Soviet Sub Collides with USS Kitty Hawk, 21 March 1984

On March 1984, K-314 (Victor-I class submarine) collided with the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) in the Sea of Japan when USS Kitty Hawk was participated in "Team Spirit" exercises. K-314 shadowed the task group. On 21 March 1984, at the end of the Sea of Japan part of the exercise, K-314 surfaced directly in front of Kitty Hawk, far too close for "Kitty Hawk" to avoid the resulting collision. Neither ship was significantly damaged, although the K-314 could not get underway to proceed home for repairs under her own power. The U.S. Navy stayed on scene for two weeks before the Soviets could send out a seagoing tug to bring her home.

USS Kitty Hawk’s (CV 63) fourteenth deployment in early 1984 found her at the center of a great deal of activity. During the joint United States/Republic of Korea Exercise Team Spirit 84-1, Kitty Hawk’s Battle Group Bravo encountered numerous Soviet forces during the eight-day event. Reconnaissance aircraft overflew the group 43 times while six Soviet surface units and one submarine made an appearance.

It was the submarine, however, that had a lasting impact on the ship and its cruise. At 22:07 on 21 March the submarine surfaced and collided with the carrier. The captain and starboard lookout both saw the silhouette of a sub without navigation lights moving away from the ship. Two SH-3H helicopters inspected the sub without noting any apparent damage, but a large piece of the submarine’s screw had broken off in Kitty Hawk’s hull.

The submarine was believed to be a Victor-I class attack boat, tentatively identified as K-314 (610). During the exercise it had been tracked and “killed” more than fifteen times after it was spotted on the surface fifty miles in front of the battle group.

The collision occurred despite the Incidents at Sea agreement that SECNAV John Warner and Admiral Sergei Gorshkov had signed in 1972. This agreement, designed to uphold the United States’ long cherished belief in freedom of the seas and prevent dangerous and hostile collisions at sea, was ignored in this instance. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James Watkins reflected, “The reason behind the Soviet submarine captain’s slip in judgment is the only mystery here. He showed uncharacteristically poor seamanship in not staying clear of Kitty Hawk. That should cause concern in Moscow.”

Submarine K-314 after surfacing. Damage to the light body is visible. 

The 80,000-ton carrier had suffered no damage in the collision, but that the 5,200-ton submarine, of what the Western nations designate as the Victor class, was seen on the surface dead in the water with a cruiser standing by to assist. The Soviet ships ignored American offers of assistance, the officials said.

F-35B Landed Aboard Italian Navy Aircraft Carrier ITS Cavour For The First Time

Two F-35B Lighting II jets landed aboard Italian aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550) on March 1st, marking a first for the Italian Navy.

Italian Navy press release:

Departed on February 28 from the base of the US Navy’s Second Fleet in Norfolk, the Cavour ship has started the “hot” phase of the “Ready for Operations” campaign. The first landing of a US Marine Corps F-35B aircraft on the deck of the Navy aircraft carrier represents a fundamental step in the long and complex certification process for the use of the new aircraft.

The completion of the “Sea Trials” phase of sea trials, which will last in the Atlantic Ocean for about four weeks, will allow the flagship of the Naval Team to test the flight deck and verify the impacts with the fifth-generation aircraft in key take-off and landing moments in different trim conditions and in relation to various factors such as winds and the state of the sea, to arrive at the final certification of “Ready for Operations”. 

President Macron Announces Start of New French Nuclear Aircraft Carrier Program (PANG, le porte-avions de nouvelle génération)

France will build a new, nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to replace its Charles de Gaulle carrier by 2038

French President Emmanuel Macron Tuesday, 8 December, officially green-lighted the construction of a new nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as part of the PANG program (PANG, le porte-avions de nouvelle génération - the new generation aircraft carrier). The future flagship of the French Navy is intended to replace the existing FS Charles de Gaulle (R91) aircraft carrier around 2038.

The announcement was made during Macron’s visit to French nuclear power company Framatome, which designs and supplies nuclear steam systems and services.

“Charles de Gaulle, as you know, will come to the end of its life in 2038. This is why I have decided that the future aircraft carrier that will equip our country and our navy will be nuclear-powered like the Charles de Gaulle,” Macron said. “Your plant in Le Creusot, which has been producing parts essential to our navy for a long time, will produce, among others, several major parts of the nuclear boiler of the future aircraft carrier by forging and machining them right here. … By these choices, we confirm France’s desire to preserve its strategic autonomy.”

The new French aircraft carrier will be equiped by electro-magnetic catapults, and American-made, and the ship will be designed to accommodate next-generation warplanes and serve until around 2080.

They didn’t provide a price tag but French media estimate it will cost around 7 billion euros ($8.5 billion).

It will have a length of 990 feet, a width of 130 feet and a displacement of 75,000 tons. The first steel cut is set for 2025, while sea trials are slated to begin in 2036 and commissioning with the French Navy in 2038, which matches the expected decommissioning of the Charles de Gaulle.

According the Naval News new aircraft carrier specifications are follow:

• Nuclear-powered (CVN) with two K22 reactors (2 x 220 megawatts thermal)

• Length between 940 and 970 feet

• Full load displacement around 70,000 – 75,000 tons

• Maximum speed: 26 to 27 knots (similar to Charles de Gaulle)

• Propulsive power would be around 80 megawatts delivered to three or four shaft lines

• Total power around 110 megawatts, including the electrical plant

• Future air wing: 32 next-generation fighters with two to three E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes and a yet-to-be-determined number of unmanned carrier air vehicles

• Two side elevators with 40 tons lifting capacity

• Three 300-foot electromagnetic catapults (EMALS) by General Atomics

• Flight deck: 3.9 acres

• Aircraft hangar: 54,000 square feet

• Crew: 900 and 1,080 sailors (not including the air element of 550 to 620 sailors) with higher comfort compared to Charles de Gaulle.

• Thales SeaFire radar

• Principal Anti Air with MBDA Aster surface-to-air missiles for self-defense

Photos (c) Alain BOLLERY

Qingdao - home to CV16 - China's aircraft carrier battle group

 A nice image showing the PLAN aircraft carrier "Liaoning" at her home at Dazhu Shan / Xiangzimen, Huangdao, Qingdao.

Navies of India, US, Japan, Australia conclude phase 1 of Malabar 2020 naval exercise

Ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the United States Navy participate in Malabar 2020. Malabar 2020 is the latest in a continuing series of exercises that has grown in scope and complexity over the years to address the variety of shared threats to maritime security in the Indo-Asia Pacific where the U.S. Navy has patrolled for more than 70 years promoting regional peace and security. Nimitz Carrier Strike Group is currently deployed to the 7th Fleet area of operations in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific. 

The first phase of the Malabar naval exercise has culminated in the Bay of Bengal with the participation by Indian Navy (IN), United States Navy (USN), Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF), and Royal Australian Navy (RAN).

The 24th multinational maritime naval exercise, which started on November 3, was restricted to sea phase and conducted in “zero contact” format considering COVID19 pandemic.

The first phase of the exercise witnessed complex and advanced naval exercises including surface, anti-submarine and anti-air warfare drills, cross deck flying, and weapon firing exercises. It concluded on Friday.

The 24th edition of the Malabar naval exercise is scheduled in two phases this month. It will display “high-levels of synergy and coordination” based on their shared values and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.

It is for first time in more than a decade that the exercise will see the participation of all four Quad countries. Australia is taking part in the exercise after 2007.

The first phase of Malabar 20 witnessed the participation of Indian Navy units with United States Ship (USS) John S McCain (guided-missile destroyer), Her Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Ballarat (long range frigates) with integral MH-60 helicopter and Japan Maritime Self Defence Ship (JMSDF) Onami (destroyer) with integral SH-60 helicopter.

The second phase of the Malabar practice started on Tuesday in the Northern Arabian Sea with the support of Indian Navy plane carrying warship INS Vikramaditya, the American plane carrying warship USS Nimitz alongside other Indian, US, Australian and Japanese warships completing 'Malabar-2020' wargames.

The Australian Navy is participating with its warship HMAS Ballarat and Japan with destroyer JS Murasame. The second period of the Malabar exercise will be led in the Northern Arabian Sea till November 20.

"Taking forward the cooperative energy accomplished in the as of late closed Phase 1 of Exercise Malabar 2020, which was led in the Bay of Bengal November from 03 to 06, this stage will include composed activities of expanding intricacy between the naval forces of Australia, India, Japan and the United States," an official delivery on Monday.

"Stage 2 of Exercise Malabar 2020 will observer joint activities, revolved around the Vikramaditya Carrier Battle Group of the Indian Navy and Nimitz Carrier Strike Group of the US Navy. The two transporters, alongside different boats, submarine and airplane of the taking an interest naval forces, would be occupied with focused energy maritime tasks more than four days," the delivery added.

The delivery expressed that these activities incorporate cross-deck flying tasks and progressed air guard practices by MiG 29K warriors of VikramadityaandF-18 contenders and E2C Hawkeye from Nimitz.

What's more, cutting-edge surface and hostile to submarine fighting activities, seamanship advancements and weapon firings will likewise be attempted to additional improve interoperability and cooperative energy between the four agreeable naval forces.

Notwithstanding Vikramaditya and its warrior and helicopter air-wings, indigenous destroyers Kolkata and Chennai, secrecy frigate Talwar, Fleet Support Ship Deepak and indispensable helicopters will likewise partake in the activity, driven by Rear Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Flag Officer Commanding Western Fleet. Indigenously fabricated submarineKhanderiand P8I oceanic observation airplane of the Indian Navy will likewise grandstand their capacities during the activity.

US Navy's Strike Carrier Nimitz will be joined by cruiser Princeton and destroyer Sterett notwithstanding P8A sea observation airplane. The Royal Australian Navy will be spoken to by frigate Ballarat alongside its vital helicopter. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will likewise partake in the activity.

"The Malabar arrangement of activities, which started as a yearly two-sided maritime exercise among India and the US in 1992, has seen expanding degree and multifaceted nature throughout the long term. The 24th version of Malabar, which is by and large as of now embraced, features improved union of perspectives among the four dynamic vote based systems on sea issues, and grandstands their pledge to an open, comprehensive Indo-Pacific and a guidelines based worldwide request," the delivery said.

Nov. 17, 2020. Ships from the Royal Australian Navy, Indian Navy, Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and the United States Navy participate in Malabar 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Elliot Schaudt/Released)

Iran Readies Carrier Barge for Show of Force

Satellite imagery shows Iran repairing the U.S. carrier mock-up it previously targeted during the Great Prophet 9 military exercise in February 2015. The first signs that Iran may have renewed plans for the mockup occurred between July and August 2019. At the time, workers relocated the barge inside the breakwaters at Bandar Abbas naval base to begin repairs.

While work was not initiated until October, imagery acquired in November shows substantial patchwork already completed as well as ongoing reconstruction of the lattice structure supporting the barge’s deck. The steady increase in repairs suggests that it could be used in an upcoming military exercise before the end of the Iranian year in March 2020.

It’s expected Iran will likely target the barge inside the Strait of Hormuz to demonstrate its capabilities against a would-be aggressor. During the previous 2015 exercise, Iran struck the mock-up with multiple land-based anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, fast attack craft, as well as suicide vessels. A final phase saw Iranian Special Forces fast-rope from helicopters onto the barge surface and attack the mock-up’s superstructure.

Iran’s ongoing signaling of its ability to strike U.S. assets in the Strait of Hormuz further reiterates its anti-access/area denial strategy. It is also keenly aware that any potential disruption to trade flows would likely impact the global economy. According to data collected by the U.S. Energy Information Administration, approximately 21 million barrels flowed through the vital chokepoint in 2018.

In light of the U.S. assassination of Qassim Suleimani and retaliatory strikes against U.S. positions in Iraq, Iran rehearsing an attack against a U.S. carrier would serve to further inflame tensions. At present, it’s unknown if Iran has planned other escalating measures.

Bottom Line – Iran will likely demonstrate its ability to attack a U.S. carrier in the Gulf before the end of the Iranian year, but repairs to the barge began before the recent tensions around Suleimani’s death.

Link - Iran Readies Carrier Barge for Show of Force

ავიამზიდი Shandong (ფოტოები)

ჩინელების მიერ სრულიად ნოლიდან აგებული ავიამზიდი Shandong (ავიამზიდის შესახებ ინფორმაცია იხილეთ ბმულზე - China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier officially enters service)

China's first domestically-built aircraft carrier officially enters service

ჩინეთმა სრულიად საკუთარი აგებული ავიამზიდი "შანდონგი" მიიღო შეიარაღებაზე. ეს ჩინეთის ფლოტის შეიარაღებაზე არსებული მეორე ავიამზიდია, პირველი გადაკეთებული საბჭოთა "ვარიაგია". ამგვარად ჩინეთი ძალის გლობალური პროეცირების ლიგაში საბოლოოდ ჩაეწერა, რუსეთი კი კუზიას დაწვის შემდეგ დიდი ხნით ამოეწერა ამ ლიგიდან.

China has officially commissioned its first domestically-built aircraft carrier, the Shandong, a significant step forward in Chinese President Xi Jinping's ambitions for the country to field a world-class navy.

Xi attended the commissioning ceremony in the southern province of Hainan Tuesday, according to state-run media, where the Shandong finally entered service as part of the People's Liberation Navy.

According to state-run news agency Xinhua, Xi presented a Chinese flag and a certificate with the ship's official name to the ship's captain and political commissar.

The Shandong, which uses conventional rather than nuclear propulsion, is the second carrier in the Chinese fleet. China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, a retrofitted Soviet-era vessel, was purchased from the Ukrainian government in 1998.

Both the Liaoning and the Shandong use ski-jump style ramps at the end of the flight deck to launch planes, a comparatively older technology compared to the United States Navy's preferred "catapult" technology.

Aircraft launched by catapults can get airborne quicker and with greater quantities of fuel and ammunition, giving them an advantage over Chinese planes, which rely on their own power when lifting off from ski-jumps.

The aircraft carrier's name was officially announced on Tuesday. Before then, it had been only known as the Type 001A. Both of China's aircraft carriers, the Shandong and the Liaoning, are named after coastal provinces close to Beijing.

According to Peter Layton, visiting fellow at the Griffith Asia Institute, the Liaoning was intended to act as more of a training vessel, whereas the Shandong is likely to be deployed in combat missions, positioning China alongside a select number of countries with global naval capabilities, including Russia, France, the US, and the United Kingdom.

'World class force'

The official launch of the carrier comes just a month after Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe told his US counterpart Mark Esper that Washington must stop "flexing its muscles" in the South China Sea.

Naval competition between the two countries has increased in recent years, amid a sweeping Chinese moderation drive that has seen Beijing launch more submarines, warships, amphibious vessels and auxiliaries since 2014 than the entire serving navies of Germany, India, Spain, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

China has the second largest military budget in the world, behind only the US. Speaking at a mass naval parade in the South China Sea in April 2018, Xi said the People's Liberation Navy needed to become a "world-class force."

There are even suggestions that the Chinese navy may be already be building its third aircraft carrier at a naval base in Shanghai, which will likely be more technologically advanced than both its sister ships.

The Shandong was launched to much fanfare in April 2017, before being sent out to sea trials just over a year later in May 2018.

The new aircraft carrier took slightly longer to finish its sea trials than its sister ship, the Liaoning, which experts said may have been due to the unexpected difficulties of building and outfitting the complex vessel from scratch.

"I think the politicians in the Chinese Communist Party didn't really comprehend the challenges of acquiring a carrier," said Malcolm Davis, senior analyst in Defense Strategy and Capability at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

"The Liaoning was relatively easy but the Type 001A and the vessels that follow her will be much more complex. I think the Chinese have got their work cut out for them."

ავიამზიდ "Кузнецов"-ს სარემონტო დოკზე ხანძარი გაუჩნდა

სანამ სტატიას წაიკითხავთ, გთხოვთ გადახვიდეთ მითითებულ ბმულზე (ყავისფრად მონიშნული ტექსტი) და მოიწონოთ ჩვენი სამხედრო თემატიკის გევრდი - No Man's Land

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კომპანია "ზვეზდოჩკას დოკებზე სარემონტოდ დაყენებულ რუსულ ავიამზიდ "Кузнецов"-ს ხანძარი გაუჩნდა. 8 მუშის ევაკუირება მოხერხდა, ერთი დაკარგულია. ხანძარი ავიამზიდის სამანქანო განყოფილებაში 120 კვადრატულ მეტრზეა გავრცელებული.