The Big Navy Thread

Hi folks, many of us enjoy all things naval & maritime so I'm kicking this thread off in the hope that people contribute interesting things they find about new, old & current ships, naval technology & strategies, fleet dispositions etc etc. I'd love for us to have a thread which can self perpetuate, even if there's only a few of us enthusiastic enough to keep it going.

I didn't really know where to start, apart from a look at some ships which I find interesting myself. So I started writing some stuff up and it kinda took wings and became a bit of a mess lol. But I seem to be cataloging NATO navy ships, which wasn't my original intention. Nvrm. It's still a work in progress, feel free to add new ships, pictures, especially if you're in a non NATO country (really especially South America, the middle east, Asia & the Pacific areas). I'll add more on to my OP over the weeks ahead, it's a long leisurely ramble of a thread so add anything on and we can kick off the discussion.

Belgium
2 Karel Doorman class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

6 Chasseur de Mines Tripartite (Flower class minesweepers)
en.wikipedia.org...


Bulgaria
3 Wielingen class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

1 Koni class frigate
en.wikipedia.org...
2 Pauk class ASW corvettes
en.wikipedia.org...
1 Tarantul missile corvette
en.wikipedia.org...
1 Tripartite class (or Flower class) minesweeper
(see entry under Belgium)

Canada
12 Halifax class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

3 Iroquois class destroyers
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Victoria class submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

12 Kingston class patrol vessels
en.wikipedia.org...


Croatia
2 Kralj class fast attack missile boats
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Helsinki class missile boats
en.wikipedia.org...
1 Končar class fast attack boat
en.wikipedia.org...čar_class_fast_attack_craft

Czech Republic
Landlocked ! No maritime forces.


Denmark (Søværnets)
3 Iver Huitfeldt class air defence frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Absalon class command & support ships
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Thetis class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...
3 Knud Rasmussen class ocean patrol vessels
en.wikipedia.org...




Estonia (Merevägi)
1 Beskytteren-class ocean patrol vessel
en.wikipedia.org...(A230)

3 Sandown class minesweepers
en.wikipedia.org...

France (Marine nationale)
1 Charles de Gaulle class aircraft carrier
en.wikipedia.org...(R91)

3 Mistral class amphibious assault ships
en.wikipedia.org...

1 Foudre class landing platform dock
en.wikipedia.org...
3 Bâtiment de Transport Léger class landing ships
en.wikipedia.org...
2 Horizon class air defense frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Cassard class air defense frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Tourville class destroyers
en.wikipedia.org...

1 FREMM multipurpose frigate
en.wikipedia.org...

7 Georges Leygues class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

5 La Fayette class light stealth frigates / Frégate Légère
en.wikipedia.org...

6 Floréal-class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...éal_class_frigate

9 D'Estienne d'Orves-class anti submarine patrol ships
en.wikipedia.org...'Estienne_d'Orves-class_aviso

11 Tripartite-class minehunters
(See entry for Belgium)
1 Monge class Missile Range Instrumentation Ship
en.wikipedia.org...(A601)

1 Dupuy de Lôme class signals & intelligence ship
en.wikipedia.org...ôme_(A759)

6 Rubis class SSN attack submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Triomphant-class SSBN ballistic missile submarines
en.wikipedia.org...



Germany (Deutsche Marine)
3 Sachsen class air defense frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Brandenburg class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

6 Bremen class multipurpose frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

5 Braunschweig class multipurpose corvettes
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Class 212 diesel electric submarines
en.wikipedia.org...


Greece (Hellenic Navy)(Πολεμικό Ναυτικό)
4 Hydra MEKO class multipurpose frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

9 Elli class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

8 Osprey class variant gunboats
en.wikipedia.org...
7 Roussen class fast attack boats
en.wikipedia.org...

Continued

7 Roussen class fast attack boats
en.wikipedia.org...

4 La Combattante III-class fast attack craft
en.wikipedia.org...
5 La Combattante IIIb-class fast attack craft
en.wikipedia.org...
3 La Combattante IIa-class fast attack craft
en.wikipedia.org...
3 Type 209/1100 Diesel Electric attack submarines
4 Type 209/1200 Diesel Electric attack submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Type 214 Diesel Electric attack submarines
en.wikipedia.org...



Hungary
No sea going navy to speak of.



Iceland (Landhelgisgæsla Íslands)
2 Ægir-class offshore patrol vessels
en.wikipedia.org...Ægir_class_OPV
1 UT 512L type offshore patrol vessel
en.wikipedia.org...Þór


Italy (Marina Militare)
2 Type 212 Diesel Electric attack submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Sauro class Diesel Electric attack submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

1 Cavour class aircraft carrier
en.wikipedia.org...(550)

1 Giuseppe Garibaldi class light aircraft carrier
en.wikipedia.org...(551)

3 San Giorgio class amphibious assault ships
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Orrizonte (Horizon) class air defense frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Durand de la Penne class destroyers
en.wikipedia.org...

8 Maestrale class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Lupo class light frigates
en.wikipedia.org...



Well that's a start and all the NATO/OTAN navies up to Italy covered, with their major warships n'all. Like I say feel free to add your own favourite ships, I'll pick up the yoke again within the next few weeks and play out the rest of NATO/OTAN .

Visualize an advanced version with space launch craft from SUB @ sea...

Best wishes to all for the memorial holiday as well...

NAMASTE*******

This is the USS Fort McHenry, a vessel on which I formerly served during my time in the Navy. During my time onboard, she was homeported in Sasebo, Japan. Now she is in Little Creek, Virginia.

The Fort Mac is a Whidbey Island Class L.S.D or Dock Landing Ship as she was called. Officially, she was a Landing Ship, Dock. When I was stationed onboard, her primary mission was to transport and retrieve amphibious vehicles, Marines, Seals, EOD, Seabees and SWCC teams all over Southeast Asia.

The aft half of the ship is a flight deck with a capacity for up to six helicopters. And below that is a well deck which is filled with water by ballasting down. This allows us to bring on amphibious vehicles.


This is the Fort Mac's well deck being filled to take on various craft. At the time, I believe we were bringing on two LCU's.

What we would haul:

LCAC - The Navy's Hovercraft

Boarding the Fort Mac.


On the beach in Banda Aceh, Sumatra. I took this one while in the Seabees. We were there doing disaster relief for the 2005 Tsunami.

LCU - The Navy's Landing Craft

Sitting in the Well Deck. This boat later ended up sitting there for a very long time after she busted her starboard rudder right up through the floor of the engine room while we were off of Iwo Jima for the 60th anniversary. Some idiot didn't fill the well deck with enough water.


An LCU docking in the Well Deck

AAV - Amphibious Assault Vehicles

*Not my photo - From Wikipedia

LARC

* From Wikipedia.

This picture was actually taken onboard the USS Tortuga ('___'-46) which was the vessel that replaced the Fort Mac in Sasebo.

Mk. V Special Operations Craft

* From Wikipedia

We took two Mark V boats to the Philippines aboard the Fort Mac as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Otherwise, we didn't see them much. At the time I was no longer stationed on the Fort Mac. I was with the Seabees and I was not allowed to take pictures nor even bring a camera during that entire operation. But I did get tax free combat pay. Cha Ching.

We also worked with a variety of helicopters. Primarily the CH-53, the SH-60 and the CH-46. On occasion we also took on the UH-1 Huey and the AH-1 Supercobra. Unfortunately, I don't have photos of most of these. Just a couple.


An SH-60 doing Vertrep. Dropping off crates of food. That is a CH-46 parked with the rear ramp open to the left.


A CH-53 stowed on the flight deck. These were the worst to work with. They create such a powerful down draft when they come in to land. It makes you feel like you are going to get thrown overboard.


And sometimes we would haul nothing but land vehicles. This photo, for example, was when were transporting Marine and Seabee equipment. The well deck was filled with Trucks, Heavy Equipment and Humvees. The Flight Deck was covered with Humvees, MRE's and Diesel Generators.

reply to post by allenidaho


Thank you for your personal account from USS Fort McHenry, it was an interesting read and the photos are great. These ships are workhorses in so many ways, I don't think we value them sufficiently for the work they do with the army & special forces and especially with humanitarian relief efforts.

Not much naval news from UK today that I can see. BBC Scotland had a news report from the BAe Scotstoun yard, showing video from the aft island assembly of the new HMS Queen Elizabeth. Once they put a link on their site, I'll hook it into the "England's Super Carriers" thread so you folks can have a look.



French company Thales has signed a £600 million contract for the British Royal Navy and the Sensors Support Optimisation Project (SSOP). The company will repair, update the navy's sonar & electronic warfare systems across 17 different platforms.

The agreement means Thales will maintain 17 different systems across the British fleet, including the latest Type 45 destroyers, Type 23 frigates and Hunt and Sandown classes of minehunters. It includes the Navy’s nuclear submarines’ visual systems, including periscopes for the Vanguard and Trafalgar classes. It also extends to work on the new Astute class submarines’ advanced optronic masts, bringing the maintenance together under a single contract. The contract will secure 230 Thales jobs at sites in Glasgow, Manchester, Somerset and West Sussex. A further 300 jobs will be secured through the UK supply chain. Signing the contract at Thales’s plant in Crawley, West Sussex, Philip Dunne, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, said:“This contract is good news for the Ministry of Defence and UK industry. Not only will it secure a number of jobs across the UK whilst delivering savings but will also provide essential support for the combat equipment that helps give the Royal Navy’s fleet of ships and submarines a vital technological edge.”

Daily Telegraph

Sad news too tonight from Scapa Flow in Orkney, the British island group north of Scotland, where the German High Seas Fleet famously scuttled itself in 1919. Unfortunately two divers have gone missing while diving on the German battleship SMS Brummer, the coastguard have given up on the search.

One of the oldest ships in the British Navy returned to it's homeland this week, completing a deployment which started in ... August 2011 ! That's an awful long time at sea. A lot of making up to do for these sailors and their wives !

RFA Gold Rover serves as a replenishment ship for British ships making their way to and from the Falkland Islands / Malvinas / îles Malouines. At 39 yrs old, she's one of the oldest ships in the British fleet. Not a particularly glamorous ship but one on which all everyone else depends. May the crew have a great period of leave.



I was talking to a French navy friend during the week, he was saying their heart sick the Brits went for the F35B rather than the cats & traps F35. They think it could severely damage cross operations between US, French and British navy ships, they don't think the British F35s will be able to operate easily from US & French ships at all. That is very disappointing to learn, the French Navy was hoping to use HMS Prince of Wales from which to base Rafale M's when their carrier CDG is in for maintenance.

I was hoping to post more today but I have a soccer match to attend, will be back later.

I am a military girl and I love my history so my vote goes for the USS Constitution who kicked butt during her service. Our first commissioned warship who took on the British and won.

Originally posted by LeBombDiggity

I was talking to a French navy friend during the week, he was saying their heart sick the Brits went for the F35B rather than the cats & traps F35. They think it could severely damage cross operations between US, French and British navy ships, they don't think the British F35s will be able to operate easily from US & French ships at all. That is very disappointing to learn, the French Navy was hoping to use HMS Prince of Wales from which to base Rafale M's when their carrier CDG is in for maintenance.

I was kind of hoping the same thing. But converting the HMS Prince of Wales to a CATOBAR system was just too expensive.

Other than that, I don't have all that much faith in the F-35B quite yet. The US Navy is still going to rely heavily on F/A-18 Super Hornet for many years to come. Having an allied carrier on which these aircraft could land would have been great.

Latvia (Latvijas Jūras Spēki)
Modest capabilities, mainly minesweeping under BALTRON.

Lithuania
Again, mainly minesweeping in Baltic waters.

Luxembourg
Landlocked. No navy !

Netherlands (Koninklijke Marine)
4 De Zeven Provinciën-class air defense & command frigates
en.wikipedia.org...ën-class_frigate

2 Karel Doorman-class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Rotterdam Class Amphibious Docks
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Walrus Class Diesel Electric Attack Submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

6 Tripartite Class Minesweepers (See entry under Belgium)


Norway (Sjøforsvaret)
5 Fridtjof Nansen-class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

6 Ula Class Diesel Electric attack submarines
en.wikipedia.org...




Poland (Marynarka Wojenna)
Two Oliver Hazard Perry frigates
en.wikipedia.org...ł_Kazimierz_Pułaski

5 Kobben-class diesel electric submarines
en.wikipedia.org...




Portugal (Marinha Portuguesa)
2 Tridente Class electric motored submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Bartolomeu Dias (Karel Doorman) Class Frigates
en.wikipedia.org...
2 Vasco da Gama class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

3 Baptista de Andrade-class corvettes
en.wikipedia.org...



Romania (Forţele Navale Române)
2 Batch 2 Type 22 Destroyers
en.wikipedia.org...

1 Mărăşeşti Class frigate
en.wikipedia.org...ărăşeşti

2 Admiral Petre Bărbuneanu-class corvettes
en.wikipedia.org...ărbuneanu_class_corvette

2 Rear-Admiral Eustațiu Sebastian-class corvettes
en.wikipedia.org...țiu_Sebastian_class_corvette



Slovakia
No navy


Slovenia
Not much of a navy to speak of


Spain (Armada Española)
3 Agosta-class diesel submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

1 Juan Carlos light aircraft carrier / LHD
en.wikipedia.org...(L61)

2 Galicia-class landing platform docks
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Álvaro de Bazán-class air defense frigates
en.wikipedia.org...Álvaro_de_Bazán_class_frigate

6 Santa María-class frigates
en.wikipedia.org...ía_class_frigate




Turkey (Türk Deniz Kuvvetleri)
4 Gür class Type 209T2/1400 submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Preveze class Type 209T1/1400 submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

6 Atılay class Type 209/1200 submarines
en.wikipedia.org...
8 MEKO 200 Class frigates
en.wikipedia.org... **

8 Gabya class (Oliver Hazard Perry class) frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

27 Fast Attack Craft, of varying classes, such as
en.wikipedia.org...ılıç_class_fast_attack_craft


United Kingdom
2 Astute Class SSN attack submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

5 Trafalgar Class SSN attack submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

4 Vanguard Class SSBN Ballistic Missile Submarines
en.wikipedia.org...

1 Invincible Class Light Aircraft Carrier
en.wikipedia.org...

2 Albion Class Landing Platform Docks
en.wikipedia.org...

1 Ocean Class Amphibious Assault Ship
en.wikipedia.org...(L12)

13 Type 23 Frigates
en.wikipedia.org...

6 Type 45 Guided Missile Destroyers
en.wikipedia.org...

(Continued)

6 Type 45 Guided Missile Destroyers
en.wikipedia.org...

^HMS Dragon^ ^gotta love that graphic^
8 Hunt Class Minesweepers
en.wikipedia.org...

6 Sandown Class Minesweepers
en.wikipedia.org...
2 Echo Class Survey Ships
en.wikipedia.org...(2002)



OK that's all the non-USA NATO/OTAN nations ... next it will be Australia, New Zealand, India. Maybe in a day or two though.

Kinda forgot about this little thread. Time for an update.

USS Gerald R. Ford took to the water (a little bit) yesterday, her dock's been flooded.

Now this is one beautiful hull.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division began flooding the dry dock where the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) has been under construction since November 2009. With the push of a dozen buttons, ship’s sponsor Susan Ford Bales initiated the flow of more than 100 million gallons of water into the dry dock.

Navy Recognition

reply to post by allenidaho


Interesting pic of the SH-60, which is actually a UH-60 in Navy colors. I hadn't seen a UH flown to a ship before.

British Type 45 air-defense destroyer HMS Daring is seen here this week at Sydney Harbor, Australia, where it represented UK at the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) International Fleet Review 2013.



And progress continues on USS Zumwalt, revolutionary design but unbelievably expensive



And here's an interesting little ship ... BNS Bangabandhu of the Bangladesh Navy. It has some impressive statistics for a warship from what is essentially a third world country. It is equipped with the Otomat Mk.II Block.IV AShM, an advanced and highly capable missile system with a range of 180+ km; these AShMs can change course mid-flight and the warship does not need to be repositioned to fire at the target (unlike other anti-ship missiles). It will be upgraded with the addition of another quad Otomat AShM launcher. The vessel is armed with point-defence surface to air missile system in the form of 8 FM-90N SAMs (15 km range) and 4 x Otobreda 40 mm/70 (2 twin) compact CIWS. The vessel is also armed with 6 x 324 mm B-515 (2 triple) tubes which fire the EuroTorp Whitehead A244/S Mod.3 torpedoes (which is the latest version of that particular torpedo). All of these weapons systems together with the 1 x Otobreda 76 mm/62 Super Rapid Gun give the vessel extensive combat capability. This frigate is also equipped with Thales sensors including Mirador optical tracking system and Lirod Mk. 2 fire control radar. The combat management system of the ship is Thales TACTICOS. The Agusta-Westland AW109 Power naval helicopter on board is compatible to fire the C-704 AShMs and torpedoes among other weapons.



Finally just a picture of one of the Russian Kirov class battlecruisers, Pyotr Velikiy, which is in active service with the Russian Navy. All four battlecruisers are scheduled to be in service within 7 years. They're magnificent ... the size of small battleships.

New Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya is to be accepted from the Russian builders in a commissioning ceremony on 15th November. Indian Defense Minister A.K. Antony will travel to the builders yard in November to accept the ship into the Navy.



The 45,000 tonne warship will eventually carry 16 MIG 29-K airplanes & 10 helicopters of various description. I think this ship will replace the outstanding aircraft carrier INS Viraat (the former British carrier HMS Hermes) ... if there's ever a ship for the Brits to save it's that one.

New Delhi: All the trials have been completed and INS Vikramaditya, formerly known as Admiral Gorskhov, will be handed over to the Indian Navy on November 15. Once inducted, the warship will join the fleet along with INS Viraat, which is over half a century old but is expected to serve till 2018.

The carrier was purchased by India on 20 January 2004 after years of negotiations at a final price of $2.35 billion. The warship will be equipped with, as a part of the deal, 12 single-seat Mikoyan MiG-29K 'Fulcrum-D' and four dual-seat MiG-29KUB aircraft (with an option for 14 more aircraft), six Kamov Ka-31 "Helix" reconnaissance and anti-submarine helicopters, torpedo tubes, missile systems, and artillery units.

Indian Navy’s long term objective is to be able to respond to emergent situations far away from main land. After China’s ‘string of pearls’ theory, India needs to develop a grand strategy to counter the Chinese aggression in the Indian Ocean. INS Vikramaditya will have to play a crucial role in achieving this objective.

During the three-month sea trials, the ship had demonstrated excellent seaworthiness, speed of 27.9 knots (about 52 km per hour) and manoeuvrability

New Delhi: The long-delayed aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya will be inducted into Indian Navy by Defence Minister A K Antony during his Russia visit slated between November 15-17.

After a delay of around five years, 45,000 aircraft carrier is expected to be handed over to the Navy on November 15 in Russia, where it is presently undergoing refit.

"The Defence Minister is expected to induct the warship into the Indian Navy during his visit for the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission for Military and Technical Cooperation meeting now expected to be held in November," sources said here.

Zee News India
Zee News India

And the paintjob on USS Zumwalt is coming on apace ... what a weird looking ship ... I hope for the US taxpayers that it lives up to expectation.

Good thread, Diggity!

You missed off for the Royal Navy (not British Navy ) the River Class Patrol craft and the two Antarctic Patrol ships HMS Protector and Endurance - although strictly speaking the last two aren't warships, although they are armed.

One thing I noticed from reading this thread though is just how many ships some fellow Euro nations have - I always knew the French had a large Navy, but the Italians? Who da thunk it!

reply to post by stumason


Hello there Stumason, well thanks for dropping by ! I'm trying my best to keep all things naval at the top of the ATS agenda but I fear we're missing a critical mass of interested persons, nevermind though.

Yes ! The Europeans (UK included) have always made a great contribution to the OTAN/NATO maritime strength. And that's going to become even more important as the US looks more to the Pacific than it does our way. I think though (you won't like this) that it makes more sense for us to be properly integrated ... one command structure, common ship design, munitions, spare parts etc etc ... but I know you will splutter into your tea cup at that thought.

reply to post by LeBombDiggity


Hehe, I didn't splutter too much

It's something that has been attempted a few times - the Type 45 started life as a Euro project but very early on it became clear that everyone had different needs - the UK and France like to have a Blue water capability for expeditionary forces, whereas everyone else tends too look a lot closer to home. Then there is the issue of who gets to build what and shipbuilding is something every nation wants to do itself, it gets very political, especially in the UK where the only real shipbuilding that gets done these days is for the MoD!

I wouldn't object to shared designs etc, it makes sense, but when everyone has different needs it is hard to accomplish.

Just a picture from earlier of the new Japanese flat topped destroyer, Izumo.
Quite nice lines, I think !