naval affairs

NAC News – Edition 533

NAC News – Edition 533

Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of  October 6th, 2023

Edition:  ATA 533 HMCS St. Charles (St. Charles Class tug.  I recall a few good surface gun shoots with her towing the high-speed target!)

Quote: “The Royal Canadian Navy is looking forward to participating in the inaugural Great Canadian Marine Careers Expo alongside our tremendous marine partners. Canada’s sailors are among the most professional, highly educated, and well-trained in the world.  Anyone who is interested in an exciting career at sea, and making a difference, should attend this Expo to discover new opportunities.” Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee, Commander RCN  (Editor – The Great Canadian Marine Career Expo (GCMCE))

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)

NOTICES

It’s that time of year again for nominations for the Admirals’ Medal!  Responsibility for the Admirals’ Medal Foundation was transferred from the RCN to the Naval Association in 2021.  NAC Naval Affairs is now responsible for ensuring that the Medal is awarded on an annual basis through a proper solicitation – nomination – selection – award process.  To that end, a committee of Flag/Senior officers has been stood up to carry out the review and selection process.  Nomination instructions.

17/18 October 2023 17/18 October 2023 – Association of British Columbia Marine Industries (ABCMI) Business Opportunities Conference & Trade Show – Vancouver Conference Centre.  Check out the exciting programme here and take advantage of the significant savings ($200) accorded to ABCMI Members by registering for the Business Opportunities Conference & Trade Show.  As NAC is a member of ABCMI, NAC members can take advantage of the ABCMI Member rate.  Please contact Leann Collins at ABCMI at leann@abcmi.ca to help you register for the conference.

2 November 2023 The Deep Blue Forum 2023. Registration. The $50 ticket discount code for NAC members is DB23_NAC.  All serving navy & government personnel can register for FREE.  Venue – The Westin Ottawa, 11 Colonel By Drive.  Not Able to Attend in Person?  All speaker sessions will be live streamed, to allow for virtual attendance.

13 November 2023 0900-1600 hrs Vancouver BC Day Sail event on warship for women and girls

6 December 2023 7:30 am – 6:30 pm Ottawa time.  Industrial Participation Association of Canada (IPAC) announced their first ever Industrial Participation Conference, titled The Changing Landscape of Industrial Participation in Canadian Federal Procurements Conference to be held at the National Arts Centre, Ottawa.  Registration is free for public sector!

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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES

Aukus: UK defence giant BAE Systems wins £3.95bn submarine contract and Babcock collaborates on design for next gen AUKUS nuclear submarines and a valuable wrinkle Aukus: How new £4bn deal could create Royal Navy’s most advanced and most powerful attack submarine

Blair steals a page from the Harper playbook to justify cuts to National Defence

Cox: What will Trudeau’s new National Security Council actually do?

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CANADA

Canada’s push to axe $1B from military budget for savings will impact security: defence chief (Editor – 2:11 Global news video)

Naval Reserve Celebrates 100th Anniversary Across Canada (Editor – HMCS Malahat Freedom of the City ceremony article on page 8 of the latest Lookout below)

HMCS Montréal strengthens ties with allies in Indo-Pacific region

Current Operations and Combined Military Exercises list (Editor – in case you haven’t seen this rolling summary before)

The Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel: a valuable asset in protecting Canada’s Northern waters (Editor – It is understood that later in the New Year HMCS Max Bernays will complete its coastal transfer to Esquimalt as the first of the DeWolf to homeport on the west coast)

New requirement regarding reporting an issue affecting CAF member’s physical or mental health

200 kg opium concealed in shipping containers seized by CBSA officers at Deltaport

Grain exports via Port of Vancouver doubled in first half of 2023

Military withdraws final conduct charge against Lt.-Gen. Steven Whelan

Architectural group says government ignored process in awarding Afghanistan monument in Ottawa

Ten Rastar 3200-w ASD tugs to be built for the Suez Canal Authority

FEATURE: Memorial forging bonds between Japanese town, WWII pilot’s family (Editor – the Canadian Naval Defence Attaché Capt (RCN) Robert Watt in the pic)

“The Best VR in the Whole Flaming Navy”: The Life and Career of Lieutenant Commander Clifton R. “Tony” Coughlin (Editor – a fitting article given the Naval Reserve’s centennial!)

Dogs who double as heroes

Inside the battle to preserve the underwater ghosts of Ontario’s Great Lakes

Lookout: Volume 68, Issue 39, October 3, 2023 (Editor – Admirals’ Medal nomination notice on page 15)

Trident: Monday 2 October 2023 Volume 57, Issue 20

NAC Naval Affairs Programme Briefing Note #29 Counter Narcotics Operations

(Editor – please share to anyone you think may benefit from the knowledge, after all, that’s what our naval affairs programme is all about – educating Canadians)

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USA & AMERICAS

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Oct. 2, 2023

Readout of Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Sasha Baker’s Meeting With Canadian Deputy Minister of National Defence Bill Matthews

Milley says the military doesn’t swear oath to a ‘wannabe dictator’ in apparent swipe at Trump (Editor – if you haven’t heard it a 27 sec news video)

Continuing Resolution Includes Funds for New Columbia-class Submarine

CIMSEC: Sea Control 468 – Airborne ASW with Mike Glynn (Editor – Great to hear from an experienced retired USN P3 aviator in a wide-ranging and useful interview during a 31:31 min podcast)

US Navy Commissions One LCS, Decommissions Two

Northrop Grumman to Develop New Guided Ammunition for the US Navy (Editor – useful!)

MSI Defence Systems to supply MK 48 Mod 2 EOS to US Navy & US Coast Guard

2023-005-Various-GPS Interference & AIS Spoofing

Rebuilding a Navy That Is Self-Sufficient at Sea (Editor – an important differentiation is explained)

Britain’s Largest Warship HMS Prince Of Wales Makes Virginia Temporary Homeport During East Coast Deployment and Procession of helicopters land on HMS Prince of Wales during United States mission

USS Louisiana Proves Readiness of Unmatched Strategic Weapons System

Panama Canal Further Lowers Transits Impacting Largest Ships with Maximum vessel transits via Panama Canal capped at 31

Global Diving Begins Removing Sunken Vessels From Lahaina’s Harbor

Mississippi River Near Historic Lows Putting Grain Exports at Risk then USACE Begins Barging Freshwater as Mississippi River Water Plants Turn Salty

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INDO-PACIFIC

India eyes massive naval build-up to challenge China

‘Same, same but different’: assessing ASEAN’s and the EU’s maritime strategies

Tanker Capsizes Fishing Vessel off Scarborough Shoal, Killing Three and China Blockades Second Thomas Shoal, Cutting Off Supply Convoy

Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Underway from Japan After 11-Day Delay

Japan Prepares For F-35B Carrier Operations

Japan to acquire Tomahawk cruise missiles ahead of schedule

China, Saudi Arabia to Hold Joint Naval Drills Next Month: Beijing (Editor – I wonder what tactical manual and comm plan they use?  Do they speak on the radio in English?)

What if the rumours about China’s Type 093 submarine were true?

India’s New Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile to have Range of over 500 Km, More than Brahmos and From Underwater Swarm Drones to Fire-Fighting Robots, Navy partnering with MSMEs & Start-Ups for Niche Technologies

Japan’s Navy Works alongside U.S. Drone Ships in Trials off Yokosuka

Japan’s Multimission Mogami-class Frigates (Editor – 3:58 min USNI video)

China Mocks Taiwan’s first Indigenous Submarine

How good is Taiwan’s new diesel-electric submarine? Experts have their say

Public appearance of Navy’s ASWUUV at South Korea parade

Indian Naval Ship Sahyadri participates in the maiden India-Indonesia- Australia trilateral Maritime Exercise

Australian Firm APT Lands Contract for Naval Strike Missile Launcher Parts

Electrical fire hits Australian Collins class submarine HMAS Farncomb

Project Completed to Repair Storm-Damaged Aids to Navigation at World’s Busiest Bulk Port

US backs Pacific undersea Internet cable amid China competition

Korea Coast Guard Apprehends 22 Chinese Nationals Entering Daecheon Port

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EUROPE

Ukraine:

Ukraine’s fate is now tied to a tumultuous place: the U.S. Congress

Top generals warn that allies — Canada included — are running dangerously low on artillery shells

Ukraine commandos carry out a jet ski operation on a Russian base in Crimea

Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is Fleeing Crimea, Satellite Photos Show and Kremlin mum on purported transfer of Black Sea Fleet ships to Novorossiysk

Ukraine: Russia’s Black Sea Fleet struggling to defend southern flank, UK says

What is the Be-12 Aircraft Russia Deploys for Sea Drone Hunting, How Old it is and How Many of Them Still Available

Five More Cargo Ships Head For Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports and in response As Ukraine’s Grain Route Picks Up, Russia May Use Mines to Attack Ships then Turkish Cargo Ship Hits Mine off Romania

Russia wants restore & modernize its damaged landing ship Minsk

Russia Accuses IMO of Succumbing to ‘External Pressure’ (Editor – unintended consequences)

General:

Putin makes nuclear-powered Burevestnik missile test claim

Egypt – Chair of the NATO Military Committee visits: Operation Sea Guardian

Russia to build naval base in breakaway Georgia region (Editor – Abkhazia)

Russia announces major development plan for seaports on Northern Sea Route

Nuclear waste ship makes unprecedented port call at Novaya Zemlya (Editor – sigh)

Photo essay: UK Carrier Strike Group completes first phase of 2023 deployment

NATO Partners Test Out Over 90 Unmanned Systems at Sea and interestingly NATO’s ‘Dynamic Messenger’ test uses 5G mesh to link underwater drones plus T-600 drone deploys torpedo during Nato tech experimentation exercise (Editor – 1:57 min video)

USCG Healy docks in Tromsø after joint voyage with Norwegian Coast Guard northeast of Svalbard

NATO Floats Idea for Mission Module Approach to Delivering Seabed Warfare Capability

Operation IRINI: Change of the Task Force Commander

Griffon Hoverwork Unveils New Wyvern LCAC At DSEI 2023

More Arrests Made in High Seas Drug Bust Off Ireland as Plot Thickens and an associated video A Depleted Irish Naval Service Busted A Bulker Carrying Five Thousand Pounds of Cocaine (Editor – 12:57 min video)

Low Water Hampers Rhine River Shipping in Germany

World’s largest cruise ship completes 1st LNG bunkering operation

150,000 Empty Containers Piled Up in Russia

The extreme robot arm that can chop up a ship (Editor – game changer)

Norway’s Wealth Fund Rewards Two Companies for Cleaning Up Their Act on Ship Breaking

Video: Swedish Port Uses Suction Mooring Improving Docking Speed and Safety (Editor – something new)

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MIDDLE EAST

Iran uses an Ababil-5 UAV to monitor a US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyer

Oil cartel leader says demand expected to grow (Editor – not a maritime article but relevant in so many ways)

U.S. Iraq and Kuwait Wrap Up Successful Trilateral Exercise

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GLOBAL INTERESTS

Atrocious acts: Muddying the bloody waters of war

Boat carrying 280 migrants lands in Canary Islands

The 4 Billion Pieces of Paper Keeping Global Trade Afloat (Editor – archaic process)

Leading the Way: Flag Registries Up Their Game

‘Blue Africa’ Partnership Seeks to Curb Annual $10B Loss from Illegal Fishing

Coalition of Nations Call for $12B Plan to Save Planet’s Coral Reefs

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SCUTTLEBUTT

HMCS Columbia rare footage inside the ship 1960 s (Editor – 1:11min video)

Submarine Nuclear Power | Engineering behind it Nuclear Reactor How it Works (Editor – interesting subject with useful graphics in a 21:27 min video…only a few tech errors)

HMS X1 – Guide 355 (Editor – 6:36 min video)

Identifying a Sunken War Ship at the Bottom of the Sea: PART 1 (RE-UPLOAD) I SLICE HISTORY (Editor – first-hand interviews 27:16 min video) and The Last Missing German Submarine from WWII: PART 2 I SLICE HISTORY (Editor – 25:15 min video)

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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY

8 October 1880 – The Governor General of Canada request that the Admiralty supply a vessel for training of the Naval Reserve.  The Admiralty offers HMS Charybdis, a steam frigate.  The Canadian High Commissioner reports her suitable for training, her worn boilers will not allow for a winter voyage across the Atlantic.  When she finally arrives, she will require further extensive repair at Canadian Government expense.

8 October 1944 HMCS Mulgrave strikes a mine off Le Havre, is beached, and becomes a total loss.

8 October 1992 The Governor-General, the Prime Minister and other dignitaries unveil the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa.

8 October 2001 Minister of Defence Art Eggleton announces the details of Canada’s contribution to the campaign against terrorism.  Canada’s initial commitment involved 2000 personnel from the Canadian Armed Forces and included the deployment of ships, aircraft, and a small contingent of soldiers.  It is the biggest mobilization of the armed forces since the Korean War.

9 October 1943  German sub U-220 lays 66 magnetic mines 24 kilometres off St. John’s Harbour.

13 October 1710   The defenders of Port Royal surrender to a British naval expedition.

13 October 1910   Her Majesty’s Dockyard, Halifax, is transferred to Canadian ownership by a British Order in Council.

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

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