Rescue submarine sent into action

YOU can never have too many photographs of a futuristic-looking rescue submarine being driven into the cargo bay of one of the world’s largest transport aircraft.

This is the NATO Submarine Rescue System being inched aboard an RAF C17 Globemaster at Prestwick Airport in Scotland as the Navy’s ultimate ‘emergency service’ is tested.

Over the next week or so, the white submarine will carry out a mock rescue from a stricken boat off Norway to test the ability of the ?47m system – and the men and women behind it – to respond to a crisis anywhere in the world.

The distinctive white Submarine Rescue Vehicle is the instantly-recognisable ‘face’ of NATO’s rescue system, which is based at Faslane, but there’s much more to this underwater emergency service which is actually owned by Britain, France and Norway.

There’s a robot submersible used to locate a downed submarine, clear away any debris and deliver the life-saving pods through an escape hatch.

There’s the small rescue submarine itself, crewed by two pilots and a rescue chamber operator, and capable of rescuing 15 submariners at a time – at depths of up to 2,000ft (610m).

And there’s a portable decompression and medical support unit which can take up to 68 deeps.

It requires 28 lorries, two Globemasters and three even larger Antonov transport aircraft to move the entire system – and it’s expected to deploy to a stricken submarine within 56 hours.

Hence the dry (or rather wet) run off Bergen in western Norway.

There’s already been a successful test dive for the kit in Loch Long at the RN’s armament depot in Coulport. But this is the first time the entire rescue apparatus has been moved by air.

“The system works,” explained Brian Grant, the rescue system’s base manager. “We’ve proved that time and again in various exercises but the one thing we’ve never done is transport the entire system by plane.

“We’re confident we can do it – this is just the final tick in the box.

“We train constantly to make sure that we’re ready at a moment’s notice. Our loch dip at Coulport was really valuable in keeping our hand in and was a great success.”

SAS Assegaai exhibit opened at Naval Museum

Flag Officer Fleet Rear Admiral Philip Schöultz will tomorrow officially open the SA Naval Museum Submarine SAS Assegaai. 

The SAS Assegaai (formerly SAS Johanna van der Merwe), the third of three Daphne Class submarine built in France for the SA Navy, was commissioned in 1971. She served her country well and with the acquisition of three new Type 209 submarines, decommissioned in November 2003. Unlike her two sisters which were cut up for scrap, she was retained for preservation as a museum exhibit at the SA Naval Museum.

As the first complete naval vessel to be preserved at the Naval Museum “she will continue to serve as a reminder of our rich naval heritage and as a centre of technology for the youth, promoting the sciences,” Naval Base Simon's Town said in a statement. 

The formal opening marks the first step in her eventual placing ashore at the museum. She is currently afloat in the East Yard ahead of the Cable Restorer. The ceremony will be attended by the Naval Command Council, Directors of Fleet Command, local dignitaries and retired officers who served in submarines. The guest of honour will be Rear Admiral (JG) Theo Honiball (Ret) who as a Lieutenant Commander was her first officer commanding. 

NAVY PEOPLE: MANLY HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE RETURNS HOME AFTER TOUR OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Manly High School seems like a distant memory to Tara Longley as she and her 190 shipmates aboard HMAS Melbourne return to Sydney today.

They are just back from six months pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa. It’s been Tara’s first overseas deployment.

Tara, 25, now works as part of a highly trained team inside the frigate’s operations room, filled with radar screens and electronic warfare equipment.

Using information from this room, the ship’s command team prevented an act of piracy on a British flagged vessel in the beginning of January.

Tara joined the Navy in 2009, and has specialised as a Combat Systems Operator. She’s been promoted to Able Seaman, and has also trained in operating the Mini-Typhoon automated 0.50 calibre machine guns that provide cover during boarding operations.

“It has given me an opportunity to put all the skills I’ve learnt in to place in an operational environment,” said Tara.

“It’s been great to see places like Jordan, UAE and Bahrain that I never would have had a chance to visit.”

But Tara isn’t resting on her laurels. “I am starting my Masters of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism at Macquarie University when I get home.”

She hopes to be promoted to officer in years to come, specialising in naval intelligence.

Already a member of the Warringah Women’s Rugby Team, Tara is also looking forward to the chance to play for the Australian Services Rugby Team and represent the ADF at the Women’s National Championships later on in the year.

“I hope the physical and mental endurance that I discovered on deployment will transpire onto the football field!”

HMAS PERTH I CANVAS POW MUSTER LIST

A piece of awning canvas which memorialises the names of known survivors who went through the infamous Batavia Bicycle Prisoner of War Camp afterHMAS Perth (I) was sunk in the Battle of Sunda Strait was presented to the RAN Heritage Centre yesterday.

Ms Sarah Seymour gifted the canvas to the Perth Association, which in turn presented it to the Naval Heritage Collection where it will now be preserved. Survivors Gordon Steele, John Wood and Frank McGoven watched on as the parchment was presented to CDRE Andrew Smith, RAN who accepted it on behalf of the Navy, and saw for the first time their names recorded.

The canvas is muster of names which was produced between 1942 and 1943 as testimony that 309 of Perth’s ship’s company survived the sinking of the cruiser and were interred in the Batavia Bicycle POW camp in modern day Jakarta. The canvas records not only names of known survivors, but a legend of ticks and crosses which shows when people were moved to other camps.

HMAS Perth under the command of Captain Hector Waller, DSO & 2 Bars, RAN was sunk with USS Houston in the early hours of 1 March 1942 during a battle with the Japanese in the Sunda Strait. Perth inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese and fought until all her ammunition was spent before being torpedoed four times. Perth lost 353 of her 618 crew in the engagement.

Cumberland goes 'beyond the call of duty' to rescue civilians in Libya

HMS Cumberland is due back in Malta today after her second rescue mission to save foreigners caught up in Libya’s spiralling civil war.

Some 200 civilians – many of them oil workers from refineries in eastern Libya – boarded the frigate in driving rain in rebel-held Benghazi yesterday.

The port is the focal point of the international evacuation effort and several hundred Britons are still thought to be spread across the country.

Most have been brought home by a combined Foreign Office-military rescue mission, Operation Deference, with charter planes bringing home Brits from Tripoli and RAF Hercules swooping into the desert to collect oil workers.

In the Royal Navy’s case, HMS York has been diverted from her voyage to the Falklands and is in Grand Harbour awaiting instructions.

As for Cumberland, she picked up 69 Britons and 138 civilians of other nationalities on her first trip to Benghazi on Thursday.

It was the small hours of Saturday before the warship reached Malta after a very rough crossing of the Mediterranean.

“It was a very tiring journey,” said evacuee Phil Douglas from Craigo, near Montrose, “but under the circumstances it was fantastic.”

The oil worker was full of praise for his rescuers.

“Many people in the Royal Navy have gone beyond the call of duty to help civilians stranded far from the UK. I can’t fault their performance in any way,” he added.

“Everyone looked after us absolutely superbly, the food was very very good, better than we get in the desert, so we were very happy.”

Throughout the crossing, the Fighting Sausage’s sailors provided food, water and medical attention to the men, women and children rescued from Benghazi.

“I am very proud of the way the entire ship’s company reacted to this challenge,” Capt Steve Dainton, Cumberland’s Commanding Officer, told his men and women after the first run to Benghazi.

“It has been hard work, but thank you for your superb performance, well done.”

One of Cumberland's leading hands carries a girl evacuated from Benghazi ashore in Malta. Picture: Cpl Randall, RLC

MINISTER CONGRATULATES THE ADFA'S NEW OFFICERS

Representing the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel Warren Snowdon today, Gai Brodtmann, Member for Canberra, congratulated 350 midshipmen and officer cadets who were officially welcomed into the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) during the annual Chief of the Defence Force Parade.

Ms Brodtmann said the parade is a significant milestone for the cadets as it signifies the completion of their Year One Familiarisation Training.

“Over the last five weeks they have been forced out of their comfort zones, and they have had to adapt to working and living in a military environment, but their steadfast determination has allowed them to complete the first phase of their military training.

“Today they stand before their families, friends and members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) community, as junior officers who are about to embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career,” Ms Brodtmann said.

Minister Warren Snowdon said: “Over the next three to four years the cadets will develop the leadership skills and attributes required of junior officers in the ADF. These skills, in addition to the academic knowledge they will acquire from their undergraduate degrees from the University of New South Wales at ADFA, will enable them to become effective officers in the Navy, Army and Air Force.”

During his speech the Reviewing Officer, the Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, also recognised the hard work and commitment of ADFA’s new officers.

“Be proud of this moment, and the things that you have accomplished. Also, acknowledge those who have supported you - your family, friends, colleagues and the ADFA staff,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

“Life in the ADF has its challenges but it is also a great privilege – for not only are you serving the nation, but you will have the opportunity to work alongside, and inevitability lead, some of the finest men and women in Australia.”

Air Chief Marshal Houston also welcomed 12 new midshipmen and officer cadets from Cambodia, Jordan, New Zealand, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

“It is also important to acknowledge the significant contribution that the international midshipmen and officer cadets make to ADFA. I know that the experience you will bring, the knowledge that you will acquire, and the friendships you will make, will further strengthen the close relationships between our countries,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

Ms Brodtmann said that the midshipmen and officer cadets should feel proud of their achievements and the services that they have joined.

“Today the new officers are formally welcomed into a proud military force which is steeped in history and traditions, and on behalf of the Government I would like to congratulate you on your accomplishments, and wish you success with your military training and academic studies,” Ms Brodtmann said.

NAVY PEOPLE: BACK FROM PIRATE PATROL

It has been a while since Ben McGregor, 34, padded up and took guard at the crease at Miranda Magpies cricket club.

On 18th February he and his 190 shipmates aboard HMAS Melbourne returned from six months pirate patrol off the Horn of Africa.

Ben is a supervisor in the frigate’s Operations Room with the rank of Petty Officer. His job is to ensure the tactical picture is always up to date, using sensor information from sonar, radar and satellite.

Melbourne’s Commanding Officer is then able to respond to any threats, utilising the variety of weapon systems such as guns, missiles or aircraft to defend the ship or take action against pirates.

This has been Ben’s third Middle East deployment.

“We are making a real difference on curbing narcotics smuggling that would ultimately go on to fund terrorist activity.”

There’s plenty of chances to go ashore too. “I’ve visited many countries I never would have thought possible. I have been to Bahrain, Jordan, Sri Lanka and Dubai to name a few, and met all types of interesting people along the way.”

“My longer term goal is to rise to the rank of Warrant Officer, and along the way, pass on all that I’ve learnt to the new generations joining the Navy.”

But for now, Ben is looking forward to some serious chill-out time.

“I can’t wait to be able to spend time with my wife Bec and daughter Rose, and of course watch my beloved Cronulla Sharks win the grand final!”

US Regulators State Refusal To Restart Drilling Despite Political Pressure

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said that U.S. regulators would not bow to political pressure to restart deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico before they are certain the oil-and-gas industry is capable of containing an oil spill like the one that followed last BP’s Deepwater Horizon disaster.

Salazar and Michael Bromwich–the head of the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, which oversees offshore drilling–were in Houston Friday to meet with oil industry executives to assess the spill-containment systems they have developed in the wake of nation’s worst-ever marine oil spill.

Bromwich said he was “quite confident that we are getting very close to the point where we can begin issuing deepwater permits.” But he and Salazar said the industry still has work to do before exploration of the Gulf’s deepest waters can resume.

The U.S. government shut down deepwater drilling shortly after the Deepwater Horizon exploded on April 20, killing 11 and unleashing a catastrophic oil spill.

The government’s official ban was lifted in October, but regulators have yet to allow drilling to resume in water deeper than 500 feet despite mounting political pressure from congressional Republicans and Gulf Coast Democrats to reopen one of the nation’s primary energy fields.

“We don’t respond to political pressure,” Salazar said. “We are frankly doing what’s right for America’s energy program.”

Both Helix Energy Solutions Group, whose system helped stem the flow of BP’s runaway well last summer, and the nonprofit Marine Well Containment Co., formed by a consortium of major oil companies, say their systems are ready to respond to spills on par with Deepwater Horizon. But the nation’s top energy regulators said that they felt differently.

“These containment systems are work in progress,” Salazar told reporters after the meetings. “Both systems currently have limitations on water depth and barrel-per-day containment capability.”

The Marine Well Containment Co. was formed by Exxon Mobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Shell last July. The consortium said last week that its containment system was ready for deployment and could respond within 24 hours of an offshore spill and capture up to 60,000 barrels of oil per day at depths up to 8,000 feet.

The Helix system is capable of capturing oil at depths up to 5,600 feet, and the company said it hopes to extend that reach to 8,000 feet by late March. The Houston company said last month that it has signed an agreement with nonprofit spill-response consortium Clean Gulf Associates to make its containment system available for two years to the group’s members in exchange for a retainer fee. Helix also said it has day-rate agreements with 19 of the group’s member companies.

While the containment systems are aimed at stopping gushing wells up to 8,000 feet below the surface, drillers have gone on a buying binge in recent months, ordering rigs that can drill at depths of 10,000 feet and 12,000 feet–twice the depth at which the Deepwater Horizon was drilling when it exploded.

Since the end of September, seven companies have ordered 11 so-called ultra-deepwater rigs. Along with those firm orders, eight companies have disclosed options for 14 more such vessels.

So far five applications for deepwater drilling permits have been filed. Bromwich offered no prediction of when any permits might be issued, but he indicated that wells planned for depths within reach of the containment systems may soon be allowed.

A federal judge in New Orleans last week ordered Salazar’s department to decide within 30 days whether to grant permits for those projects. In his ruling, part of a suit brought by London-based driller Ensco PLC ADS (ESV), U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman said that the administration’s inaction is “increasingly inexcusable.”

Top-Level Talks Focus on US-Pakistani Operations

Oman: Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the top commanders reasonable for carrying out the Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy met here today with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to discuss regional security issues and explore new ways to better coordinate military operations.

In addition to Mullen, Marine Corps Gen. James N. Mattis, commander of U.S. Central Command; Navy Adm. Eric Olson, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command; and Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, participated in the day-long session.

“I was very grateful for General Kayani's time and the opportunity to continue the dialog and the relationship at this very critical time in our shared efforts,” Mullen told reporters after the session.

A military officer familiar with the high-level proceedings –- the third of their kind to date -- called them “very candid and cordial, and very productive.”

Both delegations gave operational updates, discussing the need for more road-building and other infrastructure development and greater cross-border communication and information-sharing.

“The chairman believes this kind of dialog is vital to improving coordination and communications between our two militaries,” the official said.

Mullen believes the Pakistani military “continues to do a remarkable job battling extremists inside their borders,” he said.

Today’s meeting had been in the planning process for months and was not tied to recent developments or current events in the Middle East, the official emphasized. It occurred during Mullen’s week-long trip through the region, which although long-planned, has changed in nature in light of widespread unrest in the region.

Kayani, in a statement released by the Pakistani military, said he was “pleased to have the opportunity to discuss with American officers the progress we have made fighting extremists in our country and to offer them my thoughts about how our two sides might better cooperate.”

“Pakistan’s soldiers have fought bravely and accomplished much at great cost,” Kayani said. “We must honor those sacrifices by making sure our military operations are understood.”

Pakistani Maj. Gen. Javed Iqbal, director general of military operations, and Brigadier Muhammad Saeed accompanied Kayani to the session.

UAE, Russia sign $74-million contract on modernization of BMP-3 amphibious vehicles

ABU DHABI | The United Arab Emirates and Russian state arms exporter Rosoboron export signed a $74-million contract on the modernization of 135 Russian BMP-3 (amphibious infantry fighting vehicle), UAE Armed Forces official spokesman Major-General Obaid Al Hairi Salem Al Ketbi said on Thursday, according to RIA Novosti.

Russia sent its delegation to IDEX 2011, an international defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on February 20-24.

Thirty-three Russian defense industry enterprises took part in IDEX 2011, including Rosoboronexport and the state corporation Russian Technologies.

According to the exhibition website, IDEX is the largest defense and security event in the Middle East and North African region. (RIA Novosti) 

Russian defense ministry is about to purchase 100 warships till 2020, reports RIA Novosti referring to deputy defense minister Vladimir Popovkin. According to him, procurement of ships will be carried out under State Arms Program 2011-2020 and will imply 20 submarines, 35 corvettes, and 15 frigates. Popovkin did not specify what kind of other 30 ships the Navy intends to buy. 

State Arms Program 2011-2020 has not been approved yet; its parameters are still uncertain. As was previously reported, defense ministry would receive RUR 19 trillions under this program. According to Russian Navy Main HQ, part of these funds will be appropriated for renovation of Black Sea Fleet (BSF). The fleet would get 18 new surface ships and submarines within the nearest ten years, including Project 636 Varshavyanka diesel submarines, Project 11356 and Project 22350 frigates, and Project 11711 large landing ships. 

It was also officially declared about plans to lay down Project 21631 small-size missile ship, and Project 20380 corvette. It should be kept in mind that the state arms program also provides funds for import of two French Mistral class assault landing ships and construction of two same ships in Russia. Also, it was reported in mid-2010 about plans to build airfoil ships and 4 aircraft carriers for Russian Navy, although later this information was confuted.

Piracy affecting Grindrod

JSE-listed shipping and logistics business Grindrod says piracy has affected the group’s earnings in the year to December. CE Alan Olivier says piracy off the Horn of Africa has had a negative impact on the South African firm's bottom line.

Business Report newspaper says today the miscreants have affected particularly in the group’s Capesize bulk carrier business that mostly carries contractual cargo from Brazil into the Persian Gulf region. Olivier said Grindrod had to divert its ships around the high-risk zone in the Indian Ocean as far as possible, which obviously added significant cost. “Effectively we are losing a voyage a year so when we would be doing six voyages a year (a ship) we are now doing five voyages a year and receiving the same revenue,” he told he business daily.

“But it does have a positive impact in that if you can only do five voyages a year you need one sixth more ships in the market, which absorbs more ships into the market.” The absorption of ships will reduce the oversupply and improve the potential to increase shipping rates. Olivier added that piracy was also having a negative impact on the chemical side of the group’s business because there was a significant chemical trade into the east Africa coast and the Persian Gulf region. 

He said there were increased insurance costs, higher fuel costs for deviations and the cost of exercising best management practice, which involved improving security by putting razor wire around ships and installing water cannon, Business Report continued. All of this added cost to the operation of ships, he said. While Grindrod did not have a significant number of ships trading specifically into that area, Olivier said pirates had been operating in Mozambican waters and 1500 nautical miles off the Somali coast “so they are right across the ocean”. 

Olivier said the group had not had any recent piracy incidents, but some of its partners had and one of Grindrod’s Capesize carriers was followed for about 40 minutes about 18 months ago before the pirates gave up. Grindrod yesterday reported that attributable income declined by 11% to R780.3 million in the year to December from R872.8 million in the previous year. The non-shipping business contributed 54% of Grindrod’s attributable income, which is the first time in the company’s 101-year history that shipping did not contribute the majority of the group’s earnings. 

Headline earnings a share declined by 12 percent to R1.676 from R1.896. 

Olivier attributed the decline in earnings and headline earnings a share primarily to a R166m impact from the stronger exchange rate of the rand against the US dollar, lower profits on the sale of ships of R21 million compared with R253 million in the previous year, and business development costs. 

But he said volume growth in ship operating activities, together with improved profitability from freight services and financial services, contributed positively to results. Revenue rose by 9% to R30.2 billion from R27.7 billion, while operating profit dropped by 16 percent to R963.7 million from R1.14 billion. A dividend of 54c was declared, 10 percent lower than last year’s 60c. 

Culdrose sailors take giant steps

A Sea King from 771 Naval Air Squadron lifts a metal stairway out of the English Channel – one of the more unusual ‘rescue’ missions the Ace of Clubs have been called to.

The steps in question lead from the top of rocks at Porth Kerris, near St Keverne on the Lizard peninsula, down to the sea.

They were used by divers from all three Services – the imaginatively-titled Porth Kerris building nearby, which is looked after by Culdrose staff, serves as the frogmen’s dedicated ‘clubhouse’.

Winter storms ripped the stairway off the rock and tossed them into the sea – prompting a two-stage rescue operation.

First a team from HMS Seahawk Sub Aqua Club moved the steps into deeper waters – where they’d receive less of a battering from the waves – by borrowing some special lifting bags from fellow divers in Falmouth.

For two weeks the one-tonne steps remained anchored down ten metres below the surface of the sea waiting for the divers to return – this time with a 771 cab.

The Sea King was carrying out some loadlifting practice – and a rather unwieldy and heavy set of steps underwater proved as good an object to lift and shift as anything.

Once hauled out of the water, the steps were carried about 50 metres to the divers’ compound. There starfish and other sea creatures were safely removed from the metal and returned to their natural home.

The stairs require some work before they are put back in place for divers to use once more.

HMAS SYDNEY FUND-RAISER FOR INFANTS’ HOME

HMAS Sydney (Captain Peter Leavy) strengthened Navy’s links with the wider community recently when she raised $5,000 for her adopted charity, The Infants’ Home, which is dedicated to giving young children an opportunity for happy and fulfilling lives.

Sydney hosted the launch of The Infants’ Home’s ‘Priceless Gift of Opportunity’ campaign, which aims to raise $6.5 million to build a state-of-the-art integrated Early Learning and Care Centre.

More than 80 VVIPs including the NSWGovernor, Her Excellency, Professor Marie Bashir attended Sydney’s cocktail party and ceremonial sunset at Fleet Base East on February 24.

CAPT Leavy said the RAN, and in particularSydney, has a very long-standing relationship with The Infants’ Home, which as a non-profit organisation relies heavily on goodwill and sponsorship to provide young children with the opportunities they need in life.

“Sydney is proud of our ongoing support to the aid of The Infants’ Home. Every dollar raised will ensure that this important and worthwhile charity continues to meet the needs of the 1300 children in its care and their families,” he said.

CAPT Leavy presented The Infants’ Home with a cheque for $5,000 and pledged more financial support throughout the year as the Ship’s Company continue with a variety of fund-raising activities.

The VVIPs praised Sydney for her commitment to helping The Infants’ Home, which is dedicated to providing each child with every opportunity to succeed in life.

The NSW Governor, who is an Honorary Commodore in the RAN, saluted Sydney and her fine crew for providing important support to such an important charity.

“It’s an enormous privilege for us to be here on Sydney, which bears the tradition and illustrious history of its forbears and courageous personnel whom we remember with thoughts of gratitude and respect,” she said.

The Ship’s Company of Sydney worked tirelessly to make the fund-raiser a smashing success for The Infants’ Home, which was founded in 1874 by a group of women who established a home for abandoned infants and unmarried mothers with ‘illegitimate children’.

Some of Sydney’s unsung heroes who made the evening a great success included LS Matt Reedy and AB Atelana Toga, who said they helped to serve more than 1000 drinks and 20 trays of high quality finger-food.

LS Reedy said the function represented about a week of really hardwork by most of the crew, but everyone was more than happy to contribute to such a worthwhile cause.

AB Toga said the efforts of the crew were appreciated by the guests who were full of praise for the RAN’s great hospitality – “in particular the sparkling wine and the lamb cutlets”.

The money raised by Sydney will allow The Infants’ Home to further extend support to all families – especially those experiencing hardship, in vulnerable circumstances and those with complex needs.

The proposed Early Learning and Care Centre will provide high quality integrated services including child care and education, medical and allied health programs, counselling and parenting education, child and mental health, early intervention and outreach and advocacy.

For further information visit: www.theinfantshome.org.au

Fire On The Horizon – Hits Bookstores Nationwide This Tuesday!

Fire On The Horizon – the new book by gCaptain – hits bookstore shelves nationwide this TUESDAY!

The reviews have been amazing, hundreds of mariners and offshore oil workers have pre-ordered copies and, more importantly, the story is significant in its focus on the people – not the politics – of the event.

Interested in the book? Show your support for gCaptain and:

1. Be the first to read it by pre-ordering a copy via amazon today.
2. ‘Like’ the book and recieve FREE updates via Facebook or, if you prefer, Twitter.
3. Read about the book’s important dedication.
4. Read reviews of the book online.

Stop back to gCaptain on Monday for more information, and the inside story of writing the book, from author and gCaptain founder John Konrad.

Russian-Indian missile BrahMos to be tested in the Baltic Sea

Russia and India will carry out test launches of jointly developed cruise missile BrahMos in mid-2011 in the Baltic Sea, reports ITAR-TASS citing Executive Director, BrahMos Aerospace Sivathanu Pillai at the defense show IDEX-2011 held in United Arab Emirates. Launches will be performed by the first of thee Project 11356 frigates built by Russian shipyard Yantar for Indian Navy. 

According to Pillai, the missile has been already prepared for tests; certain date of launches will be set when the first Project 11356 frigate finishes mooring trials. The $1.6 bln contract for three Project 11356 frigates was tied in 2007. Yantar shipyard launched the first ship – INS Teg – in Nov 2009, and the second one – INS Tarkash – in June 2010. Expectedly, those ships will be delivered to Indian Navy in 2011-2012. 

Full displacement of Project 11356 frigates is 4,000 tons; hull length is 124.8 meters; max speed is up to 30 knots; fuel range is 4,500 miles. Frigates will be armed with BrahMos missile 8-tube bow launcher. 

Constructively, antiship cruise missile BrahMos is based on P-800 Onyx missile which was designed in the USSR late 80's. BrahMos missile's length is about 10 meters; all-up weight is 3.9 tons; payload weight is 300 kg; max flight speed is 3,500 kph; flight range is 290 km. The missile has been designed by Russian-Indian joint venture BrahMos Aerospace.

Iranian warships delivered arms for Hezbollah to Syrian port

Two Iranian warships passed through the Suez Canal on Feb 22, easily entered the Mediterranean Sea, and anchored at Syrian port Latakia, reports Iranian agency IRNA. The ships delivered "most advanced arms" for Hezbollah, reports Kuwaiti news agency KUNA referring to Israeli newspaper Maariv. 

In particular, undisclosed sources reported that the ships had carried various missiles, rifles, ammunition, and night vision devices. 

With its theatrical cruise via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea, Iran tries to evade arms embargo laid on Hezbollah. 

It was also said in the document that the raid purpose was Iran's attempt to "reconnoiter the ground" in Egypt and find out what posture has its Supreme Military Council towards Tehran. 

Prior to that, undisclosed sources in Israel emphasized that Israel Defense Forces were tracking movements of Iranian ships and knew their precise location. Israel also keeps close contact with U.S. officials with the view to exchange opinions and assess situation. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said late Monday that Iran was trying to make use of regional instability in order to expand its influence.

Teekay Tankers To Load Vessel In Libya In Next Couple Of Days

LONDON (Dow Jones)–A Suezmax vessel owned by New York-listed Teekay Tankers Ltd (TNK) is still scheduled to load at a Libyan port over the next couple of days despite port closures by the country’s head of state Col. Moammar Gadhafi, a company spokesperson told Dow Jones Newswires Thursday.

“We have a suezmax scheduled for Libya in the next couple of days,” Priscilla Sharun said.

All ports, including Zawia, Tripoli, Benghazi and Misurata, were closed Tuesday, traders in Libya said, with force majeure declared on all imports of gasoline and gas oil.

Exports of crude appear to be continuing–vessels that can’t dock are stacking up in Malta and Gibraltar, although tanker firms are still taking bookings and say they expect vessels to be able to enter and leave without problems as port workers opposed to Gadhafi seek to keep a key component of Libya’s economy intact.

Teekay Tankers is the world’s largest owner of medium-sized crude oil tankers and is a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation. The company currently owns a fleet of double-hull aframax tankers and double-hull suezmax tankers and one VLCC, which a subsidiary of Teekay Corporation manages through a mix of short- or medium-term fixed-rate time-charter contracts and spot tanker market trading.

Russian and Ukrainian fleets commanders took a favorable view of cooperation

Meeting on the Motherland Defenders' Day, commanders of Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) and Ukrainian Navy positively estimated their cooperation, reported New Sevastopol. 

BSF Commander Vice Admiral Vladimir Korolev considers that military cooperation between the two countries "dynamically develops". 

"This fact is proved by successful training (I insist, successful) of Ukrainian submariners at Russian sub and bilateral agreement to resume practical phase of annual Russian-Ukrainian naval exercise Fairway of Peace. Joint drills, exercises, crew interaction, and finally, protection of Russian and Ukrainian sea borders are main trends of our cooperative activity", said Korolev. 

"We have invaluable experience of international cooperation. Joint exercise Fairway of Peace successfully held in 2010 and to be also conducted this year does verify this assertion", said Ukrainian Navy Deputy Commander Sergei Yeliseyev.

Black Sea Fleet should expand presence in Crimea – politician

Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF) must expand its presence in Crimea; particularly, reinforcing naval base in Feodosiya and reconstructing base at Lake Donuzlav, said Andrei Kozenko, leader of Crimean organization "Russian Unity". 

According to him, enlargement of Black Sea Fleet's presence in Crimea would contribute to security and state budget revenue. 

"Opinion of inefficiency and weakness of Russia's Black Sea Fleet expressed by the leader of anticonstitutional grouping "Majlis" Mustafa Dzhemilev is just a subjective belief of some politicians trying to show their wishes as reality. It is impossible to find an example in history when Russian Black Sea Fleet failed to repress an enemy's aggression and maintain stability in the Black Sea. Black Sea Fleet's participation in the South Ossetian conflict in Aug 2008 proved its full combat worthiness", said Kozenko. 

"Moreover, the Russian fleet is a guarantee of peace and stability in Crimea, and if it leaves our peninsula for some reason, we would feel the influence of southern neighbors at once. Thus, we must not only allow BSF to stay in Crimea for ever but widely greet its enlargement, for example in Feodosiya and at west coast near Lake Donuzlav. We should not forget about economic side of the issue either, since it is thousands of workplaces for Crimea residents and huge state budget revenue", said the Crimean politician. 

"Today, in the holiday of millions of Crimean people – the Day of Soviet Army and Navy – one can state for sure that Black Sea Fleet has always been in Crimea and will stay here for ages regardless of conjunctural wishes of some execrators", concluded the representative of "Russian Unity".

Ukrainian defense minister pays working visit to Russia

Ukrainian defense minister Mikhail Yezhel arrived to Russia on Thursday, reports Russian Ministry of Defense. 

"It is planned that the minister would visit units of Western, Central, and Eastern Military Districts", said official press release of Russian defense ministry. 

At first, Yezhel will visit 5th Infantry Brigade located in Alabino, Moscow region; the base's infrastructure and training process will be shown to the minister. 

Then the Ukrainian military delegation will leave for Far East region. In particular, in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Mr. Yezhel will visit headquarters of Pacific Fleet 16th submarine squadron (based in Rybachiy) and see over nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Georgy Pobedonosets, get acquainted with infrastructure of the naval base which includes not only quarters and military hospital but advanced living residence, food production center, and skating palace. 

The Ukrainian minister plans to meet with the crew of missile cruiser Varyag in Vladivostok, teachers and trainees of Makarov Pacific Fleet Naval Institute, and look over living district "Snegovaya Pad". 

Working phase of the visit will finish in Orenburg where Yezhel will visit presidential cadet corps founded on Sept 1, 2010 on the basis of disbanded air defense school. 

Visit of Ukrainian defense minister will finish on Feb 28.

Protesters in Moscow called to save armed forces from Serdiukov

Military servicemen met together at Poklonnaya Gora square in Moscow on Feb 23. The protest action was initiated by the Union of Russian Airborne Troopers. Participants of the meeting called to save Russian Armed Forces from the minister Anatoly Serdiukov. 

Instead of celebrating the Motherland Defenders' Day, servicemen have to protect their rights and struggle for survival of Russian Armed Forces. Such words were said from a jackleg platform mounted opposite the Museum of Great Patriotic War. Protesters inveighed against the course of military reforms. According to participants of the meeting, policy of defense ministry headed by Anatoly Serdiukov has virtually resulted in collapse of the armed forces and their non-effectiveness. As a result, today's Russian army is not capable to perform assigned combat tasks any more, said Pavel Popovskikh, the Chairman, Union of Russian Airborne Troopers. 

Besides, servicemen are dissatisfied of staff reductions in the military. As for them, many officers were turned out of doors without appropriate conversion training. Participants of the meeting were extremely irritated with the fact that most of their requests and appeals to high military and government officials were unproductive. As explained by protesters, that was just what made them meet together and clamor against the policy of defense ministry. Eventually, several hundreds of people took part in the action. Flags of various military branches and organizations waved over the crowds; people sang songs about service in Airborne Troops. Among speeches on the future of armed forces, one could hear words of sedition. Some of participants disappointedly said the situation in the army and in Russian society could be only changed by radical actions. 

Protesters also mentioned intelligence officer Col. Vladimir Kvachkov who is in prison on the charge of attempted arrange of revolt. Participants of the meeting at Poklonnaya Gora demanded to release Kvachkov calling him a symbol of people's army.

Last salute for the Mighty Manch

SALUTING the ship which has served the nation for 30 years – and which he has commanded for the past two – Commander Rex Cox bids farewell to HMS Manchester.

The destroyer formally bowed out of the Senior Service this morning as she was decommissioned in Portsmouth Naval Base.

Having sailed the equivalent of 35 times around the globe, Manchester – known affectionately by her 250 sailors as the Mighty Manch or Busy Bee – will sail no more as she makes way for the next generation of destroyers gradually entering service.

Commanding Officers and crew past and present, affiliates and dignitaries from the namesake Lancastrian city witnessed the final chapter in the ship’s career, as the ships’ former chaplain Father Mike Wagstaff led the decommissioning ceremony with musical accompaniment from the Band of the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth.

Cdr Cox told his ship’s company and guests that Manchester had been “a very special ship” which had left her mark “on everyone who has had the good fortune to serve on her”.

He said her passing was a day of sadness mixed with “great pride in a destroyer that has served the Navy with distinction and is now ready to pass on the baton to the next generation, the Type 45s.

“It is the people however that have made this great ship what she is and each and every one of them

has made their contribution over the years. It has been an immense privilege and enormous fun to

the last commanding officer of the Busy Bee and to command such a cracking ship’s company.”

Although the Manchester story is now over, you can follow her deeds on her final deployment courtesy of a Channel 5 documentary each Monday night at 5pm.

Experienced documentary maker Chris Terrill – who in the past has produced series on HMS Chatham and the Royal Marines in Afghanistan – joined Manchester in the Caribbean last summer and autumn and witnessed her drug-busting exploits, as well as the humanitarian aid the ship offered in the wake of hurricanes smashing through the region.

Cumberland arrives in Benghazi to begin evacuation of Brits

HMS Cumberland has arrived in the Libyan port of Benghazi to evacuate stranded Britons.

The frigate, which broke off her return journey at the end of a six-month deployment east of Suez, is preparing to embark upwards of 100 Britons trapped in Libya's second city as the North African state descends into anarchy.

An estimated 50-100 British citizens are believed to be stuck in the east of the country, where Libyans have thrown off the shackles off Colonel Gaddafi’s regime.

Cumberland arrived off the port this morning as the British Government sought permission for her to enter harbour. That was given and shortly after mid-day UK time the frigate arrived in Benghazi.

The Foreign Office has been encouraging Britons in eastern Libya to make for the port. Cumberland will take what citizens it can and sail for Valetta in Malta.

Although RAF Hercules and civilian charter planes have been dispatched to the Libyan capital Tripoli, no such option was available in Benghazi's case: the runways are believed to have been damaged during fighting between rebel and government forces.

Aside from the 100 Britons reckoned to be in Benghazi, a similar number are believed to be scattered across sites and towns in the Western Desert.

Foreign Secretary William Hague said the Government was "taking every action to get the remaining British nationals in Libya out of harm's way". Those Britons were, said Mr Hague, "in a perilous and frightening situation".

Around five dozen civilians (and one dog) were picked up from Tripoli by the RAF and are heading for Malta as part of the evacuation measures.