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Seal of approval: US Congress authorises Virginia Class submarine transfer to Australia

PEARL HARBOR (July 27, 2023) The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792) arrives at its new homeport of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, July 27, 2023. Vermont, the first Block IV Virginia-class submarine to enter service, is a new construction submarine that is joining the six Virginia-class submarines already assigned to Commander, Submarine Squadron (CSS) 1. (U.S. Navy photo/video by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Amy Biller)

The US Congress has passed the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and authorised the transfer of three Virginia Class submarines to Australia for the first time in US history.

The NDAA will establish a national exemption for Australia and the United Kingdom from US defence export control licensing and adds Australia and the United Kingdom to the US Defense Production Act.

Specifically, the NDAA authorises two in-service and one off the production line Virginia Class submarine to Australia to ensure there is no gap in Australia’s critical submarine capability in the lead-up to delivering Australian-built SSN-AUKUS from the early 2040s. Australia will retain the option to seek congressional approval for the purchase of up to two more Virginia Class submarines.

The act authorises the maintenance of US submarines by Australians in Australia to coincide with increased port visits by UK and US nuclear-powered submarines and a rotational presence from as early as 2027 under Submarine Rotational Force West. The most complex maintenance activity on a US nuclear-powered submarine in Australia to date is planned at HMAS Stirling in the second half of 2024.

Hours after the initial US Senate approval, the US House of Representatives also reportedly approved the transfer of submarines to Australia. 

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HMS Lancaster rotates 200-strong crew for Middle East missions over Christmas – Alex Candlin 13th December 2023 at 10:58am

The starboard crew of HMS Lancaster has taken over the ship for the next four months (Picture: Royal Navy).
The Starboard Crew of HMS Lancaster has taken over the ship for the next four months (Picture: Royal Navy)

HMS Lancaster has rotated her crew to sustain her operations in the Gulf region during the Christmas period.

The Royal Navy’s Type 23 Duke-Class frigate has switched her 200-strong Port Crew with her Starboard Crew. Port Crew will spend Christmas at home, while Starboard will go out on deployment for four months.

“It has been an awesome four months delivering effect in region,” said Officer of the Watch Lieutenant Jack Mason.

Lt Mason said: “No two days have been the same, whether that be conducting counter-narcotic operations or escorting merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

“The team really does work when everyone comes together to meet the command aim.”

One crew operates the warship for four months at a time, then switches places with the second crew while they return to the UK. The period is known as a RIP, or Roulement in Place.

The ship's Wildcat helicopter coming into land (Picture: Royal Navy).
The ship’s Wildcat helicopter comes into land (Picture: Royal Navy)

HMS Lancaster has spent 1,408 hours on patrol and has travelled more than 11,500 miles, sailing nearly half-way around the world.

The returning Port Crew joined the ship at the height of the summer since when they have captured £3m worth of drugs, trained with allies and escorted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Her Wildcat helicopter, callsign Pyro, flew more than 7,000 nautical miles, carried out 180 deck landings and safely delivered the medical officer to an allied warship to treat a casualty.

The crew has engaged in drug raids, trained with allies and delivered medical equipment (Picture: Royal Navy).
The crew train with their Glock 9mm handguns (Picture: Royal Navy)

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Watch (Video below photo): The Download – the day’s top stories – 13th December 2023 at 3:39pm

Watch: The Download.

The MOD is fined £350,000 for a data breach, the US announces an additional $200 million for weapons and equipment for Ukraine and a team of Royal Navy submariners sets off on ‘The World’s Toughest Row’ – all this and more in the Download.

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HMAS Perth moves into position in front of HMAS Ballarat as the ship returns home to Fleet Base West from an extended period of maintenance and upgrades at the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson in Western Australia. Photo: LSIS Richard Cordell

 

HMAS Perth moves into position in front of HMAS Ballarat as the ship returns home to Fleet Base West from an extended period of maintenance and upgrades at the Australian Marine Complex at Henderson in Western Australia. Photo: LSIS Richard Cordell

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Descendants gather to remember crew of HMS Neptune – By Brenda Harwood 0 0 The Star

Maxine Purvis, of Dunedin, took part in Saturday’s HMS Neptune wreath laying service in memory of...

Maxine Purvis, of Dunedin, took part in Saturday’s HMS Neptune wreath laying service in memory of her uncle Reg Peat, of Dunedin, who died in the sinking of the ship during World War 2. PHOTOS: BRENDA HARWOOD

Descendants and families of 150 New Zealand men — including 30 from Otago, killed in the World War 2 sinking of HMS Neptune, gathered in Dunedin last weekend for a reunion.

The Otago Military History Group, the Royal New Zealand Navy, Naval Reserve HMNZS Toroa, the Otago Officers’ Club and Volunteer Reserve Association joined forces to plan the reunion to remember those who died in the tragedy.

Royal New Zealand Navy Chief Petty Officer Tina Scadden stands in silence at the HMS Neptune...

Royal New Zealand Navy Chief Petty Officer Tina Scadden stands in silence at the HMS Neptune memorial in the steamer basin, during Saturday’s solemn wreath laying service.

Along with a dinner and church service, the reunion weekend included a wreath-laying service at HMS Neptune memorial plinth at the steamer basin on Saturday morning.

The service was led by MC retired warrant officer Graeme Harvey, who spoke of the 764 men who died in the HMS Neptune sinking and remembers those who had also served on other ships. Padre Rev David Crooke led the prayers for “those boys who died so long ago”.

Among more than 100 people attending the service was a large contingent from the McPherson family, who were there in remembrance of their uncle Brian McPherson, who had lived at Macandrew Bay.

Members of the McPherson family attend the HMS Neptune reunion at the weekend, attending Saturday...

Members of the McPherson family attend the HMS Neptune reunion at the weekend, attending Saturday’s wreath laying in honour of their late uncle Brian McPherson, of Macandrew Bay, who was a mid-shipman on HMS Neptune and died when it sank in December, 1941.

Dunedin woman Liz McPherson was among three sisters, two brothers, and their children and grandchildren, some of whom had travelled from the North Island to attend the occasion.

“It is so good that this memorial plinth is here and being used for a service like this. It has been a very special day,” Ms McPherson said.

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Watch: HMS Prince of Wales returns to Portsmouth after landmark US deployment – Claire Sadler 11th December 2023 at 11:22am

Watch: HMS Prince of Wales welcomed home in Portsmouth

Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales has returned to Portsmouth naval base after her landmark deployment to the east coast of the United States.

Britain’s biggest warship has spent the last few months undergoing sea and air trials, including training with American F-35 jets.

Crowds lined Portsmouth’s city walls to welcome the sailors home, while almost 3,000 family and friends were on the jetty to be reunited with their loved ones who set sail in September.

The £3bn carrier’s deployment to the US east coast was long-awaited after breaking down when setting sail for the trials last year. 

The repairs took nine months to complete and were expected to cost £25m.

‘Huge Success’

HMS Prince of Wales Captain, Richard Hewitt told Forces News: “It’s been a huge success, from everything we were tasked to deliver, we have delivered and I think in some areas we’ve exceeded what we were expected to deliver.

“From my perspective as the Captain, the sailors have got away, had a fantastic time, had new experiences and to return them home today is really special.”

Highlights for Captain Hewitt included the exploration of the boundary of the F-35 aircraft and pushing that capability, as well as the “interchangeability with the US marine core and some of their tilt-rotor aircraft”.

He also highlighted the uncrewed aviation, “one of the drones we launched in UK waters, and also the same in the US waters.” 

HMS Prince of Wales Captain, Richard Hewitt brought HMS POW home for Xmas 1112023 CREDIT BFBS
HMS Prince of Wales Captain, Richard Hewitt told Forces News, HMS PoW had “exceeded” in some areas on her deployment.

What’s next for HMS PoW?

“So PoW now, with the ship’s company taking some leave, a short meetings period at the start of the year, Captain Hewitt told Forces News.

“As we look to mid-2024, she will take over the role as the on-call strike carrier for the Royal Navy.”

He added, what a “huge” role this will be for the carrier.

“Queen Elizabeth will quite rightly have some downtime and some maintenance and PoW is back, ready to go, and ready to take up the mantle, looking forward to deploying in 2025.”

The carrier’s deployment focused on intensive trials with American F-35Bs, pushing the boundaries of the fifth-generation aircraft.

The F-35s completed shipborne rolling vertical landings on HMS Prince of Wales and also operated in ‘Beast Mode’, helping to expand the jets’ capabilities.

Other aircraft also operated from HMS Prince of Wales during the Westlant 23 deployment, including a nine-metre-long Mojave unmanned aircraft system – the largest uncrewed aircraft ever launched from a Royal Navy carrier.

As well as the training, a very special guest joined the carrier’s crew aboard – Lieutenant Commander Ike, a yellow Labrador who works as a US Navy therapy dog.

Forces News live-streamed HMS Prince of Wales’ return to Portsmouth which you can rewatch here.

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Ukraine naval forces to be supported by new coalition11th December 2023 – 16:58 GMT | by The Shephard News Team in London

 

On 2 July 2023, two mine countermeasure vessels, Chernihiv (ex-HMS Grimsby) and Cherkasy (ex-HMS Shoreham), were commissioned with the Ukrainian Navy and further development of Ukraine forces will be supported by a new coalition.

The UK will lead a new Maritime Capability Coalition alongside Norway, delivering ships and vehicles to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to operate at sea.

The coalition will support two Royal Navy Sandown-class mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) in service with the Ukraine Armed Force which were purchased through UK Export Finance and commissioned in July 2023. The partnership has built on UK foreign secretary David Cameron’s visit to Ukraine in November when he announced the new ‘Unity Facility’ between UK company Marsh McLennan and the Ukrainian Government.

The facility will provide what the UK government described as ‘affordable’ shipping insurance for grain and other critical food supplies globally from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to support international efforts to alleviate the global food crisis.

The new maritime coalition will work with the Ukrainian Navy and MoD to develop a number of capabilities, including the rapid development of a maritime force in the Black Sea, continuing to develop a Ukrainian Marine Corps, and river patrol craft to defend coastal and inland waterways.

UK defence secretary Grant Shapps remarked: ‘This capability boost marks the beginning of a new dedicated effort by the UK, Norway and our allies to strengthen Ukraine’s maritime capabilities over the long term, enhancing [Ukraine’s] ability to operate in defending their sovereign waters and bolstering security in the Black Sea.’

Agreed during recent meetings of the 50-nation strong Ukraine Defence Contact Group, the partnership will form part of a series of Capability Coalitions designed to strengthen Ukraine’s operations in domains such as on land and in the air.

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Royal Navy warship HMS Trent sent to Caribbean to hunt drug smugglers 8th December 2023 at 10:57am

Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Trent (Picture: Royal Navy).

Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel HMS Trent (Picture: Royal Navy)

HMS Trent has been deployed to hunt drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea – a different part of the world to her usual area of operation.

The Royal Navy Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) replaces HMS Dauntless, who has arrived back in Portsmouth, having seized more than £200m worth of cocaine during her hurricane season deployment.

HMS Trent usually operates in the Mediterranean and off the west coast of Africa as part of a long-term security mission, but will be taking over HMS Medway’s duties in the Caribbean.

HMS Medway, a River-Class vessel, normally patrols the Caribbean, but has been in the South Atlantic while her sister vessel HMS Forth underwent maintenance.

Prior to her Caribbean mission, HMS Trent had been working with coastal West African nations to help disrupt illegal activity and promote security along the busy shipping lanes during her second deployment to the Gulf of Guinea.

Deployed with a specialist Royal Marines boarding team and a Puma surveillance drone, HMS Trent worked to develop skills and techniques needed to counter illicit activity in the region.

The ship’s company has been carrying out post-deployment maintenance over the past month, getting the OPV ready for the Caribbean Sea.

Sub-Lieutenant Tom Bartlett said: “Our tour of the Gulf of Guinea was a great opportunity to train with and build relationships with partner nations. The crew have thoroughly enjoyed their time in Gibraltar whilst we prepare for our new adventures.”

Watch: Royal Navy trains with West African navies in Gulf of Guinea.

HMS Trent travelled as far as Nigeria, visiting seven countries in West Africa, supporting local navies, hosting local dignitaries and supporting maritime security in the region.

She is a permanently forward-deployed naval vessel, commissioned into the Royal Navy in 2020, tasked with upholding maritime security and UK interests in the Mediterranean and around Africa.

HMS Trent, which has a range of 5,500 nautical miles, is also tasked with shielding fishing stocks and performing constabulary duties.

The OPV underwent extensive maintenance in Gibraltar earlier in the year.

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Video Watch: The Download – the day’s top stories 8th December 2023 at 4:33pm

Watch: The Download.

The legendary 809 Naval Air Squadron, known as the Immortals, is back after 41 years, HMS Dauntless returns to the UK after Caribbean drugs busts and a British Army band performs at a German Christmas market – all this and more in the Download.

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