H I Sutton's latest update is on the Dry Combat Submersible (DCS). The DCS is a type of SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) which has a dry interior to allow the SEALs to arrive at their target fresher than the usual wet-sub where they have to wear their diving gear at all times.

H.I. Sutton's latest article on his Covert Shores website is a survey of submarines with nuclear attack capability in the world today. It's not just the United States and Russia anymore.

Though this is mostly an aircraft related story I still thought it worth mentioning here that America's oldest continuous service is observing a centennial anniversary of its aviation branch. This year marks 100 years of US Coast Guard aviation.

The US Navy's newest destroyer, the USS Zumwalt (DDG-1000) has left its berth at Bath, Maine and begins her sea trials. She's due to enter service next year. At 600 feet in length, almost a full 100 feet longer than the Arleigh Burke class, she's the largest destroyer the US Navy has ever launched.

Covert Shores, a website dedicated to covert submarine operations throughout history to today, has a new article on possible news 'leak' on the Russian 'Status-6' nuclear torpedo. The leak occurred at meeting between defense chiefs and President Putin in Sochi on 9th November 2015.

USNS Lewis B. Puller (MLP-3/AFSB) — based on an Alaska-class commercial crude carrier — is designed to host special operations forces (SOF) and mine countermeasure (MCM) helicopters as part of the Navy, U.S. Military Sea Lift Command and the Marines push to more capability for amphibious forces and capacity for seabasing with less expensive ships.

Japan has launched the second in its new class of helicopter carrier — the largest Japanese ships since World War II — in a ceremony last Thursday in Yokohama.

Coming this November, the story of Germany's commerce raiders of World War I. These were the surface ships that were supposed to starve the British Isles of the vast cargoes of vital resources being shipped from the furthest reaches of the Empire.

Coming September 20th a book describing how the birth of the mighty Roman Navy was anchored in the Romans' extraordinary ability to absorb and perfect the technology of other states and empires. This is the story of the design, development and operation of the Republican Roman warship.

From the Mystic Seaport Maritime History news section, this story of what officials believe it is the submarine SOM, which sank after a major collision with a Swedish ship in 1916.

The Royal Navy begins the process of building its new class of frigate the Type 26. The following is an article from Jane's news site.

Previously known as the Arctic/Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) the ship now has a class name - Harry DeWolf class, after the Canadian Vice Admiral who was famous as the first commander of HMCS Haida during the Second World War.

HMS Artful, the third of the Royal Navy’s new Astute Class attack submarines will set sail for sea trials this summer.The Defence Secretary confirmed the news as he visited the home of the UK’s submarine manufacturing industry in Cumbria this month.

US Navy Expeditionary Combat Command was showcasing its brand new MK VI Patrol Boat (PB) during Sea-Air-Space 2015. Navy Recognition discussed with Commander Pete Berning, U.S. Navy Coastal Riverine Force, The MK VI is a next generation PB and the latest addition to the US Navy fleet.

Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano (La Spezia) hosted the launching ceremony for the “Romeo Romei” submarine on July 4, the last of the four U212A “Todaro” class twin units ordered by the Central Unit for Naval Armament – NAVARM for the Italian Navy.

The replica 18th-century French frigate Hermione arrived in Yorktown, VA June 5th to begin her celebratory visit to historic ports in the United States. The ship is a replica of the 1779 vessel that transported the Marquis de Lafayette to America to aide in the Revolutionary War.

From the Royal Navy News website:

Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster sailed from her home in Portsmouth on Saturday 21 March for a routine nine-month Atlantic patrol tasking, waved off by hundreds of well-wishing friends and family.

Two museums in the United States have entered a joint venture in restoration. The Plimoth Plantation in Plymouth Massachusetts is having their centerpiece attraction, the reproduction of the Pilgrims' Mayflower, the Mayflower II, restored at the Mystic Seaport Museum in Mystic Connecticut during the Winter and Spring seasons in preparation for the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims arrival to America.

The USS Kauffman has departed today on what is the last deployment of an Oliver Hazard Perry frigate, This story is from the US Navy site and by the USS Kauffman Public Affairs office. All Images are from the USN website.

We've seen some releases of various shore landing craft kits in the past year, from the classic WWII types in styrene to modern air-cushioned types in resin. The latest real-world contemporary in steel is the JHSV (joint high speed vessel). With 4 delivered and 6 underway, the catamaran style boat is the latest tech in the old practice of delivering soldiers and supplies to the beach head. Here's an article from the US Navy's website describing the boat.

A story about America's newest space capsule test mission recovery by the USS Anchorage, a San Antonio Class LPD. An article written by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher A. Veloicaza and posted on the US Navy Website.

This French langauge publication started in 2012, dedicated to Naval Warfare of the past, present and future.

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The search to find a new home for the historic steel cruiser, the USS Olympia, is over. Officials say the ship will stay docked at Penn’s Landing.

A new book is now available detailing the second Bismarck-class battleship, the Tirpitz

Recognize your special Sailor, Naval Aviator, Seal, or a retired "old salt" with this great Naval recognition award. Perfect for retirement ceremonies, service recognition, remembrances or just to say, "Thank you for your service".

AP PHILADELPHIA – The USS Olympia, a one-of-a-kind steel cruiser that returned home to a hero's welcome after a history-changing victory in the Spanish-American War, is a proud veteran fighting what may be its final battle.

Source: New York Times
In the middle of tomorrow, a great ribbed ghost has emerged from a distant yesterday.
On Tuesday morning, workers excavating the site of the underground vehicle security center for the future World Trade Center hit a row of sturdy, upright wood timbers, regularly spaced, sticking out of a briny gray muck flecked with oyster shells.

Obviously, these were more than just remnants of the wooden cribbing used in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to extend the shoreline of Manhattan Island ever farther into the Hudson River. (Lower Manhattan real estate was a precious commodity even then.)

Source: Associated Press
With no assurances it will be allowed to join the Gulf of Mexico oil spill cleanup, a Taiwanese-owned ship billed as the world's largest skimming vessel was preparing to sail Friday evening to the scene of the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

The ship -- the length of 3 1/2 football fields and 10 stories high -- is designed to collect up to 500,000 barrels of oily water a day through 12 vents on either side of its bow. It was docked in Norfolk en route to the Gulf from Portugal, where it was retrofitted to skim the seas. The ship and its crew of 32 left Virginia waters Friday evening, June 25.

The owners of the "A Whale" said the ship features a new skimming approach that has never been attempted on such a large scale. They are anxious to put it to its first test in the Gulf.

Source: naval-technology.com
Jamaran is the first indigenously built Mowj Class multi-purpose guided missile frigate of the Imperial Iranian Navy. Currently being built by the Marine Industries Group of Defense Industries Organization (DIO), the vessels are locally referred to as destroyers.

Source: CNN
For the first time, a submarine will be combating the rising tide of piracy in the seas off the East African coast.
The Dutch navy is deploying the submarine in September, the Dutch defense minister announced on a visit to monitor operations off Somalia on Tuesday.

Eimert van Middelkoop said the vessel will primarily be used to monitor communications between pirate vessels and their warlord masters on shore while remaining undetected itself.

The ship will be part of NATO's Ocean Shield anti-piracy mission, aiming to keep the busy shipping channels there safe from attack.

The fleet has been successful in disrupting pirate operations off the East African coast, forcing marauding ships to attack farther out to sea.

Source: Russian Navy
Perspective 4th generation diesel-electric submarine St. Petersburg which flag-hoisting ceremony was held early May is under state trials in the Baltic Sea, said Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov, Baltic Fleet (BF) Commander.

"Submarine St. Petersburg is presently in the Baltic Sea passing state trials. In accordance with the schedule, various tasks are being performed; in particular, testing of the sub's hydro-acoustic features, operation of power plant, etc.", pointed out the fleet commander.

Source: US Navy
The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Philadelphia (SSN 690) was decommissioned June 25 during a ceremony at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Conn.

The decommissioning ceremony marked Philadelphia's 33rd anniversary.

Philadelphia was commissioned and officially put into service June 25, 1977.

The ceremony's guest speaker, Rear Admiral Douglas J. McAneny, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, was the seventh commanding officer of Philadelphia.

Source: India Press Information Bureau
The second of the three follow on Talwar-class stealth frigates being built by Yantar Shipyard, Kaliningrad, Russia was ceremoniously launched on 23 Jun 10 by Mrs Ramma Dewan, wife of Vice Admiral D K Dewan, the Vice Chief of Naval Staff.

The launching ceremony was attended by Governer of Kaliningrad Region, the Commander-in-Chief of Baltic Fleet of Russian Federation and other senior dignitaries from the Russian side in addition to Senior Indian Navy officers posted in Russia.

The frigate, christened ‘Tarkash’ during the ceremony, belongs to the elite Talwar Class of ships, three of which namely Talwar, Trishul and Tabar are already in service with the Indian Navy. The first follow on ship, christened ‘Teg’ was launched on 27 Nov 09.

Source: Patria
The Finnish Minister of Defense has on 23 June 2010 authorized the Finnish Navy to sign a contract with Patria concerning upgrade of Rauma Class Fast Attack Crafts built in the beginning 1990. The contract will be signed on 30 June 2010. The total worth of the contract is EUR 64.7 million.

In December 2003, the Australian Ministry of Defence awarded the prime contract to Defence Maritime Services (DMS) for the supply and support of 12 Armidale Class patrol boats.

The Australian Government subsequently ordered two additional Armidale vessels in June 2006. The patrol boats replace the 15 Freemantle Class large patrol vessels that entered service between 1980 and 1984 and are approaching the end of their operational life.

AP News Story
By William Kates

A 22-gun British warship that sank during the American Revolution and has long been regarded as one of the "Holy Grail" shipwrecks in the Great Lakes has been discovered at the bottom of Lake Ontario, astonishingly well-preserved in the cold, deep water, explorers announced Friday.
Shipwreck enthusiasts Jim Kennard and Dan Scoville used side-scanning sonar and an unmanned submersible to locate the HMS Ontario, which was lost with barely a trace and as many as 130 people aboard during a gale in 1780.

Between 1980 and 1989, 13 Hunt Class minesweepers and minehunters of the UK's Royal Navy were commissioned. Eight remain in service with the Royal Navy and are being significantly upgraded.

HMS Ledbury (M30), Cattistock (M31), Brocklesby (M33), Chiddingfold (M35), Atherstone (M38), Hurworth (M39) and Quorn (M41) were built by Vosper Thorneycroft at Woolston. HMS Middleton (M34) was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Glasgow. The vessels are based at Portsmouth and Faslane.

On May 7, 2008, Secretary of the Navy, Donald C. Winter announced that the United States Navy will name the newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer in honor of Lt. Michael Murphy, a Navy Seal killed in action in Afghanistan on June 28, 2005. The USS Michael Murphy. DDG 112 will be the 62nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. She is 509.5 feet in length, has a waterline beam of 59 feet, displaces approximately 9,200 tons, has a crew size of 323 (23 officers and 300 enlisted) and she will make speed in excess of 30 knots.

Saturday, May 3, the United States Navy will commission their newest Virginia class attack submarine, the USS North Carolina SSN777. The ceremony will take place at the Port of Wilmington in Wilmington, North Carolina at 10:00 am, Eastern Time. The submarine will be the fourth USN vessel to carry the name that honors the Tar Heel state.

The Type 123 Brandenburg Class frigates were ordered in June 1989 to replace the Hamburg Class.

The frigates are primarily tasked with anti-submarine operations, but they also contribute to anti-air defence, the tactical command of group forces and surface operations. The ships form part of the Wilhelmshaven-based 6th frigate squadron.

The Skjold class of missile fast patrol boats is characterised by its speed, reduced signatures, small size with heavy weapon load and its littoral combat capability.

The Skjold ('Shield') has an air-cushioned catamaran hull (surface effect) which, with waterjet propulsion, provides high speed and manoeuvrability.

South Africa placed a contract for three Type 209/1400 submarines in July 2000 on Howaldtswerke-Deutche Werft (HDW) and Thyssen Nordseewerke. The Type 209/1400 displaces 1,450t surfaced and 1,600t dived. The Type 209/1400 submarines replace the French-built Daphne Class submarines, SAS Spear, SAS Assegai and SAS Umkhonto which were decommissioned in 2003.

The first submarine, SAS Manthatisi (S101), was built by Howaldtswerke at Kiel. It was launched in June 2004 and commissioned in November 2005. The second and third submarines were built by Thyssen Nordseewerke in Emden. The SAS Charlotte Maxeke (S102) was launched in May 2005 and commissioned in March 2007. The third submarine, SAS Queen Modjadji (S103), was launched in 2006 and will be commissioned in 2008.

The Mistral and Tonnerre BPC (Bâtiment de Projection et de Commandement) ships, are the French Navy's new 21,300t amphibious assault, command and power projection ships. The ships have been built by DCN in partnership with Thales and Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

Each ship has the payload capacity and versatility to carry up to 16 heavy helicopters and one-third of a mechanised regiment, plus two LCAC hovercraft or up to four landing craft.

The Galicia and the Castilla are 13,900t logistic support ships, based at the Rota, Cadiz, naval base in Spain. They are capable of a speed of 20kt and have a range over 6,000 nautical miles.

They were built by Izar (then Bazan) at the Ferrol shipyard and the vessels were commissioned in 1998 and 2000, respectively.

ARLINGTON, VA — At 10:29 p.m. last night the Navy confirmed it hit the falling defense intelligence satellite using an SM-3 missile fired from the deck of the USS Lake Erie in the Northern Pacific. Navy officials say the missile likely destroyed its intended target, the satellite's 1,000 pound fuel tank.

"There are good first indications the shot was successful. There was an explosion on impact and over 80 pieces of debris were detected after initial assessments," an official said.

The Virginia Class new attack submarine is an advanced stealth multi-mission nuclear-powered submarine for deep ocean anti-submarine warfare and littoral (shallow water) operations.

The Brazilian Navy's submarine force is based at Base Almirante Castro e Silva, Mocangue Island, which is near Niteroi, just across the bay to the east of Rio de Janeiro.

The first of class submarine, Tupi (S30), was designed and built in Kiel, Germany, by Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (HDW) and commissioned into the Brazilian Navy in 1989.

The Arsenal de Marinha naval shipyard in Rio de Janeiro constructed the Tamoio (S31), commissioned in 1994, Timbira (S32), commissioned in 1996, and Tapajo (S33), commissioned in 1999.

The Russian Navy operates seven Delta IV class strategic missile submarines. The submarines operate in the Northern Fleet and are based at the Saida Guba Naval Base.

The submarines were built at the Severodvinsk Shipyard from 1981 to 1992. The first of class, K51, was commissioned in December 1985. In Russia, they are referred to as the Delfin or Dolphin class Project 667 submarines.

DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class - Multimission Destroyer: Advanced Technology Surface Combatants, USA

In November 2001, the US Department of Defense announced that the DD 21 program for the future surface combatant had been revised and would now be known as DD(X). The program focus would now be on a family of advanced technology surface combatants, rather than a single ship class.

A revised request for proposals was issued and in April 2002, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Ingalls was selected as the lead design agent for DD(X). Northrop Grumman led the 'gold team' which included Raytheon Systems Company as the systems integrator.

The Osprey class ships are the world's largest Glass-Reinforced Plastic (GRP) ships and are the first US Navy ships designed solely for minehunting. The technique used to locate mines is by high-definition sonar and the mines are neutralised with a remotely controlled underwater vehicle.

The platform has been designed with exceptionally low magnetic and acoustic signatures to protect against mine detonations during minehunting operations.