New home for aircraft carriers nears completion

A huge new centre at Portsmouth Naval Base that will support the new Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers is nearing completion.

The Queen Elizabeth Class Centre of Specialisation will become the new home for the carriers next year.

It will cover an area the size of 10 football pitches. Workers have spent many months strengthening the centuries-old jetty, building a new sub-station and creating space for hundreds of staff and 15,000 pallets of medical, mail and naval stores.

The centre will include a café seating more than 500 people at any one time and a reception centre for those working on or visiting the carriers.

At 65,000 tonnes the new carriers are the largest and most complex naval ships built in the UK. It’s essential that they have high quality facilities and highly skilled people to support them.

This centre will be the home not just for the carriers; it will also be home for the military and civilian people who support them. With improvements to the jetty and construction of a high voltage power station already in its final stages, you can now see that we are well on the way to being ready for HMS Queen Elizabeth’s arrival next year.

– MIKE HOWARTH, MANAGING DIRECTOR FOR BAE SYSTEMS MARITIME SERVICES

Mark Lancaster, Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans says the £100 million investment in the naval base and the arrival of the carriers will support and sustain thousands of jobs across the region.

Commodore Jeremy Rigby, Naval Base Commander, explains why he thinks the new carriers are important for the Royal Navy:

Commodore Rigby says the main objective of the carriers would be to "project our influence overseas”. But at a cost of more than £6 billion, some feel it's an unnecessary expense. Critics argue that the main threat to Britain’s security is violent terrorism, so strategically, aircraft carriers are not the way forward and could be vulnerable to the kinds of threats Britain may face in the future.

HMS Queen Elizabeth is due to arrive in Portsmouth next Spring.

HMS Hood's bell unveiled at Navy museum Portsmouth

The restored bell from the World War Two battlecruiser HMS Hood has been unveiled 75 years after the ship was sunk by the Bismarck.

Known at The Mighty Hood, she was hit by a shell from the German battleship in the Denmark Strait on 24 May 1941.

After a failed attempt to recover the bell from the seabed in 2012, it was eventuallyraised in August 2015.

The Princess Royal unveiled the bell at the National Museum of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth.

Rob White, a vice president of the HMS Hood Association, said: "To see something from HMS Hood, and a very significant part of her, right before our eyes is incredibly important and very moving for everybody involved.

"She was so utterly destroyed, there was virtually nothing left of her and only three survivors. What we hope is that it will carry that message forward about the dedication and courage of her crew."

The bell bears an inscription in memory of Rear-Admiral Sir Horace Hood, who died in the Battle of Jutland in World War One.

It forms part of an exhibition commemorating Jutland, the biggest naval battle in the 1914-1918 war.

The museum said the bell was a memorial to both battles, which happened 25 years apart.

HMS Hood was struck near its ammunition magazines which subsequently exploded, causing the ship to sink.

Of the 1,418 crew on board HMS Hood, only three were pulled from the water alive. It was the worst loss of life from a single British warship.

The sinking sparked a huge Royal Navy pursuit of the Bismarck, which was destroyed three days later. The German death toll was more than 2,000.

Very Good news

Shipyard in North Russia to lay down sixth Yasen-class Submarine Perm on July 29

The Project Project 885M Yasen M-class nuclear-powered submarine Perm armed with missiles and torpedoes will be laid down in Severodvinsk in north Russia on July 29, the press office of Russia’s United Ship-Building Corporation said on Tuesday. 

India successfully tested new Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon

According to the Time of India, India has successfully achieved the development and testing of its 'First Fully Indigenised' Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW). Highly placed sources in the Indian ministry of defence shared exclusively that the SAAW was successfully test launched from a Jaguar aircraft towards the fag end of first quarter of May by the Aircraft & amp; Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) in Bangalore. 

Italian Navy Sixth FREMM ITS Luigi Rizzo Begins Sea Trials

On May 17, ITS Luigi Rizzo cast off at 7.20 a.m. from Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia) for her first sea outing. This activity marks the beginning of the programme of sea trials which will continue until the completion of the ship's outfitting phase. The FREMM frigate is scheduled to be delivered to the Italian Navy in early 2017.

Russian Navy Upgrading its Project 949A Oscar II SSGN Submarines into 949AM Variant

Russia has started the multi-year program to upgrade Project 949A (Antey-class, NATO reporting name: Oscar II) nuclear-powered submarines armed with cruise missiles (SSGN), according to a source in Russian defense industry.

Lockheed Martin to Build Advanced Sonar Systems for U.S. Navy's MK 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes

Lockheed Martin will provide the U.S. Navy the latest advancements in sonar systems under a contract valued at up to $425 million for guidance and control systems for the MK 48 Mod 7 torpedo, part of a five-year effort to increase the inventory of the MK 48 Mod 7 heavyweight torpedoes for the submarine fleet.

Scrapped: HMS Illustrious Put Up For Sale

HMS Illustrious is set to be sold off for 'recycling' after the government's attempt to keep her for the nation failed.

 

The Ministry of Defence's Disposal Services Authority (DSA), which is responsible for disposing of all surplus British military equipment, has released a notice inviting expressions of interest for the potential sale of the aircraft carrier.

 

Nicknamed 'Lusty', the ship was the second of three Invincible-class ships built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, being rushed into service in 1982 to take part in the Falklands War.

 

Along with HMS Invincible and HMS Ark Royal, both long since having been sold off for scrap, she then spent 32 years protecting the UK’s interests across the world before being decommissioned in August 2014.

he sale notice is something of an embarassment, with the government announcing its intention to preserve Illustrious as a lasting tribute to the work of the Invincible-class as early as 2012.

 

Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Philip Dunne said at the time:

"It is important that we preserve the legacy of the Royal Navy’s Invincible-class aircraft carriers. When the last of these - HMS Illustrious - retires from the Royal Navy, we would like to see her preserved as a legacy to the work she, Invincible and Ark Royal have done to protect the UK over three decades."

"We would be keen to seek innovative proposals from a range of organisations, including private sector companies, charities and trusts."

 

More: HMS Invincible's Falklands Commander Dies

 

Speaking to Forces TV an MoD spokeswoman explained there had been a failure to find an appropriate buyer for Lusty: "We've previously asked for bids from companies wanting to turn it into some kind of heritage site but none were suitable."

"Recycling now seems the only viable option - however, if any other option comes up in the meantime we would look at that. At the moment we haven't had any bids so we don't know what it will be turned into but we have opened the bidding up to the wider recycling market."

However a Royal Navy source told Forces TV that the option of HMS Illustrious being sold for scrap remains the most likely fate, describing a worst-case scenario of her being "run up a beach and turned into razor blades."

 

They did add, however, that "she could still be sold to a foreign navy and refitted", citing examples of ships sold to India and Chile, including the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes and three Type 23 frigates.

Dramatic moment Royal Navy boat was forced to fire flares at Spanish boat ‘harassing’ nuclear sub off Gibraltar

A ROYAL Navy ship fired warning flares at a Spanish vessel harassing a US nuclear submarine trying to dock in Gibraltar, The Sun can reveal.

Insiders blasted the “dangerous” attempt to disrupt the visit last month by Ohio-class ballistic missile sub USS Florida.

A Spanish Guardia Civil patrol boat TWICE tried to sail directly across the front of the sub's path, and had to be sent packing by naval ships.

This latest outrage by Spanish vessels, which perpetually frustrate maritime life around Gibraltar, has outraged senior officials, who have complained to the Spanish authorities.

A top source, said: “This is not only a very dangerous game for the Spanish to play but it is unbecoming of a NATO ally to treat the US Navy with such contempt.

“The US Navy guarantees the security of the Med Sea for all of NATO and ought to be able to damn well visit any port it wants whether its Gibraltar or not.”

Moments after flares were fired a Guardia Civil launch named the Rio Cedeña again tried to pull in front of the sub - and was challenged once more by HMS Sabre, a rigid inflatable craft, who again took action to stop the vessel in its tracks.

The incident happened in mid-April as the American sub came to dock in the British Overseas Territory on the tip of Spain.

It is the first time in two years the Navy have been forced to fire warning flares at a Spanish government vessel, sources said.

The nuclear powered submarine launched more than 90 Tomahawk missiles during the operation to liberate Libya in 2011.

After a short stop she returned to international waters later the same day.

Local ship spotters snapped the second incursion off the coast of Gibraltar.

But the first – in international waters – occurred too far way to be pictured

However, the flare firing was confirmed by senior Royal Navy forces, who blasted the antics.

One insider, said: “We are used to brinkmanship but this flies in the face of any rule book on maritime safety.

“This is a nuclear powered submarine, and trying to disrupt its path is seriously dangerous.”

A spokesman for the Governor’s office, The Convent, confirmed the incursion, “in the vicinity of an incoming submarine.”

A Royal Navy spokesman said: “We don’t comment on force protection measures or submarine operations.”

Gibraltar occupies a commanding position at the western gateway to the Mediterranean Sea and has been an important naval base for more than 1,000 years.

It was captured from Spain by English troops in 1704 during the War of Spanish Succession.

Britain then took formal possession of the limestone outcrop in 1713 after signing the Treaty of Utrecht with Spain.

Admiral Horatio Nelson later used the territory as the base for his attack on Napoleon's Spanish and French forces — leading to victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

The people of Gibraltar are British citizens and, under its 1969 constitution, there can be no transfer of sovereignty to Spain against residents' wishes.

Despite this, Spain continues to claim sovereignty over the territory, leading to occasional flashpoints.

UK military worry over drone spying and safety as UAV users told to alert Royal Navy before they fly

If you want to fly a drone anywhere over Devon or Cornwall, you're going to need to let the Royal Navy know, regional police in the UK are warning. Devon and Cornwall Police has been forward thinking by operating a special Twitter outreach account specifically for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) since November 2015, coinciding with the force's six-month-long trial using drone technology to assist with police work.

But now Devon and Cornwall Police is saying that all drone users need to inform the Royal Navy prior to flying a UAV.

A tweet issued by the @DC_PoliceDrones on 29 April said: "Flying a #drone in #Devon or #Cornwall? Please call @RoyalNavy Culdrose Ops on 01326 552415 so they can let their aircraft know for safety."

One would think that flying a drone for recreational purposes in your back garden or a field would be fine and you shouldn't need to inform anyone before doing so, but according to local newspaper West Briton, Devon and Cornwall Police means everyone because military aircraft in the area could be impacted

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Navy called to deal with ‘bomb’ on beach

Royal Navy experts have blown up what was suspected to be a pyrotechnic device on the beach at St Annes.

The object, initially believed to be a bomb, was discovered on Monday half a mile out from the shore

Lytham Coastguard team members attended the scene and made the object secure.

However, as it was suspected to be a piece of Second World War ordnance, the decision was made to call in specialist bomb disposal workers from the Royal Navy.

A team arrived from Scotland on Tuesday morning.

On assessment the item turned out to be a man overboard marker from the Second World War era.

However as the item was suspected to contained a potential chemical or explosive danger the decision was made to carry out a controlled explosion.

More British troops will be sent to Iraq to fight ISIS, Defence Secretary announces

Britain is poised to send more troops to Iraq to battle ISIS, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon announced.

Ammunition will also be given to the Kurdish Peshmerga after fighters complained they had no bullets for the machine guns gifted by the UK.

This comes as Mr Fallon headed to Germany to meet with his international counterparts.

Iraqi forces have IS, also known as Daesh , on the "back foot" and the jihadi organisation is losing territory, Mr Fallon said.

The Government is ready to offer fresh support, which is likely to mean extra troops, to "intensify" the operations.

In resurrecting Captain Cook’s ship, we can re-examine our colonial past

News has emerged confirming the whereabouts of the wreckage of HMS Endeavour, a ship sailed by Captain James Cook. Reports invariably contain images of the ship in its pomp, proudly reminding the reader of its British origins and its voyage to the Pacific Ocean, where Cook took possession of Australia. But where should Cook’s ship go? Once we dredge it up, or rather, once the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project dredges it up, where should it be put? And will Cook’s ship be allowed to take us beyond our colonial past?

It must be remembered that it is our cultural attachment that will be doing the dredging, our obsession and fascination with these objects that circulate as evidence of the all-powerful histories of empire. Where we decide to put Cook’s ship and its contents will shape where it takes us. Through its presentation we will relate to it culturally; as an object of desire or fascination for some, and boredom for others. We will tell a new story and it will make us feel something.

Many of the Anglo-American and Australian public are likely to feel awe in the presence of the Endeavour. As we stand before it, in whatever state it is in (probably not wrecked but reconstructed to its “original” form), it is unlikely to rouse anything like the grief that has ripped the souls of millions of Indigenous Australians. Especially if we preserve it, present it and interpret it as part of the British Museum’s set.

This is not to say that the ship should become an opportunity for apology or sympathetic feeling. In Australia many Indigenous activists, public intellectuals and academics tell us that they aren’t interested in sympathy or other paternalistic emotions – an attitude that will be no surprise to those familiar with public forums such as the Guardian column IndigenousX.

Which should not be to dismiss the historical value of saying sorry, either. And it certainly isn’t to speak on behalf of Indigenous people – as if I ever could. It is merely to say that we are all looking forward as well as back, that life is moving on despite us, and we need to move things on too, in a way that changes the story. A story that until now has been that of “the famous British explorer”. A story that is in fact one of colonial rule, whiteness, and Indigenous sovereignty. A story in which we are all intertwined.

There is no such thing as “this side of the world”. The world isn’t made up of sides. Australia is very much “here” – Britons hear the accents, buy the products, watch the TV. And we are very much “there” – we fill the tourism ventures, go backpacking, populate their ABC with our BBC. We export our media. And in return Australia gave us The Conversation.

The resurrection of Cook’s ship is taking place here, in our shared world; the one without sides. This is why much academic literature refers to the colonial past as a “present”, to recognise how what is happening now continually remakes the effects of the past.

Turkey Started the Construction of its future LHD TCG Anadolu

Turkey began the construction of its first LHD / amphibious assault ship on Saturday, April 30th. The first steel cut ceremony was held at Sedef shipyard in Tuzlay Bay close to Istanbul. During the ceremony President of Turkish Republic Recep Tayyip Erdogan declared that "TCG Anadolu will be the first ship in the navy from which F-35B SVTOL planes will operate". 

French Navy Floreal-class Frigate in South China Sea with US Navy Stennis CSG

The French Navy (Marine Nationale) Floreal-class Frigate Vendemiaire joined the US Navy Stennis Carrier Strike Group (CSG) on April 30 2016. The French surveillance frigate joined USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) and his escort, consisting of three Arleigh Burke-class Destroyers and a Ticonderoga-class Cruiser.

Russia develops Il-76-based flying laboratory for hypersonic aircraft testing

The Gromov Aircraft Research Institute is designing a flying laboratory on the basis of Il-76 plane for experiments with hypersonic craft detachable from the carrier, the Russian news agency TASS reported , which quotes the Zhukovskie vesti newspaper.