HMS Queen Elizabeth in the North Sea on Sept. 18, 2023. UK Royal Navy Photo
Royal Navy carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) was forced to cancel its deployment at the last minute because of a problem with its propeller shaft, with sister ship HMS Prince of Wales (R09) now being mobilized to replace it.
On Sunday, the Royal Navy posted a statement on the social media channel X from Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Andrew Burns.
“Routine pre-sailing checks yesterday identified an issue with a coupling on HMS Queen Elizabeth’s starboard propeller shaft. As such, the ship will not sail on Sunday. HMS Prince of Wales will take her place on NATO duties and will set sail for Exercise Steadfast Defender as soon as possible,” reads the statement.
In August 2022, as Prince of Wales prepared to head out for a deployment to the United States, the carrier had a breakdown caused by a malfunction to its starboard propeller shaft. According to a BBC report, a Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated Queen Elizabeth’s problem was not related to the Prince of Wales incident.
Queen Elizabeth was scheduled to take part in the annual U.K.-led multinational exercise Joint Warrior which runs from Feb.24 – Mar. 3, leading a multinational eight-ship carrier strike group (CSG) before moving on to participate in Exercise Nordic Response, the maritime portion of NATO exercise Steadfast Defender, which begins on Mar. 5. The Queen Elizabeth CSG was to have been comprised of Queen Elizabeth, frigate HMS Somerset (F82) and two Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tide-class fleet oilers, with U.S., Spanish and Danish warships rounding things out. Prince of Wales will now replace its sister ship, though it will take time given the carrier has to be fuelled, take on equipment, ammunition and stores and bring forward maintenance tasks, as well as cross-transfer equipment from Queen Elizabeth.
Prince of Wales returned from a deployment to the U.S. East Coast in December last year and was expected to work its way back to operational status by later this year before embarking on an Indo-Pacific deployment in 2025.
France and Italy, however, are both preparing CSG deployments to the Indo-Pacific this year, while Germany and the Netherlands are planning warship deployments to there as well. France has not released any timeframe or details for the deployment of carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R91) to the Indo-Pacific beyond that it will take place this year. The carrier is in the middle of working up its air group to operational certification.
Meanwhile, Italian Navy Chief Adm. Enrico Credendino during the Paris Naval Conference on Jan. 25 said Italian Navy aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (550) will lead a multinational CSG to the Indo-Pacific in February, with ships from other nations either integrated as part of the CSG or sailing in company during its voyage. The Italian Navy carried out staff talks with U.S. Navy Seventh Fleet from Jan. 11-12 in Rome, according to a Seventh Fleet release, “to discuss shared maritime security challenges and ways to advance interoperability between the two navies.” The release did not mention Cavour’s upcoming deployment, but it is likely the discussions included joint activities with the Cavour CSG and Seventh Fleet units during the planned deployment.
During the Paris Naval Conference, Vice. Adm Giacinto Sciandra, commander, Italian Maritime Force, stated in a panel discussion that one of the Italian escort ships in the Cavour CSG would temporarily detach to travel to Hawaii to participate in the U.S. Navy-led Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) multinational exercise, normally held around July.
Germany, meanwhile, will dispatch frigate FGS Baden-Württemberg (F222) and fleet oiler FGS Frankfurt am Main (A1412), with both ships also expected to take part in RIMPAC. Germany has not yet released the planned route and schedule for the deployment, but in an online interview on the German Armed Forces webpage, German Navy Chief Vice Adm. Jan Christian Kaack stated Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore as countries that the two ships would call on.
On Jan. 31, Netherlands Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren announced on social media channel X that the nation will deploy frigate HNLMS Tromp (F803) to the Indo-Pacific, and that the Dutch government was considering having the frigate take part in Operation Prosperity Guardian or an EU mission aimed at protecting merchant shipping from Houthi attacks.
Ollogren also posted a link to a letter to the Netherlands House of Representatives Standing Committee on Defence that detailed the frigate’s planned deployment, with an early March departure and a mid-September return. “The voyage will take it via the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean, the North Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean. As usual, the frigate will operate in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” stated the letter. The letter also stated Tromp will participate in RIMPAC during its deployment, and that joint activities and engagements with other countries during the voyage are still being coordinated. The frigate will make port calls as well, according to the letter.
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Feb. 5, 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
Total Battle Force
Deployed
Underway
292 (USS 232, USNS 60)
102 (USS 70, USNS 32)
66 (40 Deployed, 26 Local)
In Japan
The crew of the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) pose for a group photo in a dry dock at Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Feb. 2, 2024. US Navy Photo
USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is in port in Yokosuka. The carrier is set to depart for the East Coast later this year. USS George Washington (CVN-73) will replace Reagan in Japan.
In the Philippine Sea
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) transits the Philippine Sea near the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71), Feb. 2, 2024. US Navy Photo
Carriers USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) drilled with Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Ise (DDH-182) in the Philippine Sea in a multi-day event that concluded Thursday.
Both carriers are using older C-2A Greyhounds as a temporary carrier-onboard delivery vehicle while the CMV-22B fleet is grounded following the November crash of an Air Force MV-22B off the coast of Japan.
Carrier Strike Group 1
An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, takes off from the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) during a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE), Jan. 31, 2024. US Navy Photo
Carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), homeported at San Diego, Calif.
Carrier Air Wing 2
The “Bounty Hunters” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 2 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
The “Stingers” of VFA 113 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
The “Warhawks” of VFA 97 – F-35C – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
The “Golden Dragons” of VFA 192 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
The “Gauntlets” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 136 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
The “Black Eagles” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 113 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
The “Titans” of Fleet Logistics Multi-Mission Squadron (VRM) 30 – CMV-22B – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
The “Blue Hawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 78 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island.
The “Black Knights” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.
Cruiser
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG-104), left, USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118), front right, and the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59) sail in formation during a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE), Jan. 31, 2024. US Navy Photo
USS Princeton (CG-59), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
Destroyer Squadron 1 Destroyer Squadron 1 is based in San Diego and is embarked on Carl Vinson.
USS Hopper (DDG-70), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
USS Kidd (DDG-100), homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash.
USS Sterett (DDG-104), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
Carrier Strike Group 9
Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) transits the Philippine Sea, Feb. 1, 2024. US Navy Photo
Carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), homeported at San Diego, Calif.
Carrier Air Wing 11
The “Fist of the Fleet” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif.
The “Black Knights” of VFA 154 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Lemoore.
The “Blue Blasters” of VFA 34 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana Virginia Beach, Va.
The “Flying Checkmates” of VFA 211 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana Virginia Beach
The “Rooks” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 137 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
The “Liberty Bells” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 115 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif.
The “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Squadron (VRC) 40 – C-2A – from Naval Station, Norfolk, Va.
The “Wolf Pack” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station North Island, Calif.
The “Eightballers” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 8 – MH-60S – from Naval Air Station North Island.
Cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG-70), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
Destroyer Squadron 23
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118), front, and the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG-59) sail in formation during a Multi-Large Deck Event (MLDE), Jan. 31, 2024. US Navy Photo
Destroyer Squadron 23 is based in San Diego and is embarked on Theodore Roosevelt.
USS John S. McCain (DDG-56), homeported at Naval Station Everett, Wash.
USS Halsey (DDG-97), homeported at Naval Station San Diego, Calif.
USS Daniel Inouye (DDG-118), homeported at Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
U.S. Marines with 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit depart the amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA-6) in a CH-53E Super Stallion during a helicopter raid exercise, in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 2, 2024. US Marine Corps Photo
The Japan-based USS America (LHA-6) is operating in the Philippine Sea.
In the South Pacific
USCGC Polar Star (WAGB-10) is seen moored up to the ice pier at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, Jan. 17, 2024. US Coast Guard Photo
USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) arrives at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam during Pacific Partnership 2024 on Jan. 30, 2024. US Navy Photo
Hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) completed a port visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on Sunday en route to its homeport of San Diego, Calif.
In the Mediterranean Sea
Marines assigned to 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit embarked on the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5), respond to a simulated riot a Noncombatant Evacuation Operations exercise at the NATO Marathi Pier Complex in Souda Bay, Crete, Greece, on Jan. 25, 2024. US Navy Photo
The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is in port at Naval Station Souda Bay in the Eastern Mediterranean after completing exercise “Odyssey Encore” off the coast Volos, Greece, on Jan. 17.
Embarked units include Amphibious Squadron 8, 26th MEU (SOC), Fleet Surgical Team 8, Tactical Air Control Squadron 21, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, Assault Craft Unit 2, Assault Craft Unit 4 and Beach Master Unit 2. The 26th MEU (SOC), based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., includes Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 6th Marines; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 162 (Reinforced) and Combat Logistics Battalion 22.
Among the many missions Marines are trained in is evacuating civilians from conflict zones. USNI News visited the unit in April during a noncombatant evacuation drill in North Carolina.
In the Gulf of Aden
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG-64) patrols in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations, Dec. 6. US Navy Photo
On Thursday, U.S. Central Command forces engaged and shot down one UAV over the Gulf of Aden. There were no injuries or damage reported.
On Wednesday, Houthi militants fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden. The missile was successfully shot down by USS Carney (DDG-64). At 9:10 p.m., Carney engaged and shot down three Iranian UAVs in its vicinity. There were no injuries or damage reported.
In the Red Sea
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) conducts flight operations in response to increased Iranian-backed Houthi malign behavior in the Red Sea, Jan. 22, 2024. US Navy Photo
The U.S.-led a series of strikes over the last week on targets in Yemen as part of the multi-national response to Houthi attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea.
U.S. and U.K. forces struck 36 sites in Yemen with a combination of Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles from destroyers and U.S. Navy and Royal Air Force fighters, reported USNI News.
Almost two dozen F/A18-E/F Super Hornets flying from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) flew in the strikes with the TLAMS launched from USS Carney (DDG-64) and USS Gravely (DDG-107).
“These precision strikes are intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities that the Houthis use to threaten global trade, and the lives of innocent mariners, and are in response to a series of illegal, dangerous, and destabilizing Houthi actions since previous coalition strikes on January 11 and 22, 2024, including the January 27 attack which struck and set ablaze the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker M/V Marlin Luanda,” reads the statement. “[The targets] included multiple underground storage facilities, command and control, missile systems, UAV storage and operations sites, radars, and helicopters.”
Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand aided in the strikes, according to a Pentagon statement.
On Sunday, Central Command struck a Houthi land attack cruise missile around 5:30 a.m. Approximately five hours later, it struck four anti-ship cruise missiles.
Ahead of the joint strikes, U.S. Central Command forces destroyed six Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles that were prepared to launch at targets, CENTCOM said.
On Thursday, CENTCOM destroyed an explosive-laden unmanned surface vehicle in the Red Sea.
“Approximately two hours later, two anti-ship ballistic missile were launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen likely towards the M/V Koi in the Red Sea. The missiles impacted in the water without hitting the ship,” according to the Command.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes against a Houthi UAV ground control station and 10 Houthi one-way UAVs.
U.S. forces identified the UAV ground control station and one-way attack UAVs in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that they presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the U.S. Navy ships in the region. U.S. Forces subsequently struck and destroyed the UAV ground control station and 10 one-way attack UAVs in self-defense.
On Wednesday, USCENTCOM forces struck and destroyed a Houthi surface-to-air missile prepared to launch. U.S. forces identified the missile in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and determined that it presented an imminent threat to U.S. aircraft.
On Tuesday, Iranian-backed Houthi militants fired one anti-ship cruise missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen toward the Red Sea. The missile was successfully shot down by USS Gravely (DDG 107). There were no injuries or damage reported.
As of Monday, the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group was operating in the Red Sea.
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.
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.
Announced on Dec. 18, Operation Prosperity Guardian is a multinational push to ensure freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden under the structure of the existing Combined Task Force 153.
Carrier Strike Group 2
Sailors on the bridge of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on Feb. 1, 2024. US Navy Photo
Carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), homeported at Norfolk, Va.
Carrier Air Wing 3
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) conducts flight operations in response to increased Iranian-backed Houthi malign behavior in the Red Sea, Feb. 3, 2024. US Navy Photo
The “Gunslingers” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 105 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana, Va.
The “Fighting Swordsmen” of VFA 32 – F/A-18F – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
The “Rampagers” of VFA 83 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
The “Wildcats” of VFA 131 – F/A-18E – from Naval Air Station Oceana.
The “Zappers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 130 – EA-18G – from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash.
The “Screwtops” of Airborne Command and Control Squadron (VAW) 123 – E-2D – from Naval Air Station Norfolk, Va.
The “Rawhides” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 – C-2A – from Naval Air Station Norfolk.
The “Swamp Foxes” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 – MH-60R – from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla.
The “Dusty Dogs” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7 – MH-60S – from Naval Station Norfolk.
Cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
Destroyer Squadron 22
Destroyer Squadron 22 is based in Norfolk, Va., and is embarked on Eisenhower.
USS Gravely (DDG-107), homeported at Naval Station Norfolk, Va.
USS Mason (DDG-87), homeported at Naval Station Mayport, Fla.
In the Persian Gulf
US Coast Guard Maritime Enforcement Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Laudano, assigned to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA), participates in visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training during exercise Diamond Defender 24 (DD 24) in Manama, Bahrain, Jan. 8, 2024. US Army Photo
U.S. Coast Guard Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) 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 Pacific
An F-35C Lightning II, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314, launches from the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) Jan. 31, 2024. US Navy Photo
USS Boxer (LHD-4) is in port in San Diego, Calif., as of Jan. 18, according to ship spotters. Boxer, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) and USS Sommerset (LPD-25) are set to deploy later this spring with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Chris Mahoney told USNI News last week. The Boxer ARG will be the first to deploy with the Amphibious Combat Vehicle.
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.
Watch: Incredible look inside HMS Victory’s painstaking restoration
HMS Victory is undergoing a massive restoration and conservation programme costing around £45m.
Lord Nelson’s flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar is being stripped right back and having all the rotten wood removed.
Forces News was given exclusive access to the ship, preserved for all to enjoy at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth, to see the progress that’s being made.
HMS Richmond will be carrying on the work of HMS Diamond by protecting the flow of international trade in the regionmhas taken over from HMS Diamond to face the rebels in the Red Sea.
HMS Richmond has taken over from HMS Diamond to protect shipping in the Red Sea from attacks by Houthi rebels.
Richmond, a Type 23 frigate, replaces the Type 45 air defence destroyer, which was deployed under Operation Prosperity Guardian, an international task force to protect merchant shipping in the region.
He added: “The UK is committed to protecting freedom of navigation.
“I visited HMS Diamond in January and thanked the ship’s company for their incredible work defending freedom of navigation, saving innocent lives and ensuring merchant shipping is protected from the illegal Houthi attacks.”
HMS Richmond, which left Plymouth in January, is capable of protecting shipping across a 500-square-mile stretch of ocean.
Her weapons and assets will enable her to search vast areas of the sea while on patrol, intercept hostile threats on the water and defend herself and merchant ships if necessary, using her Martlet anti-ship missiles.
Houthi rebels have been responsible for attacking and harassing numerous merchant ships in the Red Sea.
During her deployment to the Red Sea, HMS Diamond came under fire from the Iranian-backed rebels on three occasions.
Watch: Capabilities of HMS Diamond as she continues to thwart Red Sea attacks.
HMS Diamond’s Commander Peter Evans said: “The situation in the region is fraught, and ships in the force are firing on a daily basis – we hand over the baton with our best wishes to the fantastic team in Richmond who we know will do a great job.
“Having deployed at just five days’ notice we’re used to quickly switching aim, and now our focus is on a short maintenance and ammunition resupply period before we get back to our mission in the Red Sea.”
HMS Diamond will now undergo a period of maintenance. She was recently provided with fuel by the USNS Kanawha.
Cheaper and faster to build than traditional ships, autonomous vessels could help the Navy boost firepower at a time when shipbuilding is expensive and slow.
Informally known as the “Ghost Fleet,” the service’s current unmanned ships are paving the way for a much larger fleet in the future.
One of the most enduring nautical legends is that of the ghost ship, a ship without a crew found sailing the world’s oceans. While legends speak of ships that are cursed, haunted, or have crews that were victims of foul play, a new generation of ghost ships are intentionally unmanned. The U.S. Navy wants an entire fleet of these autonomous ghost ships, sailing into harm’s way—so real human sailors don’t have to. Here’s everything you need to know about them.
The Requirement
U.S. Navy//Getty Images
The U.S. Navy’s littoral combat ships, once seen as an inexpensive means of adding ships and capability to the fleet, have proven an expensive failure, providing neither reliable ships nor capability.
The U.S. Navy is in a shipbuilding crisis. The service has repeatedly tried—and failed—to meaningfully increase the size of its battle force, to relieve the burden of deployment on existing ships, and act as a counter to the explosive growth of China’s navy. In 2016, the battle force numbered 275 ships. In 2017, the Trump Administration made a 355-ship Navy a national policy, yet now, seven years later, the fleet has only increased by 17 hulls, for a total of 292 ships.
A static shipbuilding budget, recruitment issues, shipyard capacity, and management problems have all contributed to the failure, but the bottom line is that it isn’t going to get better any time soon. As a result, the service is betting heavily on unmanned ships, which are smaller, cheaper, don’t require any crew at all, are easy to build, and easy for the bureaucracy to say “yes” to. The service is so bullish about the future of unmanned ships that it envisions a fleet of 373 manned ships by 2045, with an additional 150 unmanned ships.
To get insights on the ghost fleet of the future, let’s look at the ghost fleet of today.
Sea Hunter and Sea Hawk
U.S. Navy
The medium-displacement unmanned surface vessel Sea Hunter sits pierside at Naval Base San Diego, 2023.
The first unmanned ship in the Navy’s inventory was the Sea Hunter, which first entered service in 2016, starting life as a DARPA program before moving to the Office of Naval Research. A trimaran design, she is equipped with outriggers on both sides for improved stability on the high seas. Sea Hunter is 132 feet long and displaces 145 tons fully loaded. It has a top speed of 27 knots, and is designed to operate alone, on the high seas, for up to 9,000 nautical miles, while traveling autonomously. In 2019, Sea Huntersailed from San Diego to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and back while completely unmanned.
Sea Hunter was originally procured for the service’s Anti-Submarine Continuous Trail Unmanned Vessel program, an effort to test unmanned submarines as a platform for tracking (and presumably engaging) enemy submarines. Anti-submarine warfare is notoriously slow and painstaking in nature, requiring long hours of patrolling, collecting and analyzing data. An unmanned submarine hunter, using artificial intelligence to interpret sensor data, can be used to detect and track a submarine, then engage it with an anti-submarine weapon like the Mk. 46 lightweight homing torpedo.
In 2021, the Navy took possession of Sea Hawk, a sister ship to Sea Hunter. Sea Hawk is an improved version of her older sister, including “more than 300 lessons” learned from the Sea Hunter program. Together, the two ships represent a subclass of Unmanned Surface Vessels, called Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels (MUSVs), which “are 45 feet to 190 feet long, with displacements of roughly 500 tons, which would make them the size of patrol craft,” per a Congressional Research Service report.
Ranger, Mariner, and Vanguard
Mass Communications Specialist, 2nd Class Jesse Monford
The unmanned surface vessel Ranger transits the Pacific Ocean during Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, September 15, 2023. Ranger has several shipping containers embarked, which are likely stand-ins for missile launch tubes.
The next pair of unmanned warships are the Ranger and Mariner, and the two ships are largely identical. Each is 193 feet long, displaces 673 tons, and can sail along at a brisk 37 knots. Unlike the other two ships, Ranger and Mariner both have long, flat bays that take up the rear two-thirds of the ship, allowing them to carry a variety of payloads, especially containerized payloads using the footprint of standard ISO shipping containers.
Both ships are equipped with “virtualized” versions of the Aegis Combat System, a computer that links ship radar, sonar, electronic combat, and weapon systems into one centralized system. Early Aegis Combat Systems, built in the 1970s and 1980s, used computers as big as a room to function. Thanks to Moore’s Law (which predicts that the number of transistors in a silicone computer chip will double every two years as the technology advances) the computers necessary to run Aegis have been shrunk down to a package as small as a large suitcase. Aegis also allows the two ships to control other unmanned shipsIn 2021, Ranger became the first unmanned ship to launch a missile, an SM-6 anti-air, anti-surface missile that had embarked in the payload bay. If an unmanned ship’s Aegis Combat System can pull data from nearby ships, it can then launch its own missiles at enemy targets. This does not mean that the ship can open fire autonomously—merely that Aegis can coordinate the ship’s combat systems via Aegis; a man or woman in the loop would still need to give permission to fire. In other words, the combination of Aegis and payload capability can make the two unmanned boats into mini destroyers.
Austal USA
Vanguard at launch, January 2024.
On January 15, shipbuilder Austal launched the unmanned ship Vanguard, which resembles Ranger and Mariner. But unlike the others, which were converted from commercial vessels, Vanguard was purpose-built as an unmanned ship. Ranger, Mariner, and Vanguard are all considered Large Unmanned Surface Vessels (LUSVs), being “200 feet to 300 feet in length and having full load displacements of 1,000 tons to 2,000 tons, which would make them the size of a corvette.”
The Takeaway
The U.S. Navy’s Ghost Fleet is focusing on two of the service’s weaknesses: anti-submarine warfare and missile capacity. MUSVs of the future will form one aspect of the service’s sub-chasing capability, perhaps even escorting convoys making dangerous crossings in submarine-infested waters, while LUSVs will augment the firepower of destroyers by providing additional missiles, ready to fire. Ghost ships will never replace crewed ships, but there is room for the two to work together to fight the sea battles of tomorrow.
Kyle Mizokami is a writer on defense and security issues and has been at Popular Mechanics since 2015. If it involves explosions or projectiles, he’s generally in favor of it. Kyle’s articles have appeared at The Daily Beast, U.S. Naval Institute News, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, Combat Aircraft Monthly, VICE News, and others. He lives in San Francisco.
A Rheinmetall MAN HX2 tactical truck in action carrying a Tyro General Support Bridge (Picture: MOD).
Following a ‘rapid procurement process’ the British Army will be receiving 500 support trucks to support operational activity.
“Collaboration between Defence Equipment & Support, Army Headquarters and the Field Army has helped push the boundaries of Defence procurement, acquiring all the vehicles in just 7 months”, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said.
A £282 million contract has been awarded to Rheinmetall MAN Military Vehicles which will see them deliver the multipurpose trucks.
The MOD says the support trucks “will allow personnel to load flat racks onto the platform, which can carry essential logistics such as ammunition, food, water, and support material, to operational locations”.
The vehicles will be from the HX family – a range of purpose-designed military trucks equipped with a multitude of protection capabilities, keeping our most important asset safe, our people.
They will be delivered under the ‘Rapid Acquisition Project’, meaning these advanced mobility trucks reach operational deployment swiftly, ultimately enhancing our military’s agility and responsiveness.
Watch: In 2022, Forces News took a look at Rheinmetall MAN’s HX2.
‘Best tools available’
Minister For Defence Procurement, James Cartlidge, highlighted the significance of swift transport capabilities for frontline operations, saying: “The rapid delivery of transport capabilities to the front line is paramount to the lifeblood of British Army logistics and operations.
He added: “This procurement demonstrates our commitment to equipping our Armed Forces with the best tools available, ensuring mobility, agility, and resilience in the face of evolving threats.”
The HX family is known for its cost-effective mobility truck class and integration of military off-the-shelf components.
Designed to bolster military operations, the HX vehicles offer high mobility and reliability in challenging terrains.
The platforms have several capability improvements compared to those already in service, including an increased payload, a reduced turning circle, an underrun protection safety feature and a more efficient EURO 5 engine.
The latest generation of the Rheinmetall HX series, HX3 (Picture: Rheinmetall).
‘Essential reinforcement’
Colonel Stuart Nassé, Assistant Head Military Capability Delivery, Army Headquarters said: “We are delighted with this project which provides essential reinforcement to the logistic spine of the Army.
“As a collaborative project, it shows that the acquisition process can be responsive to user demands, and more importantly that when the user, delivery agent and industry all work together we can achieve significant outcomes quickly. We are really excited to put this important capability in the hands of the soldiers this year.”
The MOD added: “The rapid procurement of these vehicles comes at an essential time, as in 2024 the British Army will face increased commitments through Operation Mobilise and its offer to the Nato New Force Model.
“The procurement contract also delivers on the Chief of General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders’ objective of increasing logistical lift as a British Army capability”.
Archer-class patrol ship, HMS Exploit, departs from Portsmouth ahead of sailing to take part in major Nato exercise off Norway (Picture: Ben Mitchell / PA Wire).
Four of the Royal Navy’s smallest ships are preparing to brave three weeks of rough seas as they head far north into the Arctic for Exercise Steadfast Defender, Nato’s largest exercise since the Cold War.
P2000 patrol boats HMS Biter, Blazer, Exploit and Trumpeter sailed from Portsmouth Naval Base at the start of their journey to Norway’s Arctic coast.
The fibreglass-hulled ships, which normally patrol coastlines, are just 20.8 metres long and have a displacement of 54 tonnes, with a crew of five on board.
Lieutenant Cameron Osborne, the captain of HMS Exploit, told Forces News: “We will be port-stopping all the way up rather than one big journey as larger ships would do.
“Our first stop Ramsgate today, over to Holland, Germany, Denmark and then we’re up into the Norwegian fjords.
“Hopefully the weather will play less of an impact and we can get up right up to the Arctic Circle.”
During the deployment the Archer-class craft will have to cope with temperatures averaging minus 6C, dropping to around minus 30C in the High North when they sail above the 70th parallel.
They will be working closely with the Norwegian Coastal Commandos, Royal Marines and US Marine Corps.
Ltt Osborne said this was an exciting opportunity for them to push “the limits of what the Coastal Forces Squadron has done since World War Two”.
He added: “The squadron was derived then and we’ve moved away from that day sort of warfighting routes towards the university training.
“We’re now going back to our core role, which will be working in the Arctic Circle, delivering people and other sorts of operations as part of that exercise.”
The four Archer-class patrol vessels head out of Portsmouth Harbour past the aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales as they deploy for Norway.
For Able Seaman Nina Goodwin, who joined the Royal Navy just over a year ago, this will be her first deployment.
It is the first time she will be tested by rough seas, to which she said: “I think I’ve been out a couple of times on HMS Blazer in kind of rough weather and I’ve not been seasick.
“So I’m hoping that when we go today that will confirm I’m definitely not seasick.”
After two weeks on Steadfast Defender, the vessels will then move on to a second Exercise Tamba Shield, training Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter crews in fast boat tactics.
HMS Queen Elizabeth, the fleet’s largest ship who had been due to lead Exercise Steadfast Defender, was forced to pull out last minute after final inspections spotted a problem with the starboard propeller coupling.
Now HMS Prince of Wales is being made ready to take the place of the £3bn fleet flagship.
Watch: What weapons systems can a Type 45 destroyer use to take down land, sea or aerial threats?
On board one of the Royal Navy’s Type 45 destroyers, it is the role of the Principal Warfare Officer to make key strategic decisions and take the ship into action.
But they can also bombard targets on the surface and can even tackle close-range threats like a seaborne drone or terrorist attack – watch the video above to find out more as we spoke to HMS Duncan’s Principal Warfare Officer.
A flagstaff was erected to mark the spot where Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed, in 1840. And every year three flags are raised to mark the occasion. In this explainer, first published February 1, 2023, Pou Tiaki explores the history of each flag and how they came to be at the grounds.
Why is the Waitangi flagstaff important?
The Waitangi flagstaff marks the approximate spot where Te Tiriti o Waitangi was signed on February 6, 1840.
“They erected the tent out on the lawn where the flagstaff is today,” Waitangi Treaty Grounds curatorial and guide manager Caitlin Timmer-Arends said.
The first flagstaff was given to James Busby, who was the leading British official in Aotearoa at the time, by Ngāpuhi chief Hone Heke Pōkai.
It was soon shifted across the bay to Kororāreka, now known as Russell.
Crowds gather around the flagstaff on the Waitangi Treaty Grounds for a Waitangi Day dawn ceremony. WAITANGI TREATY GROUNDS
The Royal New Zealand Navy erected a flagstaff at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds in 1934, replaced it in 1947, and has been the caretaker of the flagstaff since.
Three flags, that at one point in history have each been the official flag of Aotearoa, fly from the flagstaff at Waitangi.
What are the three flags flown at Waitangi?
Te Kara o Te Whakaminenga o Ngā Hapū o Nu Tireni, or Te Kara, is the flag of the United Tribes of New Zealand, and has been an official flag of Aotearoa since 1834.
The origins of the flag lie in an incident involving a ship called the Sir George Murray, which was part-owned by a pair of Māori chiefs.
The vessel was seized in Sydney, Australia in 1830 because it didn’t fly a national flag.
The three flags of Waitangi include the New Zealand flag, the British Union flag or Jack and Te Kara, also known as the United Tribes flag. KATHRYN GEORGE / STUFF
Following this debacle, Busby called together the chiefs from the north of the North Island to vote on a national flag.
Te Kara was chosen on March 20, 1834, and it became the first official flag of Aotearoa.
Te Kara was never decommissioned by the Crown and remains a legal New Zealand flag. It is viewed by some as a symbol of Māori independence.
“That flag was given a 21-gun salute by the HMS Alligator that was out in the Bay, and accepted internationally as the first official flag of our country,” Timmer-Arends said.
The second flag is the British Union flag or Union Jack that was flown by British officials following the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840.
But in 1902 it was determined that Aotearoa would need its own unique flag, to differentiate it from other Pacific nations which were often also flying the British Union flag.
The official New Zealand flag, bearing the red stars, was chosen in 1902.
All three flags are flown every day at Waitangi. WAITANGI TREATY GROUNDS
Why do we fly all three flags?
“We fly all three flags every day because they are the three flags we have or have had in our history,” Timmer-Arends said.
The flagstaff directs Te Kara to the north and the British Union flag to the south, with the New Zealand flag at its centre.
“We fly Te Kara and the Union Jack together at the same height as symbols of that partnership, as kind of was intended with the Treaty,” Timmer-Arends said.
“Tangata whenua and tangata Tiriti came together.”
The Indian Navy sent the submarine INS Karanj to one of Sri Lanka’s main ports, conveying a message to Beijing and Malé, even as the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy’s spy ship Xiang Yang Hong 3 continued sailing towards the Maldives.
