HMS Tamar scores a first as she successfully links up with US submarine support ship
20th June 2024 at 2:40pm
HMS Tamar berthed alongside the USS Emory S Land and the Australian survey ship HMAS Leeuwin (Picture: Royal Navy)
HMS Tamar has successfully berthed alongside a US Navy submarine support ship in an experimental link-up which could see the Royal Navy vessel extend her operations.
Tamar, an offshore patrol vessel, used the USS Emory S Land not just as a floating quayside or jetty, but also ‘plugged in’ to the vessel’s fuel, water and power supply.
The process known as rafting up also involved a third ship, the Australian survey vessel HMAS Leeuwin, as the trio of ships linked up in Cairns in Queensland.
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The US Navy’s Emory S Land acts as a tender, normally providing forward support to US Navy hunter-killer nuclear submarines.
When no naval base is available, she sustains operations, providing electricity, water, consumables, spare parts, repairs and engineering assistance.
She also sustains their crews, offering medical and dental aid, mail, food and administration.
The UK does the same for the Royal Navy and US minehunters rather than submarines – operating in the Gulf, using RFA Cardigan Bay to provide similar facilities to mine warfare vessels, extending their operations.
The Royal Navy said: “All three allied navies were keen to see whether the Emory S Land could do for larger surface vessels what it already does for the Silent Service.”
HMS Tamar is seven times smaller than the tender, and as both vessels were new to each other this was not simply a case of Tamar turning up and berthing alongside the US ship.
The three navies used scale drawings and extensive discussions to make sure the link-up of the three ships passed without incident.
Once Tamar was safely berthed, she was joined outboard by Australian survey ship HMAS Leeuwin.
Connections were subsequently made to prove that fuel, water and electricity could be provided to both ships from the US tender.
In April, HMS Tamar was in Fiji where she had been helping the local government curb illegal fishing and drug smuggling.
The River-class patrol vessel was working with the Fijian Ministry of Fisheries, the Republic of Fiji Navy Ship Riders and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
HMS Tamar can perform a variety of roles, from intercepting drug-traffickers and smugglers to protecting UK territorial waters and providing humanitarian assistance in the wake of a disaster.
HMS Tamar scores a first as she successfully links up with US submarine support ship
20th June 2024 at 2:40pm
HMS Tamar berthed alongside the USS Emory S Land and the Australian survey ship HMAS Leeuwin (Picture: Royal Navy)
HMS Tamar has successfully berthed alongside a US Navy submarine support ship in an experimental link-up which could see the Royal Navy vessel extend her operations.
Tamar, an offshore patrol vessel, used the USS Emory S Land not just as a floating quayside or jetty, but also ‘plugged in’ to the vessel’s fuel, water and power supply.
The process known as rafting up also involved a third ship, the Australian survey vessel HMAS Leeuwin, as the trio of ships linked up in Cairns in Queensland.
- Baltops: Royal Marines battle through island network alongside US and Swedish troops
- Man who saved Royal Navy officer’s life after traffic accident honoured on board Victory
- HMS Tamar combats illegal fishing and drug trade in latest mission in Fijian waters
The US Navy’s Emory S Land acts as a tender, normally providing forward support to US Navy hunter-killer nuclear submarines.
When no naval base is available, she sustains operations, providing electricity, water, consumables, spare parts, repairs and engineering assistance.
She also sustains their crews, offering medical and dental aid, mail, food and administration.
The UK does the same for the Royal Navy and US minehunters rather than submarines – operating in the Gulf, using RFA Cardigan Bay to provide similar facilities to mine warfare vessels, extending their operations.
The Royal Navy said: “All three allied navies were keen to see whether the Emory S Land could do for larger surface vessels what it already does for the Silent Service.”
HMS Tamar is seven times smaller than the tender, and as both vessels were new to each other this was not simply a case of Tamar turning up and berthing alongside the US ship.
The three navies used scale drawings and extensive discussions to make sure the link-up of the three ships passed without incident.
Once Tamar was safely berthed, she was joined outboard by Australian survey ship HMAS Leeuwin.
Connections were subsequently made to prove that fuel, water and electricity could be provided to both ships from the US tender.
In April, HMS Tamar was in Fiji where she had been helping the local government curb illegal fishing and drug smuggling.
The River-class patrol vessel was working with the Fijian Ministry of Fisheries, the Republic of Fiji Navy Ship Riders and the Royal New Zealand Navy.
HMS Tamar can perform a variety of roles, from intercepting drug-traffickers and smugglers to protecting UK territorial waters and providing humanitarian assistance in the wake of a disaster.
Carrier USS John C. Stennis Overhaul Delayed, Work Will Take More than 5 Years to Complete
SAM LAGRONE JUNE 18, 2024 2:52 PM – UPDATED: JUNE 18, 2024 4:26 PM
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The midlife overhaul and refueling for aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) will now take about five and a half years to complete – an extension of almost 14 months, according to Navy Fiscal Year 2025 budget documents.
Stennis began the refueling and complex overhaul in 2021 and was due to finish the massive, multi-billion overhaul by August 2025. However, that date was pushed to the right by more than a year to October 2026, according to the Fiscal Year 2025 budget documents released earlier this year.
Speaking to USNI News on Monday, program executive officer carriers Rear. Adm. Casey Moten said the delays are due to the workforce and material shortfalls that stretched out the delivery of USS George Washington (CVN-73), which were made worse by the restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
George Washington was at the Newport News yard for almost six years before completing the RCOH with the sailors working in the shipyard subject to some of the toughest conditions in the military, according to a 2023 Navy investigation following the deaths by suicide of several sailors assigned to the carrier.
Stennis will be in the yard less time and the service has taken steps to increase the quality of life for the sailors working on the carrier, Moten told USNI News.
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That includes creating new habitability standards the carrier must meet before the Naval Sea Systems Command, the PEO and the ship’s leadership can make the decision to allow the sailors to move back aboard the carrier.
As part of the FY 2025 budget submission, the Navy requested additional funds for sailors to live off the ship during the work.
The cost increases, “include additional months of crew berthing and to provide more off-ship housing in apartments vice barracks for sailors. Beginning with [Stennis] RCOH, no on-board housing is used for crew berthing for sailors during the RCOH. In previous RCOH availabilities, crew move-aboard occurred nearly a year before the ship re-delivered,” reads the budget documents.
Lack of parking, adequate housing and other amenities, like reliable Wi-Fi and healthy food options, were highlights from an investigation that concluded sailors on Washington had the toughest living standards in the U.S. military.
Moten spoke at an announcement of a $120 million garage that would add 2,800 spots to allow sailors and shipyard workers parking nearby the shipyard with 2,000 spaces reserved for sailors working in the yard. According to the investigation, about 2,000 sailors parked in satellite lots, requiring travel of up to three hours to get to work.
Stennis left the dry dock of HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding in April to start the second part of the carrier’s RCOH and is currently pier-side at the shipyard.
China Deploys Amphibious Warship Near the Philippines
JUNE 18, 2024 6:21 PM
A Chinese amphibious warship is operating near a disputed South China Sea feature that has been the site of a standoff between Chinese and Philippine Coast Guards, USNI News has learned.
An unidentified People’s Liberation Army Navy Type 075-class landing helicopter dock was first seen by a ship spotter in satellite photos in the South China Sea on June 12. On Friday, the 36,000-ton warship stopped near Subi Reef, a reclaimed feature that now hosts a Chinese military base. By Sunday, the amphib was spotted near Sabina Shoal.
Located 72 nautical miles northwest of the Philippine island of Palawan, Sabina is claimed by Beijing under its expansive claims in the South China Sea as Chinese territorial waters. Manila considers the shoal to be within its exclusive economic zone.
The dispute at Sabina Shoal began in April when Philippine Coast Guard flagship BRP Teresa Magbanua (MRRV-9701) anchored at the shoal in what it claims was a move to prevent Chinese island reclamation operations. Beijing called Manila’s statement a “sheer rumor.”
In the ensuing two months since Teresa Magbanua arrival, Chinese naval forces have shadowed the cutter in growing numbers. On May 12, the Philippines identified 34 vessels around Sabina Shoal from the People’s Liberation Army Navy, China Coast Guard and Maritime Militia. The deployments resulted in the first-ever Chinese naval exercise to occur in the Philippine exclusive economic zone, according to the Philippine Navy
On June 4, Chinese naval helicopters and hovercraft were spotted by the Philippine Coast Guard during their escort mission of civilian researchers. The ship they were launched from was later identified as a Type 071 amphibious platform dock (LPD). Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea, said in a tweet that “the objective of the PLA Navy’s deployment of its amphibious assault ship on June 4, 2024, was to disrupt the activities of civilian Filipino scientists who were conducting a scientific survey in Escoda Shoal.”
Both Philippine and Chinese media said the deployment of the Type 075 comes amid Beijing’s latest law that permits the China Coast Guard to detain those trespassing within Chinese waters for up to 60 days. Chinese state media also claimed that this was the first time a Type 075 had deployed to the disputed area.
According to a Naval War College report, the Type 075 can support between 900-1200 troops and their associated complement of amphibious assault vehicles, hovercraft and helicopters. Compared to its American counterpart, the U.S. Navy’s Wasp-class LHD, the Chinese flattop displaces slightly less at 36,000 tons and does not come with a complement of vertical and short take-off and landing fighter jets.
While a Congressional Research Service report on Chinese naval modernization noted that the Type 075 would be of great value for a Taiwan Invasion scenario, the report also noted that the vessels can be used in “operations for asserting and defending China’s claims in the South and East China Seas.”
Ben Lewis, a Defense Analyst focusing on PLA development and Taiwan security issues, told USNI News that the Type 075 brings a “significant capability” to Chinese forces attempting to uphold maritime claims and demonstrates “Beijing’s resolve to continue to assert its sweeping territorial claims.”
The arrival of China’s largest amphib to the South China Sea preceded Monday’s incident at Second Thomas Shoal, which resulted in one Philippine service member seriously injured and multiple vessels damaged in the most serious encounter between Manila and Beijing to date.
US Navy christens new Navajo-class T-ATS
Bollinger Shipyards
June 13, 2024, by Fatima Bahtić
The U.S. Navy has christened its latest Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ship (T-ATS) USNS Cherokee Nation at Bollinger Shipyards in Houma, Louisiana.
As informed, the ceremony took place on June 10, 2024. The second Bollinger-built ship of the navy’s Navajo class, the USNS Cherokee Nation is named to honor the Cherokee people.
The Navajo class is operated by the Navy’s Military Sealift Command and provides ocean-going tug, salvage, and rescue capabilities to support fleet operations.
T-ATS replaces and fulfills the capabilities previously provided by the Powhatan-class fleet ocean tug (T-ATF) and Safeguard-class rescue and salvage ships (T-ARS) class ships.
“Bollinger is honored to celebrate the christening of the newest T-ATS ship alongside the U.S. Navy and the Cherokee Nation,” said Ben Bordelon, President and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards.
“The USNS Cherokee Nation and other Navajo-class vessels are multi-purpose powerhouse vessels,” said Vice Admiral Scott Gray, Commander, U.S. Navy Installations Command.
“The new Navajo-class ships will help ensure our sailors and marines receive critical, timely support to stay in the fight around the globe and the US Navy stands ready to respond quickly if disaster strikes.”
The USNS Cherokee Nation is the second of ten planned Navajo-class T-ATS. The contract includes a total of five vessels to be built at Bollinger Houma Shipyards, each to be named in honor of a federally recognized Native American tribe.
Navajo-class ships will be capable of towing U.S. Navy ships, including aircraft carriers, and will have 6,000 square feet of deck space for embarked systems.
In addition to the USNS Cherokee Nation (T-ATS 7), Bollinger is also constructing USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), USNS Saginaw Ojibwe Anishinabek (T-ATS 8), USNS Lenni Lenape (T-ATS 9) and USNS Muscogee Creek Nation (T-ATS 10).
Ukrainian Bradley fighting vehicle wins furious jousting match against Russian BTR-82
Alex Candlin 13th June 2024 at 2:00pm
Incredible footage has shown an American-supplied Ukrainian Bradley fighting vehicle engaging in a furious jousting match with one of its Russian counterparts.
The Russian BTR-82 armoured personnel carrier came off second best during the face-off, which happened on the main road in the village of Sokil.
Both vehicles can be seen charging towards one another before the Russian vehicle is left knocked out at the side of the road.
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The M2A2 Bradley, belonging to the Ukrainian army’s 47th Mechanised Brigade, opened fire on the Russian BTR-82 using its 25mm Bushmaster chain gun.
The BTR-82, meanwhile, opened fire on the Bradley with its 30mm autocannon, knocking out the Bradley’s optics and effectively disabling its gun.
Despite the setback, the Ukrainian vehicle continued to charge towards its Russian opponent, coming to within a few metres of each other.
At the last second, the BTR swerved to avoid a collision, with the Bradley commander apparently having told the driver to ram the enemy vehicle.
Having sustained heavy damage, the smoking Russian BTR-82 continued down the road with a Russian soldier either falling or jumping from the vehicle.
The vehicle then veered off the road and came to a halt in between two buildings, having lost the fight against the Ukrainian vehicle and ending up with smoke pouring out of it.
This is not the first time the M2 has proved its effectiveness on camera, with two Bradleys filmed overpowering a Russian T-90 tank earlier this year.
Russian Nuclear Sub, Frigate with Long Range Land Attack Missiles Operating Off East Coast
Russian submarine K-561 Kazan. Russian Navy Photo
SAM LAGRONE JUNE 11, 2024 7:18 PM
THE PENTAGON – A nuclear Russian submarine carrying guided missiles with a range of 1,000 nautical miles is operating off the East Coast as part of Russian missile drills in the Atlantic.
Kazan, a Yasen-M-class guided missile submarine, is part of a naval action group the Russian Ministry of Defense deployed to the Atlantic. The group is bound for the Caribbean as part of military drills ordered by the Kremlin against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, according to the MoD.
On Tuesday, Kazan and the advanced guided-missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov tested anti-ship missiles in the Atlantic at targets with a range of more than 350 miles before resuming its transit to a previously scheduled port visit to Havana on Wednesday, the Russian MoD said in a statement.
Ship spotters are tracking the Russian action group off the coast. The group was operating just east of the Florida Keys as of Tuesday afternoon and is under surveillance by at least three U.S. guided-missile destroyers and a P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft, according to public flight and ship tracking data.
A Navy spokesperson referred USNI News to the Office of the Secretary of Defense when asked about the U.S. warships. A Pentagon spokesperson would not confirm the details, but provided a Monday statement about the Russian exercises.
“Russia will conduct heightened naval and air activity near the United States. These actions will likely culminate in a global Russian naval exercise this fall. We are expecting that Russia will temporarily send combat naval vessels to the Caribbean region and these ships will likely conduct port calls in Cuba and possibly Venezuela,” reads a statement from OSD.
“There may also be some aircraft deployments or flights in the region. Russia’s deployments are part of routine naval activity and we are not concerned by Russia’s deployments, which pose no direct threat to the United States. “
While Russian ships operating in the Caribbean is not new, the submarine and the frigate are among the most advanced Russian warships and their presence is the largest visit of Russian Navy ships to the region in years. For example, last year the training ship Perekop sailed to Havana.
The modern Kazan and Gorshkov both field a variety of anti-ship and land attack weapons. While it’s unclear what weapons the two ships used during the Tuesday test fire, they both can field the 1,000-mile range 3M-54 Kalibir NK land attack cruise missile, the P-800 Oniks anti-ship missile and the 3M-22 Zircon hypersonic anti-ship cruise missiles.
According to a report in RUSI, Kazan could field up to 32 P-800s, 40 Kalibirs and an unknown number of Zircons.
The Kalibir, modeled on the U.S. Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, is a key weapon for the Yasen submarines.
The silent operation and weapon load out of the 13,800-ton submarines are reasons U.S. officials have used to describe the boats as some of the most capable in the world.
For the Yasens, “long-range strike missions appear to … a primary task. This will likely necessitate a change in how NATO manages the anti-submarine warfare challenge in the High North, given that a strategy of barrier defense at the Greenland–Iceland–U.K. gap may actually do little to impact Russian submarines, which may have little need to traverse this barrier in order to achieve their operational ends,” according to RUSI.
Last year, then-commander of U.S. Northern Command Gen. Glen VanHerck said the deployment of cruise-missile submarines off the coast of the U.S. is increasing and is a growing concern for homeland defense.
“[The risk is] absolutely increasing. Within the last year, Russia has also placed their [Yasens] in the Pacific,” he said.
“Now not only the Atlantic, but we also have them in the Pacific and it’s just a matter of time – probably a year or two – before that’s a persistent threat, 24 hours a day. … That impact has reduced decision space for a national senior leader in a time of crisis.”