NAC News – Edition 549
Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of January 26th, 2024
Edition: 549 Quote: “The Houthis are a very independent actor, they’re not like Hezbollah [in Lebanon]. They are a home-grown independent actor. But the more they are attacked, they will naturally go to the Iranians for more and more help.” 16 January 2024, Bruce Riedel, The Hill
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
27 February 2024 7:30 – 18:00 Ottawa time, ShipTech Forum 2024. This year’s theme is “Pushing Fleets Beyond Designed Life”. NAC is an official supporter of the organizer VANGUARD, Canada’s leading trade media that serves the Canadian defence and security industries. Vanguard expects 300+ attendees and 12 exhibitors. As such there is a $50 discount for NAC members who wish to purchase a ticket and the promo code is STF24_NAC. All CAF, CCG, & government personnel can register for FREE. Not Able to Attend in Person: all speaker sessions will be live streamed, to allow for virtual attendance.
7-8 March 2024 CDA Institute – Ottawa Conference on Security and Defence. The Ottawa Conference on Security & Defence is the largest and longest-standing event of its kind in Canada. Founded in 1932, the Conference of Defence Associations is an umbrella organization for 45 member associations who represent over 400,000 active and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces. NAC is a member Association.
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THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES
Editor – A Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed off by Commander RCN and the Chair of the CNMT, laying out the basis of the enduring relationship between the Trust and the RCN. This is great news, BZ to those involved.
Turkey’s parliament approves Sweden’s membership in NATO
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CANADA
Unprecedented level of secrecy surrounds costs and work on $80B warship project
Estimated life-cycle cost of military’s Cyclone choppers rises to $15.9B
New name, old problem: Unexpected repairs delay refit of Canadian Coast Guard vessel
Inuit work towards greater voice in shipping as IMO meeting gets underway
Transport Canada Gears Up to Remove Derelict Vessels
Ferry on the Way to Boneyard Suspected of Oil Leak in Canadian Port
Prince Rupert releases 2023 cargo statistics
Lookout: Volume 69, Issue 3, January 22, 2024 includes ‘Ice man’ wins 2023 Admirals Medal
Trident: Monday 22 January 2024 Volume 58, Issue 2 includes on page 5 “Margaret Brooke departs for counter-narcotics mission”
NAC Naval Affairs Programme Briefing Note #43 Ship-to-Shore Connectors
(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: Jan. 22, 2024
#usnavy Mod 2.0 Arleigh Burke upgrade – 4 destroyers slated to receive this ! (Editor – 9:04 min video) including Navy Refining Plan for its $17B Destroyer Electronic Warfare Backfit with 4 Test Ships
Taking robots and AI to war at sea
Adm. Linda Fagan to Navy: Don’t Forget About the Coast Guard
The Most Powerful Cruiser Of The United States – Ticonderoga (Editor – useful explanation in a 20:24 min video)
Navy Rapid Capabilities Process Can Now Deploy New Weapons Faster
Here’s What an America’s Mk-38 Bushmaster Can Do to an Iranian Speedboat (Editor – 8:03 min video)
Data Link Solutions selected to provide BAE Systems’ FireNet tactical systems for US Navy
Narco-sub with $27m of ‘scorpion’ cocaine seized in Colombia
Research Partners Find Six Million Acres of Deep-Sea Coral off Florida
Chile Becomes the First Country to Ratify the High Seas Treaty
Container Sector Maintaining Panama Canal Transit Levels as Others Exit
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INDO-PACIFIC
Destroyer USS John Finn Performs First Taiwan Strait Transit of 2024 and Taiwan Strait: The Ocean’s Most Contested Place (Editor – USNI 5:08 min video) with the usual China accuses US of ‘abusing’ international law by sailing in Taiwan Strait and South China Sea
Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt Now Operating in U.S. 7th Fleet
The 130-millimeter Gun Built to Rule the Pacific (Editor – 10:40 min video)
Punggye-ri Declassified: Birth of North Korea’s “Northern Nuclear Testing Site” (Editor – not a maritime article, but one with strategic implications.) and another of the same ilk This Chinese Military Unit Runs One of the World’s Largest Missile Forces | WSJ (Editor – 7:23 min video)
Taiwanese Navy to establish new Sea Control Missile Command
Taiwan begins building anti-submarine frigate
Indonesian shipyard PT PAL ready to supply Indonesian Navy with 12 submarines
Australia’s Disappearing Surface Combatant Fleet (Editor – familiar?)
Hospital Ship USNS Mercy Completes Pacific Partnership
Giant Waves Flood Key US Military Base on Marshall Islands
Indonesia Struggles to Implement Illegal-Fishing Rules
Pro-Palestinian Activists Blockade ZIM Ship at Port of Melbourne
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EUROPE
Ukraine:
Canada sending more equipment to Ukraine as full-scale war with Russia nears 2-year mark
Germany to gift Sea King helicopters and Leopard tanks to Ukraine, train 10,000 troops
Ukraine May Have Sunk Another Russian Warship
What is Novatek’s Ust-Luga fuel terminal and why was it attacked?
U.S. Sanctions 18 Tankers for Russian Oil Price Cap Violations
Why the 155mm Shell Is One of the World’s Most Wanted Objects Now | WSJ Equipped (Editor – the tyranny of numbers that applies to naval ordnance too is explained in a 6:57 min video)
General:
Military is ‘bleeding out’ as workforce issues trump UK Armed Forces’ other challenges
Turkish Navy welcomes four new platforms
Joint Black Sea minesweeping group to start work in spring — Bulgarian Defense Ministry
Examining the state of the UK Carrier Strike capability
New British laser weapon in successful high power firing
EU Launches Effort with Shipping Lines and Ports to Fight Drug Smuggling
Russian Navy to receive first combat icebreaker this year — commander-in-chief details Project 23550 patrol ship
Britain has zero active naval supply ships for first time (Editor – imagine a Navy without supply ships?! The RCN will have endured a 10+ year gap before the new ships are completed)
Both HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark safe from being scrapped early, minister confirms
HMS Mersey gets 700-litre paint job – by hand – as crew pick colours for interior
New nuclear icebreaker will be named “Leningrad”
LNG modules embark on 6,000 km winter odyssey to Murmansk
Royal Navy Submariners Win World’s Toughest Rowing Race
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MIDDLE EAST
Red Sea:
CSIS: The Global Economic Consequences of the Attacks on Red Sea Shipping Lanes and What the Ship (Ep98) | Red Sea Attacks | Trade, Ships & Mariners | Australia Ports | Alliances (Editor – 37:16 min video)
Qatar Delays LNG Cargoes to South Europe Amid Red Sea Crisis
UPDATED: U.S., U.K. Launch Major Strike Mission on Houthi Missile, Drone Infrastructure
USS Gravely Shoots Down Houthi Missiles Launched at Maersk Merchant Ship
U.S. and UK Impose Sanctions on Houthi Leaders
Iranian And Hezbollah Commanders Help Direct Houthi Attacks In Red Sea
How a Navy SEAL fell into rough waters and another died trying to save him (Editor – boat boardings are risky activities at the best of times)
U.S. Denies Houthi Claim of Attack on US-Flagged Ocean Jazz
U.S. Forces Carry Out Fifth Strike on Houthi Launch Sites in Yemen
UK To Upgrade Warship Defence Missile System Used In Red Sea
Tankers Face Million-Dollar Detour Around Cape of Good Hope
Red Sea Crisis Pressures China’s Exporters
US and UK Seafarers to Earn Double Pay for Red Sea Transits
General:
Brazil Assumes Command of Combined Maritime Forces’ Combined Task Force 151
Iran Releases Greek Cadet From Seized Tanker St. Nikolas
USCG Cutter Completes Second 2024 Arabian Sea Drug Seizure
UMEX 2024: Atlas Elektronik showcases ARCIMS USV during live demonstration
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GLOBAL INTERESTS
Victoria researchers launch ocean monitoring in Antarctica
ITF Reports “Worrying Increase” in Vessel and Crew Abandonment in 2023
The World’s Largest Cruise Ship is a Climate Liability (Editor – nobody will want to hear this!)
Australian Research Vessel Maps New Subsea Canyon in Antarctic Storm
Colombia Launches Antarctic Expedition
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SCUTTLEBUTT
SMS Emden: How a lone German Cruiser sank 17 Allied ships, 1914 (Editor – 15:09 min video) and then A Brief History of: SMS Wolf (Editor – 4:42 min video)
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THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY
29 January 1914 First public parade of Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve (RNCVR) in Victoria. With ex-RN instructors.
30 January 1991 At the Battle of Babiyan two CF-18s were diverted to attack an Iraqi fast patrol boat that had managed to escape destruction by other aircraft. After two strafing runs with the CF-18s 20 mm guns, the boat was irreparably damaged and later found to have sought safe-haven in Iran.
31 January 1923 The Royal Canadian Naval Reserve and Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve are established. Twenty-two years later during the second world about 100,000 officers and men were enrolled in the RCN, the RCNR, and the RCNVR, and some 6,500 women in the WRCNS. The peak strength of the entire Naval Service was reached in January 1945 with over 92,000 including Wrens.
1 February 1911 The first recruiting posters for the RCN are issued to post offices throughout Canada.
1 February 1968 The personnel and organization of the RCN, Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force were unified into a single organization, the Canadian Armed Forces.
2 February 2003 HMCS Regina joins the Canadian Naval Task Group, part of the international anti-terrorism campaign in the Persian Gulf.MCS Warrior, the RCN’s first aircraft carrier, is commissioned and Nos.803, 825, 826, and 883 Squadrons (already manned by Canadians) are transferred from the Royal Navy.
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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