NAC News - Edition 510 - Naval Association of Canada

NAC News – Edition 510

Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of April 21st, 2023

Edition: 510 Quote: “Beijing will want to visibly register its displeasure, lest its leaders be accused at home of tolerating Taiwan’s efforts to move further away from China, however, they will want to preserve some headroom for further escalation should future circumstances require.” 6 April 2023, Ryan Hass, The New York Times

Rod Hughes: Editor NAC News rhughes@shaw.ca (Comments welcome to help improve this service.) Links to keep in touch with the NAC and RCN can be found at the bottom of this email. Contact Kevin Goheen executivedirector-nac@outlook.com if you wish someone to be added to the NAC News email distribution. (Influencer or good candidates to become a NAC member, and note the first year’s NAC/Branch membership dues are waived)

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NOTICES

AMENDED 3 May NAC and the RCN will mount a Battle of the Atlantic Gala Dinner. Detailed information on the event and the menu options is available at 2023 Battle of the Atlantic Gala. Registration can be completed from that page. Should you need assistance with the registration or have further questions, please contact us at NACcoordinator@outlook.com. Our Naval Affairs Programme Coordinator Dr. Ann Griffiths has created a graphic novel for NAC. It’s about an ordinary Canadian fellow who serves in an RCN ship in the Battle of the Atlantic. It’s now at the printer and is scheduled to be available for the gala. It’s called ‘Hunter and Hunted: On Board a Canadian Corvette in the Battle of the Atlantic.’ To make a connection, it was Ann’s naval affairs programme initiative that created “Mom’s in the Navy” which is available at the link, [as well as “An Undersea Adventure” and “Over the Horizon” were created], and this new graphic novel will be made available in the same fashion.

17 May 2023 ABCMI Innovation Day at Vancouver, BC 09:00 – 16:30 local in the Vancouver Convention Centre West, 1055 Canada Pl. ABCMI Members – $135 plus GST, Non Members – $225 plus GST, Lunch and health breaks are incl. Innovation Day tickets. ABCMI is also hosting an evening Networking Reception on the evening of 16 May, 5:00-6:00 PM at the Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel. Join them for appetizers, a no-host bar and plenty of great conversations. Tickets for reception.

The Canadian Naval Review is holding its annual essay competition again in 2023. There will be a prize of $1,000 provided by the Canadian Naval Memorial Trust, for the best essay. The winning essay will be published in CNR. (Other non-winning essays will also be considered for publication, subject to editorial review.) For complete rules and guidelines, go to: https://www.navalreview.ca/submissions/#Essay-Competition
If you have any questions about a particular topic, contact: cnrcoord@icloud.com
Submissions to the 2023 contest must be submitted to cnrcoord@icloud.com by May 30, 2023. Brochure in both French and English is available on line.

2 November 2023 Mark your calendars, the Deep Blue Forum 2023. Venue – The Westin Ottawa, 11 Colonel By Drive.

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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES

Dozens of political and military luminaries call on Ottawa to stop backsliding on national defence and U.S. report claims Trudeau told NATO Canada will never meet its military spending target

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CANADA

SCOTT TAYLOR: Trudeau’s statement on war is dumb

Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer Change of Appointment (Editor – CAF recording of the Change of Appointment. It starts 6:30 sec in, and lasts 1:11:40 hr)

Canadian Patrol Submarine Discussion Ramps Up and Richard Shimooka: A significant boost to security: Inside Canada’s plans to replace its submarines

Military procurement chief wants defence firms to stop overpromising, underdelivering

Feds approve major expansion B.C. container port despite environmental, labour opposition

The Naval Architect April 2023: Cavitation awareness to the edge (Editor – Canadian content)

The Royal Canadian Navy OPS Room: The Tactical Centre of the Ship (Editor – 1:11 min RCN recruiting awareness video)

Bringing the Battle of the Atlantic to life (Editor – and a link to the Canadian War Museum on-line magazine Kudos)

A look back on the recent RMC Weekend at the Royal Military College of Canada. #ytshorts (Editor – 30 sec RCN video)

Internal audit raises red flags over maintenance of graves, cemeteries for veterans and Military cemeteries need more funding to keep them from falling into disrepair

Dangerous use of personal vehicle at play in 2022 deaths of Royal Military College cadets

Trident: Monday 17 April 2023 Volume 57, Issue 8

Lookout: Volume 68, Issue 15, April 17, 2023

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USA & AMERICAS

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 17, 2023

Navy begins long haul to inactivate second nuclear-powered carrier Nimitz and Navy to Decommission 2 Carriers in a Row, 2 LCS Set for Foreign Sales, Says Long Range Shipbuilding Plan

CNO: ‘Very Important’ to Add 2nd Constellation-class Shipyard, Build 4 Frigates a Year

Global submarine market value to reach $45bn by 2033 and U.S. Navy To Get New Unique Submarine: Virginia SSW

Life Inside US Gigantic $4 Billion Submarine Patrolling The Oceans at Full Speed (Editor – 15:36 min video)

Coast Guard Cutter Active returns home following a 76-day counternarcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific

USS Little Rock Deploys to Support Regional Cooperation and Security

U.S. Navy’s Strike Weapons: LRASM, HALO, Tomahawk and Harpoon missiles (Editor – 7:33 min video)

Argentina in talks with Naval Group, ThyssenKrupp for three submarines plus

Argentine Defense Minister shows interest in French Scorpene class submarines

NATO Navy awards Kraken Robotics $4 Million order for Katfish spares

Report to Congress on Navy Large Unmanned Surface and Undersea Vehicles and How the Sea Hunter Becoming a Submarine Killer #shorts (Editor – short video)

CIMSEC: Fighting DMO, Pt. 7: the future of the aircraft carrier in distributed warfighting

BAE Systems Begins New Ship Repair Facility Construction in Florida

The biggest intelligence leaks in US history (Editor – leaks…and spies, don’t forget the Warrant Officer (USN) John Walker Jr. spy case!)

Fincantieri Marinette Marine launches last Freedom-class littoral combat ship and oops Video: Last Freedom-Class LCS Hits Tug During Launch (Editor – 1:04 video included)

Proceedings Podcast: Sea Power and the Operational Level of War (Editor – 34:06 min podcast)

Panama Canal lowers maximum depth limit on ships due to drought

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INDO-PACIFIC

Russia’s Pacific Fleet placed on high alert for snap drills with Over 160 Russian naval ships involved in Pacific Fleet’s massive drills — defense chief yet after Russian Pacific Fleet’s Commander Resigns After Snap Inspection

South Korean Navy Fires Warning Shots At North Korean Patrol Boat

UPDATED: U.S. Destroyer Transits Taiwan Strait

Eight Russian Tu-22M3 bombers patrol Pacific waters in large-scale drills and Japan Scrambled Fighters Almost 800 Times Against Chinese, Russian Aircraft in 2022

US-China military stand-off near Taiwan ‘no reason’ for Beijing to relax its guard

The Taiwan Strait: What Can Canada Do? (Editor – CDAI Threat Assessment 29 March 2023) well here is a step the US is contemplating Rep. Ogles introduces the Defund China’s Allies Act

Properly Arming Taiwan Key to Deterring Chinese Invasion, Pentagon Official Tells HASC and Taiwan to Buy 400 US Anti-Ship Missiles to Counter China

How Japan could quickly build up its submarine force (Editor – what a problem to have!)

Why India Needs to Gear Up for China Challenge in Eastern Indian Ocean

China’s aircraft carrier Shandong holds intensive drills comparable with Liaoning in West Pacific

Nimitz Carrier Strike Group Operates in the Philippine Sea

Thailand will probably accept Chinese offer of CHD620 engines for subs

US to supply one more coast guard ship to Vietnam

France’s round the world mission visits Australia

China’s nuclear supercarrier vision coming into view

Australia Will be a “User” of Nuclear Sub Fleet, Not Just an “Owner”

HTMS Chang to Arrive in Thailand on April 27

Indonesia Launches New Presidential Corvette

Austal and Saildrone join forces on uncrewed surface vehicles

Budgeting for Australia’s N-subs

China’s Maritime Strategy: To Own the Oceans by Adverse Possession

China and India Snapping Up Russian Oil Above Western Price Cap

Construction of 6th LNG carrier for COSCO and CNPC kicks off in China

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EUROPE

Ukraine:

Wagner vs Kremlin: Russia’s second battle in Bakhmut | Defence in Depth (Editor – not a maritime article but useful background in a 3:22 min video)

Russia Shuts Down Ukrainian Grain Shipments With Bureaucratic Delay and Russia Accuses Ukraine of Sabotaging Grain Deal with Bribery Scheme

General:

Austin hopes Turkey will act on Sweden NATO bid before July

Russian MiG intercepts Norwegian P-8 for the first time over Barents Sea

France’s SSBN Le Terrible successfully fires M51 ballistic missile

Arctic security key in upcoming defence agreement: acting Danish defence minister

Russian spy ships mapping undersea infrastructure in the North Sea and Ukraine war: The Russian ships accused of North Sea sabotage plus What Russian ships are spying near UK waters? (Editor – 2:38 min video)

Cocaine-smuggling submarine reveals Europe’s drug crisis (Editor – includes 59 sec video)

Iceland authorizes U.S. submarine service visits

Babcock, British defense ministry tussle over excess warship costs (Editor – a lesson for all nations)

Russia may decommission Kirov class battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy due to cost of repairs and FACTBOX: The Pyotr Veliky nuclear-powered battle cruiser

Romania Seeks Acquisition of First Submarines in 20 Years

The minesweeper Lev Chernavin of project 12700 was launched

Stalwart HMS Montrose decommissioned after 30 years of service (Editor – Two 2+ min videos included)

Italian police find cocaine packages floating in the sea off Sicily (Editor – includes 40 sec video)

Righting toppled US ship in dry-dock will be ‘very complicated’, warns marine expert

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MIDDLE EAST

Iranian Navy forces US nuclear sub to surface in Strait of Hormuz — news agency (Editor – love to know the real story)

Iran completes construction of three Fateh class submarines hulls

US Navy’s MAST-13 USV transits Strait of Hormuz

Iran Seizes Another Foreign Vessel for Fuel Smuggling

Royal Navy shares mine-hunting tactics with US and French counterparts

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GLOBAL INTERESTS

Tanker and Crew Found Safe After Pirates Steal Cargo in Gulf of Guinea

How World’s Largest LNG Tankers are Built in Multi Billion $ Shipyard

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SCUTTLEBUTT

HMCS Sackville – The Perennial Flower (Editor – new 30:51 video)

HMS Barham – “Did More Than Just Explode, You Know.” (Editor – 18:03 min video)

Nearly 400 years on, warship still yielding secrets

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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY

22 April 1943 The cargo liner MV Amerika (a straggler from eastbound convoy HX-234) was sunk at 01:54 on 22 April 1943 by U-306, about 145 nautical miles south of Greenland. Fifty-three Royal Canadian Air Force personnel were the only passengers embarked during this eastbound crossing of the North Atlantic. Thirty-seven of the RCAF passengers were killed. Forty-two crew members and seven DEMS gunners were also lost. The master, twenty-nine crew members, eight gunners and the 16 RCAF survivors were rescued by HMS Asphodel and landed at Greenock, Scotland.

22 April 1944 HMCS Swansea commanded by A/Cdr Clarence A. King, DSO, DSC, RCNR with HMCS Matane commanded by A/Cdr A. Frank C. Layard, DSO, RN using depth charges sink U311 south of Iceland. Cdr Kings third submarine in 7 weeks.

23 April 1947 HMCS Malahat re-commissioned as Victoria’s Naval Reserve Division; originally commissioned as naval recruiting centre January 15, 1944. They grew from the No.1 Half Company of the Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve (RNCVR) that was established 18 May 1914. HMCS Scotian was commissioned as Halifax’s Naval Reserve Division. The first reserve unit was the Halifax Half-Company, which operated from 1925 to 1935. From 1935 to 1939, the unit’s name was changed to Halifax Division. The two were the 14th and 15th of the 24 divisions commissioned. The remainder of the 24 Naval Reserve Divisions would be subsequently commissioned, with the last being HMCS Queen Charlotte (Charlottetown) in 1994.

23 April 1948, while returning from a southern taring cruise the cruiser HMCS Ontario and the destroyer HMCS Crescent spotted a mine 200 miles north of San Francisco. The Ontario was forced to make an emergency turn to avoid the mine, believed to be a Japanese type JA. The crew of Crescent destroyed the mine with gunfire.

25 April 1945 Canada one of 50 nations attending founding United Nations Conference on International Organization, opening in San Francisco; will approve United Nations Charter on June 26. San Francisco, California.

25 April 1967 Commons passes Bill C-243, “The Canadian Forces Reorganization Act,” unifying the RCN, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force into one service, the Canadian Armed Forces, with common uniform and rank designations; act comes into effect February 1, 1968.

26 April 1778 Captain James Cook sails from Nootka Sound, tracing the coast of British Columbia.

26 April 1944 HMCS Huron commanded by LCdr Herbert S. Rayner, DSC, RCN, with HMCS Haida commanded by Cdr Harry G. DeWolf, DSO, RCN, and HMCS Athabaskan commanded by A/LCdr John H. Stubbs, DSO, RCN fought two German destroyers off Ile de Bas, France, and drove a flaming German warship T-29 aground. The modern HMCS Harry DeWolf is named in DeWolf’s honour.

28 April 1818 U.S. Senate ratifies the Rush-Bagot Convention, signed April 28/29, 1817, making it a lawful treaty of the United States; limits naval forces on the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain. Washington, DC.

SIGNIFICANT RCN DATES – If you see any omissions or errors please inform me, and any more modern significant dates are also welcomed. The list draws primarily from the Directory of History and Heritage’s comprehensive “Significant Dates in Canadian Military History”, the now defunct “Canada Channel”, “Legion Magazine”, The Naval Service of Canada, Its Official History Vol 1-3, NAC member Roger Litwiller’s excellent web site, encyclopedic guidance from NAC member Fraser McKee, the Uboat.net site, and anywhere else I can find credible information. For the merchant ship history, a special thanks to NAC member Bill Dziadyk for his able assistance and detailed work. The RCN lost 1,965 men and 24 ships during the War, most of them in the Atlantic. A comprehensive list of the staggering merchant losses – sunk, damaged, or lost – Canadian Merchant Ship Losses of the Second World War, 1939-1945 by Rob Fisher {Revised June 2001}, and for the loss of individual personnel RCN Ship Histories, Convoy Escort Movements, Casualty Lists 1939-1947)