Maritime operations

Power projection points to pending problems

By Lance Bacon on June 17, 2010 Life at Sea, Maritime operations, Navy, SEALs, Submarines

For the first time ever, all four guided missile subs are deployed to an AOR. We’re not talking about being underway at the same time, and sea trials don’t count. We’re talking about being on the tip of the spear. For you strategists out there, that equals a combined 616 Tomahawk cruise missiles on station, and the ability to deploy up to 264 special ops forces. The historic mark was hit June 10, according to this Navy release. In the article, Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, commander of Submarine Group 9 said “… back in the mid 90’s this was just a…

Advanced Gun System hits milestone

By Lance Bacon on May 28, 2010 Maritime operations, Navy, ordnance, Science and technology, Ships

An artist’s rendition of the the AGS at work. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead in an interview with Navy Times last month voiced his commitment to providing Marines precision littoral fire support. We’re looking at rounds that give us extended range and are compatible with 5-inch guns. Precision is going to be key. In today’s world, if you are developing a fire solution, it must be able to give you almost pinpoint accuracy, to within a couple of meters. GPS technology offers that. Of course, there is a huge G-force, so [the round] will have to be able…

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on May 21, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Coast Guard, Congress, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Mishaps, Naval Academy, Navy, Personnel, Ships, Sports, Submarines, The Pacific, Washington

It’s been another busy week for the Navy. Here are seven stories in seven minutes from the past seven days that are worthy of notice: 1. Defense Bill passes HASC. This bill has tons of important stuff – far too much to put in this blog. You can check Monday’s edition of Navy Times for the complete scoop. But among the highlights is this news that lawmakers bucked the Pentagon’s 1.4 percent pay raise request, and looks to instead give service members a 1.9 percent boost. In addition, the bill aligns the 30-year shipbuilding plan with the QDR, which bodes well…

Reporter's Notebook: CNO @ Heritage Foundation

By Lance Bacon on May 14, 2010 Aviation, Ballistic missile defense, Carriers, China, Environment, Foreign navies, leadership, Maritime operations, Navy, Personnel, The Middle East, The Pacific, Washington

Date: May 13, 2010 Location: Heritage Foundation, Washington D.C. Subj: CNO comments In a speech and response to questions offered at the Heritage Foundation Thursday, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead urged fiscal responsibility yet downplayed talk of further cuts to Navy ships and programs. He agreed with Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ call for greater scrutiny in procurement, and said he is a “proponent” for considering revisions to decades-old laws governing personnel issues. (You can read more about that in Monday’s edition of Navy Times). Other highlights:

Ike is on a roll!

By Lance Bacon on May 7, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Maritime operations, Navy, Ships

The carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower maintained its five-star status in April, with more than 500 combat sorties and 4,147 flight hours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The crew marked 92 days on station in the Persian Gulf with a visit to Dubai at month’s end. Then on May 1, Capt. Samuel “Pappy” Paparo, deputy commander of Carrier Air Wing 7, became the 100,000th safe trap on the #3 arresting gear engine. The Dwight D. Eisenhower group, having deployed for five months in 2009, deployed again to the Middle East in January.

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on May 7, 2010 Carriers, Congress, Foreign navies, leadership, Life at Sea, Maritime operations, Naval Academy, Navy, NECC, Officers, Sea Air Space, SEALs, Ships, Submarines, The Middle East, Washington

Defense Secretary Robert Gates dropped the bomb of the week. In his first invitation to the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space symposium, Gates suggested a need for cutting carriers, sinking SSBN(X) and eliminating Expeditionary Fighting Vehicles. You can read Gates’ speech here, and find out how this affects you in Monday’s edition of Navy Times. Speaking of amphibious operations, the personnel bubbas in Millington are starting to dry out. Two days of rain dumped more than 14 inches in the area. A levee couldn’t hold the water back and the base was flooded. This delayed one promotion board and threw many administrative matters into…

Iranians filming the Eisenhower?

By Andrew Tilghman on May 4, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Navy, The Middle East

So what was that Iranian aircraft doing buzzing over the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower last week? Filming it, according to the Iran’s naval chief. TEHRAN – An Iranian navy plane that came close to a US aircraft carrier in the Gulf was filming the vessel, the Fars news agency quoted Iran’s naval chief as saying on Tuesday. “The F27 plane of the navy flew above this aircraft carrier and took a thorough film. Despite the carrier’s objection we insist that this is our right,” the agency quoted Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayari as saying.

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on April 30, 2010 Aviation, Coast Guard, Congress, Environment, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Morale, Navy, Officers, Personnel, Pirates, Royal Navy, Ships, Submarines, The Pacific, Washington

The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that subs are now officially open to women. In other career news, the active duty master chiefs list was released. The Coast Guard is holding its ground in the oil spill – and against critics. and the Army cancelled the Non-Line of Sight Launch System, which will likely have significant ramifications for the Littoral Combat Ship. Here’s seven stories in seven minutes from the past seven days that you may not have seen, but are worthy of notice:

SEALs tighten ties with India

By Lance Bacon on April 26, 2010 Foreign navies, leadership, Maritime operations, Navy, SEALs, Ships, Submarines, The Pacific

Earlier this month, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead visited the naval forces of India to strengthen the maritime partnership. Now, the SEALs are getting in on that action. The Indian newspaper The Telegraph reported today that the cruiser Shiloh, destroyers Chaffee and Lassen, frigate Curts, attack submarine Annapolis, two P3C Orions and a 28-member special forces team haved teamed with the Indian Navy to practice anti-submarine warfare and special operations in the 14th Malabar exercise. The United States is the only country with which India conducts large-scale naval exercises, and this is the first time we’ve sent SEALs…

Seven in Seven

By Lance Bacon on April 22, 2010 Aviation, Carriers, Congress, Environment, Foreign navies, Maritime operations, Military Sealift Command, Navy, NECC, ordnance, Recruiting, SEALs, Ships, Submarines, The deckplates, The greenside, The Middle East, The Pacific, Washington

The Navy nabbed a lot of headlines again this week. Leading the way is news that the Green Hornet on Thursday took to flight – the fighter jet, not the super hero. The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet was powered by a 50/50 blend of biofuel and JP-5. That same day, a U.S. military jury cleared a Navy SEAL of failing to prevent the beating of an Iraqi prisoner suspected of masterminding a 2004 attack that killed four American security contractors. Two others will soon have their day in court. And on Wednesday, the Navy implemented its first change in 17 years to…

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