Monthly Archives: February 2013

Bangladesh Navy to get 2 submarines

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Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government had moved to purchase two submarines and a coast guard cutter for Bangladesh Navy to modernise and strengthen the force.

“Activities are going on to purchase two submarines from a friendly country,” she told parliament while replying to a lawmaker’s scripted query on her government’s efforts to modernise the navy, army and air force.

Hasina, however, did not mention the name of the country friendly to Bangladesh and the timeframe for completing the purchase.

The coast guard cutter will be purchased from the USA, she said.

According to a report prepared by the navy in early 2009, the force has planned to introduce an aviation wing and a submarine to its fleet to obtain capability of a three-dimensional force.

The force has already taken steps to build infrastructure and train up its personnel, said the report sent to the armed forces division, a wing under the prime minister’s office.

In her scripted answer, the premier said her government has already purchased missile, torpedo for destroying ship and submarine, depth charge, rocket launcher, canon, radar and other weapons for the navy.

Earlier on June 13 last year, Planning Minister AK Khandker, who is in charge of the defence ministry in the parliamentary affairs, told parliament that the government has moved to purchase two off-the-shelf [readymade] frigates, two large patrol crafts, two maritime patrol aircrafts and five patrol crafts for the navy.

In scripted answer to the query, the premier also described her government’s various measures to modernise and strengthen the army and air force.

She said two new army commands and an infantry division, two air defence brigades, more than one armoured, artillery and engineering battalions and other necessary supportive units will be added to the army to strengthen the force as part of implementation of the forces goal-2030.

The forces goal will be implemented in four phases in light of the defence policy formulated by the then Bangabandhu-led government in 1974, Hasina told the House.

Besides, she said, the government has moved to purchase fourth generation MBT-2000 tanks, multi-launcher rocket system, weapon locating radar, automatic grenade launcher, anti-tank weapon, non-guided anti-tank weapon, anti-tank guided missiles etc for the army.

“The activities will begin this financial year to buy multiple rocket launch system, weapon locating radar, ground surveillance radar and aircrafts carrying soldiers,” said Hasina, who also holds the defence portfolio.

She also mentioned that a process was underway to purchase modern euro-copter, light fixed-wing aircraft and armoured and anti-air weapons for the army.

“As part of expansion of the army and its modernisation, efforts are under way to establish an air defence regiment,” she added.

To modernise the air force under the forces goal-2030, she said her government has moved to buy air defence radar, fighter planes, air-to-air missiles, etc.

Hasina also informed the House about some other defence purchases already done for the armed forces.

Source – The Daily Star

Thales sonar for new British submarines

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Thales UK is to supply its Sonar 2076 fully integrated search-and-attack  submarine sonar system to BAE Systems for use on new British vessels.

The submarines, the sixth and seventh Astute class vessels of the British  navy, are being built by BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines in Cumbria.

“Thales is proud to be supplying Sonar 2076 for all seven Astute class  submarines,” said Phil Naybour, head of Thales UK’s naval business.

“This successful program reflects the skill and dedication of our teams …  and also the close support and cooperation we have received from BAE Systems and  the Ministry of Defense.”

The sonar system to be supplied will include both inboard and outboard bow,  fin, intercept and flank arrays and inboard processing equipment.

“BAE Systems is pleased to award Thales UK these important contracts for the  sonar systems for the sixth and seventh Astute class submarines,” said Ian  Hawkes, head of Combat Systems, BAE Systems Maritime-Submarines.

“Placing these contracts not only continues a well-established and enduring  relationship with Thales UK, it also helps the submarine enterprise to meet the  submarine program affordability challenge by obtaining economy of scale through  batch procuring the sonar.”

Thales said its involvement with the Astute class building program is not  limited to sonar gear. It also supplies two non-hull penetrating CM010 optronic  masts, electronic support systems and communications and emergency buoys.

Source – UPI.com

A Part III’s Deck of Cards

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BRITISH SUBMARINE DEPTH CHARGERS PLAYING CARDS

A diesel boat came back from patrol and the pipe was made “All Part III books to the Wardroom. So all the Part III’s mustered at the wardroom except for one junior rating who had a pack of cards. The First Lieutenant said to him “Where is your Part III book?

The boy replied “Sir, I lost my Part III book down Q Recess and so I use this Deck of Cards instead.”

The First Lieutenant replied “Because of this, I am putting you on Captain’s report.

The rating was taken in front of the Captain said to him, “If you do not have a good reason, I will punish you as no other rating has ever been punished.”

The rating began laying out the deck of cards.

When I see the Ace, it tells me that there is but one Main Line.

When I see the Two, it reminds me of the planes – Fwd and Aft.

When I see the Three, it reminds of the three watch system – Red, White & Blue.

When I see the Four, it reminds me of the four types of torpedo – Mk8, 20, 23 & 24.

When I see the Five, it reminds me of the five compartments – Forends,  Accom. Space,  Control Room, Engine Room & After ends.

..and when I see the Six, it reminds me of the Six Valve Chest.

Sir, when I see the Seven, it reminds me of the number of masts – Fwd Periscope, After Periscope, Radar, ECM, Snort Induction, WT and Snort Exhaust.

When I see the Eight, it reminds me of the eight torpedo tubes – 6 Fwd & 2 aft.

When I see the Nine, it reminds me of the punishment I will get for losing my Part III book.

When I see the Ten, it reminds me of the number of months we have run from Faslane when being an SM1 boat.

When I see the Jack, it reminds me of all the jacky bastards living in the Fwd Mess.

When I see the Queen it reminds of me of Polaris Submarines and all the queens that man them.

When I see the King, it reminds me of you sir – the Captain.

There are two Jokers in the pack – the number of times I have been home this year.

There are Four suits, one for each mess – Fwd, Aft, Senior Rates and that other one.

There are Twelve picture cards, one each for the number of killicks that seem to be on my back at any one time.

There are Thirteen tricks, one each for the number of killicks that are on my back at any one time.

There are Fifty Two cards, one for each of the sailors that the Jimmy thinks are onboard.

There are Three Hundred & Sixty Five Spots, the number of days we turn to in a year.

And so you see Sir, my deck of cards serves me as a Part III Book, SMP6, Watch & Station Bill and Leave Record.

You see folks, this story is true – I was that Part III.

N.B. I was awarded 10 days nines, 30 Days stoppage of leave, 30 days stoppage of Submarine Pay and picked up for a haicut on the way out.

Source – Diesel Boats UK on Facebook

US – Sequestration Could Jeopardize Two Contracts For EB, Second Submarine

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‘This is a very serious impasse that could really put a cloud over EB’s projected hiring,’ Congressman Joe Courtney says. But he adds that Congress still has time to fix the impasse.

Welding on the hull of the Mississippi in Building 260, Groton. Credit Electric Boat photography department

Welding on the hull of the Mississippi in Building 260, Groton. Credit Electric Boat photography department

U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney said the federal cuts slated to go into effect under sequestration would affect shipyards across the country, including Electric Boat in Groton.

Sequestration – or $1.2 trillion in cuts – are slated to go into effect March 1. Half the cuts would come from the defense industry.

Electric Boat has two contracts with the Navy – one a $94 million contract to repair the USS Miami, the Groton-built nuclear submarine that caught fire at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard May 23; and the second a $34.9 million contract to work on the USS Providence, which was scheduled to come into Groton later this year.

Both could be suspended if sequestration occurs.

“This is a very serious impasse that could really put a cloud over EB’s projected hiring,” Courney said, referring to the optimistic picture painted by the company during a legislative breakfast in January.

“But Congress still has time to fix the impasse and allow the great work that people do there to go forward. The leadership of the Navy, over and over again, repeated their desire to have this work move forward in Groton. But their hands are tired until Congress and the White House come to an agreement,” he said.

According to the Electric Boat website, repairs to the USS Miami would involve 300 EB employees.

Electric Boat has declined comment on the potential impacts.

“The Department of Defense has not informed us how it intends to implement sequestration, if it occurs. Consequently, any response on our part would be speculative,” Spokesman Dan Barrett said in an e-mail.

Courtney said that in addition to the repair contracts that could be placed on hold, Congress last year got a defense bill through that provided funding for a second submarine to be built in 2014. But he said Congress does not have a budget bill passed to go with that defense bill, The current spending bill ends March 27.

Admiral Jonathan Greenert, who testified last week before the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, said that if the Navy did not get a spending bill to match the defense bill, the second submarine would be at risk.

Electric Boat is meanwhile proceeding with the Ohio replacement program, which deals with a different class of submarines. As of Monday, the company was still hiring engineers and other positions.

“There’s still time to stop the madness here, and that’s true,” Courtney said. “It’s not like the law takes away the money irrevocably in one day.” He said sequestration was designed to be completely unacceptable but cutting indiscriminately across all areas, thereby forcing a compromise.

“And hopefully,” he said, “as in the past with sequestration, cooler heads will prevail.”

Source – Groton Patch

 

Falklands dispute: Argentina accuses UK of ‘defiance’ of anti-nuke treaty

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A sign at the Argentine-Brazilian border, translated into English, proclaims "The Malvinas are Argentine"

A sign at the Argentine-Brazilian border, translated into English, proclaims “The Malvinas are Argentine”

Argentina has lashed out at the UK for allegedly violating an international treaty and sending submarines with nuclear weapons capacity to the Falkland Islands- a nuclear-free zone.

“We currently are in an unstable stage of the implementation of the Tlatelolco treaty, which bans nuclear arms in Latin America and the Caribbean. [The Treaty] is being defied by the United Kingdom,” MercoPress quoted Eduardo Zuain, Argentina’s Foreign Relations secretary, as saying prior to the Disarming Conference at the UN.

Zuain also blamed London for a strong military presence in the Atlantic,“including submarines with the capacity to transport nuclear armory to a nuclear-free area,” alleging they were dispatched to the area 30 years ago during the conflict between Buenos Aeros and London.

“This is why Argentina in several opportunities has expressed its concern, before different international forums over the possibility that the UK could have introduced nuclear weapons to the South Atlantic,” Argentina’s representative said in Geneva.

Zuain pointed out that Falklands constitute one of the world’s most militarized territories with more than 1,500 British soldiers and 3,000 citizens.

The diplomat went onto argue that such a military presence also threatens other countries in the region.

“We deplore that the UK government so far has not provided requested clarifications on the incidents reported, nor has it given any information which could corroborate or deny recent displacements of nuclear submarines with the capacity to carry atomic weapons,” Zuain stated.

The 1969 Treaty of Tlatelolco banned nuclear arms in Latin America and the Caribbean and established a nuclear-free zone.

Conflict over the archipelago in the south-western Atlantic Ocean has been simmering since 1982 when the two countries fought a war that the British won. In 2010, a British company began oil exploration near the archipelago, which has led to an exacerbation of the conflict.

Recently, the President of Argentina Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner sent a letter to the British Prime Minister David Cameron calling to negotiate the return of the archipelago to Buenos Aires. The British prime minister replied that the population of the islands support the UK’s sovereignty, which he stipulates would be confirmed by a public referendum in March.

Source – RT Question More

San Diego submarine dives into Hollywood – Video clip

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San Diego Submarine

Click on picture above for video clip

SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) – This Friday the movie “Phantom” opens in theaters across the country (USA).

The Cold War-era movie was shot entirely in San Diego using a real-life Russian submarine.

In this News 8 video story, Jeff Zevely met the movie’s writer and director onboard the Soviet B-39 sub.

Source – CBS8

Back From The Dead – Russian Lada Class Submarine

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A year after cancelling its Lada class diesel-electric submarines, Russia has revived the project as part of a joint development effort with an Italian firm (Fincantieri). This effort will build the S-1000 submarine, as well as revive other export versions of Lada. These were called the Amur class, and the S-1000 began as the Amur 950. This was what the export version of the Lada was to be called but working with an Italian shipbuilder the Amur 950 has been transformed into the cheaper (less than $200 million each) S-1000 class submarine. While Fincantieri has never built subs (just destroyers, aircraft carriers, and patrol craft), it is one of the largest ship builders in Europe and has access to a lot of Western military technology. The S-1000 will have a crew of only 16. Top submerged speed is 26 kilometers an hour. There are six torpedo tubes and an AIP (air independent propulsion) system to extend underwater endurance to 15 days or more. Instead of eight torpedo reloads, the S-1000 can carry a dozen commandoes.

Lada was developed in the 1990s, as the successor to the Kilo class, but it was determined that there was not enough difference between the Lada and the improved Kilos being built. So Lada/Amur was canceled last year. One Lada was built and another is partially completed and will probably be finished as the under construction (and may be completed). The Russians are hoping that the S-1000 will spark interest in the various Amur designs. The largest of these is the Amur 1650, which is basically the Lada with some top-secret Russian equipment deleted.

The Ladas have six 533mm torpedo tubes, with 18 torpedoes and/or missiles carried. The Lada has a surface displacement of 1,750 tons, are 71 meters (220 feet) long, and carries a crew of 38. Each crew member has their own cabin (very small for the junior crew, but still, a big morale boost). When submerged the submarine can cruise at a top speed of about 39 kilometers an hour (half that on the surface) and can dive to about 250 meters (800 feet). The Lada can stay at sea for as long as 50 days and can travel as much as 10,000 kilometers using its diesel engine (underwater, via the snorkel). Submerged, using battery power alone, the Lada can travel about 450 kilometers. There is also an electronic periscope (which goes to the surface via a cable) that includes a night vision capability and a laser range finder. The Lada was designed to accept an AIP (air independent propulsion) system. Russia was long a pioneer in AIP design but in the last decade Western European nations have taken the lead. Russia expects to have its own AIP in production within three years.

Construction on the first Lada began in 1997, but money shortages delayed work for years. The first Lada boat was finally completed in 2005. A less complex version, called the Amur, was offered for export. There were no takers.

The Ladas are designed to be fast attack and scouting boats. They are intended for anti-surface and anti-submarine operations as well as naval reconnaissance. These boats are said to be eight times quieter than the Kilos. This was accomplished by using anechoic (sound absorbing) tile coatings on the exterior and a very quiet (skewed) propeller. All interior machinery was designed with silence in mind. The sensors include active and passive sonars, including towed passive sonar. Russian submarine designers apparently believe they can install most of these quieting features into improved Kilos, along with many other Lada features.

Two years ago Russia began construction of its second “Improved Kilo” submarine. These are mostly for the export market, although the Russian Navy is buying a few more of this improved model as well. The Kilos weigh 2,300 tons (surface displacement), have six torpedo tubes, and a crew of 57. They are quiet and can travel about 700 kilometers under water at a quiet speed of about five kilometers an hour. Kilos carry 18 torpedoes or SS-N-27 anti-ship missiles (with a range of 300 kilometers and launched underwater from the torpedo tubes). The combination of quietness and cruise missiles makes the Kilo very dangerous to American carriers. But for the Russians their Kilos are mostly for home defense. Nuclear subs are used for the long distance work.

The Kilo class boats entered service in the early 1980s. Russia only bought 24 of them but exported over 30. It was considered a successful design, especially with export customers. But just before the Cold War ended in 1991, the Soviet Navy began work on the Lada. This project was stalled during most of the 1990s by a lack of money but was revived in the last decade.

Russia has 17 Kilos in service (and six in reserve) and six Improved Kilos on order. More than that is on order from foreign customers.

Source – Strategy Page

Norway Eyes Next-Gen Submarine Acquisition

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Sailors aboard the Norwegian diesel electric submarine Utvaer prepare mooring lines as the submarine arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., for a training exercise.

Sailors aboard the Norwegian diesel electric submarine Utvaer prepare mooring lines as the submarine arrives at Naval Station Norfolk, Va., for a training exercise

Helsinki — Norway, responding to resurgent spending by Russia to rearm its forces in the Kola Peninsula, expects to lay the groundwork for a next-generation stealth-class submarine acquisition for an estimated $5.5 billion to $6 billion.

The rapid strengthening of Russia’s submarine capability and firepower on Kola, which borders northeast Finland and shares the Barents Sea with Norway, and the deployment of the first of eight Borey-class ballistic stealth submarines in January, will likely push Norway to replace the Navy’s existing Ula-class fleet, said Svein Roald Hansen, the first vice chair of the Norwegian Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense.

“There is broad political support in Parliament to retain the submarine fleet as a key part of the Navy. The benefits of having the best-in-class subs at our disposal are obvious. A decision to extend the life of the present Ula-class would mean keeping them in service until 2040. They would be 50 years old by then,” Hansen said.

Norway’s German-built Ula-class fleet entered service between 1989 and 1992 and has undergone several life-extending upgrades.

Any decision to acquire a new sub class must be accompanied by a political commitment to boost the Navy’s budget to ensure the submarine fleet remains fully operational at all times, said Lars Myraunet, a senior member of the opposition Conservative Party’s Defense and Security Policy Commission.

“There must be an absolute commitment to funding from government in this regard. It would be of paramount importance to ensure new subs had fully trained officers and crews, and are not docked in port due to underfunding. If funding is an issue, it might be best to extend the life of the Ula fleet,” Myraunet said.

While the first steps to renew the sub fleet began in September with a request for information (RfI), one potent recent trigger occurred in mid-January when Russia announced 24 defense-strengthening programs in Kola with a capital spend requirement of $40 billion. This coincided with the commissioning of the Yuri Dologoruky, the first of the eight planned Borey-class ballastic subs.

Another irritant, coinciding with the sub launch, emerged in the form of a blog by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who stated, “Norwegian politicians should seriously rethink the implications” of aligning with NATO decisions, such as a ballistic defense structure for Europe, which he said could “escalate military threats in Europe.”

Norway’s submarine fleet renewal project kick-started in September, when the Norwegian Defense Logistics Organization (NDLO) forwarded an RfI to pre-qualified shipyards under the Ministry of Defense Submarine Capability Beyond 2020 project.

The RfI was sent to five yards in Europe and Asia: DCNS (France), Fincantieri (Italy), Navantia (Spain), Kockums AB (owned by HDW, a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems, Germany), and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (South Korea).

The NDLO is due to complete phase-one project definition meetings with all five companies, in Oslo, by the end of February.

“Our existing submarines will reach the end of their service life after 2020. This process will enable us to decide how to best secure the continuation of a Norwegian submarine capability beyond this point. This process is due to deliver its recommendations in 2014. An actual investment project is expected to reach Parliament in 2017,” said Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen.

Despite Norway’s improving cross-border relations with Moscow, the continuing flow of risk assessment reports from military intelligence agencies in neighboring Sweden and Finland, which underline the potential threats linked to Russia’s rearming in the High North, is a source of growing unease within Norwegian and Nordic political and military circles.

The Finnish Ministry of Defense’s “Russia of Transformations” risk report, released in January, estimates that as much as 30 percent of Russia’s projected $745 billion spend on military modernization projects up to 2020 could involve submarine and air power procurement and infrastructure improvement centered on the Kola Peninsula and the Barents Sea, within Russia’s Western Military District.

Russia’s rearming in the High North, NATO, ballistic missile testing in the Barents Sea and the potential for bilateral defense cooperation featured high on the agenda when Strom-Erichsen met counterpart Sergey Shoygu and military commanders from Russia’s Western Military District on Feb. 12 during a three-day visit to Moscow, the first by a Norwegian defense minister in 10 years.

Russia’s Kola-centered modernization will include the replacement of MiG-31 aircraft, upgrades to strategic military air bases, the modernization of radar-location systems at Rogachevo, the establishment of a specialized Arctic Motorized Infantry Brigade under the Northern Fleet’s command, upgrades to Delta-IV-class submarines armed with Sineva missiles, and the commissioning of eight Borey-class ballistic submarines armed with 16 to 20 Bulava ballistic missiles and 120 to 200 nuclear warheads.

The Borey is the first new strategic submarine to be deployed by the Northern Fleet since 1992, and the number of strategic nuclear warheads deployed at Kola is increasing for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

The Borey-class subs will operate from a home port at Gadzhiyevo, less than 62 miles from Russia’s land border with Norway.

“What is clear is that Russia’s rearming of its northern territories and strategic military installations on Kola is making Norway and fellow Nordic countries uneasy,” said Karl Demotte, a Brussels-based political analyst. “The acquisition [by Norway] of a new modern stealth and Arctic-class sub fleet is not just regarded as a good idea, but a very necessary investment as Russia flexes its muscles in the High North.”

With more than 1.25 million square miles of ocean territories to monitor, Norway cannot afford to go down the Danish route and discard its submarine capability, Demotte said.

“Denmark, for what were largely economic reasons, scrapped its submarine fleet in 2004, and is now one of the few NATO countries not to have a submarine capability. Norway has, in every defense capacity assessment conducted since 2007, established that a strong submarine arm is fundamental to national defense and is a viable deterrent,” Demotte said.

Source – Defence News

Australian Submariners Documentary Part 1 of 12 (Video Clip)

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12 part documentary series following the exploits of the Australian controversial Collins Class submarine

Part 1 of 12 

Featuring CO – Steve Hussey (EX RN Submarine Officer)

Source – Youtube

Russia – Project 955A submarines to carry 16 missiles

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According to a source in the Military-Industrial Commission, quoted by RIA Novosti, Project 955A submarines will carry 16 Bulava SLBMs, not 20, as most reports previously stated.

Construction of the lead submarine of the Project 955A class and the 4th in the Borei class , Knyaz Vladimir, was formally started in July 2012 (although substantial amount of work on the hull had been already done by then). Unlike the three Project 955 submarines, Knyaz Vladimir does not use components of previously build ships.

Source – Missile Threat