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Monday, July 15, 2024
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Navy News

15 Jul 2024

Canada Plans to Acquire Up to 12 Submarines

HMCS Victoria is currently among Canada's most modern submarines. (File photo: Government of Canada)

Canada, looking to shore up its defense of the Arctic, is moving ahead to acquire up to 12 submarines and has started a formal process to meet with manufacturers, the defense ministry said.Canada updated its defense policy this year with a focus on protecting the Arctic and dealing with challenges from Russia and China. The procurement of submarines is a critical step in implementing that strategy, the defense ministry said in a statement.Citing global warming, Canada says the Arctic Ocean could become the most efficient shipping route between Europe and East Asia By 2050…

15 Jul 2024

Fincantieri Launches Another Multipurpose Combat Ship for Italian Navy

(Credit: Fincantieri)

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has launched the seventh multipurpose combat ship, named Domenico Millelire, at its shipyard in Genova.This vessel is part of the renewal plan of the operational lines of the Italian Navy vessels, approved by the Government and Parliament under the aegis of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for cooperation on arms).The 143-meter vessel is a highly flexible ship with the capacity to serve multiple functions…

10 Jul 2024

US Navy Takes Delivery of Future USS John Basilone

(Photo: Bath Iron Works)

The U.S. Navy announced it has accepted delivery of its latest Flight IIA Arleigh Burke–class guided missile destroyer, the future USS John Basilone (DDG 122), on July 8.Built by General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, DDG 122 will serve as a multi-mission surface combatant capable of conducting Anti-Air Warfare, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare.Prior to delivery, the ship conducted a series of at-sea and pier-side trials to demonstrate readiness. A tentative commissioning date is scheduled in November.The ship is named after U.S.

09 Jul 2024

US Navy Officer Relieved After Ship Grounding off Gabon

Capt. Lenard Mitchell, commanding officer of the expeditionary sea base USS Hershel "Woody" Williams (ESB 4) addresses the crew during an All Hands Call in the hangar bay. (Photo: Ridge Leoni / U.S. Navy)

The captain of U.S. Navy ship USS Hershel “Woody” Williams has been relieved of his duties after the ship went aground under his command earlier this year.The Navy is still investigating the incident, which saw the 784-foot Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base vessel go soft aground near Gabon's port of Libreville on May 9. But it said "sufficient findings of fact emerged during the investigation to warrant the relief" of commanding officer Capt. Lenard Mitchell."The U.S.

09 Jul 2024

Germany, Eight Other Baltic Sea Nations Seek to Jointly Buy Naval Mines

© Grispb / Adobe Stock

Germany and eight other countries on the Baltic Sea aim to jointly procure naval mines, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday, as Russia is taking an increasingly assertive stance in the Baltic Sea region.Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington, Pistorius said Russia had been challenging the borders in the Baltic Sea time and again."Just recently we have seen how Russia tries to extend Russian territorial waters outside Kaliningrad.

09 Jul 2024

Iranian Warship Sahand Entirely Sinks Despite Rebalancing Efforts

Iranian Navy frigate Sahand sank in shallow waters in the southern port of Bandar Abbas (Photo: Social media)

The Iranian Navy frigate Sahand entirely sank in shallow waters on Tuesday in the southern port of Bandar Abbas, Nournews agency said, after it was briefly repositioned following its initial capsizing on Sunday."The Sahand warship, which was rebalanced on the water with great difficulty on Monday, has now sunk after the rope holding the ship broke," said Nournews, a news agency affiliated to the Supreme National Security Council.On Sunday, state media said the ship had capsized during repairs at a wharf due to water ingress and that efforts were being made to rebalance it.The Iranian-built ste

08 Jul 2024

Ukraine Says Russia is Losing Crimean Hub in Black Sea

© lesniewski / Adobe Stock

The Russian navy's Black Sea Fleet has been forced to rebase nearly all its combat-ready warships from occupied Crimea to other locations, and its main naval hub is becoming ineffectual because of attacks by Kyiv, Ukraine's navy chief said.Vice-Admiral Oleksiy Neizhpapa said Ukrainian missile and naval drone strikes had caused heavy damage to the Sevastopol base, a logistics hub for repairs, maintenance, training and ammunition storage among other important functions for Russia."They were established over many decades, possibly centuries.

08 Jul 2024

Two Russian Warships Sent on Training Mission to Asia-Pacific Waters, Interfax Reports

© Alexey Lesik / Adobe Stock

Two corvettes of the Russian navy's Pacific Fleet left the port of Vladivostok in Russia's Far East to carry out training missions in the Asia-Pacific region, the Interfax news agency cited the fleet's press service as saying on Monday."When leaving the main base of the fleet, the crews of the ships practiced emergency preparations for battle and sailing, and when passing through a narrow area, they conducted training in repelling a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) raid of a mock enemy," the agency reported, citing the press service.The corvettes, the Rezky and the Gromky, will conduct a number o

07 Jul 2024

Iranian Warship Capsizes During Repairs

© Peter Hermes Furian / Adobe Stock

The Iranian navy frigate Sahand capsized during repairs in the southern port of Bandar Abbas, Iranian state media reported on Sunday."As Sahand was being repaired at the wharf, it lost its balance due to water ingress. Fortunately ...the vessel is being returned to balance quickly," the official news agency IRNA reported, citing a navy statement.It did not specify when the accident occurred. State media carried a picture of a capsized ship and said several people were taken to hospital with minor injuries.(Reuters - Reporting by Dubai Newsroom)

03 Jul 2024

Military Groups Say They Set Fire to Russian Warship

Serpukhov (Credit: GAlexandrova, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons)

A Ukrainian military intelligence official said on Wednesday that a fire on a Russian warship in the Baltic Sea in April was caused by a joint operation conducted by his GUR agency and a pro-Kyiv Russian military group.On April 7, the Serpukhov missile ship stationed in Russia's Kaliningrad region was set on fire, the GUR intelligence agency said at the time. It did not claim responsibility earlier.GUR spokesperson Andriy Yusov told Reuters the operation was conducted in tandem with the Freedom of Russia Legion.

02 Jul 2024

Fiji's New Patrol Boat Recovered After Grounding Incident

Fiji's Navy confirmed its patrol boat RFNS Puamau has been successfully salvaged after it struck a reef last month. (Photo: Republic of Fiji Navy)

Salvors have recovered Fiji's naval patrol boat RFNS Puamau, three weeks after the brand new vessel went aground on its maiden patrol.The vessel was successfully recovered from the reef at Fulaga and towed to the safe waters of Ogea Island where a thorough damage assessment will be conducted, the Republic of Fiji Navy said.RFNS Puamau is a Guardian-class Patrol Boat (GCPB) built by Austal for the Australian Department of Defence, which gifted the vessel to Fiji's Navy.Just months after the vessel's official handover in March…

28 Jun 2024

Italian Navy Places $535M Oder for Fourth NFS Submarine from Fincantieri

(Credit: Fincantieri)

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has secured a contract to build the fourth new-generation submarine related to the U212NFS (Near Future Submarine) program for the Italian Navy.The order for the new submarine, valued at $534 million (€500 million), has been exercised by OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’Armement, the international organization for joint armament cooperation).The contract also activates all other options that complete the maintenance support for the submarines already contracted.The signing of the new contract took place at the Muggiano shipyard…

26 Jun 2024

Austal USA Holds Keel Laying Ceremony for LCU 1710

(Photo: Austal USA)

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA on Wednesday held a keel laying ceremony for LCU 1710, marking the official start of construction on the first of three Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels for the U.S. Navy.Austal USA was awarded a $91.5 million contract in September 2023 that includes three LCU and associated support efforts.LCU are carried aboard amphibious assault ships to the objective area and used across a range of military operations to deliver vehicles, personnel and cargo from sea-to-shore and back.

25 Jun 2024

Austal USA Cuts Steel for USNS James D. Fairbanks

(Photo: Austal USA)

Mobile, Ala. shipbuilder Austal USA announced it has started construction on the future USNS James D. Fairbanks (T-ATS 13), the third of five steel U.S. Navy Navajo Class Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ships Austal USA has under contract with the U.S. Navy.Construction is well underway on both the future USNS Billy Frank Jr. (T-ATS 11) and USNS Solomon Atkinson (T-ATS 12), the shipbuilder said.“It’s exciting to see another ship begin traveling down the steel production line which has been busy since we opened it just a little over two years ago…

25 Jun 2024

New Contract & First Steel Cut for Australia's Hunter Class Frigate Program

(Photo: BAE Systems)

Australia has awarded BAE Systems Maritime Australia a contract to build the first three Hunter class frigates as the program celebrates its transition into formal construction phase.Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles and the Premier of South Australia, Peter Malinauskas, officially cut steel on the first ship at a ceremony at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in Adelaide, South Australia.

24 Jun 2024

Keel Authenticated for Future USNS Sojourner Truth

(Photo: General Dynamics NASSCO)

The keel for the future USNS Sojourner Truth (T-AO 210), a John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler, was authenticated at General Dynamics NASSCO, June 21.The ship is named for human rights pioneer Sojourner Truth, an abolitionist and women’s rights activist.The ship sponsor is Marian Wright Edelman, civil rights trailblazer and Founder and President Emerita of the Children’s Defense Fund.“The future USNS Sojourner Truth will aid in expanding refueling capability at sea,” said John Lighthammer, program manager, Auxiliary and Special Mission Ships, Program Executive Office (PEO) Ships.

24 Jun 2024

US Says It Destroyed Three Houthi Vessels in Red Sea

Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Photo: U.S. Navy)

U.S. forces destroyed three Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels in the Red Sea in the past 24 hours, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Saturday.Separately, the Houthis launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles into the Gulf of Aden but there were no injuries or significant damage reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels, CENTCOM added.The U.S. military's Central Command also dismissed as "categorically false" recent claims about a successful attack by Houthi forces on the aircraft carrier Dwight D.

24 Jun 2024

Austal Tallies Order for More Guardian-class Patrol Boats

(Image: Austal Australia)

Australian shipbuilder Austal announced that the Australian Government has ordered two additional Guardian-class Patrol Boats from Austal Australia, valued at approximately A$39 million.The 39.5-meter, steel-hull patrol boats, to be constructed at Henderson in Western Australia and scheduled for delivery in 2026, are in addition to the 22 Guardian-class Patrol Boats previously ordered by the Australian Government under the Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement Project (SEA3036-1) since…

24 Jun 2024

Navy Combat Craft - Boats Evolve to Keep Pace with Threats

Ghost, a high-speed stealth boat that was nearly cancelled, has been resurrected.  The low-observable Ghost is a SWATH (small waterplane area twin hull) vessel with a speed of up to 35 knots and a very shallow draft.   General Dynamics Mission Systems has teamed with Juliet Marine Systems to make Ghost configurable as a manned, remote control, and unmanned platform and to integrate the modular payload capability for a broad spectrum of missions. Photo courtesy General Dynamics Mission Systems

Combat craft are used by both large and small navies, and every navy, coast guard or maritime service operates some kind of boats.The U.S. Navy’s boats are used for a variety of tasks from personnel and cargo transport to ship repair and maintenance to environmental response.The combat craft range from pull sized patrol boats down to ridged-hull inflatable boats (RIBs) armed with machine guns. Boats include shipboard RIBs, maritime security boats, dive support boats, workboats…

22 Jun 2024

RAL Tugs Delivered in the Philippine Navy

Image courtesy Robert Allan Ltd.

Robert Allan Ltd. said that YT 027 and AT 010, a RAmparts 2700 and RAmparts 3000-W respectively were delivered to the owner, the Philippine Navy, in May 2024. The tugs were built at Josefa Slipways Inc. in Sual, Philippines and are designed by Robert Allan Ltd. to provide support to the navy’s surface vessel fleet.Propulsion machinery of YT 027 consists of two MTU 12V4000M53 diesel engines rated at 1380 kW at 1800 rpm coupling with Schottel SRP 340 Z-drives with 2.1 m diameter…

21 Jun 2024

Ukraine's Drone Success Shapes US Pacific 'Hellscape' Strategy

A Sea Baby uncrewed surface vehicle (File photo: Security Service of Ukraine)

On a website run by the Ukrainian security service, donors anywhere in the world can pledge money to build Ukraine's cutting-edge "Sea Baby" unmanned maritime drones.It is a slick, professional site offering donors the chance to sign up for newsletters or even name the drone themselves if they donate the full $220,000 cost.Only six meters (20 feet) long and 60 cm (two feet) high above the water level, the craft can carry up to 850 kg of explosives up to 1,000 km (620 miles), often…

20 Jun 2024

Alabama Shipyard Wins MSC Oiler Maintenance Contract

USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196) (File photo: U.S. Navy)

Alabama Shipyard has secured a contract to perform maintenance work aboard the Military Sealift Command's (MSC) fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196).The Mobile, Ala. shipyard was awarded an $11,339,193 firm-fixed-price contract for a 106-calendar day shipyard availability. The deal includes a base work package and four unexercised options for additional work and time which, if exercised, would increase the cumulative value of this contract to $11,807,789.Alabama Shipyard was one of five bidders for the job.Work will begin August 31…

20 Jun 2024

Damen Books Order for Two More F126 Frigates for German Navy

(Credit: Damen)

Dutch naval shipbuilder Damen Naval has signed a contract with the Procurement Organization of the German Armed Forces (BAAINBw) to supply two additional multipurpose frigates to German Navy, bringing the total to six F126 vessels.The first frigate is due to be delivered in 2028. Ship five and six will be delivered in 2033 and 2034 respectively.The construction of the two additional F126 frigates will take place entirely in Germany. In the coming months, work will begin in parallel at the German Naval Yards shipyard in Kiel…