USS Wasp: Queen The Biggest Presence At Naval Centennial bash

USS Wasp (LHD-1) will be the largest warship docked in Halifax

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will visit Halifax from June 28 to 30.  The Queen will conduct a review of the international fleet on June 29 as part of celebrations for the Canadian navy’s centennial.

As Rough As It May Seem, It's Still Steady As You Go...

Halifax Harbour Cams

The 17 foreign and 12 Canadian warships anchored in Halifax harbour and Bedford basin will be open to the public over the weekend.

The Ships Bunked For Viewing

The sailors and airmen and women from Denmark, Brazil, Germany, Netherlands, France, United States, United Kingdom as well as Canadian sailors will have plenty of choices to be entertained and dined over the four days.

The Fanfare list

U.K. , French, US Navy vessels exercise in the Atlantic

HMS Sutherland's Commanding Officer, Commander John Payne, keeps a close eye on navigator Lieutenant Charlie Collins during a Replenishment at Sea with RFA Fort George


The AURIGA deployment is a large-scale joint maritime operational exercise that lasts four months involving the U.K., U.S. and French navies.

A number of Royal Navy vessels are currently deployed to the eastern seaboard of the USA as part of the AURIGA multinational Naval Task Group.

The Task Group is commanded by Commodore Simon Ancona whose aim over the deployment is to ensure the development of a range of maritime capabilities by maximising the value of training opportunities for all joint and coalition partners involved.

Vessels involved in the Task Group include the Type 23 frigate HMS Sutherland, the Arleigh Burke Class destroyer USS Barry (DDG-52) , RFA Fort George, French nuclear submarine FS Perle, HMS Ark Royal and HMS Liverpool.

The Task Force departed Scotland last month and once at sea started conducting routine serials to ensure the Task Group maintained full readiness.

Man-overboard exercises, where a life-sized dummy is thrown overboard and recovered, and response to discovering an exercise fire onboard HMS Sutherland tested whole ship reactions to any eventuality at sea.

Elements of the AURIGA Task Group then concentrated on integrating helicopter flying serials.

The first surface exercise and a boarding exercise were conducted between USS Barry (DDG-52) and HMS Sutherland.

As part of their preparation, the boarding teams' training advanced with rapid roping evolutions being conducted. This allows for a speedy insertion of the boarding team from a helicopter when time is of the essence.

The main drive for elements of the AURIGA Task Group was on honing their submarine-hunting skills during the transit between the UK and Norfolk, Virginia, USA.

Working as a combined unit they hunted, avoiding counter-detection, and engaged in simulated underwater battles with FS Perle who proved to be a worthy adversary.

In the two-week period up to arriving in Norfolk, it is estimated 29,100 'pings' of sound were transmitted into the water to enable early detection of the submarine.

Throughout the past two weeks logistics and engineering departments have also been busy ensuring essential stores and equipment are in the correct place by replenishing from RFA Fort George to the other units.

This ensured that the ships could repair defects efficiently and even saw a transfer of crisps when the shop onboard HMS Sutherland unexpectedly ran out - on receipt of the resupply high levels of morale were restored.

On Saturday 8 May USS Barry (DDG-52) and HMS Sutherland conducted a successful exercise with submarine USS Dallas (SSN-700), in conjunction with protecting the high-value unit RFA Fort George.

HMS Sutherland's office was also kept very busy that day exchanging money, with a total of $52,165 exchanged in one day ahead of the ship's first visit to Norfolk.

Commodore Ancona took the opportunity to visit vessels within his Task Group during a photograph exercise, with HMS Sutherland, RFA Fort George, USS Barry (DDG-52) and FS Perle joined by submarine USS Dallas (SSN-700), prior to arriving at the Task Group's destination of Norfolk, Virginia.

Elements of the Task Group will also participate in the International Fleet Review taking place in Halifax to celebrate the Centennial of the Canadian Navy.

Later on in the deployment the Amphibious Task Group consisting of approximately 2,000 personnel and 3 ships will join for the final exercise. HMS Albion, HMS Ocean, RFA Largs Bay.

The deployment will focus on a series of US and Canadian exercises with the principal aim of enhancing our Operational Capability by training with our coalition partners in traditional war-fighting areas of Carrier Strike, Amphibious Assault and Anti-Submarine Warfare operations.



Ambassador Nigel Sheinwald comments on his visit to the HMS Ark Royal 
and the Royal Navy's work with NATO and the US Navy.


The Task Group is Commanded from HMS ARK ROYAL by Commodore Simon Ancona Royal Navy, Commander UK Carrier Strike Group.

Run to Rona On Shipbuilding: Big Canadian Hardware Budget

  HMCS Preserver during New York fleet week 2009.

Two big shipyards will share $33 billion up for grabs for building large vessels

Shipbuilding in Canada is something I've completely sort of forgot about. I do remember 7 years ago being some what happy to hear about the CH-149 Cormorant Search and Rescue (Air & Sea) making its way (15) into mix of new assets for the Canadian Armed Forces.

Hey New York we've come alive again something new next time we come around.

The federal government recently announced a $35-billion shipbuilding plan that should see 28 large ships and 116 smaller vessels built in Canadian shipyards over the next 30 years. It's about time, not that someone like myself would benefit from this. It's definately closer than the UK shipbuilding yards if your flying eastward.

Irving’s Halifax Shipyard, Vancouver Shipyards and Davie Shipyard in Quebec City are thought to be the front-runners in seeking that designation, while smaller shipyards, such as the one in Marystown, N.L., will have a crack at the smaller vessels, and other firms across the country will get subcontracts.

Longtime NDP shipbuilding critic Peter Stoffer said the government seems to be describing a two-year process before any ship construction is underway.

"They don’t need two years. They could work with industry to get it much faster."

But Stoffer welcomed the announcement, saying the arrangement should allow the industry to better plan for the future.

"If they do it right, this can indeed be a successful day for all of Canada."

Premier Darrell Dexter said he was pleased with the new policy, and said MacKay should be congratulated for his leadership on the issue.

"Obviously, we have one of the most successful shipbuilding yards in the country," he said before Thursday’s announcement.

"We believe that our yard can compete with any in the country, and we’re happy to see the government moving in that direction."

Stoffer said it could mean good jobs for Nova Scotians.

"If you look at Halifax, it’s a tremendous opportunity. Take (Nova Scotia Community College) — they can train young people in the skilled trades of shipbuilding, then these people can have long-term employment."

I've completely left out the politics on this one. Heres the stuff things are made for your tax dollars.

A. Joint Support Ship - A 200 meter, 28,000 ton multipurpose vessel to support Canadian forces ashore or fleet deployments up to 6 times longer than normal.

A sustained speed of 20 knots. Able to carry "7,000t – 10,000t of ship fuel,650 – 1,300t of JP-5 naval aviation fuel, and 1,100 square meters of ammunition."

To deploy up to 4 helicopters, and act as a command ship.

These will eventually replace the HMCS Protecteur and HMCS Preserver.

B. Canadian Surface Combatant-This is expected to replace the Iroquois class destroyers, example our almost 40 year old flagship HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282) and eventually all those over what ever class  Halifax frigates.

About 6000 tons light with some type of Phased Array Radar, firing Sea Sparrow or even SM-3 missiles. Possibly SeaRAM or CIWS for self-defense.
C. Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship-Able to operate in Canada’s Exclusive Economic Zones, in medium ice, for up to four months endurance.

Range of at least 6800 miles, a complete C3 capability, sustained cruise speed of 14 knots and a maximum of 17 knots. Also a gun armament and a lifespan of 25 years.

We're all kind of tired of hearing of the out of date "tin canned navy."

More  backwater lashing read this:
Once-powerful navy is 'desperate for new ships'

USS Enterprise Out of Yard: InSurv Classified Documents?

More exciting news these days than those US Navy InSurv classified documents policy changes of Dec '09...

The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group deployed Friday from Norfolk Naval Station, Va., making this a big week in Navy News.

The morning of May 19 '10 began with replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196). An all crew effort pitched in a few members from the each of the various departments to help secure and store food supplies aboard the "Big -E".

Though everyone was ready to ship-out for a deployment in October '09 the USS Enterprise was laid up for an additional 7 months. A big shuffle of assignments and leave of absence and retirement occurred for about 1/3 of that original Task Group crew.

Six ships, an Air Wing along with 6000 sailors of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group deployed Friday from Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia.

They are the guided-missile cruiser USS Normandy (CG 60) and guided missile destroyers USS Winston S. Churchill(DDG 81), USS Oscar Austin(DDG 79) and USS Ross(DDG 71). The US force opposite Iran will be joined by a German warship, the frigate FGS Hessen(F221), operating under American command.

Enterprise is underway conducting carrier qualifications in preparation for work-ups and her 21st deployment.

On the West Coast, the carrier John C. Stennis on Monday started a $137 million, six-month planned incremental availability at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash. The carrier will have extensive work on propulsion and aircraft launch and recovery systems, according to the contract. Radar and communications systems also will be upgraded.

The carrier Ronald Reagan returned to sea for sea trials the following day after six months of upgrades, modernizations and maintenance. The work was done at Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., the carrier’s homeport.

And in the Western Pacific, the forward-deployed George Washington Carrier Strike Group departed Yokosuka, Japan, on Tuesday to conduct equipment testing and carrier landing qualifications to prepare for an upcoming deployment.

This comes after hundreds of thousands of man hours repairing and upgrading the carrier during a 121-day selective restricted availability period, according to the Navy.

USS Ronald Reagan (CVN76) Now Beyond Accommodative

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Torrey W. Lee, USS Ronald Reagan Public Affairs

May 21, 2010 - SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) pulled into Naval Air Station North Island May 19 after a successful two-day sea trial, which marked the official end to its six-month planned incremental availability (PIA) period.

The sea trial was the final phase of PIA and was conducted to assess the material readiness and ability for the ship to return to the operational fleet.

Ronald Reagan's executive officer, Capt. Ronald Ravelo attributed the success of Ronald Reagan's PIA to the tremendous teamwork between the ship's crew and shipyard workers from Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Northrop-Grumman's Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, and Southwest Regional Maintenance Command.

"This is where a warship should be," said Ravelo. "I was walking around the ship and as we made it to deep water I could feel that energy in the crew."

During the maintenance period, Ronald Reagan received technological upgrades that will prepare it for its next deployment and beyond. Refurbishments ranged from hi-tech combat systems to firefighting equipment. The crew also benefited, receiving living spaces and improved ship's laundry services, to list a few.

"With the modernization we're now going through I think it serves as a preparation," said Ravelo. "The challenges out there in the real world are becoming a lot more complex. By investing the time and money into these carriers and upgrading the systems, it better prepares us to tackle all of those challenges."

Ronald Reagan's PIA began last fall, on the heels of the ship's fourth deployment in four years. The PIA was the ship's second, the first coming in 2007. With most of the crew involved in that maintenance period transferred, going from an operational carrier to a shipyard environment was difficult at first.

"Initially it was tough," said Ravelo. "After that initial shockwave once we got into the groove I think everyone worked really well together. Again, teamwork was the key."

Above The High Seas Recommisioned for Action

As Rough As It May Seem,It's Still Steady As You Go...

At Rosyth, the massive 1,000-tonne crane needed to begin work on assembling the new Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers is now being manufactured and is due to arrive later this year, around August '10.

BAM Ritchies, installed pilings to support 1,000 ton capacity ‘Goliath’ gantry crane spanning 120m which will work over the length of the dock moving aircraft carrier sections into position.

The carrier build programme is worth £1 billion to Babcock, who will have 432 employees, including 140 apprentices, working on the ships in Rosyth.

After a nasty spill on the floor this blog is gearing up along side the massive under taking in and around the Babcock shipyard.




Last month two modules, making up the bulbous bow, were towed under the Forth bridges as they completed their journey from Babcock's ship yard at Appledore, Devon.

The blocks are the first two sub-blocks of the lower block one (LB01), which comprises the forward sections from the keel up to the flight deck.

LB01 consists of six sub-blocks (VB001-006), ranging in weight from around 112-339t.

The first two sub-blocks include the bulbous bow (VB001) and the bow section that sits above the second sub-block (VB002) comprising decks seven to five below the hangar deck.

The bulbous bow is the projecting 'bulb' at the bow of the ship, which alters the bow wave generation and water flow around the hull to reduce drag and increase the carrier's speed, fuel efficiency and stability.

VB001 is 30.3m long, 10.8m wide and 9.6m high, and weighs around 293t, while the second sub-block is 21.6m long, 17.4m wide and 6.2m high, and uses 112t of steel.

Both blocks will be joined together at Rosyth, including integration of electrical cabling, mechanical pipe systems, ventilation ducts and furniture.

The remaining sub-blocks (VB003-006) currently under construction at Appledore will be shipped to Rosyth in early 2011.

The 280m-long and 74m-wide HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will have a displacement capacity of 65,000t.

USS Mobile Bay (CG-53) and 3 other Navy Ships In Maintenance Trial

As Rough As It May Seem,It's Still Steady As You Go...


The life-cycle management activity will take its cues from a pilot program in which NavSea contracted with inspectors from the American Bureau of Shipping to determine the material age of four warships.



The destroyer USS Ross(DDG71), which was commissioned in 1997 has been inspected already. Although Navy officials hadn’t yet reviewed the report, they hope it will explain whether the ship has 12 years’ worth of aging and corrosion. Every cruiser and destroyer must serve for its full life of 35 years if the Navy is to reach its goal of a 313-ship fleet, officials say.

The other three ships in the trial program are the dock landing ship USS Germantown(LSD42) — which already has started its inspection — the cruiser USS Mobile Bay(CG53) and the frigate USS Taylor(FFG50). The Navy expects all four reports, which together will cost about $2 million, by this summer.

More Carrier Work for Scottish Yards in the Spring

Last month the consortium building the UK's two new aircraft carriers had announced a 50% increase in the amount of construction work coming to Scotland.

The Aircraft Carrier Alliance said two major sections of each ship, instead of one, would now be built at BVT's yards at Govan and Scotstoun on the Clyde.

Both ships will be built in sections and assembled at Rosyth, Fife.

The revised build strategy is expected to sustain 4,000 jobs at Scottish yards until the middle of the next decade.

The new 65,000 tonne carriers will be the Royal Navy's largest vessels.

Changes to the delivery of the £4bn contract were announced on Monday.

This provides greater certainty for our supplier base and keeps the project on a sure footing as we enter full scale manufacture Tony Graham MoD

The previous build strategy had planned for one of the sections of the carriers to be built at BAE Systems Submarine Solutions in Barrow.

But the Aircraft Carrier Alliance (ACA) said existing and future workloads there had led to a lack of capacity to take on the additional carrier work.

In agreement with the Ministry of Defence (MoD), ACA has now transferred the work to BVT's yards in Glasgow.

Geoff Searle, programme director for the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers, said: "The ACA has developed a cost effective and low risk build strategy that I am confident will deliver the two carriers in line with the MoD's requirements.

"It will also ensure that we retain the essential core skills in the UK maritime industry to deliver sovereign naval capability long into the future."

'Confident future'

Tony Graham, head of capital ships at the MoD, said: "Alongside the developing build strategy, we are very pleased to announce additional shipbuilding work for the Queen Elizabeth Class carriers which further extends involvement across the UK.

"This provides greater certainty for our supplier base and keeps the project on a sure footing as we enter full-scale manufacture."

The SNP welcomed the increase in the amount of work awarded to Scotland.

The party's Westminster leader and defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, said: "This is terrific news for the workforce in Glasgow and Rosyth and reinforces the reputation of Scottish yards as the best in the world.

"Shipbuilding plays an important role within Scotland's manufacturing base, and it is clear that the industry can have a confident future."

Labour accused the SNP of hypocrisy.

John Robertson MP said: "This is brilliant news for Glasgow and Scotland. It will mean more opportunities and more jobs for young people and older workers alike.

If the SNP had their way, these jobs would be heading down south. Willie Rennie MP Lib Dem defence spoksperson

"It is totally hypocritical for the SNP to welcome a move like this, when their core policy - separating Scotland from the rest of the UK - would mean the death of these jobs."

He added: "Without the United Kingdom, there would be no defence work on the Clyde.

"The SNP should have the decency to be honest with people about what their plans would mean for Scots."

The Liberal Democrats reiterated that view. The party's defence spokesperson, Willie Rennie MP, said: "If the SNP had their way, these jobs would be heading down south.

"Independence would decimate the Clyde."

Last year, the government announced that there would be a delay on the carrier contracts following a review of MoD spending.

The vessels, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, were due to enter service in 2014 and 2016, but that will now be pushed back a year or two.

Contracts were signed in July 2008 and the work is expected to begin in spring 2009.

The future Aircraft Carriers for the Royal Navy, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, will be the largest and most powerful surface warships ever built in the UK.

They will displace approximately 65,000 tonnes, a size between the USA's 100,000 tonne Nimitz class and the French 43,000 tonne Charles de Gaulle class aircraft carriers, and three times larger than the Invincible class carriers.

The carrier will have a maximum speed of 25 knots. At 15 knots the range will be 10,000 nautical miles and the ship carries food, fuel and stores for an endurance of seven days between replenishments. Each ship will have a complement of typically 1,200, including 600 aircrew.

In order to maximise the flexibility that CVF can offer over its potential 50 year service life, the carriers will be built to an innovative adaptable design. Although CV-based, the ships will initially be fitted with a ramp for STOVL operations. Post JSF, the design will be capable of modification to operate aircraft requiring a catapult launch and arrested recovery.

Russian Navy Not Kidding Around: Somali Pirates No Match

Just a reminder "Russian Navy is not old news even a month after incident."

The Russian large Udaloy-class anti-submarine destroyer "Admiral Vinogradov" has defended on Tuesday at 08h20 GMT a 278m long UK-owned and Dutch-managed container ship MV NEDLLOYD BARENTSZ from a Somali pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden.

The captain of the Dutch vessel under Netherlands-flag sent a distress signal to the Russian ship saying that pirate boats were approaching his ship and shooting at it, Russian Navy spokesman from the Information Service of the RF Navy Department Captain I. Rank Igor Dygalo informed. There was battle alarm on the "Admiral Vinogradov" and Ка-27 helicopter took off.

The pirates chased the vessel for about 30 minutes. The vessel was recommended to rise speed and change course abruptly. The pirates made an attempt to board the Dutch ship, but the Russian crew fired warning shots from the helicopter, forcing the pirates to halt. One of the three boats was stopped and two others were seized by the crew of the Admiral Vinogradov.

The one skiff was halted and believed sunk near Yemeni waters and Russian teams boarded the other two, finding ropes with grappling hooks and gas canisters, but no fishing equipment. The ship´s doctor gave the necessary medical assistance to three pirates who were wounded by ricochet fire. "The pirates didn´t seem to feel the pain from the wounds, which can be a result of the fact that they were under the influence of drugs", Igor Dygalo said. The boats manned by the pirates were handed over to Yemeni coast guards.

The Admiral Vinogradov is patrolling Somali waters to help maintain security in the area that is threatened with frequent raids by the pirates. MV Nedlloyd Barentsz is registered in the Netherlands MAERSK Ship Management BV as manager of the A.P. Moller-Maersk group, but has as registered owner UK-based Scotland Structured Asset. The container ship, built in 2000, has a transportation capacity of 5,468 TEU (including the possibility for 500 refrigerated containers) and a gross tonnage of 66,526 to.

So just where is the second Destroyer? Two Russian Destroyers is definitely "Double Your Trouble."

Italian Carrier Cavour (550): Future to reckon with Lockheed F35B's

Cavour (550) is an Italian aircraft carrier (CVH) of the Marina Militare, the Italian Navy. She is named after the Italian statesman and politician Camillo Benso, conte di Cavour.

Cavour was laid down by Fincantieri on 17 July 2001, and she was launched from the Riva Trigoso shipyard (Sestri Levante) on 20 July 2004. Sea trials began in December 2006, and she was officially commissioned March 27, 2008. Full Operational Capability (FOC) is expected in early 2009 after completion of finishing work at Muggiano (Lerici) in summer 2008 and transfer to the new naval station on Mar Grande in Taranto. Cavour will be the new flagship of the Italian Navy.

Cavour will initially operate the AV-8B Harrier II, but will receive the Lockheed F-35B in the future. While the Cavour will not be able to serve as a serious power projection platform along the lines of Russia's Kuznetsov or America's CVNs due to her much smaller air wing and lack of serious surface-to-surface weapon systems, she will serve alongside the Giuseppi Garibaldi (551) to provide Italy with a modern naval air arm capable of performing small-scale operations.

French Le Clem joins ghost fleet: 60 Year Carrier Being Dismantled

As Rough As It May Seem,It's Still Steady As You Go...

HUNDREDS of people lined the coast to a huge aircraft carrier finally arrive in Hartlepool.
The former French Navy ship Le Clemenceau docked at Able UK's Graythorp site following a four-day journey.

Work on the £8.7m dismantling contract can now get underway following months of delays through poor weather and legal wrangles.

But the vessel – which is carrying 700 tonnes of asbestos contaminated material – may not be the last ship to enter Able UK's Teesside Environmental Reclamation and Recycling Centre (TERRC) before the dam is closed to create a dry dock.

Able UK chiefs have confirmed that they are continuing negotiations that could see a further two British ships brought to the facility to be dismantled.

Hundreds of people lined the seafront at Seaton Carew while many more headed to the Headland and the North Gare for the best view of the ship coming in yesterday.

Dozens of English and French journalists and television crews were at Able UK's site, on the outskirts of Hartlepool, to witness the vessel being towed in.

Offshore tug the Anglian Earl had towed the vessel from France to the Tees Turning Circle, where it was then brought into the Seaton Channel by four river tugs.

The whole operation took a couple of hours before the ship was berthed inside the huge dry dock shortly before 4pm.

The dismantling of Le Clemenceau - which is also known as the Q790 - is the largest ship recycling project ever undertaken in Europe.

The 32,000 tonne ship, which was towed from Brest Harbour, in France, is berthed between four American and three British vessels which are waiting to be recycled.

The actual dismantling process is expected to start after Easter and last for around a year with the creation of 200 jobs, many of which expected go to people from Hartlepool.

Peter Stephenson, the chairman and chief executive of Able UK, told the Mail: "This is a very proud day for myself and everyone at Able and I would hope it is a proud day for the town of Hartlepool.

"This is the end of a very long five year process and we are delighted to finally get the ship in.

"Hundreds of jobs have been lost to the area over the years as a result of the delays, but we are hoping we can now move forward."

Launched in 1957, Le Clemenceau was the mainstay of the French naval fleet and sailed more than one million nautical miles before being withdrawn from active service in 1997.

Capt. John Carroll Relieved of Duties

As Rough As It May Seem,It's Still Steady As You Go...

The Rear Admiral's decision was swifter than the Captains Command Blunder

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) -- The commanding officer of a $1 billion warship that ran aground along the coast of Honolulu has been relieved of duty, the Navy said Monday.

Rear Adm. Dixon R. Smith, commander of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, relieved Capt. John Carroll of his duties pending the results of an investigation into Thursday's incident. The Navy on Monday freed the vessel, which had been stuck for more than three days.

Carroll had taken command of the USS Port Royal in October. Capt. John T. Lauer III, who is currently assigned to the staff of Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, was temporarily assigned as the guided missile cruiser's commanding officer.

The ship - one of the Navy's most advanced - ran aground when it was offloading sailors, contractors and shipyard personnel late Thursday. Efforts to refloat the vessel over the weekend were unsuccessful.

The Port Royal was extracted from a rock and sand shoal about 2 a.m. Monday after officials removed about 500 tons of seawater and 100 tons of anchors and other equipment, the Navy said in a statement. Officials said they plan to examine the wreck site to determine if there was a fuel leak or spill.

After an initial assessment, the ship was being towed to Naval Station Pearl Harbor for inspection. Dry docking at the shipyard should be completed in approximately one week, officials said.

The Navy has not discussed what may have caused the grounding.

The vessel had just finished its first day of sea trials after wrapping up a four-month routine maintenance stay at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. The 15-year-old Port Royal usually has about 24 officers and 340 enlisted sailors on board.

The Pearl Harbor-based Port Royal is capable of firing interceptors into space to shoot down missiles. It's also equipped with Aegis ballistic missile tracking technology.

A major transition for the tiny island of Guam

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AP) - Sprawling toward the horizon, Andersen Air Force Base is surprisingly quiet

Long-range B-2 bombers have begun regularly deploying to Guam

During the next six years, nearly 25,000 U.S. Marines, soldiers, family members and civilian Defense Department employees are to descend on the tiny Pacific island of Guam, transforming the sleepy tropical outpost into a hub of America's military in the Pacific.

But the metamorphosis seems as fragile as it is ambitious.

Guam's transformation will cost at least $15 billion - with Japan footing more than $6 billion - and will put some of the U.S. military's highest-profile assets within the fences of a vastly improved network of bases.

The newcomers will find an island already peppered with strip malls, fast-food franchises and high-rise hotels serving Japanese tourists who want a closer-to-home version of Hawaii. The plans for the base are fueling a fresh construction and real estate boom, which Guam hopes will accelerate its prosperity.

Guam, however, is smaller than some Hawaiian islands, with a population of just 155,000, and many of its officials are worried the military influx could leave the island's infrastructure - water, highways and seaport - overwhelmed and underfunded.

Felix Camacho, the elected Republican governor of the U.S. territory, says he thinks the troop influx will be "tremendous" for Guam's economy in the long run, but it will be "a difficult and complex process."

"I remain hopeful," he said. "Our challenge is that we know that the Department of Defense and Japan will build a first-rate base," while Guam has "limited capacity" to develop its own infrastructure to absorb the influx, he said.

Collapse

The whole plan could collapse, however, if Japan fails to build a replacement for a busy Marine Corps air base on its southern island of Okinawa - a festering issue that one senior U.S. military official acknowledged is fraught with difficulties.

The buildup in Guam is designed, in large part, to ease the long-standing over-concentration of forces on Okinawa, the U.S. military's key Pacific outpost since the 1950s, without pulling them back too far from such potential flash points as Taiwan and North Korea.

Although China and Russia, the U.S.'s main rivals in the Pacific, have been quiet, North Korea is characteristically wary. In an editorial, the state-run Minju Joson newspaper said the shift is meant to enable the Pentagon "to carry out its strategy for a surprise pre-emptive attack."

But keeping the Marines at their present levels on Okinawa has become unrealistic.

By treaty with Tokyo, more than 50,000 U.S. troops are stationed throughout Japan, which pays billions of dollars each year to support them, more than any other country with a U.S. base on its territory.

Okinawans have long complained their crowded island has to absorb too much of the presence - and of the crimes and other misbehavior - of U.S. personnel stationed there. More than half of the U.S. troops in Japan are on Okinawa, as is Kadena, the biggest U.S. air base in the region.

Practical

In U.S.-Japanese negotiations, Guam has emerged as the most practical alternative.

Okinawans have generally welcomed the move, and Tokyo has pledged to invest nearly $3 billion in building barracks, offices and other facilities for the troops on Guam, and to lend another $3.3 billion for developing supporting infrastructure.

Roughly 10,000 Marines are to stay on Okinawa, however, and Tokyo has run into serious opposition in trying to move the Futenma Marine Corps Air Station to a less congested part of Okinawa. Many Okinawans want it off the island altogether.

Lt. Gen. Edward Rice, commander of the U.S. forces in Japan, says the whole move to Guam depends on Futenma getting new premises on Okinawa.

Historically known as a harbor for U.S. bases, Guam is a strategic stopping point for ships and aircraft. In addition to being the westernmost territory of the United States, it houses Apra Harbor, one of the largest protected deep water harbors between Hawaii and the Philippines.

Guam has served as an important U.S. military outpost since World War II, but is taking on increased importance with the relocation of Marine forces from Japan. The island is set to become a rapid-response platform for problems from pirates to terrorists to tsunamis, as well as a highly visible reminder to China that the United States is nearby and watching.

The buildup plan, to be carried out by 2014, represents a major realignment of U.S. forces in the Pacific:

* About 8,000 Marines are to be shifted 1,200 miles southeast, from Okinawa to Guam, making it the Corps' second-largest permanent overseas staging and training area.

* The Navy has already deployed three nuclear-powered submarines to Guam and is seeking improvements to accommodate the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which carries about 5,000 sailors and airmen.

* The Army wants to deploy a ballistic missile defense task force, which would bring roughly 630 soldiers and 1,000 dependents to Guam.

* Military planners are considering bringing in the new F-22 fighters as well - though details remain sketchy - along with Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft and a dozen tankers.

Aussie warship turned into party boat for US rockers

IT will be all aboard HMAS XBox for Fall Out Boy fans when the navy turns one of its biggest warships into a party boat this month.

The US rockers will command the deck of HMAS Tobruk at Garden Island for an exclusive event to promote music-themed video games, with tickets distributed in competitions.

The concert is the second of the XBox Sounds banner "money-can't-buy" shows launched by Pussycat Dolls at the Sydney Opera House.

A spokesman for XBox Sounds said all expenses for the February 22 event were incurred on a "cost recovery basis".

"It's a free event but any costs will be incurred by Microsoft," he said. "The navy have been great, fantastic to deal with. It is something they have seen as a positive thing."

The RAN confirmed the cost arrangement was "a usual practice with defence events of this nature. A legal agreement is being drafted between Microsoft and navy to ensure there is no undue cost to navy for this event."

Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas approved the event on the basis it would convey the navy to a youth audience in a cost effective manner.

XBox will give away 400 tickets, with another 100 for HMAS Tobruk's crew of 140 personnel.

Don't Give Up The Ship!!

The final words of Captain Lawrence (October 1, 1781 – June 4, 1813) American Naval officer, are painted onto the USS Lake Erie (CG-70), seen here during a 2008 missile launch.

It really kind of makes you wonder if the business of the Navy and all the typical gripes that are associated with it stem from all the contingency plans needed.

There are really too many unforeseen problems caused because of shifts in government to start with. China is evolving it's military might, but with that Japan still has problems with US Marines, let alone China. I know you say what does that have to do with the Navy?

How about moving 18,ooo Marines and their families away from Okinawa because of safety issues and noise caused by having two new runways being build at the Naval Air Station for jets.

Hey Japan doesn't really like the problems caused by the Marines. So how long will take to get 18,0000 marines 3000km back to Japan from Guam? We all know there's an airwar with tons of missles launched before hand.

So whose life's are in harms way the Marines or Japanese Civilians?

Ports of Call Vow for Military Business

My second point being about just where to place a huge aircraft carrier for the sake of staving off any threats from Chavez. It's all about saving traveling time. Right?

Why should you send a $ 6 billion dollar carrier to Ft. Lauderdale? They have had enough problems with March Break mania college festivities. Does the area expect to makeup for the 37% over budgeted ship to gain in the end for the taxpayers? It may take a long time. Being that it will be out to sea more often than not.

There could be more to add to this. Considering that pirates are rampent. Should be a demand for Marines and ships no matter what the cost.

Downtime: Maintenance on USS Shiloh (CG67)

YOKOSUKA, Japan (Jan. 12, 2008) The Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh (CG 67) is in dry dock during a dry dock selective restricted availability. Shiloh is forward-deployed to Yokosuka, Japan and is part of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Bryan Reckard/Released)

In August 2006, she arrived on station at Yokosuka Naval Base replacing the USS Chancellorsville as part of a joint U.S.-Japanese ballistic missile defense program.

Shiloh's Name Comes From Cival War Battle

In March 1862, Major General Henry W. Halleck was put in command of all Federal forces in the Mississippi Valley, and he initiated a slow advance which he sent his two armies along the Tennessee River. By early April Ulysses S. Grant had some 37,000 men near Shiloh Church and Pittsburg Landing, close to the Tennessee-Mississippi border, and off to the east Don Carlos Buell's 25,000 were on their way from Nashville to join him. Meanwhile, Albert Sidney Johnston was desperately assembling all the Confederate troops he could find Corinth, Mississippi. He had more than Grant, but he would have to strike before Buell arrived.

The Union position was a reasonably strong one, but Grant and his division commanders felt it would be bad for morale to have the men entrench. General C.F. Smith told Grant, "By God, I want nothing better than to have the Rebels ... attack us! We can whip them to hell. Our men suppose we have come here to fight, and if we begin to spade, it will make them think we fear the enemy." In the Federal camps a peach orchard was in glorious bloom, and war and killing seemed remote.

But just 25 miles to the south Johnston was pushing his raw levies onto the roads. Like most of Grant's men, these Confederates were as green as grass. They ambled along, whooping and shouting, firing their guns just to see if they would work, driving their officers into a frenzy.

P.G.T. Beauregard, second in command, urged that the attack be called off, but Johnston was adamant: "I would fight them if they were a million." He ordered an assault for dawn on Sunday, April 6.

Grant was caught off guard, and in the first day's fight his army was almost pushed into the Tennessee River. It rallied just in time, Johnston was killed in action, and at dark Buell's troops began to arrive and one of Grant's divisions which had been delayed in reaching the field got to the scene. On the second day the Federals reversed the tide, and by mid afternoon Beauregard had to admit defeat. He drew his badly battered army back toward Corinth, and the Federals, equally battered, made no more than a gesture at pursuit. The greatest battle ever fought on the American continent, up to date, was over. The Federals had lost 13,000 men, the Confederates, 10,000. The troops had fought with impressive valor, but they had been poorly handled, especially on the Union side.

Earlier History referring to the Ships Class

A resort village of northeast New York between Lake George and Lake Champlain. Fort Carillon, built by the French in 1755, was taken in 1759 by the British, who renamed it Fort Ticonderoga. American Revolutionary troops captured the fort in May 1775, but it was later abandoned without a struggle to British forces in July 1777 during the Saratoga Campaign.

Name your next vehicle or child after a great battle.

Wanna Do The Shipping: Got To DoThe Protecting

As Rough As It May Seem,It's Still Steady As You Go...

Taipei- Taiwan is mulling sending warships to protect Taiwanese ships from Somali pirates, a politically sensitive move that needs China's approval, the Central News Agency (CNA) said Thursday.

Chao Chien-min, vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, told a news conference that "related government agencies are evaluating if Taiwan should send warships to the Gulf of Aden to carry out patrol work," according to CNA.

"As when to send the warships, it depends on the outcome of the evaluation," CNA quoted him as saying.

Defence Ministry Spokeswoman Chih Yu-lan said that the Defence Ministry would comply with government policy.

"When we receive the order, we will be doing the planning for it," CNA quoted her as saying.

Taiwan has two of the world's leading container shipping lines - the Evergreen Marine and Yang Ming Marine - which have about 300 vessels - half registered in foreign countries.

In recent year, several Taiwan fishing trawlers have been hijacked by Somali pirates, but were released after the ship owners paid a ransom. No Taiwanese container ships have been hijacked near Somalia.

Currently several countries, including the United States, the European Union and China, have sent more than a dozen warships to the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia, to protect their own and international vessels.

China sent two destroyers and one supply ship to the area on December 25, and the Chinese fleet began fighting piracy off Somalia this week.

China said Wednesday that Taipei can ask Beijing to have Chinese warships escort Taiwan vessels passing through the Gulf of Aden, but Taipei has not made any such request yet.

At the news conference Thursday, a reporter asked Chao if the Taiwan government encouraged Taiwan ships to seek help from the Chinese fleet when they are attacked by pirates.

Chao said Taiwan had anti-terrorism cooperation pacts with the US and Europe. If Taiwan ships faced danger in the Gulf of Aden, they could seek help from US and European warships.

Taiwan's sending warships to join the anti-piracy effort in the Gulf of Aden could pose problems to China. China sees Taiwan as its breakaway province and has barred Taiwan from joining international activities and international organizations.

Taiwan is recognized by only 23 - mostly small - nations, and Taiwan warships can only patrol Taiwan waters and go on friendly visits to Taiwan's diplomatic allies - which do not include Somalia.

While on your travels around the world you all might want to get the spray cans out and send a message on the Evergreen containers. I see lots in North America that need a coat of paint.

"Get the Goods To Market Without Killing One Another"

29 African Countries: Naval Muscle On Somolia?

As Rough As It May Seem,It's Still Steady As You Go...

Chinese ships navigate Somalia’s waters

• Somali pirates continue to hold hostages
• Probing behind the Obama photo ops
• China strengthens trading ties in Africa
• Chinese investment in Africa soars
• Italy’s immigration debate intensifies
• Africans desire new strategic relationship with U.S.
• World weighs in on President-elect Obama
• Twenty-first century Africa: China, tech and upward mobility
• Violence surges in Somalia
• Week in review: Iraqi shoes, Gaza and Zimbabwe

A bombed ship in Berbera.

China’s navy announced plans to send at least three ships to Somalia to protect Chinese vessels from rampant piracy.

About 20 percent of the 1,265 Chinese ships that have passed through the Gulf of Aden this year have reportedly come under attack.

Bright Simons is an executive at the African nonprofit IMANI Center for Policy and Education. He writes at citizen journalism portal OhMyNews about China’s role in Somalia and the Asian country’s naval ambitions.

China, Somalia: Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

China’s He Yafei, second in command of the Asian Giant’s diplomatic corps, told the United Nations Security Council at a December 16th session on the Somali piracy crisis that Beijing may authorize an expeditionary naval force to the Gulf of Aden.

Two issues arise from this statement for observers of China’s foreign policy.

Firstly, it provides another piece in the puzzle of China’s blue water naval ambitions, by affirming the much suspected link between seafaring commerce and open ocean warfare in the minds of Admiral Liu Huaqing’s disciples at the top of the PLAN (People’s Liberation Army’s Navy).

Secondly, it projects Africa into the heart of China’s geopolitical ambitions by offering the possibility that the emergent world power might use the continent as a sounding board for the much anticipated blue water strategy.

The second point is much vindicated in the context of the historical situation in the Straits of Malacca, where China’s participation in regional anti-piracy efforts has been less than aggressive. Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, and also Japan, whose trade is highly dependent on quietude in the Straits, have constantly had to look up to the USA for strategic backup in the event things get out of hand.

So, then, the question on everybody’s lips is: given the relative sanguinity China has shown about threats in its own backyard, why is the PLAN pushing the pliant Foreign Service into a blue water scheme off the shores of Africa?

To attempt to answer that question, one must first explore into a bit more detail the concept of blue-water geopolitics.

Not many countries can effectively, like the U.S. of today and the USSR of yesterday, circulate battle stations around the planet by relying on a Navy with truly global reach.

The United States can at a moment notice dispatch an ‘Aircraft Carrier Group’ to nearly any naval theater anywhere on the planet in a few days or weeks at most. The group will usually consist of the Aircraft carrier itself, a floating hangar cum runway from which some 100 fighter jets may be maintained and supplied in a continuous aerial tactical scenario, and a couple of frigates and destroyers backed by amphibious special force units and perhaps a splattering of submarines.

Frigates and destroyers are great for protecting and supplying expeditionary forces as well as for pummeling the coastlines of enemy states. Like all battle cruisers, a few ballistic missiles in the mix make these perfect launching pads for broad-front attacks as well as for surgical maneuvers, involving amphibious vessels and tactical squadrons.

Simply put, if China wants to be in a position where it can clamp down on a full-blown civil war in the Sudan, for instance, and prevents such from imperiling its energy security interests it will need a blue water navy.

Got To Be A Simple Solution: Too much at Stake?

How about some world coordinated effort. All ships have or should have satellite tracking. World coordinated convoy shadowing. Do we need to really trade with African countries through the use of ships? Unforunately yes!

Does the lack of any navy in more than 20 African costal countries help? No, but Russia would love to build another bargain basement 350 frigates for these nations. Even Canada would have a go at this.

Stop sinking the old ships. Retro 30 year old ships can still knock a punch along with their marines on board, even a sea harrier at the back.

Only the Northern African nations of Algeria,Eygpt, Libria, Morocco, Tunisia along with South Africa can assume any capabilities to shadow assigned ships and shipping lanes.

There may have to be armoured shipping convoys created. But only time will tell if 28 of the most powerful nations with a navy want to play their cards such as China is doing.

Along with the media heap of Russia coming to the rescue with a diplomatic ballad of force there really is no one other than the "good olde USA" to come to the rescue. Diplomacy has to be reunited and maintained with all. Tough sailing ahead for sure.

Little Guys For Low Budgets

As Rough As It May Seem,It's Still Steady As You Go...



Russia has become the go-to provider of short range, low cost, warships. Currently, Russian shipyards are building nearly $6 billion worth of warships for foreign customers (India, China, Algeria, Vietnam and Indonesia). A typical ship in this building is the Stereguschyy class corvette (one in service, with three more building.) These are small ships (2,100 tons displacement), costing about $125 million each. These "Project 20380" ships have impressive armament (two 30mm anti-missile cannon, one 100mm cannon, eight anti-ship missiles, six anti-submarine missiles, two eight cell anti-missile missile launchers).

There is a helicopter platform, but the ship is not designed to carry one regularly. Crew size, of one hundred officers and sailors, is achieved by a large degree of automation. The ship also carries air search and navigation radars. It can cruise 6,500 kilometers on one load of fuel. Normally, the ship would stay out 7-10 days at a time, unless it received replenishment at sea. Like the American LCS, the Russian ship is meant for coastal operations. The navy wants at least fifty of them.

But there other Russian shipbuilding projects that don't fit the overall pattern. The main one here is the conversion of a retired Russian carrier, the 44,000 ton Gorshkov, into the INS Vikramaditya for India. This ship was supposed to enter Indian service this year, but has been delayed until 2012. The Russians admitted that this project suffered from shoddy workmanship, poor management and the loss of blueprints for the ship. These have to be reconstructed.

The new deal will cost $2.5 billion. This includes the purchase of the Gorshkov, and Russian shipyards performing repairs, modifications and upgrades. Another $800 million is to be spent on aircraft, weapons and equipment. Building a Gorshkov type carrier today would cost about $4 billion, and take several years more.

The Admiral Gorshkov entered service in 1987, but was inactivated in 1996 (too expensive to operate on a post Cold War budget). The Indian deal was made in 2004, and the carrier was to be ready by 2008. But a year ago reports began coming out of Russia that the shipyard doing the work, Sevmash, had seriously miscalculated the cost of the project. The revised costs were more like $1.1 billion for the $700 million refurb. The situation proceeded to get worse, with Sevmash reporting ever increasing costs to refurbish the carrier.

The Indians were not happy, and at first insisted that the Russian government (which owns many of the entities involved) make good on the original deal. India sent its own team of technical experts to Russia, and their report apparently confirmed what the Russians reported, about shipyard officials low-balling the cost of the work needed. This is a common tactic for firms building weapons for their own country. It gets more complicated when you try to pull that sort of thing on a foreign customer. The Russian government will cover some of the overrun cost. The Sevmash managers who negotiated the low bid are being prosecuted.

Most Russian shipbuilding projects work out. The Russian ships are simpler than their Western counterparts, and for coastal work are adequate. You get what you pay for, unless you are refurbishing a major ship that the Russians never quite got the hang of.

Russian Nary Gets Time Off For Good Behaviour

12 hours ago: Russian destroyer Admiral Chabanenko sails into Havana's bay December 19, 2008. The Russian warship arrived on Friday for the first time since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, as Russia flexed its muscles close to the United States and showed off its warming relations with former Cold War ally Cuba.Thank Goodness. "Are there pirates in the Caribbean?" "Not like in the Indian Ocean."

"We have no bananas."; "No eggs left and no money to buy any."; "Have you no decency?";"You made it..was it 1991?"; "Did it with no help.";"I don't know about this Cuba."; "Is Home any better?"; "I'll get you there in no time."; "3 more months of this!";" Oh! Boy."; "You signed on for 6 months."; "The Water is good no?"