No. 269 July 2017

July 2017

Front cover

The Russian Navy missile
cruiser RFS Varyag at the Republic of
Singapore Navy (RSN) 50th
Anniversary International Maritime
Review (IMR).

Photo by LSIS Bradley Darvill/RAN.

Contents

NEWS

GERMAN NAVY SEIZES LIBYAN ARMS – P2

TRUMP’S BIGGER FLEET DEAD IN WATER – P3

NAVIES – P4, P6 & P7
• First steel to be cut on UK Type 26.
• USN warship tests freedom of the seas.
• La Fayette Trio to get ASW Upgrade.

RAN SPEARHEADS DISASTER TASK FORCE – P8/9

ASSAULT CARRIER IN DOCK – P21

BIG STICK ROOSEVELT – P24/25

TARKASH HITS ‘EM FOR SIX – P30/31

OLD SMOKEY HEADS FOR MED – P34

PAKISTAN & TURKEY CORVETTE DEAL – P38

BALTIC FOCUS – P39

DARINGS PASS THE BATON – P41

 

COMMENTARIES

UK POLITICOS DON’T TAKE DEFENCE SERIOUSLY – P5
A generation of British politicians don’t get it.

NO EASY ANSWERS IN FIGHT – P33
Europe’s best defence is security at sea.

 

FEATURES & ANALYSIS

SINGAPORE’S GOLDEN REVIEW – P10/11
The world’s leading navies send ships to a big show.

BIG SPENDING ASIA-PACIFIC NATIONS – P12/13
European navies are being left behind.

MORE MONEY NEEDED TO MEET THREATS – P14/15
US PACOM boss delivers a blunt message.

US & AUSTRALIA BOND SEALED IN BLOOD – P15
Two leaders salute joint sacrifice at Coral Sea.

AXED CARRIER TIP OF ICEBERG – P16/17
Retirement of its carrier is not Brazil’s only problem.

UNPRECEDENTED NATIONAL EFFORT – P18/20
Australia unveils an ambitious naval plan.

POSEIDON WILL PLUG GAP – P22/23
…but the UK’s new MPA will be an imperfect fit.

CALLS FOR MASSIVE BOOST – P26/27
The Canadian Govt is urged to build more subs.

ICE PATROL SHIPS GET HEROIC NAMES – P28
Progress with the Royal Canadian Navy’s Arctic OPVs.

MANY YEARS NEEDED – P29
Chinese carrier capability requires plenty of time.

US NAVY’S STRUGGLE TO HOLD CHINESE OFF – P32
Beijing seeks a bangs-for-bucks edge.

PUTTING MACHINES IN THE LINE OF FIRE – P36/37
Naval robots seek to reduce human casualties.

OBITUARY – P46

BOOK REVIEWS – P47/48