FLEETS #30: The Royal Canadian Navy, vessels in service and in development

HMCS Halifax departs to join Operation Reassurance.

The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) is Canada’s naval force consisting of approximately 12,570 Regular Force and 4,111 Reserve sailors, supported by around 3,800 civilian employees. The mission of the Royal Canadian Navy is to generate combat-capable, multipurpose maritime forces that support Canada’s efforts to participate in security operations anywhere in the world, as part of an integrated Canadian Armed Forces. Τhe RCN Fleet is made up of numerous classes of ships, submarines and other vessels, as well as specialized units that allow Canada to maintain one of the most active blue-water navies in the world. Enjoy four excellent official RCN posters!

The following official Royal Canadian Navy poster depicts all the vessels in active service today, their armament and the vessels in development. For high resolution image click here.

The Royal Canadian Navy, vessels in service and in development. HR image here.

INFOGRAPHICS #56: The new European surface combatant designs, 2023-2029

The following table, was created together with Eptanisios, and includes all the known European surface combatant designs, destroyers, frigates and corvettes, that are under construction or under development, and are expected to enter service by 2029. The types/classes are listed in decreasing size (length and displacement) from left to right. As you can read also "bigger doesn't mean always stronger"! For some of them, the newest designs, the technical characteristics and armaments are not the exact ones. Note also that Russian designs are not included. Also Ukrainian designs are excluded too because it is uncertain if the shipbuilding process will continue (Ada-class). The winning designs of the Romanian and Greek corvette programs will be included in the table as soon as the result is known. It should be clarified also that some of the designs may do not carry 20-30mm RWS (such as the Type 31/AH140PL) but they do carry 40mm guns which cover both roles, CIWS and protection against asymmetrical threats, and the opposite. You can enjoy the infographics of some of the designs included in the table, here.

 

New European surface combatant designs, 2023-2029.

INFOGRAPHICS #55: United States Navy aircraft carriers since 1920

The following image created by Donn Thorson depicts all the classes of U.S. Navy aircraft carriers from 1920 till today. For all the classes, the author reports the vessels that were in each class, the general characteristics, the sensors and the main armament. Other illustrations related to U.S. Navy you can find here.

United States Navy aircraft carriers since 1920, by Donn Thorson

 

VIKING Norsafe MUNIN S1200 Tactical of the Hellenic Army Special Forces

Written by D-Mitch

VIKING Norsafe MUNIN S1200 Tactical of the Hellenic Army

This short article is about another craft made by VIKING Norsafe Hellas, the MUNIN S1200 Tactical, that will serve with the Hellenic Army Special Forces. Until now, among other products, the Greek company has delivered one (1) MUNIN S1200 Cabin, four (4) MARATHON 900 RIB-D and eight (8) MUNIN S1200 Extended Cabin to the Hellenic Coast Guard, one (1) MUNIN S1200 Open to the Hellenic Army, thirteen (13) METIS 600 RIB and three (3) METRON 850 to the Hellenic Navy. All vessels were built locally in Greece at the manufacturing plant of VIKING Norsafe Hellas in Thiva. The Tactical is the second vessel that will be delivered to the Hellenic Army for the Special Forces and is part of an old tender for four vessels of four different manufacturers, for the Hellenic Army. 

Maintenance and repair of Hellenic Coast Guard ships and vessels today

The following article is in Greek language and analyzes the important issues regarding the maintenance and repair of Hellenic Coast Guard ships and vessels, today.

 

Από Ανώνυμος Λιμενικός

Το ΛΣ090 Γαύδος τύπου Damen Stan Patrol 5509

Με την από 26/01/2022 απόφαση κυρίου Υπουργού Ναυτιλίας και Νησιωτικής Πολιτικής (ΥΝΑΝΠ) (ΑΔΑ: ΨΠΕΖ 4653ΠΩ-ΣΤ1), απορρίφθηκε ως ΜΗ ΣΥΜΦΕΡΟΥΣΑ η προσφορά της εταιρίας "DAMEN SHIPYARDS GORINCHEM BV" για την Εν Συνεχεία Υποστήριξη (Follow On Support) του 58μετρου Πλοίου Ανοιχτής Θαλάσσης ΠΑΘ/ΛΣ - ΕΛΑΚΤ 090 «Γαύδος» τύπου Stan Patrol 5509. Η απόρριψη της πρότασης σημαίνει ότι το ΛΣ θα πρέπει να βρει εξειδικευμένα συνεργεία στην Ελλάδα για συντήρηση κι επισκευές στο 090 που κόστισε 30 εκατ € στα οποία προτεραιότητα δεν θα έχει ο πιο καλός , αλλά ο πιο φθηνός. Με αφορμή αυτή την εξέλιξη, ως Λιμενικός, θα ήθελα να καταθέσω κάποιους προβληματισμούς μου όσο αφορά τη συντήρηση και την αποκατάσταση βλαβών των Περιπολικών Πλοίων και Σκαφών του ΛΣ - ΕΛΑΚΤ. 

 

INFOGRAPHICS #54: Soviet World War II and Cold War submarines

The following images were created by Naval Encyclopedia and depict the majority of the submarine classes that served with the Soviet Navy (Military Maritime Fleet of the USSR) during World War II and Cold War (1947-1991). You can read the complete article here. Enjoy! 

Soviet Navy WWII submarines

Soviet Navy submarines during Cold War. Profiles by Mike 1979 Russia

INFOGRAPHICS #53: Characteristics of the corvette candidates for the Hellenic Navy's corvette program

By Lysimachos Samasitis

An Egyptian Gowind 2500 corvette and a Greek Hydra
class frigate in an exercise. Photo by Nick Thodos

This post is about the characteristics of the corvette candidates for the Hellenic Navy's corvette program. The Navy’s program amounts to €5 billion, and includes the construction of a combination of frigates and corvettes that will replace the nine old Elli (Kortenaer)-class frigates, the upgrade of some of the four Hydra-class (MEKO-200HN) frigates and the acquisition (if possible) of interim solution ships (at least two major surface combatants). The frigate program has been awarded to the French shipbuilder Naval Group which is already in advanced negotiations with Greece to supply up to four FDI frigates. It is expected that the winner of the corvette program will build four vessels. The following table is the result of an effort to capture the basic characteristics of the proposed corvettes for the Greek naval program by Lysimachos Samasitis.

INFOGRAPHICS #52: Royal Navy battleships, battlecruisers and HMS Warrior

The following images are created by Steve Freeman (sfreeman421 for deviantart) and depict all the classes of battleships and battlecruisers that served with the Royal Navy as well as the famous HMS Warrior, the first ocean-going armour-plated, iron-hulled warship, which is now a museum ship. Enjoy this great artwork! 

Royal Navy battleships. Original artwork and illustration: Steve Freeman.

INFOGRAPHICS #51: Αmphibious Ready Group (ARG)

The Bataan Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) is underway
in formation in the Atlantic Ocean, 2009. The 22nd Marine
Expeditionary Unit, deployed aboard the ships of the
Bataan ARG, is serving as the theater reserve force
for U.S. European Command. U.S. Marine Corps photo

An amphibious ready group (ARG) of the United States Navy consists of a naval element—a group of warships known as an Amphibious Task Force (ATF)—and a landing force (LF) of U.S. Marines (and, occasionally U.S. Army soldiers), totaling about 5,000 people. Together, these elements and supporting units are trained, organized, and equipped to perform amphibious operations.The resulting forces may range from a single Amphibious Ready Group/Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) [ARG/MEU (SOC)], to a larger organization capable of employing a Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) or even a Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). Normally two to three ARGs are forward deployed: one in the Mediterranean Sea/Persian Gulf–Indian Ocean area, and one or two in the western Pacific Ocean area. The other ships of the ARG are either working up to deploy, in transit, or in overhaul. One ARG/MEU, known as Task Force 76/Expeditionary Strike Group 7, is forward based in Sasebo and Okinawa, Japan. In most cases, the ATF will be deployed under the protective umbrella of a Carrier Strike Group (CSG), which provides cover for the ATF and combat support to operations ashore. Ships of the ATF are capable of embarking and supporting other forces when the mission requires, including the United States Army, Special Operations Forces (SOF), or other joint and combined forces.