Pakistan Navy’s first Hangor-class submarine launched in China
April 30, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić The launching ceremony of the first Hangor-class submarine constructed for the Pakistan Navy was held at Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group’s Shuangliu Base in Wuhan China. The government of Pakistan signed a deal with CSOC of China for the acquisition of eight Hangor-class submarines. Under the contract, four submarines will be built in China whereas the other four will be constructed in Pakistan at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works Ltd (KS&EW) under Transfer of Technology (ToT). These Submarines will be fitted with modern weapons and sensors to engage targets at standoff ranges. To remind, in February this year, the keel was laid for the second submarine in this class. The keel-laying ceremony was held at Karachi Shipyard & Engineering Works’ facilities. from JC's Royal New Zealand Navy and other Naval, Maritime or Military News https://ift.tt/mNpt0su via IFTTT via Blogger https://ift.tt/y9tAGoK May 01, 2024 at 03:39PM See all posts in full - click here https://jcsnavyandmilitarynews.blogspot.com/
USS Cochrane
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USS Boise (CL-47) was a light cruiser of the Brooklyn class in the United States Navy. The cruiser was named for Boise, the capital city of the state of Idaho.
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USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: April 29, 2024
APRIL 29, 2024 1:19 PM USNI News Graphic These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of April 29, 2024, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Ships Underway
In JapanUSS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is in port Yokosuka. The carrier is set to depart for a repair availability in Washington state later this year. USS George Washington (CVN-73) will replace Reagan in Japan. USS America (LHA-6) is in port in Sasebo. America will also change homeports later this year, USNI News has learned. In the Gulf of ThailandAircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) is in the Gulf of Thailand after completing a port visit at Laem Chabang, Thailand. The carrier has been using older C-2A Greyhounds as a temporary carrier-onboard delivery vehicle while the CMV-22B fleet was grounded following the November crash of an Air Force MV-22B Osprey off the coast of Japan. Naval Air Systems Command lifted the grounding of the Ospreys and the Navy has started re-certifying crews and aircraft for the logistics operations. Carrier Strike Group 9Carrier Carrier Air Wing 11
Cruiser Destroyer Squadron 23
In the Eastern MediterraneanThe Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG-107) entered the Eastern Mediterranean for a port visit to Souda Bay, Crete, after transiting through the Suez Canal on Friday, USNI News reported. Ike deployed on Oct. 14, while several of the carrier’s escorts left on Oct. 13. The carrier transited the Strait of Gibraltar on Oct. 28 and transited the Suez Canal on Nov. 4. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin extended the ship’s deployment late last month, a defense official confirmed to USNI news. Carrier Strike Group 2Carrier Carrier Air Wing 3
Cruiser Destroyer Squadron 22
In the Red SeaU.S. ships continue to patrol the Red Sea as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian, the U.S.-led multinational effort to protect ships moving through the region. Houthi forces in Yemen continue to attack merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while U.S. naval forces in the region have continued strikes against Houthi weapons that U.S. Central Command says are a threat to naval and merchant ships. Houthi forces say they are targeting ships with connections to the United Kingdom, the U.S. and Israel. The U.N. Security Council on Jan. 10 approved a resolution calling on Yemen’s Houthi rebel group to “cease its brazen” attacks in the Red Sea. On Sunday, U.S. Central Command engaged five airborne unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Red Sea. On Friday, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists launched three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea in the vicinity of MV MAISHA, an Antiqua/Barbados flagged, Liberia operated vessel and MV Andromeda Star, a UK owned and Panamanian flagged, Seychelles operated vessel. MV Andromeda Star reported minor damage but continued its voyage. On Thursday, USCENTCOM engaged and destroyed one unmanned surface vessel (USV) and one UAV in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. On Wednesday, USCENTCOM engaged and destroyed four UAVs over Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. In the Gulf of AdenOn Thursday, one ASBM was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen into the Gulf of Aden. On Wednesday, a coalition vessel successfully engaged one ASBM launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas in Yemen over the Gulf of Aden. The ASBM was likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned, and operated vessel with 18 U.S. and four Greek crew members, according to U.S. Central Command. In the Persian GulfU.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters are forward-deployed to the region under Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). PATFORSWA deploys Coast Guard personnel and ships with U.S. and regional naval forces throughout the Middle East. Initially deployed in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, PATFORSWA is now a permanent presence based out of the Kingdom of Bahrain. In the Eastern PacificAmphibious assault ship USS Boxer (LHD-4) returned to San Diego, Calif., delaying its deployment after suffering a casualty, USNI News reported. The two San Diego dry docks large enough to accommodate a big deck amphibious warship are currently occupied, complicating the repairs of Boxer. Naval Sea Systems Command told USNI News last week that it has not yet made a decision on the way forward. “Boxer is currently pier side at Naval Station San Diego. As inspections and assessments are continuing, a decision on the most efficient way to execute repairs is still being determined,” reads the statement. In the Mediterranean and Eastern AtlanticThe ships carrying pieces to build a humanitarian aid pier in Gaza are now mostly in the Mediterranean Sea. Three U.S. Army watercraft, a Military Sealift Command transport and a Maritime Administration ready reserve transport ship are off the coast of Gaza. As of Monday, USAV General Frank S. Benson (LSV-1), USAV Montorrey (LCU-2030), USAV Matamoros (LCU-2026) were operating in the Eastern Mediterranean, along with Military Sealift Command ships USNS 1st Lt. Baldomero Lopez (T-AK-3010) and MARAD ship MV Roy P. Benavidez (TAKR-306). USAV SP4 James A. Loux (LSV-4) was in Souda Bay, according to ship spotters. USAV Wilson Wharf (LCU-2011) was in the Eastern Atlantic off the coast of North Africa, not yet in the Mediterranean Sea. Lopez and USNS 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo (TAK-3008) were transporting parts of Naval Beach Group One’s similar floating pier system to operate in tandem with the Army’s system. 2nd Lt. John P. Bobo returned to Jacksonville, Fla., after experiencing a fire in its engine room, the Navy said Wednesday. The crew extinguished the fire and no injuries were reported. The fire is under investigation, according to the statement. As of Monday USNS GySgt. Fred. W. Stockham (T-AK-3008) was in Jacksonville. The general concept will have the Army build a pier that it will anchor to the shore in Gaza, with no U.S. personnel setting foot on land. The Navy will build a transfer point two to three miles offshore where cargo – likely originating in Cyprus – will be transferred to the Army watercraft to be taken to the pier. Based on the initial timelines, the pier could be completed by mid-May. In the Western AtlanticAircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) departed Norfolk, Va. on Thursday en route its new homeport of Yokosuka, Japan. As part of its transit, George Washington will participate in Southern Seas 2024, which seeks to enhance capability, improve interoperability, and strengthen maritime partnerships with countries throughout the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility through joint, multinational and interagency exchanges and cooperation. The carrier is set to arrive at Naval Station Mayport, Fla., this week for an opening ceremony for the start of Southern Seas. Amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD-1) is operating off the East Coast. Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) is underway conducting basic training. In addition to these major formations, not shown are others serving in submarines, individual surface ships, aircraft squadrons, SEALs, Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Forces, Seabees, EOD Mobile Units and more serving throughout the globe. from JC's Royal New Zealand Navy and other Naval, Maritime or Military News https://ift.tt/ZPsBawh via IFTTT via Blogger https://ift.tt/N5olp8G May 01, 2024 at 12:39PM See all posts in full - click here https://jcsnavyandmilitarynews.blogspot.com/
UPDATED: Chinese Spy Ships Stalk U.S., Philippine and French Warships in South China Sea
APRIL 29, 2024 5:58 PM – UPDATED: APRIL 29, 2024 11:51 PM This post has been updated with a statement from U.S. forces in the Philippines. U.S., Philippine, and French amphibs and frigates drew the attention of Chinese surveillance ships and surface combatants as they sailed out of Philippine territorial waters into the disputed waters of the South China Sea over the weekend during Manila’s largest annual military exercise. The combined force, composed of USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49), BRP Davao del Sur (LD 602), BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS-16) and FS Vendémiaire (F 734), departed Puerto Princesa last Thursday to kick off the multilateral maritime exercise component of Balikatan 2024 with Chinese warships nearby. Sailing to their planned exercise areas in the South China Sea, the ships were within Philippine archipelagic waters in the Sulu Sea during an uneventful first day at sea. However, after exiting territorial waters, at least two People’s Liberation Army Navy spy ships were spotted shadowing the multinational formation on Saturday. One surveillance ship was identified as the Type 815-class electronic surveillance ship Tianwangxing (793). Philippine state media reported Tianwangxing was spotted near the exercise area, around 50 nautical miles from Western Palawan in the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Alongside the two spy ships, a Chinese frigate came within seven to nine nautical miles of the group on Sunday. According to a TaiwanPlus reporter embarked on a Philippine Navy warship, the Chinese surveillance ship Tianwangxing sailed within two nautical miles of Harpers Ferry disrupting a live-fire drill with crew-served weapons. Following an earlier version of this post, two U.S. exercise spokespeople denied the Chinese ship disrupted the exercise to USNI News. Armed Forces of the Philippines officials told local media that they were unbothered by the presence of PLAN ships because they received no provocations or disruptions to the exercise, stating that “as long [as] we continue to monitor and report them, we are in control of the situation, and besides the exercises are still ongoing.” While maritime drills have occurred in previous iterations of Balikatan, this year’s exercise pushes the boundaries through its activities in the South China Sea. According to exercise plans, the drills will include “sailing within the bounds of the Philippines’ economic exclusive zone” and training for freedom of navigation operations. France and the Philippines will also hold a separate bilateral exercise on Tuesday outside of the scope of Balikatan 2024. The patrol frigates Vendémiaire and Ramon Alcaraz will detach from the trilateral formation to conduct a bilateral sail in the South China Sea, although it’s unclear where or what drills the ships will perform. While the 2024 Balikatan is the first time Paris is participating, a French news release stated that Vendémiaire will leave the exercise before “it reaches its high-intensity phase,” referring to U.S.-Philippine coastal defense and amphibious assault drills. Balikatan’s maritime component in the South China Sea wrapped up on Monday with a last-minute shadow of the PLAN Type 51B Luhai-class destroyer Shenzhen (167) and the inclusion of USS Somerset (LPD-25). The amphibs will now continue for other activities under Balikatan, such as amphibious assault and HIMARS rapid infiltration drills across Western Palawan. Somerset got underway over the weekend after stopping in Subic Bay for mid-voyage repairs. The amphibious transport dock has been operating in the Indo-Pacific since deploying in January. The ship is part of a split deployment of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Before the beginning of Balikatan, the Philippine military stated that there were around 124 Chinese Maritime Militia vessels operating within the country’s EEZ, marking a drastic increase from the numbers usually operating in the area. These encounters with Chinese vessels have occurred despite the Philippine Coast Guard’s reported commitment of six patrol vessels to safeguard the exercise areas from “unauthorized vessels.” Chinese spy ships have been a common sight across the Indo-Pacific over the last decade. During the Rim of the Pacific exercises, Beijing’s spy ships consistently deploy around Hawaii to track the multinational naval drills. Even in 2014, when China sent four ships to participate in the exercise, a Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence ship was spotted observing the drills from a distance. Japan, Australia and India have also reported the presence of PLAN spy ships. In 2022, the PLAN spy ship Haiwangxing (792) entered Philippine archipelagic waters and loitered around the Sulu Sea for three days claiming innocent passage. The Philippine government protested the incursion, stating that “[i]ts movements, however, did not follow a track that can be considered as continuous and expeditious, lingering in the Sulu Sea for three days.” These events also transpired during the U.S.-Philippine Marine Exercise 2022, which had several activities in Palawan. Relatedfrom JC's Royal New Zealand Navy and other Naval, Maritime or Military News https://ift.tt/Nx43L9A via IFTTT via Blogger https://ift.tt/ur0yKIP May 01, 2024 at 12:29PM See all posts in full - click here https://jcsnavyandmilitarynews.blogspot.com/ |
AuthorJohn Currin served 15 years in the Royal New Zealand Navy and has retained an interest in naval, marine, military and happenings around the world. Archives
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