naval affairs

NAC News – Edition 600 (Frobisher Bay)

NAC News – Edition 600 (Frobisher Bay)

Your weekly national and international naval news for the week of January 17th, 2025

Edition: 600 HMCS (NRS) Frobisher Bay  Quotes: “The United Kingdom (UK) is also taking action today, joining Treasury in sanctioning two major Russian oil producers.

“The United States is taking sweeping action against Russia’s key source of revenue for funding its brutal and illegal war against Ukraine,” said Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen. “This action builds on, and strengthens, our focus since the beginning of the war on disrupting the Kremlin’s energy revenues, including through the G7+ price cap launched in 2022. With today’s actions, we are ratcheting up the sanctions risk associated with Russia’s oil trade, including shipping and financial facilitation in support of Russia’s oil exports.” The Department of State is also taking steps to reduce Russia’s energy revenues by blocking two active liquefied natural gas projects, a large Russian oil project, and third-country entities supporting Russia’s energy exports. State is also designating numerous Russia-based oilfield service providers and senior officials of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom.” US Government Press Release 10 January 2025

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@navalassoc.ca if you wish someone to be added to the NAC News email distribution. (Influencer, or good candidates to become an NAC member – note the first year’s NAC/Branch membership dues are waived)

NOTICES

29 January 2025  1-3 PM Halifax time RUSI-NS extends an invitation to members of the NAC to a presentation by Robert Taylor, Principal Engineer Shipyard Solutions, Bardex Corporation, on drydocks and vertical shiplifts.  The presentation will be conducted simultaneously in-person and online (via Zoom).  The in-person part will be at the Royal Artillery Park Officers’ Mess, CFB Halifax.  Registration is required, so email RUSI Nova Scotia rusinovascotia@gmail.com with a subject line: RUSI(NS) Distinguished Speaker 29 January 2025 Registration.  Please indicate whether you plan to attend in-person or online.  Also indicate your unit, association, or company.  Zoom instructions will be emailed to registrants by Monday, 27 January.

25 February 2025 ShipTech Forum 2025  Super Early Bird registration is open! The National Arts Centre, Ottawa ON.  Not able to attend in person – all speaker sessions will be live streamed.

________________________________________________________________

THIS WEEK’S SIGNIFICANT ARTICLES

U.S. Blocks More Than 180 Vessels, Oil Traders and Companies In Sweeping New Sanctions Against Russia then Russia Says It Will Continue Oil And Gas Projects Despite US Sanctions however Cost to Ship Russian ESPO Oil to China Triples After Sanctions

Sweden not at war, but not at peace either says PM and Europe’s ‘holiday from history is now over’, Finnish President Stubb tells Euronews (Editor – 3:01 min video)

________________________________________________________________

CANADA

Editor – Occasionally members have not been receiving NAC News.  After checking in WildApricot it seems it is often because a member’s email address is no longer valid or some other sort of technical glitch.  If you are not receiving NAC News on a weekly basis, or any other emails about NAC events please tell your branch membership coordinator, or me if it’s about NAC news issue, and we’ll have a look to make sure it’s not a problem at our end!

Canada Makes First Naval Deployment to Antarctica

CGAI: The Future of Canadian Defence Involvement in the Indo-Pacific
Insights from RIMPAC 2024

RAdm (Retired) Thomas S. “Dudley” Allan CD (Editor – Obit of lifetime NAC member)

Construction has started on new Canadian military drones but they won’t be fully ready until 2033 (Editor – 10 years to become operational?!)

Sauvé: How to fix the CAF’s recruitment and retention crisis

Ottawa to spend $400K to scrap Canadian Coast Guard ship destroyed by vandals six years ago

Le NCSM Vancouver revient d’un déploiement de six mois dans le cadre des opérations HORIZON et NEON

The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires National Historic Event & Événement historique national du Corps canadien des commissionnaires

Federal Court rejects environmentalists’ bid to halt B.C. port expansion

Un nouveau navire militaire au nom emblématique lancé en mer au large de la C.-B.

Oak Bay Marine Group sold to Vancouver businessman

The Blue Beret Newsletter is an official publication of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (CPVA). Back issues.

Lookout:  Volume 70, Issue 1, January 13, 2025 (Editor – page 5 article for you Merritt with the presentation of The Merritt Chisholm sword at Venture.  Plus, another life-time NAC member Peter Chance still gracing the pages of Lookout!)

Trident: 13 January 2025 Volume 59 Issue 01

NAC Naval Affairs Halifax Class Frigate (Editor – NAC Naval Affairs Papers, Briefing Notes, Niobe Papers, and much more.  Please share with anyone you think may benefit from the knowledge, after all, that’s what our naval affairs programme is all about – enlightening Canadians)

________________________________________________________________

USA & AMERICA

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 13, 2025

Venezuela’s Maduro Threatens to Invade Puerto Rico (Editor – sorry, we don’t have a comics section for this)

White House: Next Two Aircraft Carriers Named for Bill Clinton, George W. Bush

U.S. Navy Names New Explorer-Class Ocean Surveillance Ships After Deep-Sea Pioneers

Navy christens newest transport dock USS Harrisburg and SECNAV Del Toro Names Four More Warships at SNA, 16 Ships Named This Month

Navy looking for solutions to power, outfit new destroyer

US Coast Guard gets first new icebreaker in 25 years (Editor – instructive 4:37 min video)

CIMSEC: SMWDC, Growing the Tactical Skill of the Surface Force and Navy Leaders Say Faster Training Is Key Lesson Learned from Red Sea Conflict

Groundbreaking Ceremony Launches Construction of Nuclear Regional Maintenance Facility at Kings Bay

EDGE and Brazilian Navy Forge Ahead in Maritime Defense with MANSUP Missile

Textron systems introduces rapidly deployable Tsunami™ autonomous maritime surface vessels

Exclusive: US Army Prepares Mid-Range Capability Typhoon missile for Potential Naval Deployments

I Visited The Most *Overpowered US Navy Warship (Editor – worthwhile beyond the eye-candy in a 16:33 min video)

________________________________________________________________

INDO-PACIFIC

HMCS Ottawa receives radio call from Chinese Navy vessel on mission in the South China Sea (editor – 2:50 min CTV news video) then US, Canadian warships conduct joint drills in South China Sea

China Begins Patrolling Boundary of its “Nine-Dash Line” Claim

Face à la Chine, le Congrès veut relancer marine marchande et construction navale aux États-Unis

« StravaLeaks » : des dates de patrouilles des sous-marins nucléaires français dévoilées par l’imprudence de membres d’équipage

French Navy Kicks Off La Perouse 2025 Exercise In East Indian Ocean (Editor – HMCS Ottawa participating)

China confirms PLA Navy’s new Type 076 amphibious assault ship will be a drone carrier

Asia-Pacific nations boost amphibious naval fleets to repel China

Taiwan Says Navy Ready to Protect Undersea Cables while Report: Chinese scientists have dabbled in undersea cable-cutting tech

Exclusive: Submarines from China-Pakistan cooperation project to join Pakistan Navy fleet soon, says Pakistani naval chief

Virginia, we have a problem (Editor – facing typhon strength headwinds) and mixed signals AUKUS Alliance Secures Trump Administration Backing for Submarine Deal

High-Speed Patrol Boats Cement Japan-Indonesia Maritime Security Pact

Negotiations Over Chagos Islands Hit a Critical Point

RTX’s Raytheon awarded SM-6 Block IA production deal

From Raj to Swaraj: How INS Surat’s commissioning in Mumbai will be a red letter day for Indian Navy and L&T launches second multi-purpose vessel for Navy from Kattupalli shipyard

Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, French Navy participate in Maritime Partnership Exercise

Foreign, Taiwan island media hype on alleged Chinese mainland construction of landing barges exposes anxiety over growing PLA capabilities: expert

Chinese Trade Surplus Soars to $1 Trillion Ahead of Trump Return and Tariff Jitters Drive U.S. Import Rush from China

Russian Crude Oil Piles Up Near Chinese Coast After US Sanctions

Exclusive: US probe finds China unfairly dominates shipbuilding, paving way for penalties, sources say and US Slaps Sanctions on Chinese Yard Wison For Supplying Technology to Arctic LNG 2

________________________________________________________________

EUROPE

Ukraine:

Zelensky offers exchange of North Korean soldiers (Editor – not a maritime event but one interesting implications!)

Tu-95MS bombers from Arctic Russia launched in Ukraine attack

L’OTAN renforce sa présence militaire en mer Baltique

General:

Flash Info: Netherlands Navy Shadows Russian Submarine Novorossiysk and Frigate Boikiy in North Sea

Fincantieri tests lithium-ion battery system for Italian Navy’s U212 NFS submarines

PLF 2025 : livraisons et commandes prévues pour la marine française

Affaires maritimes : le nouveau patrouilleur à voile confié à Mauric et Socarenam

Épisode 65 | La confrontation en mer : Quel avenir pour la stratégie navale ?

Live Tracking Test Demonstrates SPY-7 Capability And Scalability (Editor – SPY-7 going into Fraser Class)

Shadow Fleet Tanker May Have Been Minutes From Causing More Damage with Choking Russia’s Shadow Fleet in the Baltic

Nato launches new Baltic Sentry mission to counter Russian undersea cable threat with Sweden joins NATO push to boost Baltic Sea naval presence and New Operation Baltic Sentry in the Baltic Sea with role for Dutch ships and Lithuanian Navy deploys two ships for NATO mission in the Baltic diverse nations NATO’s Baltic patrol operation to last 90 days — Polish PM

HMS Iron Duke arrives in her new base port of Devonport

Britain moves closer to nuclear-powered surface warships while Vard working on integration of nuclear reactors into ship designs

Turkish Shipyards Perform Dual I-Class Frigate Launch

First command pins awarded to honour Royal Fleet Auxiliary leadership and vital service

US Sanctions on Russia Ripple Through Tanker Market and Russia Says New US Energy Sanctions Will Destabilize Global Markets

Stricken Oil Tanker Towed To Safety Off German Island Of Ruegen

Alfons Håkans adds powerful ice-class tug to its fleet

Americans close the door to Russia’s biggest lithium mine

________________________________________________________________

MIDDLE EAST

Houthi Operations in Red Sea Unclear As Israel, Hamas Enter Ceasefire

Red Sea Roulette: Yemen’s Houthis to Monitor Ceasefire, But Ships Remain at Risk

Houthis claim to attack US aircraft carrier using cruise missiles, drones

Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd: No immediate return to Red Sea

Red Sea:

Oil Tankers Back Up Near Yemeni Port After Israel Hits Tugs

Yemen’s Houthis claim new attack against US aircraft carrier in Red Sea

Greek frigate Hydra quietly deploys to Red Sea with upgraded anti-drone system amid Meko modernization debate

General:

Here are the main points of the draft Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal (Editor – not a maritime war but one with huge regional stability repercussions…hope for an end?)

Iran Unveils Spy Ship During Major War Games: State Media

UAE’s First FALAJ 3 OPV Launched By Local Shipbuilder ADSB

Zagros Destroyer: Iran’s Strategic Response to Regional Maritime Challenges

Iran’s Spy Ship Activity Extends Beyond the Red Sea

DP World Hits 100 Million TEU Milestone

________________________________________________________________

GLOBAL INTERESTS

Russian Ship Sinking: Spy Ship Yantar Diving on Wreck

INS Tushil visiting Nigeria on homeward voyage

Liberation of the Chinese fishing vessel allegedly hijacked off the coast of Somalia

Scientist on HMS Protector uncovering the impact of plastic waste on Antarctica

Pirates: More Guns, More Hostages

________________________________________________________________

SCUTTLEBUTT

Carrier USS John F. Kennedy Set for Final Voyage to Shipbreakers

Forging the Fleet The Birth of 74 Gun Ships at Deptford Shipyard (Editor – 7:39 min video)

________________________________________________________________

THIS WEEK IN RCN/MARITIME HISTORY

19 January 1911  The Royal Naval College of Canada opens in Halifax.

19 January 1942  The unescorted RMS Lady Hawkins was hit by two stern torpedoes from U-66 and sank after 30 minutes about 150 miles east of Cape Hatteras.  The master, 86 crew members, one gunner and 163 passengers (including four DBS) were lost.  The chief officer, 20 crew members and 50 passengers were picked up after five days by the Coamo and landed at San Juan, Puerto Rico on 28 January.

19 January 1943  HMCS Port Arthur commanded by Lt Edward T. Simmons, RCNVR sank the Italian Submarine Tritone in the Mediterranean Sea.

21 January 1975  HMCS Assiniboine rescues eight crew members from a merchant ship foundering off Nova Scotia in a daring Sea King helicopter rescue.

22 January 1942  The Canadian Naval Board is established.

24 January 1932  HMC Ships Skeena and Vancouver land armed parties at Acajutla, El Salvador, to protect British subjects threatened in a revolution.

24 January 1946  HMCS 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)

Keep in touch with the NAC

If you are receiving NAC News, consider friends joining NAC – Membership and Renewal plus NAC Naval Affairs Papers, Briefing Notes, Niobe Papers, and much more.

Link to Starshell Magazine

Other Interesting Web Sites

Archived weekly NAC New Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/navalassn/
Twitter: @navalassn

Should you wish to donate or leave a memorial, consider donating to the NAC, its Branches  or the NAC Endowment Fund.  Donations to the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Education Foundation should be made through its website.

NAC reference to assist veterans and/or seniors is located at Veteran’s Corner

Keep in touch with the RCN

Facebook – RoyalCanadianNavy | MarineRoyaleCanadienne;

Twitter – @RoyalCanNavy | @MarineRoyaleCan;

LinkedIn – RoyalCanadianNavy-MarineRoyaleCanadienne

Instagram – RoyalCanNavy | MarineRoyaleCan;

Flickr – RoyalCanadianNavy-MarineRoyaleCanadienne

YouTube – RoyalCanadianNavy | MarineRoyaleCanadienne

Vimeo – RoyalCanadianNavy-MarineRoyaleCanadienne

 

Our mailing address is:

Naval Association of Canada

c/o HMCS CARLETON

79 Prince of Wales Drive

Ottawa, ON K1A 0K2

Canada

You are receiving this email because you are associated with NAC and have been receiving NAC News. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, you can unsubscribe by emailing executivedirector@navalassoc.ca

Copyright © 2025 Naval Association of Canada, all rights reserved.