance is fighting in support of the internationally recognised government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is based in the southern port of Aden. Al Masirah said the decision to threaten coalition vessels was taken after a meeting of naval officials who had discussed the possible response to the closure of Yemeni ports. Houthi leader Abdel-Malek al-Houthi said in September his group could target Saudi oil tankers should the coalition attack Yemen’s main port at Hodeidah. On Sunday, the head of the Houthi supreme revolutionary committee, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, wrote on his Facebook page that the Houthis would target oil installations in Saudi Arabia with missiles if the coalition attacked Hodeidah. The Houthis have often made such threats against Saudi Arabia and its main coalition partner, the United Arab Emirates, although they have not so far demonstrated the capability to hit all the targets they mention. The missile which was intercepted on Nov. 4 has escalated tensions between regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran, which Riyadh blames for supplying the missile to the Houthis Iran denies it supplies arms to the Houthis but has said the missile was a reaction to Saudi “aggression”. The Saudi-led coalition has said aid workers and supplies would continue to be able to access Yemen despite the closure of its ports, but aid agencies say they have not been able to get through and have warned of famine and a health catastrophe. The coalition opened a land border crossing on Thursday between Saudi Arabia and territory held by the Saudi-backed government, and the port at Aden was reopened on Wednesday. But ports in Houthi-held areas have remained shut. Source: Reuters (Reporting by Sylvia Westall; Editing by Peter Graff)

Navy Identifies Sailors Lost in C-2A Crash Release Date: 11/25/2017 9:33:00 AM From Commander, Task Force 70 Public Affairs PHILIPPINE SEA (NNS) -- After notifying their families that extensive search and rescue efforts had ended, the Navy identified Lt. Steven Combs, Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) Airman Matthew Chialastri and Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Apprentice Bryan Grosso Nov. 25 as the three Sailors lost in a C-2A Greyhound crash on Wednesday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these Sailors," said Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer, commander of U.S. Seventh Fleet. "Their service and sacrifice will be lasting in Seventh Fleet and we will continue to stand the watch for them, as they did bravely for all of us." USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) led combined search and rescue efforts with units from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Over the course of two days of continuous search efforts for the Sailors, ships and aircraft covered nearly 1000 square nautical miles. "The thoughts and prayers of the entire team onboard Ronald Reagan go out to the families and friends of our fallen shipmates," said Capt. Michael Wosje, Commander, Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW 5). "We are thankful for our professional search and rescue teams and their incredible bravery. The entire Navy team is working together to investigate the cause of this mishap and we will remain focused on our mission to operate forward in a safe and professional manner to ensure peace and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region."  Combs, a native of Florida, was assigned to the "Providers" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30 and embarked aboard Ronald Reagan as part of Carrier Air Wing Five. His previous duty assignments include the "Greyhawks" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120, the Center for Security Forces Detachment Kittery Point, in , N.H., and Training Wing 4, in Corpus Christi, Texas. His awards include the National Defense Ribbon and the Navy Battle "E" Ribbon.  Chialastri, a native of Louisiana, was assigned to Ronald Reagan. His previous duty stations include USS America (LHA 6), Patrol Squadron Thirty (VP-30), the "Pro's Nest," in Jacksonville, Fla., and the Center for Security Forces Detachment Kittery Point, in Portsmouth, N.H. His awards include the National Defense Ribbon.  Grosso, a native of Florida was assigned to Ronald Reagan. His previous duty stations include the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Fla., and the Naval Recruit Training Center in Great Lakes, Ill. His awards include the National Defense Ribbon.

The C-2A Greyhound, assigned to VRC 30, crashed en route to Ronald Reagan Nov. 22 while operating in the Philippine Sea. The aircraft was carrying 11 crew and passengers at the time. Eight personnel were recovered on scene after the crash by U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC 12). An investigation is in progress. Source: www.navy.mil

The ’s Type 23 HMS Westminster comes in to Devonport. photo : Raymond Wergan, Newton Ferrers.(c)

Turnbull announces offshore patrol boats Lurssen has been named the main contractor for 's 3 billion dollar offshore patrol vessel project. German shipbuilder Lurssen has been named the main contractor and designer for Australia's $3.5 billion offshore patrol vessel project. Lurssen's bid was successful in a three-way race against another German designer Fassmer and Dutch firm Damen. Construction will begin towards the end of next year in South Australia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced in Canberra on Friday. The 12 new vessels will replace the existing Armidale Class patrol boats. 'Australian jobs, Australian workers, Australian steel, for Australia's navy, to keep Australia safe in these times of greater risk and greater challenge,' Mr Turnbull said. While the first two boats will be built in Adelaide, the remainder will be put together in Henderson, Western Australia, from 2020 - when the construction of the future begins.The split build was designed to avoid the so-called 'valley of death' in South Australian shipbuilding, when expertise and jobs are lost between major projects. Defence Industry Minister Christopher Pyne denied the move would add time, cost and risk to the project, insisting it was an 'intelligent' approach to grow a sovereign Australian shipbuilding industry. 'We want to use all the available resources to us and maximise the Australian involvement in that major project,' he said. Defence Force chief Mark Binskin said the announcement marked a great milestone in Australia's capability. The new ships, which can remain at sea for longer, will improve the Navy's contribution to maritime patrols and missions in the region. 'The vessel is one of the most capable OPV in the world today, and it will meet all of the needs that we have,' Mr Binskin said. source : Skynews/AAP With an Australian government, whose stability is delicatically balanced having a one-seat majority, all parties have to look after Australië first.

Hope Fades as Search for Argentine Enters 9th Day November 24, 2017 by Reuters By Hugh Bronstein and Nicolás Misculin BUENOS AIRES, Nov 24 (Reuters) – Families of the 44 crew members of a missing Argentine submarine gave up hope and went home on Friday after a days- long wait at the sub’s Mar del Plata naval base, saddened and angered by evidence that the vessel may have exploded. The submarine went missing nine days earlier with only a one-week supply of oxygen onboard. The navy vowed to keep searching for the vessel and declined to confirm the wide-held fear that the crew had died. “Until we find the submarine and know the facts, we cannot venture to say anything more one way or the other to the families,” navy spokesman Enrique Balbi said. “The search is very difficult,” he said. Relatives of the crew had arrived at Mar de Plata on Monday, filled with an optimism that had all but disappeared by Friday. “At this point, the truth is I have no hope that they will come back,” Maria Villareal, mother of one crew member, told local television on Friday morning. Others said they would remain at Mar del Plata. “I’m at the base and I’m going to stay until they find the submarine,” Silvina Krawczyk, sister of the sub’s only female officer, Eliana Maria Krawczyk, told Reuters through the WhatsApp messaging application. Around 30 boats and planes and 4,000 people from Argentina, the United States, Britain, Chile and Brazil have joined the search for the submarine, which last transmitted its location about 480 km (300 miles) from the coast. Some family members accused the navy of putting their loved ones at unnecessary risk by sending them out in a more than 30-year-old vessel that they suspected was not properly maintained, an accusation the navy has denied. “They killed my brother!” a man leaving the base in a car shouted out to reporters. The older man driving the car was crying. The submarine, called the San Juan, was launched in 1983 and underwent maintenance in 2008 in Argentina. The armed forces have had to face dwindling resources and lack of training since the end of a military dictatorship in the early 1980s. A sound detected underwater on the morning of Nov. 15, around the time the San Juan sent its last signal and in the same area, was “consistent with an explosion,” navy spokesman Balbi said on Thursday. The information about the possible explosion came from the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty Organization, an international body that runs a global network of listening posts designed to check for secret atomic blasts. The fury of the crew’s relatives was aimed more at the navy, which they say has kept them in the dark about the missing vessel, than at President Mauricio Macri. Both the submarine program and military budget cuts started long before Macri’s late 2015 election. He has enjoyed generally favorable coverage from major Argentine news media outlets as he pushes free-market reforms. The government promised a thorough investigation into the sub’s disappearance and the navy’s response. (Additional reporting by Walter Bianchi in Mar del Plata and Maximiliano Rizzi in buenos Aires; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn and Jonathan Oatis) Source: http://gcaptain.com Sadly, this message was shortly after followed by the announcement below.

The Argentine Navy confirms the death of the 44 crew of the ARA San Juan The worst of the scenarios was confirmed early in the by the Argentine Navy, when it has gathered the relatives of the crew to tell them the sad news of the death of the 44 crew of the submarine ARA San Juan disappeared last week.The Argentine Navy reported that it was analyzing a 'hydroacoustic anomaly' that was detected a week ago in the Atlantic area where the last known position of the submarine ARA San Juan had been fixed, a noise that was recorded almost three hours after the Last communication with the ship. Enrique Balbi told the media at the headquarters of the Navy, in Buenos Aires, that a warning was received that responds to a 'hydroacoustic anomaly' detected near the last known position of the submarine, last Wednesday in the San Jorge Gulf area, 432 kilometers off the coast of Argentine Patagonia. "The United States -one of the 13 countries that collaborate in the search for the submersible- requested (data) different agencies that are dedicated to gathering different hydroacoustic events around the world," he added. After collecting all the information and doing a thorough centralized analysis in the United States, that official indication was received that corresponds to Wednesday, November 15 in the morning, coinciding with the area of the last known position of the submarine. "This would be about 30 miles north of that position, on the way to Mar del Plata," the Buenosairean city to which the ship was heading from the southern port of Ushuaia and where it should have arrived between Sunday and Monday.The hydroacoustic anomaly and the report sent by the US Navy has been reviewed in Argentina and sent to other international organizations that have confirmed that it was an underwater explosion in the area where the submarine should be. The Navy has gathered the relatives and transmitted the terrible news. The impact on the family members of the crew has been terrible. Many of them have left the meeting complaining about the management of the situation by the Government and the Argentine Navy. The relatives wonder how it is possible that they were kept in suspense for a week, mobilizing the operation if the data to locate the San Juan were available from the same day the disaster occurred. On the other hand, the relatives continue emphasizing that the crew was sentenced from the moment in which the submarine went to sea due to the poor state of maintenance in which it was. Argentina is one of the countries in Latin America that least invests in defense since the time of 'Kirschnerism' that led the Armed Forces to a state of neglect that is now being paid. Little has been revealed, yet, about how the Argentine Navy has confirmed the death of the sailors. It is known that the ship Cabo Do Hornos of the Chilean Navy and the Skandi Patagonia a ship in charter at the French oil company Total with an underwater rescue squadron of the US Navy, were in the area of the accident. The latest information indicates that the destruction of the submarine could be due to the explosion of one of its batteries due to a possible short circuit. Source : Diariodenautica **Rest in peace the brave companions of the sea.**

Huntington Ingalls Industries Launches National Security Midgett Posted: November 22, 2017 12:48 PM PASCAGOULA, Miss. — Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Ingalls Shipbuilding division launched the National Security Cutter (NSC) Midgett (WMSL 757) on Nov. 22, the company announced in a release. Midgett is the eighth NSC Ingalls has built for the U.S. Coast Guard. It will be christened during a ceremony on Dec. 9. “As the National Security Cutter program continues to mature, we are providing our Coast Guard customer the best ships in their fleet,” said Ingalls Shipbuilding President Brian Cuccias. “Our shipbuilders know and understand the importance of quality in building these highly capable cutters so the men and women of the Coast Guard can perform their important national security missions.” Midgett was translated via Ingalls’ rail car system to the floating dry dock last week, and the dock was moved away from the pier on Tuesday night. With the assistance of tugboats, Midgett was launched off the dock early on the morning of Nov. 22. “We’ve become very good at building these ships and continue to improve with the incorporation of lessons learned from previous cutters,” said Derek Murphy, Ingalls’ NSC program manager. “Launch is a much anticipated and exciting event, but it’s still just one step in bringing this cutter to life. Our shipbuilders are ready to get back to work to ensure Midgett is the best NSC to date.” The ship is named to honor John Allen Midgett, who was awarded the Silver Cup by the U.K. Board of Trade in 1918 for the renowned rescue of 42 British sailors aboard the British tanker Mirlo after it was torpedoed by a German U-boat off the coast of North Carolina. He also was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1924. Midgett was a senior enlisted member of the U.S. Lifesaving Service when it merged with the U.S. Lighthouse Service and U.S. Revenue Cutter Service to become today’s U.S. Coast Guard. Legend-class NSCs are the flagships of the Coast Guard’s cutter fleet. Designed to replace the 378-foot Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters that entered service in the 1960s, they are 418 feet long with a 54-foot beam and displace 4,500 tons with a full load. They have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 miles, an endurance of 60 days and a crew of 110. Source: http://seapowermagazine.org

HMS Albion meets the chop outside the Sound breakwater Nov 19. Photo : Raymond Wergan, Newton Ferrers.

The Brazilian "Sirius class" - hydrographic and research vessel.H 21 Sirius departing from Rio de Janeiro Photo : Capt Jan Plug Master MSV Seven Rio (c)

LEMOA comes in force, US tanker refuels ship in the Sea of Japan; know what the memorandum is all about The Sea of Japan, this week, witnessed a show of military cooperation between US and India, a US Navy tanker refuelled an Indian Navy ship The Sea of Japan, this week, witnessed a show of military cooperation between US and India, a US Navy tanker refuelled an Indian Navy ship. With the operationalisation of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Association (LEMOA) between the two countries, both the countries have got the access to each other’s facilities for supplies and repairs. INS Satpura, an Indian Navy stealth frigate, was refuelled by USNS John Ericsson, a US Navy tanker, as a Replenishment at Sea (RAS) activity carried out under the PASSEX (participation exercise). Besides INS Satpura, INS Kadmatt and a Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force vessel, J S Inazuma, also participated in the exercise, which was conducted from November 3-6 in the Sea of Japan. A source told The Indian Express, “The refuelling from a US Navy tanker extends the reach of the Indian Navy, allowing it to operate further, more persistently and for a longer duration. It is also a statement of intent about the India-US relationship.” It must be noted that this is the first time an Indian ship has been refuelled at sea by a US tanker. The PASSEX, which was reportedly requested by the Indian Navy, arises when ships from two or more navies are operating in the same area and take the opportunity to train together. During the exercise, the two countries had first utilised the LEMOA to transfer fuel from INS Jyoti, an Indian Navy tanker, to two US Navy ships. As per the report, LEMOA was also used for accounting purposes during the training Exercise Yudh Abhyas in the US. India and the US signed LEMOA last August, however, it only operationalised earlier this year, once the two sides exchanged the annexures listing the point of contacts and the authority chain to be followed. Meanwhile, India and the US are working closely to sign the Helicopter Operations on Ships Other than Aircraft Carriers (HOSTAC) agreement, which will allow the two navies to land and take off from ships of both. Source : reuters

USS Fitzgerald departs Fleet Activities Yokosuka Release Date: 11/23/2017 8:24:00 PM From Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet

YOKOSUKA, Japan (Nov. 24, 2017) The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) is towed away from the pier at Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka, Nov. 24, to meet heavy lift transport vessel MV Transshelf. Transshelf will transport Fitzgerald to Pascagoula, Mississippi for repairs. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Benjamin Dobbs/Released)

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) departed Fleet Activities (FLEACT) Yokosuka, Nov. 24, to meet heavy lift transport vessel Transshelf and begin her journey to Pascagoula, Mississippi for further repairs. Fitzgerald was towed to deep water to begin the heavy lift process, which is expected to last several days. Transshelf will transport Fitzgerald to Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) shipbuilding for repairs and upgrades. In the months prior to her departure from Yokosuka, technicians and shipbuilders at Ship Repair Facility Yokosuka made significant progress in preparing the ship for the journey, including dewatering, defueling, and superstructure repairs, and placing key systems in layup maintenance. In October, she was moved from dry dock to a pierside location in anticipation of the move. Fitzgerald was involved in a collision with the Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal on June 17. Seven Sailors lost their lives and the ship suffered damage on her starboard side above and below the waterline. The Navy released a comprehensive review of the incident Nov. 1. Source: www.navy.mil

'No US officer given access to N-sub on lease from Russia'

The country's defence establishment has rejected Russian media reports that India allowed US military officials on board nuclear-powered submarine INS Chakra, which has been leased from Russia for 10 years under a $900 million deal. Though there was no official statement, sources said there was "no question" of letting US officials or "anyone else" near INS Chakra, the Akula-II class submarine inducted by the Indian Navy in April 2012, in violation of the terms of agreement inked with Russia. "This is a disinformation campaign being carried out by some vested interests," said a source. INS Chakra, which does not carry nuclear-tipped missiles due to international treaties, is currently undergoing repairs at its base at after there was some damage to the tiles covering the submarine's sonar dome. A 13-member US delegation headed by Rear Admiral Brian Antonio, which came to India for a meeting of the Joint Working Group on Technology Co-operation from October 29 to November 3, did however board aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya for a four-hour brief on Indian aircraft carrier operations on the high seas. Russian news portal Kommersant on Thursday claimed the Indian Navy had permitted a US technical crew to inspect INS Chakra, saying the "unprecedented scandal" threatened "to seriously complicate the negotiations on the lease of the second nuclear submarine". But on Friday, another Russian news portal, NEWS.ru, asserted that "French lobbyists" had "an ulterior role in spreading misinformation to further their own chances of selling a nuclear-powered attack submarine to India". Source : Indiatimes There should be no surprise, especially in light of the subsequent report on ongoing negotiations.

India Wants Second Nuclear Submarine From Russia. Lies By Lobbyists Erupt Russian news portal Kommersant reported that the Indian Navy allowed a US technical crew into top secret compartments of India's existing Russian-built nuclear submarine, the INS Chakra by Vishnu Som India's attempt to buy a nuclear attack submarine from Russia appears to have triggered a misinformation campaign by defence lobbyists. Last Friday Russian news portal Kommersant reported that the Indian Navy had permitted a US technical crew into top secret compartments of India's existing Russian-built nuclear submarine, the INS Chakra, in clear violation of the terms of the contract between India and Russia. India leased this submarine in 2012 for approximately US$700 million and is in talks to acquire another According to Kommersant, which referred to this as "an unprecedented scandal," the incident "threatens to seriously complicate the negotiations both on the lease of the second nuclear submarine, and on other projects in the field of military-technical cooperation." The INS Chakra, an Akula-2 class submarine, widely considered among the world's most sophisticated, has been leased by India for 10 years but all ownership rights reside with Russia. Today, another Russian news portal, NEWS.ru, has debunked the account of the Kommersant and states that French lobbyists have an ulterior role in spreading misinformation to further their own chances of selling a nuclear-powered attack submarine to India. NEWS.ru quotes a source stating "there is complete confidence that the throw-in is organised by the lobbyists of , and it's pretty high quality." According to this source, "In addition to the contract for the construction of non-nuclear boats such the Scorpene [now being inducted by the Indian Navy,] the French have a great desire to enter the Indian nuclear fleet." France, the article states, is also aggressively trying to participate in India's programme to construct a second home-grown aircraft carrier. The first indigenous carrier, INS Vikrant is being built in Kochi using technology from a host of countries including Russia. Sources in the Indian Navy, which refuses to officially comment on the controversy, told NDTV that no US personnel were allowed onboard the INS Chakra which is based in Visakhapatnam. In fact, they stressed, Russian personnel are posted in Visakhapatnam and help to maintain and operate the INS Chakra. Defence Ministry sources have told NDTV that the timing of the media leaks is curious and comes a month ahead of the visit of the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin where both sides are expected to work to finalise the terms of the lease for another Russian nuclear submarine of the same class. In October last year, Russia and India had reached an agreement for India to acquire the submarine for approximately US$ 2 billion. An existing Russian Navy Akula-2 submarine would be heavily modernised before it is transferred to India on lease. That would coincide with the INS Chakra's lease ending after which it would be returned to Russia. The Russian Embassy in New Delhi has refused comment on the fresh controversy. Russia 'objected' to members of a US joint working group embarking the Russian-built aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya The Kommersant report also states that Russia had officially objected to the recent presence of US personnel onboard the INS Vikramaditya, India's Russia- built aircraft carrier. At the end of last month, 14 US delegates of the Indo-US Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation had indeed boarded the INS Vikramaditya for five hours where they witnessed the operations of the aircraft carrier including flight demonstrations by its MiG-29K fighter jets. Indian Navy officers have told NDTV that this visit was routine and did not involve the transfer of any classified information on the operations of the Vikramaditya. This isn't the first time that there have been reports of the involvement of international lobbyists in influencing key Indian defence deals. Last year, The Australian newspaper revealed the leak of classified data on the Indian Navy's French-designed Scorpene class submarine, the first of which will be commissioned into the navy by the end of this year. At the time, the French newspaper Le Monde, quoting multiple sources had said that the leak of this data was driven by competition between the French designer of the Scorpene Class submarine and a German firm as they compete to win international orders. source: NDTV

SharpEye Radar Ordered for Pakistan Navy Submarine Upgrade Posted: November 22, 2017 12:38 PM — Following the announcement in February 2017 that Kelvin Hughes will be supplying the SharpEye Doppler submarine radar system to the mid-life upgrade program for the Pakistan Navy’s Agosta 90B-class (also known as the Khalid-class diesel electric attack submarine), the order for the next submarine in this program has been placed, the company announced in a Nov. 21 release. Working with Turkish defense contractor STM, the main contractor for the refurbishment program, Kelvin Hughes will supply the SharpEye system to the first submarine in 2018 and the second in 2019.

Pakistan Navy's Agosta 90B SSK

The upgrades are being performed at the Karachi Pakistan Naval Shipyard. Specific details concerning each submarine in the program have not been disclosed. The SharpEye I-Band (X-Band) radar transceiver for is based on a downmast transceiver housed in an enclosure located within the pressure hull and provides submarines both in-service as a retrofit and new classes a high performance solid state radar with similar capabilities to SharpEye radars installed on naval surface ships. This downmast submarine radar solution makes use of the existing bulkhead infrastructure in the pressure hull, removing the need to replace the antenna mast system by utilizing the existing external antenna, rotational drive and waveguide connections. Kelvin Hughes also manufactures and supplies a pressure resistant ‘AZL’ submarine antenna. Key benefits of the SharpEye radar solution for the Agosta 90B-class mid-life upgrade program is the extremely high reliability and low through life costs including: ■ No magnetron — minimal routine maintenance requirements. ■ No fault-finding training required. ■ Line replaceable unit — does not require radar trained technician to replace. ■ Low Mean Time to Repair. “We have a long-standing relationship with the Pakistan Navy and STM and I am very pleased to be working with STM to supply the state-of-the-art SharpEye radar system to the Khalid-class submarines,” said Barry Jones, regional sales manager for Kelvin Hughes. Source: http://seapowermagazine.org

Canadian frigate 336 Montreal off Bath after a six day visit to Antwerp to commemorate the end of the first World War. Photo : Jasper van Raemdonck ©

This is where Royal Navy frigates will be homeported after reshuffle The UK defense ministry has announced a new homeporting plan for the Royal Navy’s thirteen Type 23 frigates. After the relocation is complete, all eight anti-submarine warfare frigates will be calling Plymouth their home, while the remaining five general-purpose variants will be based in Portsmouth. The defense ministry said the base port changes would take place during unmanned maintenance and upkeep periods over a period of five years, starting with the move of HMS Richmond from Portsmouth to Plymouth in 2018. Rear Admiral Chris Gardner, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Ships), said, “This move will bring benefits to the whole fleet of Type 23 frigates, bringing ships of the same purpose together in one place. “I want to reassure all our sailors that we will be managing the base moves as efficiently as possible, minimising the disruption to our people and their families. “The base port changes have been planned to occur during unmanned upkeep periods over a period of five years, to ensure a smooth transition of our people and maximise the benefits to our operational readiness.”

Photo: Royal Navy

The re-basing of ships will see Devonport become the focus for surface anti-submarine warfare support. It will also bring the Royal Navy another step closer to delivering a carrier strike task group, with both Portsmouth and Devonport playing key roles in the delivery of this capability. From 2023, the Type 23 frigates that will be based at each naval base will be: Her Majesty’s Naval Base Portsmouth HMS Argyll, HMS Lancaster, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Monmouth, HMS Montrose. (Previously: HMS Lancaster, HMS Iron Duke, HMS Westminster, HMS Richmond, HMS , HMS St Albans.) Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport HMS Westminster, HMS Northumberland, HMS Richmond, HMS , HMS Sutherland, HMS Kent, HMS Portland, HMS St Albans. (Previously: HMS Northumberland, HMS Somerset, HMS Sutherland, HMS Portland, HMS Argyll, HMS Monmouth, HMS Montrose.) Source: http://navaltoday.com

Russia's Zelenodolsk shipyard to deliver two Gepard frigates to Vietnam this year November 22, 2017 09:11 The Zelenodolsk shipyard in Tatarstan will deliver to Vietnam two Gepard-3.9 frigates by the end of the year, President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov told TASS during a working visit to Vietnam.

Gepard-5.1 Frigate VPNS Dinh Tien Hoang of the Vietnam's People Navy during the Republic of Navy International Maritime Review (IMR) on 15 May 2017

"The Gorky shipyard in Zelenodolsk prepared four Gepard frigates for the Defense Ministry of Vietnam. Two of them are already operational. The other two are to be supplied to Vietnam by the end of the year," he said. Four project 11661 Gepard-class frigates were ordered for the Vietnamese Navy at the Gorky shipyard in Zelenodolsk. In 2011 the enterprise delivered the first two warships to Vietnam, the third Gepard was floated in April 2016 and the fourth in May 2017. The warships are designated to search for and fight submarines, surface ships and air targets, patrolling and escorting operations, as well as the protection of economic sea zone. They are armed with artillery, antiship, antiaircraft and antisubmarine weapons. Russia has been for decades a partner of Vietnam in military-technical cooperation. Contracts worth over 4.5 bln dollars were signed in the past years for the delivery of the latest Russian armaments. The biggest of them included the contract to buy multirole Su-30MK2 fighter jets which was estimated at close to one billion dollars, as well an agreement to supply six project 636.1 submarines worth over 2 bln dollars. Besides, Vietnam is producing project 1241.8 Molniya-class missile boats by a Russian license. Source: https://www.navyrecognition.com

Royal Navy frigate HMS Sutherland deploying to Asia Pacific next year Royal Navy’s HMS Sutherland will be joining sister ship HMS Argyll as it deploys to the Asia Pacific region next year. This was announced by the new UK defense secretary Gavin Williamson who addressed the crew of HMS Sutherland Friday morning during a visit to HM Naval Base Devonport. The frigate will be taking part in training and exercises together with US, Japanese and South Korean warships in the Korean Peninsula region. Sister ship HMS Argyll will deploy to Japan to take part in exercises in December 2018 following participation in a Five Power Defence Arrangements exercise with Australia, , Singapore and Malaysia earlier in the year. “At a time when North Korea’s illegal weapons programme is causing global concern, the deployment of these two Royal Navy ships is a clear demonstration of the UK’s commitment to the peace and prosperity of the region,” Williamson said. As well as addressing the crew of the ship during his visit to the Naval Base, the Defence Secretary watched operational sea training on board another Type 23 frigate, HMS Westminster, met with staff and saw facilities at the Submarine Support complex. Source: http://navaltoday.com

US-JMSDF mine countermeasure drill 3JA gets underway

USS Chief (MCM 14) at Sasebo in August 2017. Photo: US Navy

US Navy’s Avenger-class mine countermeasures ship USS Chief (MCM 14) joined ships and aircraft from the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) for the mine countermeasure exercise 3JA. USS Chief got underway from its forward-deployed homeport of Sasebo on November 21. The 3JA drill is part of an annual series of bilateral exercises held between the US and Japan to increase proficiency and interoperability in mine countermeasure operations. This will be the second year that Chief will participate in the US-Japan bilateral exercise and follows its recent participation in the Multinational Mine Warfare Exercise with the Republic of Korea and United Nation Command Sending States. “Chief is excited to participate in this bilateral exercise with our Japanese allies,” said Lt. Cmdr. Frederick Crayton, Chief executive officer. “We look forward to strengthening our cooperation our cooperation in mine countermeasures operations. By working together, it helps ensure our two nations are jointly postured to maintain peace and stability for Japan and throughout the region.” 3JA participants will conduct unit-level mine countermeasures tactics to include sweeping, hunting, and mine detection in addition to clearing a route for ships through a simulated minefield in one of the designated exercise areas. Source: http://navaltoday.com

French amphibious task group leaves Toulon for Indian Ocean deployment

Photo:

A French Navy amphibious task group got underway from the Toulon naval base on Wednesday, November 21, for a deployment to the and Indian Ocean. Composed of Mistral-class amphibious assault ship LHD FS Tonnerre and the Horizon-class air defense destroyer FS Chevalier Paul, the task group will also be spending time in the US 5th Fleet area of operations integrating into the command and control structure of US Naval Forces Central Command. In addition, some 150 US sailors and marines will embark aboard the Tonnerre while she operates in the region. In the spirit of the commemoration of the 100th anniversary of , and in memory of the sacrifices of US Marines during the second battle of the Marne, this deployment is named Bois Belleau 100. The US Navy has welcomed this deployment saying it would pre-position an important amphibious operational capability in an area of common strategic interest. US and French personnel previously cooperated and trained together between April and May this year as another French task group, composed of FS Mistral and frigate FS Courbet, carried out the annual French Jeanne D’Arc deployment. Source: http://navaltoday.com

Transnet tug construction project continues The Port of ’s needs were assessed to be greater at this time than Richards Bay’s As part of its R1.4-billion, nine-tug construction project, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) last week launched two new tugs. Umkhomazi was launched in Durban and Usiba in Cape Town. ‘One of the benefits of being a multi-port authority running a complementary port system, is that we are able to pool our resources between our ports and to adjust plans where necessary,’ said TNPA General Manager: Commercial and Marketing, Lauriette Sesoko. ‘Originally tugs were earmarked for the ports of Durban, Richards Bay, Saldanha and Port Elizabeth, in this order, where the needs at the time were assessed as being the greatest. ‘However, we have since taken the decision to redeploy the seventh tug, Usiba, from Richards Bay to Cape Town instead.’ Sesoko said the Cape Town had recently experienced an upsurge in larger vessels requiring tugs with a more powerful bollard pull. Richards Bay has received three new tugs in recent years. ‘TNPA has assessed and mitigated this risk to ensure that Richards Bay’s port operations are not compromised,’ said Sesoko. ‘In future orders where Cape Town is catered for, a tug will be reimbursed to the Port of Richards Bay.’ Sesoko assured that TNPA would continue to roll out its fleet replacement programme to best serve all its ports and their customers. Source : Zululand Observer

Cruise ships lining up to visit South African ports this season By : Marvin Charles Cape Town – In a boon for 's tourism industry, around 20 luxury cruise vessels will dock at the country's ports over the summer and autumn seasons. The ships, which are operated by 17 international cruise lines, will dock at different ports around the country. Among them will be the familiar MSC Sinfonia, Queen Mary II, Queen Elizabeth and even the RMS St Helena. “As the South African Port Authority, we have positioned Durban and Cape Town as stimulus cruise home ports while Richards Bay, Mossel Bay, Port Elizabeth and East London continue to receive their share of cruise ships,” Transnet National Ports Authority chief executive Shulami Qalinge said. She added they were making progress in efforts to introduce new and modern cruise terminals.

The Seven Seas Navigator during a visit to Cape Town – Photo : Ian Shiffman (c)

“With safe, reliable and efficient marine services that will provide an ideal gateway to a unique South African experience, world-class cruise facilities in our ports will continue to attract global operators, which has economic spin-offs for tour operators, hotels, game reserves, lodges and tourist attractions in our port cities,” she said. Last month, MSC Sinfonia became the first international cruise liner to arrive at the Port of Durban for the 2017 and 2018 cruise season, carrying around 2300 mainly European and South African passengers and ending a 23-day itinerary from Venice in . While Semester at Sea’s “floating college campus” World Odyssey made a return to Cape Town early last month, it is Phoenix Reisen’s Albatross which is regarded as the first true cruise ship of the season to call at the country's other cruise ports. Cape Town Tourism said this can potentially lead to a massive tourism boost for the economy. “We look forward to the cruise ship season in Cape Town since passengers and crews contribute to the tourism economy "The benefits from cruise tourism include spending by cruise passengers and crew; shore-side staffing by the cruise lines for their headquarters, marketing and tour operations; expenditure by the cruise lines for goods and services necessary for cruise operations; spending by the cruise lines for port services; and expenditure by cruise lines for maintenance,” said Enver Dumin, chief executive of Cape Town Tourism. “Passengers are ideally placed to enjoy the city's attractions since the port provides great access to the city centre.” Source : Independent Online

Too close for comfort This must surely be the closest of maneuvering before a collision. Distant is less than 50 cm when container vessel stop. https://www.flickr.com/photos/33438735@N08/38600627071/in/dateposted/ This really is a video to watch. Some buffering was experienced.