Navy Review

Shall we call it "USS Seaview"?

This January the US Navy will test its planned SSGN, starting with the USS Florida. In the experiment, a Tomahawk cruise missile will be fired from the missile tube of the Trident submarine. In the series of tests, Florida will launch unmanned aerial vehicles, and minisubs loaded with Special Forces troops.
Four Trident Boomers are scheduled for conversion to launch cruise missiles. Each will be capable of carrying 154 of the long range Tomahawks, giving theatre commanders awesome firepower.

Taiwan may get Aegis

According to Jane’s, the US Navy may sell its advanced Aegis air defense technology to Taiwan, but without the ships.

To placate China, Washington has been urging Taiwan to buy its older Kidd class destroyers, instead of the new vessels it wants. The Kidd has a less capable missile system, and is 20 years old.

If the offer is accepted, it is possible Washington will allow the Aegis system to be placed on South Korean designed ships, which will avoid any confrontation with mainland China.

Taiwan also wants to buy submarines from the US and stealth frigates from France.

Britain to revolutionize air-defense

In a related story, the Royal Navy is hoping to deploy an Aegis type system on its new destroyers and frigates. Called Cooperative Engagement Capability, it promises to revolutionize war at sea.

The system works by combining data from several warships into one image, giving the fleet commander a perfect aerial view of the battlefield, thus reducing the fog of war.
If fielded, the CEC will be carried on Type 45 destroyers and Type 25 frigates,

Briefs

-Canada will cut back on naval operations in order to continue supporting Operation Enduring Freedom, according to Commander Maritime Forces Atlantic. Fishery protection, and planned exercises will suffer because of lack of funds.
-Chile will buy HMS Sheffield, which was a replacement for the famous ship of the same name, sunk in the Falklands War. The Chileans want to replace the much older County class destroyers, purchased from Britain in the 1980’s.
-Australia will buy 64 Harpoon anti-ship missiles for its ANZAC frigates. This is apart of an ongoing project to update its surface warships.
-The US may build Britain’s EH101 Merlin helicopter, for the Marines. The advanced aircraft, used by the Royal Navy and the Army, may even replace older Sikorsky helicopters used to ferry the President (!).

Ship profile
Type 45 Destroyer

NAMES: DARING, DAUNTLESS, DUNCAN, DEFENDER, DRAGON, DIAMOND
DISPLACEMENT: 7350 TNS. FULL
SPEED: 29 KNOTS
CREW: 190-230
WEAPONS:
1 4.5 IN GUN
48 ASTER SAM VERTICAL LAUNCH
TORPEDOS
1 ASW HELICOPTER

SUCEEDS THE TYPE 42, DESIGNED IN THE 1960’S
LARGEST NON-CARRIER WARSHIP BUILT SINCE WW 2
FIRST INTEGRATED ELECTRIC DRIVE
FIRST USE OF ANTI-TORPEDO DEFENSE

LINKS:
TYPE 45 SITE
ROYAL NAVY

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