Navy Review

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"England anticipates that, as regards the current emergency, personell will face up to the issues, and exercise appropriately the functions allocated to their respective occupational groups."
Orwell’s translation of Nelson’s "England expects everyman to do his duty."

WHERE ARE THE CARRIERS?

The answer to that question is: "Not in the Persian Gulf".
For the first time since 1997 the US Navy has no aircraft carrier deployed in the Gulf region. This occurred last week when USS Nimitz (CVN-68) departed for the Pacific Ocean and a long overdue rest. Nimitz has been in the area since April 2003.
Soon USS Enterprise (CVN-65) will enter the region. Until then does this mean American forces in the Middle East are void of air cover? Hardly.

The Air Force has just recently built a major new air base in the tiny Gulf kingdom of Qatar, and there are still planes deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq where US soldiers are still engaged in combat. Nearby is the British island of Diego Garcia, a major staging area for heavy bombers.

All this is apart of the Navy’s readjustment to a "surge strategy" in which the bulk of its carriers are home based, ready to deploy on short notice. This new strategy will address recent problems of long deployments and wear-and tear of ships due to the War on Terror.
Source: Associated Press

FACT: "Futility" was a novel written about a luxury liner named "Titan" that sunk after ramming an iceberg, similar to the real "Titanic" which sank in 1914. "Futility" was published in 1898.

EXERCISE "NORTHERN LIGHT"
A major NATO exercise is currently taking place off the coast of Scotland. Northern Light involves 50 ships and submarines, 14 airplanes and about 5000 elite troops.
The operation will culminate on September 20 with an amphibious landing of 400 troops. All is part of a rapid deployment force that NATO hopes to build into 21,000 soldiers and sailors by 2006.

Countries participating are Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, and the US. Non-NATO countries involved are Sweden and Ukraine.
Source: Spacewar.com

INDONESIA WANTS BIGGER FLEET
The Indonesian Navy says it needs 400 vessels to patrol its 3000 miles of coastline. The waters around the island nation are some of the worlds most pirate infested as well as a haven for terrorists.
The current fleet consists of 117 ships, only a third of which are operational, according to the chief of the navy. The army dominates the bulk of the country’s military budget. This has greatly hindered acquisition of modern equipment for the navy and air force.
Source: A.P.

INDIA GETS COLD WAR CARRIER
Once considered a major threat to American Sea Power, the ex-Soviet aircraft carrier Admiral Ghorshkov is being sold to the Indian Navy for free.
The only catch is, the Indians will have to pay the cost of refurbishing the 20-year-old vessel, which will cost $550 million.

When completed Ghorshkov will be able to carry 24 modern Mig-29K fighters, transforming it from an ASW ship to a very capable attack carrier.
The 45,000 to behemoth was withdrawn for service in 1991 along with most of the Red Navy.
Source: Strategypage.com

TAIWAN’S STEALTH BOAT
Taiwan has just completed its largest exercise ever, defending the island republic from a mock Chinese invasion.

The bulk of Taiwan’s military participated, including 44 modern jet fighters and 34 naval ships. The nation receives the bulk of its military equipment from the West, including France and the US, though efforts have been made for more indigenous weapons including a new jet fighter.

During the operation the navy unveiled a new stealth warship. The boat weighs 170 tons, can speed to 33 knots, and is armed with the Hsiungfeng II missile that has a range of 90 miles.

Taiwan wants to build 30 boats to replace older vessels, apart of a major update of its armed forces. The US has promised to help, and negotiations to deliver 8 new diesel-electric submarines are underway.
Source: Strategypage.com

FACT: According to the 1974 Guinness Book of World Records, the longest anacronym was the Cold War term: ADCOMSUBORDCOMPHIBSPAC used by the US Navy to designate Administrative Command: Amphibious Forces, Pacific Fleet, Subordinate Command.

VICTORIA SAILS THE PACIFIC
Canada’s newest diesel/electric attack submarine is guarding that country’s Western Provinces. HMCS Victoria will be apart of the Pacific Fleet, giving the navy a viable deterrent in the area.

Victoria and three sister ships are former British conventional subs that were retired after the Cold War. The Canadian Navy recently purchased them at the "bargain" price of $750 million. These like new boats are replacing the elderly and obsolescent "Oberon" class purchased in 3 decades ago.

Each can reach speeds of 20 knots underwater, carries a crew of 48, and is armed with 18 torpedoes in 6 tubes. Endurance is 56 days and they can dive to 200 meters.
Source" Vancouver Sun

SMALLER RUSSIAN SUBS
Russia’s newest attack subs will be less than half the size of its Cold War contemporaries. At 13,200 tons each, they will still be huge in proportion to Western boats.

Before the fall of communism Russia’s most powerful subs was the colossal Typhoon class. These monsters are still the largest undersea vessels ever built. At 27,500 tons they are the size of a WW 2 Essex class aircraft carrier.

Source: The Russian Daily Journal

STRANGE SEA TALES

The Real Moby Dick
Author Herman Melville based his literary classic Moby Dick on a real-life creature called Mocha Dick. Mocha Dick was terrorizing whalers in the Atlantic starting in 1819, the year of Melville’s birth, until it was reportedly killed in 1859.

The real Great White Whale was said to be 110 ft. long and 57 feet wide. The fearsome beast reportedly wrecked seven ships, destroyed 20 boats, and killed 30 men. Frightened whalers greeted one another in port with "Any news of Mocha Dick?"

Mocha Dick was named in an 1839 Knickerbocker magazine article after Mocha Island, near Chile, where it was allegedly sighted. The story detailed the dramatic capture of the white whale, its back encrusted with white shells and barnacles, and 20 rusted harpoons protruding out.

Despite the story, sightings continued. The creature was afterwards mentioned in the logs of seven ships, including an epic encounter with three whalers. The last meeting seems to have been with a Swedish vessel in 1859. In contrast to its formidable reputation, this beast was easily captured, possibly suffering from advanced age.

The life of the terror of the waves ended with a whimper, but the mighty white whale will always be recalled as the beast that drove Captain Ahab and crew to their deaths in the timeless novel Moby Dick.

Source: The Literary Life and Other Curiosities by Robert Hendrickson

FACT: The inventor of the periscope was initially refused a patent for its near exactness to one described by Jules Verne in his classic tale 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.