[mafets]

Eles andem aí.. 

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-frigate-escorts-russian-cruiser-and-her-tug-through-the-english-channel/?no_cache=1&fbclid=IwAR1xAiN-GQiI4LvEMaMt3-tmnqkHVuB5zX-2CsEaE3DduTKfVRXzJFyA8zo

Type 23 Frigate HMS St Albans has escorted a Russian cruiser through the English Channel.

The Royal Navy announced this morning that the Type 23 frigate, currently tasked with protecting UK waters, has been tasked to keep watch on Russian Slava-class cruiser Marshall Ustinov.

The Russian vessel – accompanied by an auxiliary ship and tug say the Royal Navy – recently left the Mediterranean and has been tracked by French warships through the Bay of Biscay.

Recently, the UK Defence Journal reported that Spain had refuelled the cruiser, despite fresh sanctions against Russia.

Commander John Cromie, the Commanding Officer of HMS St Albans, said in a news release:

“As the fleet ready escort, HMS St Albans is held at high readiness to respond to any foreign warship that might represent a potential threat to the integrity of UK waters.

In this instance the interaction between St Albans and Marshall Ustinov has proven both cordial and professional, reflecting the mutual understanding of customs that exist between professional mariners.

My crew are however trained to the very highest standard and are prepared to respond to any eventuality.”

HMS St Albans reportedly deployed her Merlin helicopter to observe the movements of the task group as they navigate along the south coast of the UK.

Aproveitando o embalo.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/rfa-fort-victoria-finishes-major-refit/

The supply ship RFA Fort Victoria is now heading for Faslane after leaving Birkenhead as her sailors prepare for renewed front-line duties, say the Royal Navy.

In July 2017, Fort Victoria returned to the UK following an extended 26-month deployment, much of which was spent East of Suez in support of anti-piracy operations. This included three months in the Aegean Sea in April 2016, taking over from RFA Mounts Bay.

Following her return, the ship underwent a series of modifications at the Cammell Laird yard near Liverpool intended to allow her to support HMS Queen Elizabeth, and meet current tanker anti-pollution hull requirements upon her entry into service.

According to a Royal Navy release:

“Since January, shipwrights and technicians have fitted extra protective hulls to the fuel tanks – used to re-supply smaller vessels than the carriers which have dedicated Tide-class tankers to ply them with black gold (two refuels of Queen Elizabeth would effectively empty Fort Vic’s tanks). More importantly, the support ship has 3,377 cubic metres of space for ammunition – from small arms up to air-to-air missiles and Paveway laser-guided bombs for the F-35 Lightning stealth fighters – plus 2,941 cubic metres of space for dry stores (spare parts, replacement engines, food).

If you brain doesn’t work in cubic metres, that’s enough ammo to nearly fill 102 shipping containers, and dry stores for more than 85 of the 20ft boxes. The rigs which are used to transfer the ammo/stores by jackstay have been adapted so they can be used with the new carriers.”

Crew moved back onboard in early August to begin preparing to take Fort Victoria back to sea, having to prove to assessors from the Flag Officer Sea Training organization that they could operate the ship safely and deal with any emergencies and casualties on board.

Cumprimentos

[tenente]

Royal Navy to keep older River class vessels, almost doubling OPV fleet




Originally, the plan was to replace the Batch 1 River class  Offshore Patrol Vessels with the newer Batch 2 vessels. However, it has now been announced that all vessels will be retained.

Last year we reported that Rear Admiral Chris Gardner, assistant chief of naval staff, said that the Royal Navy is “keen” to keep the ships.

Speaking to The News Portamouth last year, Rear Adm Gardner said:
“At the moment no decision has been taken about what their future could be. I’m keeping the ships in a state of operational readiness which means that as the future becomes a bit clearer post-Brexit, and as our requirements are more broadly understood, we will be able to make decisions about whether or not we will seek to retain and operate them as additional units in the Royal Navy or find some other solution.”

Last year, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Defence, Guto Bebb revealed that £12.7M had been allocated from the EU Exit Preparedness Fund to preserve the three Batch 1 River class ships, should they be needed to control and enforce UK waters and fisheries following the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Peter Dowd Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury asked:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Written Statement of 13 March 2018, Spring Statement, HCWS 540, if he will publish a list of where the £12.7 million allocated to his Department to realise the opportunities from EU exit will be spent.”

Guto Bebb, then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence, responded:
“The Ministry of Defence has now been allocated £12.7 million in 2018-19 for essential EU exit preparations. This will fund preserving three Off-Shore Patrol Vessels, should they be needed to control and enforce UK waters and fisheries. It also includes some EU Exit preparedness funding for UK defence bases in Europe. As with all HMT Reserve funding, finalised allocations will be confirmed at Supplementary Estimates 2018-19 in early 2019.”

Earlier in the year, Bebb revealed the running cost of the Batch 1 vessels in response to a written question:
“The cost of operating a River Class Offshore Patrol Batch 2 Vessel will be determined by the specific operational programmes of the ships when they enter service. We have used the cost of the current in service Batch 1 Offshore Patrol Vessels as the basis of our planning which is £6.5 million per year.”

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-to-keep-older-river-class-vessels-almost-doubling-opv-fleet/

Abraços

[Lusitan]

Dramatic moment 17 Russian fighter jets swarm around a Royal Navy warship in a Black Sea raid dubbed an act of 'brazen hostility'

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6429859/Fleet-17-Russian-fighter-jets-swarmed-Royal-Navy-warship-Black-Sea.html

Incredible footage has captured the moment a Royal Navy warship was 'buzzed' by 17 Russian fighter jets off the coast of Crimea.

A new Channel 5 documentary captured the dangerous moment as HMS Duncan led a Nato fleet through the Black Sea in May.

'Buzzing' is when an aircraft flies fast and low past a building or another vehicle and the Russian fighters were so close to the Type 45 destroyer their electronics could have been scrambled by the ships, which could have caused a crash.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson described the incident as 'brazen hostility' from Russia while he praised the work done by the flagship, worth around £1billion, and her crew. 

[mafets]

https://news.sky.com/story/special-forces-storm-cargo-ship-after-migrants-threatened-staff-11588563?fbclid=IwAR0ZaWmHoEcKeFdQHcxkyHLLdj-iZHPuQOzRUoOZkpUj_a55jdelnDzi0ME

By David Mercer, news reporter

Four men have been arrested after special forces stormed a cargo ship off the UK's coast, where a group of stowaway migrants had threatened staff on-board.

Special Boat Service (SBS) operatives from Sabre Squadron fast-roped from helicopters on to the ship, which had been sailing in the Thames Estuary, sources told Sky's defence and security correspondent Alistair Bunkall.

The operation lasted around 25 minutes and no one on board was injured.

Grimaldi Lines said four stowaways with iron bars demanded to be navigated closer to the coast

Saudações

[mafets]

Ameaçam? Diria que já vem afundando desde os anos 60... 

https://www.naval.com.br/blog/2019/01/03/submarinos-nucleares-ameacam-afundar-o-orcamento-de-defesa-do-reino-unido/?fbclid=IwAR2sH6iveswuSh6FMxf49xJzZr-MTQqqkHZjbc48U1Eb4c6HW_7DaeGoZh4

Escritório Nacional de Auditoria alerta para uma lacuna de financiamento de 15 bilhões de libras em programas de equipamentos

Concepção do submarino de mísseis balísticos Dreadnought

Saudações

[Major Alvega]

https://www.navalnews.com/news/2019/01/tkms-wins-royal-navys-type-31e-frigates-design-contract/?fbclid=IwAR0H-xN0Wy8cDDTPRnL_1INykowjOF5tJMaNAoYU0uajyIvlQt4Y6PA-8cg

TKMS Wins Royal Navy’s Type 31e Frigates Design Contract

[Stalker79]

https://www.navalnews.com/news/2019/01/tkms-wins-royal-navys-type-31e-frigates-design-contract/?fbclid=IwAR0H-xN0Wy8cDDTPRnL_1INykowjOF5tJMaNAoYU0uajyIvlQt4Y6PA-8cg

TKMS Wins Royal Navy’s Type 31e Frigates Design Contract

E vão bem servidos! Quem nos dera a nós que quando chegar a altura podermos ter essa sorte e fazer logo 5 iguais!
Era é faze-las cá sob liçenca da tkms.
 

[mafets]

O Maduro pensa que é do Donald Truuump. 

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/no-rfa-mounts-bay-isnt-about-to-invade-venezuela/?fbclid=IwAR0ynPoWmZ_Cp5jonC7151ox82gwcGm6yoxBdNHPMgu1-tuNycDpuu8vwPA

Newspaper ‘The Morning Star’ has astonishingly suggested that RFA Mounts Bay is in the Caribbean to take part in an invasion of Venezuela.

The outlet acknowledges in the article that the Royal Navy claims the vessel is working on counternarcotics operations with the US Southern Command,  however, it then creates a very tenuous link to any potential action, referring to the work with US Southern Command, saying “it is this branch of the Pentagon that would lead any attack on Venezuela”.

Saudações

[Cabeça de Martelo]

Royal Navy eyeing development of new “littoral strike ships”



The Royal Navy could possibly get a fleet of two new “Littoral Strike Ships” for operations close to the shore, UK defense secretary Gavin Williamson announced during a speech at the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies on February 11.

Research into the feasibility of the new ships will be financed from a Transformation Fund which is designed to bring capabilities to the armed forces “as quickly as possible”.

The new Littoral Strike Ship concept revolves around globally deployable, multi-role vessels capable of performing both crisis support and war-fighting missions.

The defense secretary envisions these ships to form part of two Littoral Strike Groups complete with escorts, support vessels and helicopters. One would be based East of Suez in the Indo-Pacific and one based West of Suez in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Baltic.

The ships could join the Royal Navy aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships, and Bay-class landing ships can come together in one amphibious task force should need be, the defense minister noted.

“This announcement to accelerate the concept and assessment stages of future littoral strike ships brings us one step closer to realising our ambitions for the future commando force,” Major General Charlie Stickland, Commandant General Royal Marines, said.

Designed to support the unique capabilities of @RoyalMarines Future Commando Force, FLSS offer a dramatic increase in the range, mass & lethality of forces that can be projected from sea to land, delivering decisive military effect anywhere in the world, at a time of our choosing pic.twitter.com/ctrDWNgGML — First Sea Lord (@AdmPhilipJones) February 11, 2019

https://navaltoday.com/2019/02/11/royal-navy-eyeing-development-of-new-littoral-strike-ships/

[MATRA]

Parece uma cópia do "não tão secreto" M/V Ocean Trader usado pelas operações especiais americanas.

[Lusitano89]

[mafets]

Ups...

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/8473830/hms-queen-elizabeth-short-of-crew/

Britain’s new flagship £3bn aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth’s is devastated by a damaging row – its commanders say it doesn’t have enough crew.

The very first Commander of the new £3bn carrier found the ship to be 70 sailors light when she first went to sea.

Saudações

[goldfinger]

Royal Navy £1bn carrier shipbuilding deals could go to Spain

pain are favourites to win a lucrative £1billion contract to build three new support ships for the Royal Navy's mighty new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales, it's claimed.

A new batch of vessels forming naval sidearm the Royal Fleet Auxiliary are required to ferry vital supplies to the Solent powerhouses - the biggest in the fleet's history.


But there's fears growing amongst the nation's senior defence ranks that the huge construction project may slip through the fingers of Britain's shipyards and instead be picked up by foreign firms - chiefly in Spain.

It comes amid growing tensions in Gibraltar over the control of British waters whipped up by Spanish warships.

Yet insiders claim Spain is 'at the front of the queue' to secure the major shipbuilding deal, The News, Portsmouth, reports.

Concerns reportedly came following a key conference with maritime chiefs in the south-east last month.

Both Plymouth and Portsmouth have already declared an interest in the mega money development.


The aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured) could be supported by vessels built in Spain
"The decision to not ring-fence the construction of the three new RFA ships to be built in British yards is a significant problem and one that is incredibly concerning,’ Councillor Gerald Vernon-Jackson, leader of Portsmouth City Council, said.

"These are highly complex ships carrying quantities of munitions, so they have to be very powerfully built, and be able to be in a war zone and yet the government are choosing to probably allow them to be built in Spain."

Spanish and UK tensions first bubbled to the surface on February 28 this year after OPV Infanta Cristina prowled British territory around the Rock.



https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/royal-navy-aircraft-carriers-spain-2615282?fbclid=IwAR3nT60Mw70FCzBy0riIE5edr0KOY99Q3uJDgaNxAtEtQWVyWnrrplP820M

[mafets]

https://www.helis.com/database/news/wildcat-winter-training-19?fbclid=IwAR2Mg-Yui-VOIOzmTlr4hHA5Dgtcrfo4Ta_TLHbiQ10VZ3Hq_Tcp85JphcM

Royal Navy, March 09, 2019 - Commando Wildcat helicopters of 847 Naval Air Squadron have been proving their warfighting capability during sorties in the unforgiving valleys and mountains of the Arctic Circle.

The Yeovilton-based Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) squadron were involved in their largest helicopter assault force since the conflict in Afghanistan during the annual winter outing to Norway, Exercise Clockwork.

Based out of Royal Norwegian Air Station Bardufoss, 847 NAS worked alongside NATO allies, Norway and the United States, in a six-strong aircraft force to take troops into the heart of combat exercises and provide vital air support.

Flights to the Setermoen Ranges also meant the Wildcat crews could put the aircraft’s mounted .50 calibre M3M 12.7mm machine gun through its paces in the extreme cold – vital testing to ensure the weapon itself and the crews can handle freezing temperatures around -20°c.

“At the ranges we’ve been operating the M3M weapons system, qualifying our weapons operators in their annual competency,” said Petty Officer Aircrewman Paul Iche of 847 Naval Air Squadron, the Crew Served Weapons Instructor for the Wildcat Exercise Clockwork detachment.

“With the M3M fitted, the door of the aircraft has to be open. It brings in quite a wind chill and that then effects the operators’ ability to maintain the position behind the weapons system.

“We’ve been operating in temperatures as low as -20°c, so we have to monitor the operators for cold weather injuries.

“Due to the cold, certain parts of the weapons system expand and contract with the difference in temperature, but that has so far not effected the running of the system.”

Overall, the Wildcats of 847 NAS, on just their second foray to Bardufoss, have shown their versatility on a very fruitful mission to northern Norway.

They have forged and strengthened bonds with fellow NATO forces, the Army’s Apache attack helicopter – on its first venture to Exercise Clockwork – and, of course, with their familiar friends the Royal Marines.

During helicopter assault missions, the Wildcat provided an escort to four Bell 412s of 339 Squadron of the Royal Norwegian Air Force.

The Wildcats used their capability as a battlefield reconnaissance helicopter to clear landing sites, making way for the Norwegians’ twin-engine utility warbird to deliver troops to the frontline or extract them.

While supporting the Norwegian aircraft, the Wildcats provided crucial air support, communicating closely with embedded units from the United States Marine Corps, to guarantee ground units had sufficient cover.

Alongside the Royal Marines, the Wildcats trained with 30 Commando XI’s Surveillance and Reconnaissance Squadron, while work alongside the Apache of 656 Squadron also proved highly fruitful.

Together the two helicopters are becoming a deadly duo, with Wildcat finding targets using its reconnaissance abilities and Apache destroying it.

Before taking the fight into the cold, the Wildcats' crews first undertook qualifications to be able to operate in the Arctic freeze.

That was made up of ten sorties, including mountain flying, snow landings by day, night and using night vision goggles.

On top of that, the Wildcats flew in tactical formation and trained in underslung loads.

For some of the aircrew, this was their first time operating overseas and the difficult conditions of Norway proved challenging.

Lieutenant Mark Hanson, said: “Conducting snow landings at night using night vision goggles in a formation pair after a day of heavy snow proved to be challenging and a steep learning curve but, at the same time, was very rewarding.”

Completion of this phase was a significant achievement and meant the squadron could now operate in the Arctic effectively.

Cumprimentos

[tenente]

Second River-class OPV Medway handed over to Royal Navy


HMS Medway

The White Ensign was raised for the first time on the second of five Batch 2 River-class offshore patrol vessels, HMS Medway, as BAE Systems handed the ship over to the Royal Navy.

Medway was handed over as the crew of lead ship HMS Forth are in the final stages to resume trials and training, after the ship underwent post-delivery rectification work to solve problems with the ship’s electrical systems and marine fixings.

Forth is due to replace HMS Clyde in the Falklands. Meanwhile her sisters could find themselves on patrol in the Caribbean, Mediterranean or the Pacific rim operating from Singapore.

“We’re focused on taking Forth to sea before the end of March. We have belief and faith in the ship. Now it is time to test her at sea,” Commander Bob Laverty, HMS Forth’s commanding officer said.

Medway will be a couple of months behind Forth in going to sea for a second time. She is currently having military systems installed on the Clyde after her successful first spell at sea before Christmas. After more trials and training, she’s due to sail for Portsmouth in July.

In September she’ll have her commissioning on the river Medway. She will also exercise the Freedom of the Borough. After that there’s front-line training ready for her maiden deployment overseas at the turn of 2019/20.

Batch 2 River-class OPVs are 90 meters long and have a range of 5,500 nautical miles and a maximum speed of 24 knots. The new OPVs are four knots faster than their Batch 1 predecessors, have a 30mm automatic cannon as their main armament instead of a 20mm gun, two Miniguns, four machine-guns and are equipped with two Pacific 24 sea boats.

https://navaltoday.com/2019/03/14/second-river-class-opv-medway-handed-over-to-royal-navy/

Abraços